TALEEN HANNA
RIC GEYER, TRIANGLE ARTS
Ric Geyer, founder and owner of the Triangle Arts Center in Macon, Ga. works in his woodshop on April 18, 2023. Geyer’s woodshop is just one of the many studios that Triangle Arts has on its grounds. Geyer sometimes offers studio spaces to artists free of cost as a way of encouraging continued creation of art in the community.
Geyer works on his pieces with precision, making sure each individual part is perfect and measured correctly.
Geyer said he does not really have a specific reason for why he enjoys doing woodwork, he just finds peace in the creative process– it is a zen space for him.
A new project for Geyer– taking leftover pieces and repurposing them because the shapes intrigued him. These colorful pieces that he was spray painting will eventually become a table.
Along with owning and running the Triangle Arts Center, Geyer creates unique pieces of furniture. Geyer heard about Eleanor Roosevelt’s furniture company, ValKill, which was founded in 1926. He purchased the trademark for the name in 2015 and began making and selling furniture under the ValKill name.
Geyer took inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt’s mission– helping others– for his use of the name ValKill. He continually works to showcase new artists at the Triangle Arts Center, not only providing them with free studio space, but also giving them a space to sell their work at the Triangle Arts Market, held on the third Sunday of each month.
Geyer checks the piece of wood he was sanding down by positioning it in the light so he can see if there are any ridges left that still need to be sanded down.
Geyer looks through his book, 500 Chairs: Celebrating Traditional & Innovative Designs, for inspiration for his next project.
Geyer speaks with a community member at Mayor Lester Miller’s State of the Community Address on April 25, 2023 in Macon Ga. Geyer’s friend, Andrew Eck invited Geyer to come to the event with him and his company, Georgia Artisan Furniture. Along with running the company, Eck is a member of the Macon Chamber of Commerce. Eck and Geyer often work together on furniture projects.
Geyer and Macon-Bibb County Commissioner for District 8, Virgil Watkins Jr. share a laugh before Mayor Miller addresses the community at the Macon Auditorium.
Geyer admires his fellow local artists’ work which was displayed at the Mayor’s State of the Community.
Geyer poses for a portrait with one of his pieces, the Trestle Bench, in his studio. Along with running the Triangle Arts Center and being an active member of the community, Geyer is preparing for an exhibit in October at the Macon Arts Alliance.