Lisa Tuttle’s Postcolonial Karma Now Open at Gallery 72

Atlanta, GA — Lisa Tuttle’s postcolonial karma exhibition at Gallery 72 takes viewers on a journey that has been both complicated and enlightening for the Atlanta-based conceptual artist whose work addresses issues of gender, race and class. As a white woman born and raised in the South, descended from white Southerners, living in a progressive, multicultural Atlanta – Tuttle’s multi-media art practice has often reflected on the relationship, and conflict, between the races. postcolonial karma shares some of these observations. The exhibition opened on Friday, October 8 and will be on view through January 31, 2022. Gallery 72 is located at 72 Marietta Street, Atlanta, GA 30303. Admission is free and open to the public.

“We are excited to present this timely and thought-provoking artwork by Atlanta artist Lisa Tuttle,” states Kevin Sipp, Manager of Gallery 72 for the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We hope the work encourages conversation.”

postcolonial karma is a focused retrospective of Tuttle’s artworks, created over the last 25 years, whose topic has been a personal exploration of the interaction of black and white cultures in the American South, and in the world, including Belgium and South Africa. These works have been shown in previous solo and group exhibitions, but never collectively.

Tuttle has created new artwork for this exhibition, focusing on alternative proposals to address the carving of the three Confederate leaders at Stone Mountain. In considering the current efforts to remove Confederate iconography from public space, the trajectory of her work shifted – focusing specifically on women’s roles in the erection of Confederate monuments and the construction of the myth of the “Lost Cause”.

Approximately 30 artworks are featured in postcolonial karma, including fabric works, photographs, mixed media constructions, and works on paper. *Artwork featured in this release is Klan Ghosts on Stone Mountain.

Gallery 72 is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Guests are required to wear masks and abide by COVID protocols when visiting the gallery.

This exhibition is part of this year’s ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival and the project is funded by the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

MEDIA: For artwork for this release, go to the ELEVATE media Dropbox https://bit.ly/ELEVATE-ATL-2021 and click on the Lisa Tuttle folder. To set up interviews, or for more information, contact Karen Hatchett at Hatchett PR, karen@hatchettpr.com.

This Sunday–Free Concert in Westside Park

Join Mayor Bottoms for the City’s first concert in Westside Park, featuring Algebra Blessett (@Yesitsalgebra) and Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics (@TheSoulphonics). Admission is free.

#ElevateATL #ElevateArt #Atlanta #AtlantaArtists #Music

ELEVATE 2021 Showcases Art, Music, Murals, Dance, Movies & More Every Weekend In October!

ELEVATE 2021 will take place each weekend in October in partnership with art galleries, museums, theaters, performance venues, restaurants and bars throughout the city.

The theme of this year’s public art festival, REVIVAL: Reopen, Reconnect, Reignite, will help ignite interest in arts and cultural events in communities across Atlanta, from Buckhead to Downtown and Old Fourth Ward to West End.

Visit https://www.elevateatlart.com/elevate-21 for event details.

Elevate 2021 Exhibitions at City Galleries

Gallery 72 exhibition Set for ELEVATE–September 19^th / November 31^st

Postcolonial Karma will be a focused retrospective survey of Lisa Tuttle’s artworks, created over the last 25 years, whose topic has been a personal exploration of the interaction of black and white cultures in the American South, and in the world. These works have been shown in several previous solo and group exhibitions (but never collectively):

Color, Culture and Complexity – MoCA GA

Inheritance – Sandler Hudson Gallery

Belgian (Congo) Diary – Sandler Hudson Gallery

Palimpsest: A Sea Island Cotton Plantation – City Gallery East, Clark-Atlanta University and Atlanta Contemporary

Haunted – Chastain Gallery

Journey – Caversham Press, South Africa

Fence – Agnes Scott College

Mock Proposal  – Poem88

Tuttle is also creating new work for this exhibition, focusing on alternative proposals to address the carving of the three Confederate leaders at Stone Mountain.

Approximately 30 artworks will be exhibited, including fabric works, photographs, mixed media constructions, and works on paper. Community conversations/engagements will be presented, artist talks and panels – and a modest companion catalogue raisonné (print on-demand) will be produced.

…

New Acquisitions- Showcasing City of Atlanta Recent Art Purchases

Chastain Art Center Gallery and The Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall -September 18th/October 31^st ,2021

During the Pandemic the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) understood that the best way to support artists was to support their artistry. After promoting a public call for submissions, we received overwhelming responses from each creative category.  We convened expert panels to select a final list of poets, short story writers, photographers, painters, and choreographers for the creation of new works and the purchase of existing works. The exhibition New Acquisitions highlights the works of art that are now part of the City of Atlanta’s permanent art collection. Eventually each of these works will be displayed in public spaces owned and administered by the City of Atlanta. This exhibition will feature 30 + artist and their distinctive works.

Gallery 72 at 2 City Plaza, is a municipal gallery operated by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs dedicated to presenting stimulating and thought provoking contemporary art and programs that focus on advancing Atlanta’s arts offering. The gallery is located at 72 Marietta Street NW; Atlanta, GA 30303.

Chastain Arts Center is an educational facility that offers classes, workshops, and exhibits in a variety of creative mediums. Established in 1968 as an arts center, Chastain Arts Center is the oldest Arts Center in Atlanta.

Chastain Art Center is located at 135 Chastain Park Ave.; Atlanta, GA 30342.

The Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall gives rising and established artists an unparalleled showcase and seeks to establish itself as a launching pad for underrepresented Atlanta art professionals, as well as new Atlanta arrivals deserving of exposure.

The Mayor’s Gallery is a municipal art gallery located at 55 Trinity Ave SW; Atlanta, GA 30303 on the 2^nd floor of the City Hall Annex in the foyer of the Mayor’s Suite.

ELEVATE 2021 To Reconnect Communities With Arts & Cultural Experiences

Media Contact:
Karen Hatchett, Hatchett PR

ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival To Activate Communities With Art As They REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT

Atlanta, GA — As residents and businesses begin the process of moving forward with hope and optimism past the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival will help activate communities throughout Atlanta with art and cultural activities. The festival will include partnerships with art galleries, museums, theaters, performance venues, restaurants, bars, shops, colleges, parks, and libraries. ELEVATE 2021: REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT will take place from September 10 – October 31, 2021.

“As we emerge from a global pandemic, people are eager to share experiences and celebrate,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “During this year’s ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival our mission is to assist and amplify the efforts of the cultural community and local businesses as they safely REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT. We continue our commitment to highlight the outstanding work of local artists, and this year we are broadening the festival’s scope. Join us beginning Labor Day Weekend with the return of the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and every weekend through October in neighborhoods across Atlanta to enjoy music, art, dance, film and a few surprises.”

“Over the last year, the world has been forced to pause and affirm its value in LIFE,” says Charmaine Minniefield, artist, activist and ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival 2021 curator. “We have witnessed great loss, while reckoning with difficult truths about our generation and what we want our legacy to be. We have been given a chance to imagine what we truly want for our future. It’s time now to come together in creative spaces of possibilities, safely in community, to begin to make our new world.”

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse, and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation. ELEVATE is a program of the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

For news and updates about ELEVATE 2021: REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT visit the website, elevateatlart.com.

For more information, please contact Karen Hatchett at Hatchett PR, karen@hatchettpr.com.

CALL FOR ARTISTS: OCA Seeks Project Proposals for ELEVATE 2021

The City of Atlanta, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is seeking project proposals for its annual Public Art festival, ELEVATE.

This year, ELEVATE will take place each weekend in September & October in various neighborhoods around Atlanta with a focus on the theme, Reopen, Reignite, Reconnect.

The OCA is seeking proposals for all artforms from Atlanta based artists and arts organizations.

Click below for details and requirements:
https://www.elevateatlart.com/callforproposals

Submission Deadline is 5:00 PM EST, August 20, 2021.

