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Art is created from a variety of motives and captures human experiences of all kinds and Atlanta provides an unmatched accessibility to the many kinds art. From October 14 through 21, Atlantans can encounter local, national and international art and cultural events for free at the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ public art festival. On today’s Around Atlanta segment of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick are joined by the Office of Cultural Affairs’ public art manager, Dorian McDuffie, to discuss the ELEVATE Public Art Festival and its activities.
Sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and local businesses, ELEVATE brings the downtown Atlanta area to life through visual art, performances and cultural events. Since 2011, each edition of ELEVATE has provided artists and the general public with art that captures interest and imagination. This year’s theme is “Enlighten,” inspired by the different classes offered during the festival, focusing on the plight of veterans, healing through art, social justice and teaching artists new art forms.
This year’s festival will feature the work of a married couple who are both veterans, including poetry that expresses their experiences in combat and post-combat. Several murals will be on display on Peachtree Street by recent art school graduates, muralists with long careers and a muralist from France.
A play called “Boy” will also be showcasing performances throughout the weekend. Listeners can write a haiku about Atlanta and send it to www.ElevateATLArt.com to win tickets to the show.
McDuffie’s priorities, however, are the classes offered by Americans for the Arts, who will present an all-day workshop, which will include lessons on materials, funding, working with public agencies, laws and insurance for copyrighting, community empowered art and the arts and social justice. Participants can register for the classes on Eventbrite through ELEVATE’s website and Facebook page. Most classes have 200 seats available, however, some only seat 60, so hurry and register. The classes are free to attend.
Finally, on Saturday night, the festival will host a block party with DJs, dance-focused entertainment and a performance from a Japanese koto player paired with breakdancers.
The art doesn’t disappear after the festival, either. The Office of Cultural Affairs has negotiated with the local businesses to let the murals stay. Everywhere you walk in Atlanta, you can find the legacy of the ELEVATE public art program.
For more information, contact Dorian McDuffie at DMcDuffie@AtlantaGA.gov or www.ElevateATLArt.com or listen to today’s podcast.
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