CELEBRATING ART ABOVE Elevate UNDERGROUND

An innovative temporary public art production in downtown Atlanta August 26 - October 29, 2011 Elevate: ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND AN INITIATIVE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

ALLISON RENTZ, performance SUNDAY SOUTHERN ART REVIVAL, mural behind THE CITY OF ATLANTA We appreciate the many coordinators and volunteers that MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR The Honorable Kasim Reed, Mayor assisted with Elevate: Art Above Underground especially The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs endeavors Courtney Hammond who was contracted to coordinate to support creativity as a change agent. With that goal THE ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL Elevate and as a result, joined the Public Art Program team. in mind, we initiated Elevate: Art Above Underground Honorable Ceasar C. Mitchell, President to support individual artists and arts organizations by Honorable Carla Smith, District 1 Danny Davis, Installation Coordinator Honorable Kwanza Hall, District 2 Romy Maloon, VIP Dinner Coordinator providing a platform to stimulate cultural activity in Honorable Ivory Lee Young, District 3 Timothy Mack, Closing Event Coordinator downtown Atlanta. The artistic diversity that emerged Honorable Cleta Winslow, District 4 truly represented the wealth of culture and breadth of Honorable Natalyn Archibong, District 5 VOLUNTEERS creativity that exist in Atlanta and are indeed among Honorable Alex Wan, District 6 Richard Arnold Sarah Keys our city’s greatest assets. Honorable Howard Shook, District 7 Roseanne Arnold George Long Honorable Yolanda Adrean, District 8 Kate Bailey Phil Morris I am proud of Elevate’s success and am thrilled and Honorable Felicia Moore, District 9 Adriene Barzaga Delia Neville delighted with the public’s enthusiastic endorsement Honorable C. T. Martin, District 10 Mike Black Meredith Placko generated by this ambitious project. Honorable Keisha Bottoms, District 11 Craig Cameron Malina Rodriguez Honorable Joyce M. Sheperd, District 12 Mona Collentine Mario Schambon Camille Russell Love Honorable Michael Julian Bond, Post 1 At Large Derek Dondeville Iyasus Selah Director Honorable Aaron Watson, Post 2 At Large Liz Hartnett Marcelo Tabor City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Honorable H. Lamar Willis, Post 3 At Large Christy Haynes Donna Weber Julia Hill CITY OF ATLANTA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ARTIST SELECTION PANEL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE George Dusenbury, Commissioner Fatimah Abdullah Monica Campana Jess Von Brandt Danny Davis OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS Susan Bridges Romy Maloon Camille Russell Love, Director Ben Goldman Ayokunle Odeleye Karen Comer Lowe Iman Person PUBLIC ART PROGRAM Mandy Manlove Johnathan Welsh Eddie Granderson, Manager Takuro Masuda Robert Witherspoon, Supervisor/ Malina Rodriguez Collection Management Courtney Hammond, Supervisor/ LILLIAN BLADES, SPONSORS interactive sculpture Outreach/Education Underground Atlanta Good Food Truck Central Atlanta Progress Young, Foxy and Free SUPPORTERS AND COLLABORATORS Atlanta Convention and H. Harper Station Michelle Lawrence, Marketing Manager, Visitors Bureau Top Flr Underground Atlanta France Atlanta Georgia Building Authority Billy Rowland, Lead Engineer, This project was funded in part through Selig Enterprises Underground Atlanta the City of Atlanta Percent for Art Program. Radish Lighting Wilma Sothern, Vice President of Marketing, Binders Art Supplies and Frames Central Atlanta Progress Comfort Suites Downtown Creative Loafing Design: Holley Silirie Lynn Williamson, Marketing, Scout Mob Editor: Lisa Frank, Frank Relations Central Atlanta Progress Burnaway Event photography: John Ramspott, Burnaway Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts Photographs page 17: Eric A. Waters Jo Ann Haden Miller, Director, Cultural The Goat Farm Arts Center Printing: Olympic Printing and Heritage Marketing, CLVR Atlanta This catalog is a production of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. Atlanta Visitors and Conventions Bureau Sound Table © 2012 All rights reserved. DOODLEDRAG TRANSFORMING AND CONNECTING

For 66 days, almost 30 artists presented 19 temporary installations and 26 live performances in the heart of downtown Atlanta, breathing new life into vacant storefronts and activating nearby public places.

Elevate: Art Above Underground attempted to transform and connect underused sites in Underground Atlanta into an open-air, living art gallery that attracted more than 10,000 visitors and set the stage for future art initiatives downtown. The entertainment and retail complex known as Underground Atlanta, with its rich history that predates the Civil War and its prime central location, continues to be an area in transition. Its wide pedestrian plazas, surrounded by Georgia State University, the hub of MARTA’s rapid transit system and all major government complexes, make the area active with people day and night. Yet many have rarely visited a formal art gallery setting. Our goal was to present art that was accessible and inviting for downtown’s many populations, as well as Atlanta’s art community. The idea was to continue the conversation about contemporary, often experimental approaches to art in a public setting.