OCA Seeks Art Conservator to Help Restore Iconic Old Fourth Ward Mural

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program seeks an art conservator to help restore the “Triumphant Celebration” (pictured above) mural for the 2021 ELEVATE Public Art Festival. Interested parties should submit their proposals to Shannon Douglas Kimbro via email, at skimbro@atlantaga.gov, by 3 PM on Tuesday, August 03, 2021.

The selected conservator shall work closely with the Conservation and Maintenance Program Manager for the project’s duration. All contracted work identified within this Request for Quotes (RPQ) is anticipated to be completed no later than September 23, 2021. All work will need to be strategically planned and coordinated to assure completion within the timeline.

Additionally, the selected conservator will be responsible for all contracted services, insurance requirements, public safety requirements, permits, and coordination of services.

“Triumphant Celebration” was created by the late master muralist, Calvin B. Jones, in 1990 and sponsored by the City of Atlanta’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs (now known as the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs), the City’s Percent for Arts Program, and the 1990 National Black Arts Festival.

As a part of the 2021 ELEVATE Public Art Festival, the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs would like to sponsor the restoration of this iconic mural on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood. All questions, comments, and submittals regarding this RFQ will be received via email.

If you have any questions, please review the complete RFQ by clicking the link below or contact Shannon Douglas Kimbro at skimbro@atlantaga.gov.

Click here to download RFQ

ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival To Activate Communities With Art As They REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT

As residents and businesses begin the process of moving forward with hope and optimism past the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival will help activate communities throughout Atlanta with art and cultural activities. The festival will include partnerships with art galleries, museums, theaters, performance venues, restaurants, bars, shops, colleges, parks, and libraries. ELEVATE 2021: REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT will take place from September 5 – October 31, 2021.

“As we emerge from a global pandemic, people are eager to share experiences and celebrate,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “During this year’s ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival our mission is to assist and amplify the efforts of the cultural community and local businesses as they safely REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT. We continue our commitment to highlight the outstanding work of local artists, and this year we are broadening the festival’s scope. Join us beginning Labor Day Weekend with the return of the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and every weekend through October in neighborhoods across Atlanta to enjoy music, art, dance, film and a few surprises.”

“Over the last year, the world has been forced to pause and affirm its value in LIFE,” says Charmaine Minniefield, artist, activist and ELEVATE Atlanta Art Festival 2021 curator. “We have witnessed great loss, while reckoning with difficult truths about our generation and what we want our legacy to be. We have been given a chance to imagine what we truly want for our future. It’s time now to come together in creative spaces of possibilities, safely in community, to begin to make our new world.”

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse, and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation. ELEVATE is a program of the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

For news and updates about ELEVATE 2021: REOPEN, REIGNITE & RECONNECT visit the website, elevateatlart.com.

OCA Awarded $25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) has been given a $25,000 Grants for Arts Projects award by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support ELEVATE 2021. This project will enhance the City’s cultural offerings by providing free, quality cultural experiences that highlight what makes Atlanta unique and increasing Atlanta’s cultural and economic vitality.

The OCA’s project is among the more than 1,100 projects across America totaling nearly $27 million that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2021 funding.

“As the country and the arts sector begin to imagine returning to a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce funding that will help arts organizations such as the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs reengage fully with partners and audiences,” said NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “Although the arts have sustained many during the pandemic, the chance to gather with one another and share arts experiences is its own necessity and pleasure.”

“The NEA’s support of our programming will help us continue to enhance the City’s cultural offerings, through ELEVATE, and help our artistic community emerge from the pandemic,” said Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Presented annually by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs in various locations around Atlanta, ELEVATE is a temporary public art program that seeks to invigorate the Atlanta area through visual art, performances, and cultural events.

Launched in 2011, the first exhibition of ELEVATE hosted 15 events and 40 performances over 66 days. Artwork filled vacant properties, street corners, and plazas to showcase artwork ranging from 13 story murals to contemporary dance, video, installation, and poetry. This intensive cultural programming invited 13,313 new visitors to downtown Atlanta. Since its inaugural year in 2011, more than 250 articles have been published recognizing Atlanta’s cultural spirit.

For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

OCA’s Public Art Program Restores Artwork in West End Park

Before and After Restoration

In the southeast corner of Atlanta’s West End Park stands a lofty steel sculpture, which remained, until recently, weathered and anonymous.

Its colors long since faded due to year’s of weathering, this sculpture was fabricated in 1979 for the City of Atlanta, and it was de-accessioned from the City’s Public Art Collection during the 1990s.

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs recently restored and reinstituted this piece into the City’s Public Art Collection once again, in congruence with this year’s ELEVATE festival, highlighting public art within Atlanta’s West End neighborhood. This restored artwork was included in a walking art tour developed for this year’s ELEVATE.

The 24-foot-tall sculpture suffered severe paint flaking and cracking along the main structure while the upper cable wire began to break and rust away. The sculpture’s restoration was performed in early October by Jeffry Loy, a local artist, blacksmith, and art conservator. Jeffry removed the preexisting paint and repaired the mechanism. He also primed and painted the sculpture with fresh color, renewing the sculpture’s appearance with an effect that ripples out to the entirety of West End Park and the surrounding neighborhood.

OCA Releases Pandemic Atlanta 2020 Magazine

Presented by the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the Pandemic Atlanta 2020 magazine is an assortment of artwork, literature, poetry, and photography documenting the experiences of Atlanta-based artists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to download a copy of the magazine.

Facebook Partners with ELEVATE to Install Five Voter Awareness Murals in Atlanta

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) annual ELEVATE public art festival recently partnered with Facebook to install five new murals, which are a part of this year’s festival — presented digitally on the ELEVATE website, Facebook, and YouTube from October 4 to 10.

With 2020 marking a pivotal election year, Facebook launched the “Voting is Voice” campaign and set a goal to register 4 million new voters during the largest voter drive in U.S. history. Facebook’s partnership with the OCA and ELEVATE was a natural fit as the festival will explore the concept of social justice and equity through this year’s programming.

For the “Voting is Voice” campaign, five artists from across the U.S. created original artwork commissions in response to the prompt “Voting is Voice.” Within this theme, each artist explored voting as a powerful tool of the personal and collective voice, the importance of a diversity of voices to a healthy society, the powerful impact of personal narratives as vehicles for change, and our collective responsibility to acknowledge and amplify a broad spectrum of voices. These five murals are a part of Facebook’s push to increase voter engagement and participation during this election year.

Each mural will feature the artist’s bio, Q.R. codes, and URLs that direct viewers to Facebook and Instagram’s Voting Information Center, where they can find more information on the 2020 U.S. election and a quick and easy way to register to vote.

In addition, the murals encourage public interaction through compelling, relevant design & digital features that create multiple levels of access for every member of the community.

List of Facebook Murals and Locations

“You Gotta Vote” by Edie Fake at 3020 Campbellton Rd. SW, Atlanta, GA

ELEVATE 2020 to Examine Inequity and Promote Community Building and Activism

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will bring its annual ELEVATE public art festival to Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood from Sunday, October 4 to Saturday, October 10, 2020. This year’s festival events will be virtual.

2020 has brought a pandemic, racial unrest, an economic recession, food shortages, and a political struggle for the soul of our country. Voices calling for change have risen to a deafening pitch. Against this backdrop, ELEVATE: Equity, Activism, Engagement is inviting artists, thought leaders, and the public to examine issues of inequity and injustice with the goal of inspiring community building, activism, and hope.

“We want this year’s ELEVATE festival to be a platform for dialogue about important issues, provide resources for activism, and help set a course for positive change,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “For the first time, the festival enters the digital space. We invite people to join us for virtual events including visual art experiences, dance, poetry, lively conversations, film screenings, musical performances and more. All of the events are free.”

Leatrice Ellzy Wright, Executive Director of Hammonds House Museum, is this year’s Curator for ELEVATE: Equity, Activism, Engagement.

Here are some of this year’s events and programs:

• Mural installations honoring civil rights leader Reverend James Orange and Black women activists from the West End community.
• An online and in person voter registration event at the West End MARTA station.
• A conversation with New York Times best-selling authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones, who frequently feature Atlanta’s West End community in their work.
• The opening of Hammonds House Museum’s exhibition Elements of A Revolution.
• A conversation between the executive directors of Atlanta Contemporary and Les Abattoirs/Toulouse to discuss challenges of promoting art during COVID-19, issues of gender equality and racism in their field. Since 1974 Atlanta and Toulouse have been Sister Cities.
• A screening of the stirring new documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” an intimate account of the legendary U.S. Representative’s life, legacy, and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism.
• An Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance of Lazarus created by acclaimed hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris. The ballet connects the past and the present in a powerful work that addresses racial inequities America faced when Mr. Ailey founded his dance company in 1958 and still faces today.
• Renowned artist Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with SCAD, will launch RESIST COVID/TAKE 6, a public art initiative raising critical heath awareness about COVID-19 and the ways racial inequities have manifested in the pandemic.
• Musical performances by Kebbi Williams and The Wolf Pack, The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Gritz and Jelly Butter, Tony Hightower, and Julie Dexter.

Partners for this year’s festival are Kroger, MARTA, Hammonds House Museum, Selig Enterprises, Goodwill Industries, West End Mall, Consulate General of France in Atlanta, Georgia STAND-UP, The Atlanta Hawks, Fulton County Registration and Elections, SCAD, West End Tours, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, and Canopy Atlanta. Destination Dance Ailey Atlanta Partners include Rialto Center for the Arts at GSU, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, AREA, Reigning Victory Dance Academy, and The Atlanta Ballet.

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse, and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation. ELEVATE is a program of the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

For more information about ELEVATE, please visit the web site: elevateatlart.com.

OCA Seeks Muralists for Dual Social Justice Inspired Murals for ELEVATE 2020 [CLOSED]

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is currently seeking two muralists for the 2020 ELEVATE Public Art Festival. Each muralist will be responsible for one of two murals that will adorn the Goodwill Industries building at 888 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

Photo by Alex Duffy on Unsplash

Experienced local muralists are invited to submit mural proposals, qualifications, and budget breakdowns until 4 PM EDT, Friday, August 21, 2020. Each selected artist will receive $7,000 for their work and an additional $1,300 for materials and expenses.

Tentatively titled “Unsung Heroines of the West End”, the first mural’s design should highlight women activists and unsung heroines whose work and sacrifice positively impacted the lives of residents in the West End community and beyond.

The second mural’s design should focus on a social justice narrative and feature Rev. James Edward Orange. Rev. Orange was a pastor and a leading civil rights activist, who also assisted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement.

Artists are allowed to submit multiple proposals for the project. However, design proposals for both murals must align with our curatorial direction. For full details, download and review our Request for Proposals (RFP) for each project linked below.

ELEVATE 2020 – Unsung Heroines of the West End Mural RFP

ELEVATE 2020 – Social Justice Mural with Community Component RFP

Muralists who apply for either project should have extensive experience working with communities and painting large walls. The walls designated for each mural measure roughly 20 feet in height by 100 feet in width. Each artist will be responsible for applying a protective clear coat over their respective murals. Also, each artist should account for the cost of all materials, and any assistants needed to complete the mural in their respective budget projections.

If you have additional questions, please email, Emily Fisher, ELEVATE Outreach Specialist, at EAFisher@AtlantaGA.gov.

Artist Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must:

• Live or work out of a studio in Atlanta,
• Have experience in painting large scale murals,
• Have experience in working closely with communities.

All applicants, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, origin or disability will be considered.

Artist Proposal Submission Requirements

• CV/Resume (one page)
• Proposed Mural Design
• Artist Statement
• 3-6 images of previous work (preferably images of mural projects)
• Budget breakdown with detail explanation of materials, equipment, and assistants needed to complete artwork.
• Your availability from September to October 2020
• A Completed E-Verify Contractor Affidavit OR No E-Verify Memorandum (review full RFP for more information)

Please send your proposals in a single PDF to EAFisher@atlantaga.gov by 4 PM EDT Friday, August 21, 2020.

Proposals received after the deadline of Friday, August 21 at 4 pm EDT, will NOT be accepted.

Qualifications will be reviewed by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs beginning August 22, 2020.

Public Art Program Restores Mural Dedicated to Civil Rights Icons

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Program recently restored a mural dedicated to the City’s five Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, Reverend C. T. Vivian, Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Joseph E. Lowery, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Atlanta Braves legend, Henry “Hank” Aaron.

Located on 2265 Cascade Road SW, the wheat paste mural was originally installed in 2018 in Atlanta’s Cascade Heights community during ELEVATE, the OCA’s annual public art festival.

Like many of you, the City of Atlanta and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs are saddened by the passing of Representative Lewis and Reverend Vivian, two Civil Rights icons whose contributions to the fight for justice and equality are immeasurable.

Through the work of our office, we will continue to preserve and amplify the stories and work Rep. Lewis and Rev. Vivian gave to our culture through their tireless commitment to social justice and equality.

OCA’s Conservation Team Restores ELEVATE Mural

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Conservation and Maintenance Team recently restored a mural at Atlanta’s Pittsburgh community. Located on 1029 McDaniel Street, the mural was created by Charity Hamidulah during our annual ELEVATE Public Art Festival in 2019.

Children in the Pittsburgh neighborhood were used as references for the mural. The piece evokes a sense of global awareness, acknowledging children as an important part of the future of our world and giving them a chance to feel seen and involved.

The OCA strives to engage small, emerging communities through ELEVATE, in order to make a sustainable impact with art and culture. Addressing the graffiti on this mural communicates the City’s continued investment in the neighborhood and while celebrating cultural and artistic expression.

OCA Announces ELEVATE: Pittsburgh’s Event Line-up and Activations

The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) announced the 2019 lineup of exhibitions, events, and community activities for the city’s annual public art festival, ELEVATE, which will be hosted in the historic Pittsburgh neighborhood from Monday, Oct. 14, to Saturday, Oct. 19.

This year, the City of Atlanta has teamed up with the curatorial team from the African Diasporic Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) to present a number of exhibitions featuring artists from across Atlanta.

Monday, October 14th will mark the opening of the newly redesigned Pyramid Grocery Food Store, a cultural cornerstone of the Pittsburgh neighborhood. The grocery store has undergone an interior makeover to emphasize its focus on community access to fresh fruits and vegetables redesigned by a group of local artists Chloe Floyd, Katina Benenate, Lamont Rudolph, and Alison Hamil. The exterior of the store will also feature decorative murals from artists Kimberly Binns with Tracy Murrell, Charmaine Minniefield, and Fabian Williams.

The festival will install a variety of murals across the Pittsburgh neighborhood. In Pittman Park, community inspired murals by Corey Barksdale will be featured on picnic tables, benches, the pavilion, and grill. 1029 McDaniel Street, previously known as “The Pink Store,” will also receive a new inspirational mural by Charity Hamidullah. The OCA has also partnered with the Department of City Planning to install several mural bike racks in Pittman Park.

OCA has partnered with various local organizations to present a variety of community events during the week of ELEVATE for all ages.

Additional support from this year’s festival comes from Home Depot, Lifecycle Building Center, The Department of City Planning, The Department of Parks and Recreation, Carver STEAM Academy, Atlanta Music Project, France Atlanta, The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Alliance Theatre, The Mayor’s Summer Reading Club, and SHAPE.

For more festival information including a complete list of ELEVATE activations, artists, and full event schedule, visit www.elevateatlart.com.

ELEVATE: Pittsburgh’s Schedule of Events

Monday, October 14

Senior Storytelling Workshop with Sistah Olufani

Pittman Recreation Center

950 Garibaldi St.

12 pm

Seniors in the Pittsburgh community are invited to join Sistah Olufemi of Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia for interactive storytelling workshop that uses storytelling to explore human connections.