The project was funded through the Percent for the Art Program which requires that 1.5 percent of certain capital construction projects funded by the City of Atlanta be set aside for public art. Art was placed in windows, on walls, along sidewalks and in unexpected places. Artists from around the world participated. Chosen by a panel of art professionals, artists and Office of Cultural Affairs staff, a diverse blend of backgrounds was represented with artists from Spain, Chile, France, Argentina and Portugal showing their work side-by-side with artists from Atlanta (72 percent) as well as artists from Miami, New York and Washington State. The criteria for selection were based on merit and quality. Many projects bridged and combined multiple disciplines and several live performances were repeated on multiple dates.

Art was placed in full-length storefront windows, painted on walls many stories high, installed along sidewalks and in unexpected places throughout the Underground Atlanta complex and spaces nearby. Due to high vacancy rates, availability of empty space was plentiful. However, working closely with building owners to identify and reserve easily accessible sites became an ongoing exercise in flexibility due to an ever-changing real estate market. Logistics had to remain fluid up until the final hour with the project area expanding and contracting based on last minute availability.

In the process, Underground Atlanta’s management and other buildingowners clearly saw the benefits of using dynamic art installations to enliven their properties and some continue to make spaces available to artists at reduced rates. In the end, Elevate emerged as an amazing­ come together as they did during Elevate, feat of dedication, especially from ­Office of we can remain true to an important goal of Cultural Affairs staff who showed ­resourcefulness the Public Art Program – supporting artists’ and professionalism that ­exceeded expecta- ideas and ambitions. tions. Each artist also showed a tremendous To our many partners and friends, and every commitment to the project. Their willingness visitor who showed up to share the experience, to work in unknown territory, solving issues as we thank you. Together, we have laid a strong they arose, especially under tight budgets and foundation for future public art initiatives timelines, was deeply appreciated. to follow. It takes a lot of talented people to pull off complex projects like this one. We’re grateful Eddie M. Granderson, for generous in-kind support from local Public Art Program Manager sponsors as well as constant encouragement City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs from Camille Russell Love, Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs. When so many pieces

OPENING NIGHT August 26, 2011

Elevate kicked off with a festive grand opening party that offered a full schedule of live performances by local and national artists. The success of opening night was apparent when an immediate buzz began lighting up blogs, FaceBook pages and the Twittersphere. A beautifully diverse crowd of all ages reveled in the upbeat atmosphere bringing a genuine sense of hope for the future of public art in downtown Atlanta. Strong promotional support from many ­downtown partners including Central Atlanta ­Progress, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau­ and Underground Atlanta helped our team reach and engage new audiences. A printed map guided visitors to explore and discover the art at their own pace, ­sometimes obvious; sometimes more hidden. From ­grassroots publications and online magazines to major news outlets, Elevate generated 91 feature articles, adding to the conversation about the event itself as well as the larger concept of integrating art into the downtown landscape. Artists from Spain, Chile, France, Argentina and Portugal showed their work side-by-side with artists from Atlanta (72 percent) as well as artists from Miami, New York and Washington State.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

2 KIDS AND A DREAM FAHAMU PECOU RICHARD ARNOLD ALLISON RENTZ LILLIAN BLADES SAM3 CHRIS CHAMBERS SIGNS FOR DIMES CARLOS EGUIGUREN SUNDAY SOUTHERN ART REVIVAL SARAH EMERSON NATHAN SHARRATT ESCIF DEANNA SIRLIN F. GEOFFREY JOHNSON PRISCILLA SMITH AND LELAVISION EDWARD WENZER DOODLEDRAG RUTH STANFORD ALICE LOVELACE AND THÉÂTRE DU RÊVE LISA TUTTLE VALERIA YAMAMOTO CORRINA MENSOFF WONDERROOT OLA BAD ZYGOSIS 2 KIDS AND A RICHARD ARNOLD DREAM of Atlanta created light boxes is an inter-disciplinary for storefront windows with group of many talented hidden messages formed Atlanta artists working in by hundreds of infrared LED dance, music, theater and lights. Messages, invisible to social commentary. Their the naked eye, could only performance titled What be read with a mobile phone cha’ Don’t Wanna Tap Into or digital camera prompted spoke directly to the down by signs that led viewers to side of negative lifestyle where each message was choices like drugs an d located. The artist’s intent was physical violence that rob to make people think about our community’s vitality. how the tactile world can be Instead, the upbeat perceived in many layers. By choreography and using technology to alter amplified sounds offered reality, Arnold was also mak- positive alternatives. ing a statement on the future of the human experience. Founded by Ursula Kendall Johnson and Jule D. Lane, Arnold is a graduate of Geor- the contemporary dance gia State University’s sculpture company features classically program and currently works trained artists that combine in the field of chemical engi- their talents to achieve neering. His art blends both stunning results. disciplines.