By educating community members on the power of storytelling, the workshop hopes to encourage Pittsburgh’s legacies residents to share their unique stories about themselves and the community to foster a stronger connection between the past and future of the community.

Tuesday, October 15

Suppressed: The Fight To Vote Documentary Screening + Panel Discussion

Pittman Recreation Center

950 Garibaldi St.

8 pm

ELEVATE: Pittsburgh explores how political disenfranchisement impacts our communities with a special screening of the short film “Suppressed: The Fight to Vote”. After the screening, join us at the Pittman Park Recreation Center for a panel discussion with The New Georgia Project where we will discuss the power of voting, help people register to vote, learn about the 2020 Census, and share information community resources and support.

Wednesday, October 16

The Last Black Man in San Francisco and Short Film Screenings

Pittman Park Pavilion

Garibaldi St & Delevan St.

6:30 pm

Movie night features the critically acclaimed film, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”, a poignant story about gentrification as one young Black man struggles to hold on to the sense of belonging in the face of rapid change.

The screening also features two short films, “Grace” directed by Roni Nicole Henderson and “Black Girl Magic” by Kaylee Jade Warfield, that explore the theme of personal and cultural memory.

Accompanying the screenings will be the unveiling of new decorative murals by local artist Corey Barksdale.

Content Warning: This film is rated R for language, brief nudity, and drug use.

Thursday, October 17

Ways of Seeing Opening & Sacred Street Zine Release

1029 McDaniel St.

6 pm

“Ways of Seeing” is an interactive photo exhibit and Zine that imagines Pittsburgh through the eyes of existing community members, architects and photographers who reflect on the past while imagining a potential future of this once thriving intown neighborhood. Photography by Phil Winters, Ken West, and Michael Reese, Architectural renderings from NOMA and SHAPE, research from Dr. Richard C. Kelsey. In partnership with The Department of City Planning.

Thursday, October 17

Soundscape Concert featuring DJ Kemit

1029 McDaniel St.

6 pm

One of the greatest repositories of Cultural Capital can be found in the music of a community. Hosted in tandem with “Ways of Seeing,” Acclaimed DJ and Producer DJ Kemit mines his musical archives to take us on a journey of sound. From the 1930s to today, Kemit explores the impact Atlanta has had on Southern music. Enjoy the music while you take in the gallery exhibition and new murals by Charity Hamidullah.

Friday, October 18

Komansé Dance Theater Performance of Skid

Carver STEAM Academy Auditorium

55 McDonough Blvd.

7:30 pm

Komansé Dance Theater takes a provocative look at homelessness and gentrification in the metro Atlanta area and beyond in their riveting performance of SKID.

Content Warning: SKID engages serious social issues and includes some adult themes and language. Parental discretion is advised.

Friday, October 18

Silent Disco Featuring DJ Salah Ananse

Carver STEAM Academy

55 McDonough Blvd.

9 pm

After Komansé’s Performance, join us for our annual ELEVATE Silent Disco and curate your own specially design dance soundtrack featuring a mix from DJ Salah Ananse and two original playlists created exclusively for this event.

Saturday, October 19

ELEVATE Community Festival

Pittman Park

291 Delevan St.

12 PM

Join us for a day full of fun, art, and celebration. We kick off our annual ELEVATE Community Festival with a community mural project as Pittsburgh residents and supporters help Atlanta-based artist Corey Barksdale finish a mural dedicated to the community.

At 2 pm, join us for the opening of the Artist Market, featuring the Blackberry Arts Collective, and explore our free Book Fair.

Shortly afterward, settle into our Storytelling Pavilion featuring entertainment from the Atlanta Music Project, movies from Sweet Blackberry Films, and more.

Also, author Pearl Cleage will treat guest to a reading of her children’s book “In my Granny’s Garden”.

At 8 pm, We close the evening with a special 30th Anniversary Screening of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” Content Warning: This film is rated R for language, brief nudity, and drug use.

This event is free and open to the public.

Community Mural

950 Garibaldi St.

1 pm

Artist Corey Barksdale and volunteers from the community will be finishing a mural. Lend a hand, learn painting techniques, and leave your mark.

Book Fair and Artist Market

Pittman Park Pavilion

Garibaldi St & Delevan St.

2 pm

Join us for a day of family fun in Pittman Park. Browse the Artist Market featuring the Blackberry Arts Collective and explore our free Book Fair.

Performances in The Park

Pittman Park Pavilion

Garibaldi St & Delevan St.

8 pm

End the night with a special screening of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

Content Warning: This film is rated R for language, brief nudity, violence, and drug use.

All schedule information, as well as a complete list of ELEVATE activities, artists, and more is available at www.elevateatlart.com.

ELEVATE Opens Artist Calls for Signage Artists and Artisans for 2019 Festival

The City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is currently seeking creative and innovative local Signage Artists with Graphic Design experience, Interior Designers, and Artisans for the 2019 ELEVATE Public Art Program. Experienced Signage Artists experience and Artisans are encouraged to submit qualifications and budget breakdowns for each respective call. 

For more information about each call, follow the links listed below for the opportunity you wish to pursue. Selected signage artists experience and artisans will be compensated for their time and work.

The deadline to apply is Friday, August 9, 2019, by 11:59 pm EST. 

ELEVATE 2019 Call for Artists – Pyramid Project (Artisan)

ELEVATE 2019 Call for Artists – Pyramid Project (Signage Designer)

ELEVATE 2019 Call for Artists – Pyramid Project (Interior Designer)

About ELEVATE

Presented each October in a culturally significant neighborhood within the City of Atlanta, the week-long festival showcases the city’s cultural offerings by providing free, quality cultural experiences that highlight the City’s cultural and economic vitality.

Each ELEVATE is presented with a specially curated “theme” that emphasizes various cultural topics and trends while incorporating the talent and creativity of local, national, and international art and artists. Hosted this year in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh community, the festival seeks to use art to bring a new perspective to the culturally significant yet overlook community.

ELEVATE Seeks Creatives for 2019 Festival

The City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is currently seeking creative and innovative local Scholars, Photographers, Signage Artists with graphic design experience, Interior Designers, and Artisans for the 2019 ELEVATE Public Art Program. All experienced candidates are encouraged to submit qualifications and budget breakdowns for each respective call. 

For more information about each call, visit the ELEVATE website listed below. Selected artists will be compensated for their time and work.

The deadline extended to Friday, August 16, 2019, by 11:59 pm EST. 

ELEVATE 2019 Artist Calls

About ELEVATE

Presented each October in a culturally significant neighborhood within the City of Atlanta, the week-long festival showcases the city’s cultural offerings by providing free, quality cultural experiences that highlight the City’s cultural and economic vitality.

Each ELEVATE is presented with a specially curated “theme” that emphasizes various cultural topics and trends while incorporating the talent and creativity of local, national, and international art and artists. Hosted this year in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh community, the festival seeks to use art to bring a new perspective to the culturally significant yet overlook community.

OCA Announces Dates and Host Neighborhood for 2019 ELEVATE Festival

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is proud to announce that our 9th annual ELEVATE Public Art Festival will be held in Atlanta’s historic Pittsburgh neighborhood from Monday, Oct. 14 to Saturday, Oct. 19.

An annual celebration of Atlanta’s creative energy, ELEVATE is a week-long, free public art festival that brings premier cultural experiences and community-specific art installations to its host community.

Throughout the week, community residents from across the city are treated to a series of artistic exhibitions, performances, and events that aims to enrich, educate, and celebrate the host community’s history and culture.

More details about the upcoming festival, including artist calls, event information, and sponsorship opportunities, will be announced in the coming weeks. Until then, follow the festival on social media @ELEVATEATL on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to receive news and updates as they emerge.

OCA Hosts Gallery Exhibit by TILA Studios’ Garden Fellows at Mayor’s Gallery

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is pleased to present the exhibition of “Daisy Chain” at the Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall from Thursday, May 2 to Friday, June 21. The exhibition celebrates the homecoming of the inaugural Garden Fellows who represented a branch of the Atlanta creative community and TILA Studios during Art Basel Miami 2018.

Curated by Daricia Mia DeMarr, this exhibition will feature energetic, vibrant works from 10 female artists of color, whose art evokes the celebration of sisterhood and unity. An opening reception will be hosted Monday, May 20 at 4:30 at the Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall. The reception is free and open to the public.

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and TILA Studios Present: Daisy Chain

Thursday, May 2 – Friday, June 21, 2019 (New Date)

The Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA

Opening Reception: Monday, May 20, 2019 at The Mayor’s Gallery at City Hall, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm. (New Date)

Please join the City of Atlanta in celebrating these amazing and talented artists. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, please contact the gallery curator, Kevin Sipp, for more information at 404-546-3220 or KSipp@AtlantaGa.Gov.

Artist Featured in the “Daisy Chain” Exhibit:

Grace Kisa
Evelyn Quiñones
Angela Davis Johnson
Shon Pittman
Ebony Black
Ariel Dannielle
Jasmine Nicole Williams
Ayanna Smith
Sachi Rome
Christa David

OCA’s Public Art Team Restores Two Southwest Atlanta Sculptures

In October, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) Public Art Conservation and Maintenance team performed restorations on two public artworks by artist Ayokunle Odeleye, “Spirit, Family, Community” and “Chi Wara Sundial Lantern.”

Created in 1996 and residing on the corner of Hank Aaron Drive SW and Haygood Avenue SE, “Spirit, Family, Community” features an embedded sculpture of a close-knit family of four that honors the families and members of the Cascade Road community. The steel and bronze sculpture doubles as a working sundial and light fixture. The installation also includes design elements that pay homage to the significant impact members of the community made on Atlanta and beyond through scholarship and creativity.

Five miles west, on the corner of Cascade Road SW and Benjamin E. Mays Drive SW, sits Odeleye’s “Chi Wara Sundial Lantern.” Installed in 2012, this site-specific sculpture is part of the Cascade Road/Benjamin E. Mays streetscape improvement project led in partnership by the OCA and the Department of Public Works. An art selection committee picked Odeleye to develop artwork to anchor the project.

Inspiration for the sundial comes from the Chi Wara, a mythical creature of the Bambara ethnic group of the Republic of Mali in West Africa. The Chi Wara is a special ceremonial headdress used to pass knowledge from wise elders to young people in the village. Odeleye’s sculpture uses this concept to suggest the ceremonial passing of scholarship from Cascade elders to the youth of the community.

During the restoration process, the Conservation and Maintenance team addressed and treated surface abrasions and scratches, organic residue, and elemental exposures each installation sustained.

Surfaces of both sculptures were polished to restore the original shine and to apply a protective coating. In addition, the exterior surfaces of the sculptures were washed, treated, and waxed. The Conservation and Maintenance team also corrected an elevation issue along the right side of “Spirit, Family, Community” to protect the base’s corner.

For more information about these sculptures and the city’s Public Art Collection, visit our Arts Hub.

CeeLo Green, SOS Band and Others Celebrate the Arts and Culture of the SWATS

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs reveals a new mural honoring Atlanta’s cultural and creative innovators on Tuesday, Oct. 16 with an unveiling ceremony featuring award-winning artist CeeLo Green and S.O.S. Band members Mary Daniels and Abdul Ra’oof. Atlanta Magazine journalist Jewel Wicker recaps the events and reminisces about the history of the area. Read the full story here.

OCA Partners with T.I. and artist Austin Blue to Celebrate Atlanta’s Cultural Pioneers

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs collaborated with visual artist Austin Blue and award-winning hip-hop artist T.I. to present the “Art of the S.W.A.T.S. House” cultural pop-up to pay homage to the heroes, heritage, and history of the Atlanta’s Southwest community. Read the full story at ArtsATL.com.

ArtsATL Discusses Photographer Sheila Pree Bright new book “#1960Now”

When protests broke out in Ferguson, Missouri, Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright embarked on a journey that gave birth to her new book “#1960NOW”. ArtsATL journalist Kelundra Smith speaks with Pree Bright about her new book and her exhibition at the Arnika Dawkins Gallery, hosted in partnership with For Freedoms and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ ELEVATE public art festival. Read the full story at ArtsATL.com

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Announces ELEVATE: S.W.A.T.S

City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs moves its annual public art festival to Southwest Atlanta to honor the neighborhood’s culture, history, and heroes.

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) will host the city’s annual public art festival, ELEVATE, in Southwest Atlanta from Sunday, Oct. 14, to Sunday, Oct. 21.   

Traditionally hosted in Atlanta’s south Downtown area, the festival’s move to the southwest community marks the OCA’s efforts to present cultural experiences from artists and organizations like the Alliance Theatre and High Museum of Art to a new audience. The move also provides a platform to showcase Southwest Atlanta’s cultural institutions such as Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, Dancemakers of Atlanta, and the Arnika Dawkins Gallery.  

Titled ELEVATE: S.W.A.T.S. (Southwest Atlanta, Too Strong) in honor of the community’s nickname, the week-long festival seeks to commemorate the heritage of the community while infusing the area with a variety of cultural activities. Featured events include a book signing and photo exhibition by photographer Shelia Pree Bright, a theatrical production of “Bone Hill: The Concert”, “A Night of Dance” by Ailey II and the Dancemaker of Atlanta, and the “Right in the Eye” movie concert.  

Four large-scale murals will be installed in the Cascade Business Corridor as part of an exclusive community art collection. An impressive mural will be dedicated to the community’s five Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients: Reverend Dr. C. T. Vivian, Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Joseph E. Lowery, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Atlanta Braves legend, Henry “Hank” Aaron.  In collaboration with France-Atlanta and Atlanta’s sister city of Toulouse, France, a mural by world-renowned urban artist Ceet will be installed, while a collective of metro Atlanta-based artists selected by the community will complete the collection.  

The Art of the S.W.A.T.S. House, a visual celebration of artistic and musical excellence from the S.W.A.T.S., will be curated by platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning musician T.I., and will incorporate the art of Austin Blue.  

Featuring 13 different cultural events and 12 different art installations, this year’s ELEVATE aims to offer a diverse array of cultural experiences while celebrating the rich history, culture, and accomplishments of one of Atlanta’s strongest communities.  

Additional support for this year’s festival includes Mailchimp, Chick-fil-A, For Freedoms - 50 State Initiative, the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Live Fresh, Atlanta City Studio, Street Art ATL, Discover Atlanta, the Point at Cascade, Atlanta Music Project, Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Hillside International Truth Center, Church of the Incarnation, and Cascade United Methodist Church.   

For more festival information and a full event schedule, visit elevateatlart.com.  

CALL FOR ARTISTS: OCA Seeks Signature Murals for Elevate 2018

Request for Proposals: The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Program Seeks Painted Murals for Elevate 2018

Mural by Yoyo Ferro

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) Public Art Services seeks proposals from local artists to paint murals along Cascade Road in Southwest Atlanta. The murals should be abstract or non-objective and have an uplifting theme. Each selected artist will be granted to a different wall/location. These will serve as part of the overall programming for the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ 2018 public art festival ELEVATE.

Project/ Scope of Work

Project Description

ELEVATE 2018 is working closely with Cascade Heights and all surrounding communities to plan events that will showcase the neighborhoods’ rich history. Murals should be mocked up on the proposed wall and be colorful, positive additions to the neighborhoods. Wall owners will have final approval on mural images and may ask for changes to be made to the mock-up. Walls will be cleaned for the artists. Ladders or scaffold will be made available if needed. Artist’s fee includes $500 for paint and materials.