10 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 11 Each wall of TVs broadcast unexpected imagery and sounds that simultaneously ebb and flow to create one rhythmic kinetic painting.

LILLIAN BLADES CHRIS CHAMBERS of Atlanta produced a of Atlanta uses vintage seating environment with television sets as his medium, four benches surrounding stacked in various shapes. a central totem encrusted Each wall of TVs broadcast in the rich colors, shapes unexpected imagery and and textures of assemblage sounds that simultaneously and mosaics. Memory ebb and flow to create one rhythmic kinetic painting. Totem paid tribute to Chambers’ site-specific Underground Atlanta’s installation in a narrow railroad history and its storefront window used historic Zero Mile Post, 32 televisions, placing the marking the spot where smallest sets up front. TV the city limits and its screens grew larger as railroad system began. they moved away from the Calling upon roots in her window giving the illusion native Bahamas, Blades that every set was the same honors ancestral and size when viewed from outside the window. matriarchal traditions An interactive component of creating memory provided a box where sculptures from cast off anyone was invited to drop pieces of mirror, tile and off videotapes that were every day objects. During integrated into the mix. several public workshops, Every 10 days, the TV walls participants were invited were updated to incorporate to sift through the artist’s images from donated tapes, collection of loose trinkets adding another layer of to add their own personal random visuals to the finished product. touches to the installation, changing it over time. Chambers’ work has been shown at Beep Beep Gallery and Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

12 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 13 The images glowed from back lighting to mimic surrounding lights reflecting on the downtown buildings.

CARLOS EGUIGUREN, a photographer from Chile, spent two weeks in Atlanta to create his site-specific photo sculptures. The first week was for photographing the city and getting to know his surroundings. In the second week, he traveled between Atlanta and New York to perfect the technical aspects of Reflections of Atlanta, two architectural images measuring eight feet, mounted on glass for a translucent effect. Each photograph was placed in a storefront window adjacent to the real location where the image was made. SARAH EMERSON of rebuilt again and again. The Emerson is a graduate of At night, the images glowed Atlanta created site-specific artist was inspired by what the Atlanta College of Art, from back lighting to mimic window installations that used the natural landscape might earned her masters degree at surrounding lights reflecting the actual full-length windows have looked like hundreds Goldsmiths College in London on the downtown buildings as her canvas. Working with of years ago. By day, the and has taught drawing and featured in the photos. colorful translucent vinyl, her whimsical cartoon-styled painting at Emory University. piece titled Zero Mile referred forest appeared opaque; at Eguiguren’s award-winning to the historic post marking night, the landscape glowed work has been shown in Atlanta’s first city limits, like stained glass, echoing galleries in Santiago and imagining how Atlanta was the sheen of the Georgia Paris and published in built up in the 1830s, burned State Capitol Building’s gold two books. to the ground in 1864 and dome nearby.

14 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 15 The circuit boards are a metaphor for currents of energy and struggles for freedom experienced by his ancestors.

ESCIF is an internationally F. GEOFFREY acclaimed street artist from JOHNSON of Atlanta Valencia, Spain known created Currents as an for his large-scale public homage to moments in murals. His work often draws African American history ­connections between the blending old photographs, image, the place around found objects and computer it and the actual­ surface circuit boards. The artist where the mural is painted. views the circuit boards as In partnership with the 2011 a metaphor for currents of Living Walls Conference, energy and struggles for Escif was invited to Atlanta freedom experienced by to produce his striking, his ancestors dating back six-story-tall mural especially many generations. The for Elevate. The oversized, circuits also represent the floating red fire extinguisher intelligence, strength and with the caption “Emergency creative power shown by Only” brings color, African Americans over time. unexpected scale and Johnson is a member of humor to the downtown African Americans for the environment. Arts, a community arts group in Atlanta that encourages collaborations between artists in many disciplines.

16 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 17 LELAVISION is an artistic partnership between Leah Mann and Ela Lamblin combining modern and aerial dance, music, theater and large interactive musical sculptures. In conjunction with Emory University’s Bio- Inspired Renewable Energy Lab, their kinetic sculpture paid tribute to renewable energy and alternative transportation solutions. A six-wheeled sound sculpture and spiraling helix were played during live dance performances, and displayed in a storefront window as a futuristic sculpture alongside a huge, hand-blown glass xylophone. DOODLEDRAG party, they led an interactive throughout the project. The Based on Vashon Island in was founded by Melissa art piece called Chalk Mob portraits show his appreciation Paternoster and street artist where hundreds of drawings of the collective efforts by Washington State, one of LNY who proudly use the were created by Elevate many people required to Lamblin’s instruments has tagline “Drawing is way participants. bring his work to completion. toured the country in the cool.” This art collective Doodledrag led two drawing LNY also produced a mural on Smithsonian’s SITES program. from New York is known and painting forums for the Pryor Street as part of the 2011 Mann founded Atlanta’s for engaging the public public who contributed to Living Walls conference that award-winning urban dance in drawing and gathering a second mural also on honors New York’s World Trade experiments on city streets Pryor Street. company Moving in the Spirit Center’s fallen towers. The and public transportation. and remains their artistic figures in the mural are inspired During Elevate’s opening director emeritus. by his two volunteer assistants

18 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 19 The piece honors eight courageous women working in Atlanta today.