*Please note: the exhibition of the murals will be a ‘temporary’ installation. The OCA hopes to leave the murals indefinitely but projects can be removed for any reason after the October event.

Project Timeline

August 20: Proposals due

August 27: Selected artists will be notified

October 14: Artwork must be complete by this date.

October 21: Murals will be a major focus on this day of ELEVATE, The OCA’s annual Public Art Festival

Budget/Compensation

The budget includes artist fee, supplies, and paint.

Artist Compliance

Artists are responsible for worksite safety and will be asked to sign a liability waiver prior to work beginning.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Painting proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Originality of Design

Is the artwork unique and original to the proposing artist?

Artistic Merit of Design

Is the design visually and conceptually stimulating?

Design’s relevance to Cascade

How will the design interact with its viewers in this community? How will it complement its surroundings?

Previous professional art experience

Do the submitted portfolio examples show artistic merit and support the proposal’s feasibility?

Proposal Guidelines & Requirements

A written summary describing the proposed painted artwork takes into account the location, its surroundings, the history of the area, and the community (not to exceed max 250 words)

Contact information for artist including name, address, telephone number, & email address

Examples of past works – At least three (3) JPEG images relevant artworks sent as each separate attachment.

Biographic information including an artist Resume or CV.

All proposal submission materials must be received by 5 p.m. on August 20, 2018.

Please email application packets to eafisher@AtlantaGA.gov

For any questions regarding the project or the proposal submission, please contact Emily Fisher at eafisher@AtlantaGA.gov.

Contract Terms

All contracts are subject to review by the City of Atlanta’s legal counsel, and a project will be awarded upon signing of an agreement or contract which outlines the terms, scope, budget, and other necessary items.

Selection Notice

Proposals will be evaluated beginning August 23, 2018. Selected artists will be notified by August 27, 2018. Artists will be contacted, and contracts will be handled shortly after. Non-accepted artists will be notified by September 1st, 2018.

Download Mural RFP

CALL FOR ARTISTS: OCA Seeks Bench and Picnic Table Murals for Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Request for Proposals: The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Program Seeks Mural Benches and Picnic Tables to be Painted for Elevate 2018

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Services seeks proposals from local artists to paint park benches and picnic tables in Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. The murals should serve as a single body of work and will serve as part of the overall programming for the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ 2018 public art festival ELEVATE.

Project/ Scope of Work

Project Description

ELEVATE 2018 is working closely with the community surrounding Cascade to plan events that will showcase the neighborhood’s rich history. Murals should be presented as a full body of work that compliments the beauty of Cascade Springs Nature Preserve without competing with it. Benches and picnic tables to be prepped, primed and painted are located in three areas of Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. Each area will have a different artist therefore 2 artists will paint 2 picnic tables and 3 benches ($3000), and 1 artist will paint 2 Picnic Tables ($2,500). This budget includes supplies and artist fee.

*Please note: the exhibition of the murals will be a ‘temporary’ installation. The OCA hopes to leave the murals indefinitely but projects can be removed for any reason after the October event.

Project Timeline

August 20: Proposals due

August 27: Selected artists will be notified

October 1: Artwork must be complete by this date.

October 21: Murals will be a major focus on this day of ELEVATE, The OCA’s annual Public Art Festival

Budget/Compensation

The budget includes artist fee, supplies, and paint.

Artist Compliance

Artists are responsible for prepping, priming and painting tables and benches with products recommended by OCA’s Public Art program.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Painting proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Originality of Design

Is the artwork unique and original to the proposing artist?

Artistic Merit of Design

Is the design visually and conceptually stimulating?

Design’s relevance to Cascade Spring Nature Preserve

How will the design interact with its viewers in this community? Is the subject matter or design relevant and appropriate for this audience?

Previous professional art experience

Do the submitted portfolio examples show artistic merit and support the proposal’s feasibility?

Proposal Guidelines & Requirements

A written summary describing the proposed painted artwork(max 250 words)

Contact information for artist including name, address, telephone number, & email address

Examples of past works – At least Three (3) JPEG images relevant artworks sent as each separate attachment.

Biographic information including an artist Resume or CV.

All proposal submission materials must be received by 5 p.m. on August 20, 2018.

Please email application packets to bxcamelo@AtlantaGA.gov

For any questions regarding the project or the proposal submission, please contact Briana X. Camelo at ­bxcamelo@AtlantaGA.gov

Contract Terms

All contracts are subject to review by the City of Atlanta’s legal counsel, and a project will be awarded upon signing of an agreement or contract which outlines the terms, scope, budget, and other necessary items.

Selection Notice

Proposals will be evaluated beginning August 24, 2018. Selected artists will be notified by August 27, 2018. Artists will be contacted, and contracts will be handled shortly after.

Non-accepted artists will be notified by August 31, 2018.

CALL FOR ARTISTS: OCA Seeks Mural Proposals for Utility Boxes in Cascade Heights

Request for Proposals: The City Of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office Of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Program Seeks Professional Visual Artists to Create Painted Designs on Traffic Light Utility Boxes for ELEVATE: Cascade 2018

Video is courtesy of Matt Evans

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Program seeks proposals from local professional visual artists to adorn metal traffic light utility boxes with original painted artworks. The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Services has identified two (2) traffic light utility boxes in the Cascade Heights neighborhood and is seeking professional, visual artists to adorn them with 2-D, painted artworks.

Project/ Scope of Work

Project Description

If selected, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will provide artists with an outdoor location to a traffic light utility box or pedestal utility box in the neighborhood.  Each artist will embellish the box on-site with original, hand-painted works of art. Paint and respirators will be provided to the artists, along with an artist fee/compensation of $800. Artists will be responsible for completing the design for the mural and applying the paint to the utility box.

*Please note: the exhibition of the artist-painted utility boxes will be a”‘temporary” installation. The OCA anticipates leaving the painted boxes in place until the murals become dilapidated.

Project Timeline

August 1: Proposals due

August 13: Selected artists will be notified

August 18: Artist orientation re: expectations and materials (Saturday)

September 28: Utility Boxes must be complete

Budget/Compensation

Awarded artists will receive artist fee/compensation of $800 for painting a traffic light utility box. In addition to the $800 award, the Office of Cultural Affairs will provide protective breathing equipment (respirators) and will purchase oil enamel paints for each artist to use (up to $200). Artists will be required to provide their own preferred paint application supplies (sprayers, brushes, or other).

Artist Compliance

Artists must complete their assigned utility box by September 28, 2018 or risk breach of contract. Non-local or regional artists may apply, but there will be no travel compensation provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Artists must prime boxes prior to painting them (primer paint will be provided by the OCA).

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Painting proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Originality of Design

Is the artwork unique and original to the proposing artist?

Artistic Merit of Design

Is the design visually and conceptually stimulating?

Design’s relevance to Cascade Heights and surrounding neighborhoods

How will the design interact with its viewers in this community? Is the subject matter or design relevant and appropriate for this audience?

Previous professional art experience

Do the submitted portfolio examples show artistic merit and support the proposal’s feasibility?

Proposal Guidelines & Requirements

A written summary describing the proposed painted artwork(max 250 words)

Contact information for artist including name, address, telephone number, & email address

Examples of past works -5 JPEG of five relevant artworks.

Renderings of proposed painted design(s) for the utility boxes.

Using one of two options:

Hand drawing

Digital drawing

Biographic information including written explanation of past relevant experience and artist Resume or CV.

Paint Pallet selection and budget list -Artists will be required to use “1 Shot” enamel paint products. Painting supplies (including respirators and paint) will be supplied by the OCA. Please include in your proposal a list of 1 Shot enamel colors, including the prices that you will need to complete your design. Artist may use any colors from the URL links below. List of paints needed must not exceed $200.

https://www.dickblick.com/products/1-shot-lettering-enamels/

*Artist may also apply for the Mural Bike Rack Project but designs must be completely different.

Please email application packets to: bxcamelo@AtlantaGA.gov

For any questions regarding the project or the proposal submission, please contact Briana X. Camelo at ­bxcamelo@AtlantaGA.gov

Contract Terms

The OCA will negotiate contract terms upon selection.  All contracts are subject to review by the City of Atlanta’s legal counsel, and a project will be awarded upon signing of an agreement or contract which outlines the terms, scope, budget, and other necessary items. All content, coding, and graphics used will become the sole property of the Office of Cultural Affairs.

Selection Notice

Proposals will be evaluated beginning August 10, 2018. Selected artists will be notified by August 13. Artists will be contacted, and contracts will be handled shortly after. Non-accepted artists will be notified by August 17, 2018.

All artists will need to sign and date a professional service agreement upon selection. The contract will be given to the artists at the time of orientation.

CALL FOR ARTISTS: OCA Seeks New Bike Rack Murals for Cascade Heights

Request for Proposals: The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Program Seeks Professional Visual Artists to Create Painted Designs on Bike Racks for ELEVATE: Cascade 2018

Bike Rack Mural by Sanithna Phansavanh; Photo courtesy of Sanithna Phansavanh

The City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Public Art Program seeks proposals from local and regional professional visual artists to adorn metal bike racks with original painted artworks to continue the Mural Bike Rack Project. The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Program will install two Mural Bike Racks at different locations around the Cascade Heights neighborhood. The goal of the Mural Bike Rack project is to supplement and promote the City of Atlanta’s biking infrastructure through the creation of functional Public Art.

The Mural Bike Rack Project will…

• Provide additional parking for the increasing number of people who choose bicycling as a form of transportation in the neighborhood.
• Further encourage and promote the use of biking as transportation.
• Enhance Atlanta’s image as a bike and community arts-friendly city.
• Engage and promote the work of regional and local painters and mural artists.
• Encourage creative place-making through public art by creating aesthetic objects that symbolize the City’s creativity and livability.

Project/Scope of Work

Project Description

If selected, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will provide selected artists with a fabricated and primed bike-shaped bike rack for artists to embellish with original, hand-painted works of art. Artists will be responsible for completing the design for the mural and applying the paint to the bike rack. After each painted design is complete, artists will return the bike racks to the OCA. The OCA will then install them in the neighborhood.

*Please note: the exhibition of the artist-painted bike racks will be a”‘temporary” installation. The OCA anticipates leaving the painted bike racks in place until the murals become dilapidated (likely around three years). 

Project Timeline

August 1: Proposals due

August 13: Selected artists will be notified

August 18: Artist orientation re: expectations and materials; Artists pick up bicycles and begin painting (this is a Saturday)

September 28: Completed Bike Racks are due back to OCA

October 1 – 12, 2018: City of Atlanta installs bicycles

Budget/Compensation

Awarded artists will receive artist fee/compensation of $800 for painting a mural bike rack

In addition to the $800 award, the Office of Cultural Affairs will provide protective breathing equipment (respirators) and will purchase oil enamel paints for each artist to use (up to $200). Artists will be required to provide their own preferred paint application supplies (sprayers, brushes, or other).

 Artist Compliance

Bike racks will be installed by the City of Atlanta. Artists must complete and deliver finished bike racks to the OCA on September 28 or the artist will breach his/her contract. Non-local or Regional artists may apply, but there will be no travel compensation provided by the OCA

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Painting proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Originality of Design

Is the artwork unique and original to the proposing artist?

Artistic Merit of Design

Is the design visually and conceptually stimulating?

Design’s relevance to the Cascade Heights and surrounding neighborhoods

How will the design interact with its viewers in this community? Is the subject matter or design relevant and appropriate for this audience?

Previous professional art experience

Do the submitted portfolio examples show artistic merit and support the proposal’s feasibility?

Proposal Guidelines & Requirements

A written summary describing the proposed painted artwork(max 250 words)

Contact information for artist including name, address, telephone number, & email address

Examples of past works -5 JPEG of five relevant artworks.

Two renderings (front and back of bike rack) of proposed painted design(s) for the bike rack using one of two options:

Place painted design inside the 2-D template using hand drawn or digital technologies (download image here, or see image attached at the end of RFP packet)

If an applicant has Photoshop skills, rendering your image on top of a 3-D blank bike rack image. (download image here).

*Please note: The seat of the bike rack and the circular plates inside of the wheels will be made of flat metal sheets. The rest of the bike rack is composed of cylindrical metal tubing.

Biographic information including a written explanation of past relevant experience and artist Resume or CV.

Paint Pallet selection and budget list -Artists will be required to use “1 Shot” enamel paint products. Painting supplies (including respirators and paint) will be supplied by the OCA. Please include in your proposal a list of 1 Shot enamel colors, including the prices that you will need to complete your design. Artist may use any colors from the URL links below. List of paints needed must not exceed $200.

https://www.dickblick.com/products/1-shot-lettering-enamels/

*Artist may also apply for the Utility Box Project but designs must be completely different

 Please email application packets to: bxcamelo@AtlantaGA.gov

For any questions regarding the project or the proposal submission, please contact Briana X. Camelo at ­bxcamelo@AtlantaGA.gov

Contract Terms

All artists will need to sign and date a professional service agreement upon selection. The contract will be given to the artists at the time of orientation.

The OCA will negotiate contract terms upon selection.  All contracts are subject to review by the City of Atlanta’s legal counsel, and a project will be awarded upon signing of an agreement or contract which outlines the terms, scope, budget, and other necessary items. All content, coding, and graphics used will become the sole property of the Office of Cultural Affairs.

Selection Notice

Proposals will be evaluated beginning August 10, 2018. Selected artists will be notified by August 13. Artists will be contacted, and contracts will be handled shortly after. Non-accepted artists will be notified by August 17, 2018.

ELEVATE 2018 Dates Announced!

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will host our 8th annual ELEVATE Public Art Festival in Atlanta’s historic Cascade neighborhood from Sunday, Oct. 14 to Sunday, Oct. 21.

ELEVATE seeks to infuse culture into a neighborhood through visual art, performances, and cultural events that present the city’s cultural offerings in various locations around Atlanta.

In addition to showcasing one of Atlanta’s storied neighborhoods, we are partnering with France-Atlanta and our sister city of Toulouse, France to present a mural by world-renowned street artist Ceet. A self-taught artist, Ceet developed his own style by using various mediums to produce 3D, abstract and figurative art and has partnered with major brands such as Adidas, Prada, and Lancel.

More details on this year’s schedule of events will be made available on our website. To learn more about ELEVATE, visit elevateatlart.com.

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Releases Annual Report

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), which manages the city’s multiple cultural and arts-based endeavors, recently released its 2017 Annual Report. The report highlights OCA’s efforts to spur stronger and more inclusive growth and explains the surprising economic impact the arts provide.

The report also demonstrates the collective impact of the OCA, whose subunits include Gallery 72, Chastain Arts Center, the city’s Public Art Services, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival, just to name a few, which generates surprising fiscal value for metro Atlanta in the form of approximately $15 million in economic impact to the city through its annual Atlanta Jazz Festival and ELEVATE temporary public art festival. Furthermore, the report reveals the direct and indirect benefits the OCA provides Atlantans through its various programs, such as the more than 30,000 Atlanta Public Schools students it engages annually via its Cultural Experience Project (CEP).

To view the OCA’s 2017 Annual Report, please use the following link. Follow the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest announcements.

OCA 2017 Annual Report

OCA Newsletter :: May 2018

View email in your browser  May Newsletter The Atlanta Jazz Festival is Approaching The Atlanta Jazz Festival (AJF) is regarded as one of the largest, FREE jazz festivals in the country. An annual celebration of the music, culture and art of jazz that lasts throughout May and culminates each Memorial Day weekend with an outdoor festival in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, featuring jazz artists from all over the world. The mission of the AJF is to expose and entertain a diverse audience of Jazz aficionados, young Jazz enthusiasts and aspiring musicians to the rich heritage and variety of Jazz as an authentic form of American music. The festival is produced by the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and is FREE and open to the public. It is made possible thanks to funding from corporate sponsors and Atlanta Jazz Festival, Inc., a non-profit entity dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Atlanta Jazz Festival. For more information, visit atlantafestivals.com. The Bud Light Lounge Late Night Jazz Jam After enjoying the jazz outdoors in Piedmont Park, contemporary jazz lovers can walk over to Park Tavern and enjoy the highly anticipated Late Night Jazz Jam on Saturday, May 26, featuring Russell Gunn & The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra. Tickets are $40. The Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Late Night Jazz Jam is one of the festival’s most popular events. For more information, click here. 31 DAYS OF JAZZ Partners of the Atlanta Jazz Festival will host jazz events every day leading up to the Atlanta Jazz Festival on Memorial Day weekend in Piedmont Park.  From MARTA stations, museums, jazz clubs and restaurants, our 31 Days of Jazz series provides a little something for everyone. Click here for the 31 Days of Jazz calendar. Neighborhood Jazz Series Join your local City of Atlanta council members each week during our Neighborhood Jazz Series. Each weekend, we partner with a different council member to bring jazz and fun to different corners of Atlanta. Come and enjoy great music and great times while we highlight Atlanta’s unique and historic neighborhoods! Each Neighborhood Jazz Series starts at 4 p.m. Neighborhood Jazz Series Dates: May 6: Neighborhood Jazz Series at West Manor Park presented by Council President Felicia Moore and Council Member Andre Dickens with performances from Gritz and Jelly Butter and Wolfpack ATL. Watch promo video here. May 12: Neighborhood Jazz Series at Washington Park presented by Council Member Ivory Lee Young, Jr., in conjunction with the Atlanta Beltline, with performances from Latrese Bush and Lil’ John Roberts and Friends. Watch promo video here. May 13: Neighborhood Jazz Series at John A. White Park presented by Council Member Marci Collier Overstreet with performances from EQ and Brenda Nicole Moorer. Watch promo video here. May 19: Neighborhood Jazz Series at Wilson Mill Park presented by Council Member Andrea L. Boone with performances from Groove Centric and Julie Dexter.  May 20: Neighborhood Jazz Series at Grant Park presented by Council Member Carla Smith with performances from Mabu’s Ark Band and The Milk Shake Quintet. MARTA Mondays MARTA Mondays feature FREE, LIVE JAZZ at a different MARTA station every Monday in May, starting at 4 p.m. These two-hour jazz concerts are a preview to the upcoming Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park on May 26 and 27. 2018 MARTA Mondays Schedule: May 7: Lindbergh Station, 4 p.m. featuring the Chris Burroughs Trio May 14: Avondale Station, 4 p.m. featuring the Mike Walton Quartet May 21: Midtown Station, 4 p.m. featuring Grüt Sights and Insights Calling all artists in the Southeast! Don’t miss your chance to apply for the 2018 Southeastern Regional Art Exhibit: SIGHTS AND INSIGHTS, which will be held in the Chastain Gallery, June 18th through July 30th. Entry is open to all artists aged 18 and over who are residents of AL, FL, GA, NC, SC or TN. For more information and criteria for entry, click here. Deadline to enter is Friday, May 4th, 2018. Summer Camp and Teen Workshops Summer is almost here and our 2018 Art à la carte Summer Camp is a little more than a month away! Register your child or teen for our summer camp and teen workshop today. To view our Summer Camp and teen workshop schedule, please visit our website. Make sure your child or teen doesn’t miss out on all the fun! Call us today to register! Artist Talk at Gallery 72 – Elyse Defoor Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. Our lives are meant to do something. To have a hopeful outcome is to experience joy. Some people experience life with sunken resentment. I use art to slog through the morass of obstacles set before me. Unbridled– joy, loss, rage, joy– is my treatise on the passage of womanhood from the 1950s to today. This work has moved me from collecting wedding dresses and the comments from the women who wore them, to the ongoing study of the black belt with all its meanings, to the shed skins of Exuvia and, back again, to present the empty dresses in a new way. With authentic reverence, the beauty of darkness and light holds the conflicts of joy, loss, rage and joy in the full circle of life. Call For Panelists for 2019 Grant Cycle Buried Truths The Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will co-produce a concert staging of the Tony Award-winning musical Candide in Symphony Hall. In this popular adaptation of Voltaire’s satirical novel, the naïve Candide is separated from his beloved and journeys around the world to find her while fiercely retaining his mentor’s belief that “this is the best of all possible worlds” in the face of ever-increasing catastrophes. Candide will feature a cast of actors, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony Chorus in this historic Alliance Theatre/Atlanta Symphony Orchestra co-production.   Click here to RSVP and for more information.

ELEVATE: Microcosm

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is proud to announce this year’s ELEVATE public art festival! The theme of this year’s ELEVATE public art festival is Microcosm.

During ELEVATE: Microcosm artists will explore how a community reflects the larger world around it. Four curators have assembled more than 200 artists to create contemporary art and cultural events in order to spark dialogue around how a community deals with social, racial, and economic issues ranging from inequity to gentrification. ELEVATE Microcosm will take place in south downtown Atlanta, primarily on Broad Street SW. This emerging cultural district seeks to use creativity to build community and inspire constructive change in collaboration with the area’s stakeholders. The festival will be held from Thursday, October 13 through Friday, October 21. All events are free and open to the public.

“Festival attendees will be able to engage with artists, historians, and area residents,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We hope people who live and work in Atlanta will participate. We also invite anyone who enjoys contemporary art, and is interested in exploring ideas around community. Our events will be lively, interesting, and provocative. We’ll have a fabulous block party, interactive art installations, dance performances, large-scale murals, panel discussions, and historic bike and walking tours. Make plans to join us.”

ELEVATE Microcosm is being curated by Allie Bashuk, Monica Campana, Mark DiNatale and Pastiche Lumumba.

Participating artists and art groups will include:

Abdu Ali

Bae (DeCoteau, MIKKOH, Hourglass and Osho)

Bent Frequency

Black Power Party #2 – Black Girl Magic – featuring:

Minister James Pullin + Atlanta Baptist Gospel Choir

Father Fannie

Jaixx

Bradlea-Roi

BOSCO

CHROMA

Danielle Deadwyler

Elysia Crampton

FRKO

Hank Willis Thomas (in partnership with Flux Projects)

Jean “Plantu” Plantureux (in partnership with France Atlanta)

Josephine Figueroa

Meptik

Michel Kichka (in partnership with France Atlanta)

Mike Luckovich (in partnership with France Atlanta)

Noé Soulier (in partnership with France Atlanta)

Soul Food Cypher 

Tiona McClodden

William Mitchell

Yoyo Ferro (in partnership with Living Walls)

Participating organizations include: 

A3C

Atlanta City Studio

Atlanta History Center

Broad Street Visitors Center

C4 Atlanta

Cartooning for Peace

Center for Civic Innovation

Civil Bikes

Consulate of France in Atlanta

Digital Good Times

Diverse Groups

Downtown Player’s Club

Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery

Flux Projects

France Atlanta

The Goat Farm Arts Center

Jortsfest

Living Walls

Mammal Gallery

Murmur

Red, Bike and Green

Sistagraphy

Southern Fried Queer Pride

Sponsors for ELEVATE Microcosm include:

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

Central Atlanta Progress

Crystal Springs

Fulton County Arts & Culture

Laz Parking

Living Walls

LowCountry Catering

MailChimp

Peachtree Tents & Events

Son & Sons

Standard Press

Topo Chico

Media partners include:

Creative Loafing

Scoutmob

For more information, visit the official ELEVATE website at www.elevateatlart.com.

Check out footage from our most recent ELEVATE event we held this past summer, ELEVATE: Summer, and prepare for 9 days of public art experiences this October during ELEVATE: Microcosm!