CORRINA MENSOFF, an Atlanta sculptor, presented three metal sculptures installed above Underground’s fountain plaza. Often using imagery of boats and ships as a metaphor, each piece was a variation of a rowboat being morphed into a bird’s body that seemed to fly over the water below. Mensoff owns Phoenix Metalworks specializing in sculpture, furniture and architectural work. She received an MFA in sculpture ALICE LOVELACE Women’s Network. Eight rights movement, the site was at Georgia State University AND LISA TUTTLE of towering columns featured a also used for poetry read- and has presented workshops Atlanta created Harriet Rising, different story about Tubman ings and performances led at national and international a tribute to the heroic courage and a portrait and statement by poet Alice Lovelace. She blacksmithing conferences. of former slave Harriet Tubman from each local leader. All is an award-winning play- who led 70 slaves to freedom of the women are dressed wright, performance artist, a through the Underground in white in response to a nationally and internationally Railroad. The piece also honors recurring dream Tubman had published poet, a producer eight courageous women in the years before her escape and currently teaches poetry working in Atlanta today on to freedom. at American Friends Service Committee. Tuttle is a visual behalf of minorities and women Drawing parallels between Un- artist, curator and public art including Grandmothers for derground Atlanta’s historical specialist with the Fulton Coun- Peace, SisterSong, Women of significance in the Civil War ty Arts Council. Color, Reproductive Health and Atlanta’s role in the civil Collective and the Refugee

20 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 21 OLA BAD is an Atlanta FAHAMU PECOU street artist who often uses is an internationally smiles and dream catchers acclaimed painter in Atlanta as visual symbols of hope who blends self portraiture and strength through with clever humor and false optimism. The artist identities to tackle difficult marked one mile of sidewalk issues in contemporary in downtown Atlanta with African American culture. the yellow letter “s.” Viewers In his work Rising Sons were asked to begin at a Lounge, he becomes the spot on Peachtree Street focal point of sensitive and follow the ­winding subjects such as black path to experience their masculinity, using his art environment from a new to address topics usually ­perspective. The “s” considered taboo and ­represents a smile, courage untouchable in public and a constant sense contexts, inviting the of curiosity. public into his space for candid discussion. From Ola Bad has shown these discussions, Pecou internationally and his continuously added to work was recently featured a body of work shown at at Atlanta’s ABV Gallery. Mason Murer Gallery in Atlanta later in the year. Pecou won an ARTADIA award in 2009 and the Emerging Artist Award from the National Black Arts Festival. His work has been shown in South Africa, Switzerland, France and around the U.S.

22 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 23

ALLISON RENTZ SAM3 of Spain is well of Atlanta presented a known in his country as provocative performance a street art legend for called Donorcycle. Based his powerful, large-scale on a dream the artist had public murals. Through a after the nuclear disaster partnership with the 2011 in Japan, her performance Living Walls Conference brought attention to what and the City of Atlanta’s she believes is the inherent Office of Cultural Affairs, danger of motorcycles. Sam3 produced his first Both topics were addressed, mural in this country. It’s as well as the importance also arguably one of the of organ donation. Ten tallest murals in the world. performers, dressed in Covering over 15 stories, full-body white hazardous the image is intended materials suits, seemed to express a sense of to expand and contract hopefulness and a “full following the artist’s cues, heart,” feelings the artist as if simulating breathing. experienced while visiting At times, the artist was Atlanta. Sam3’s murals surrounded and struggled are often painted in to the ground under the monochromatic tones weight of props attached to and put emphasis on the her costume while the crew negative space within in white showed concern for each painting. her wellbeing. His work can be found all Rentz is interested in how over the world including people interact with Spain, Poland, Austria, each other and with their Italy, Palestine and now environment. Her work has downtown Atlanta. been shown in France, Italy, Spain and around the U.S.

24 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 25 SIGNS FOR DIMES is SUNDAY SOUTHERN a collaborative of muralists ART REVIVAL is an in Atlanta. Their project Atlanta collective of five titled Window Shopping artists – George Long, Jesse transformed vacant Creegar, Michi Miko, Jon storefronts into an alternate Tindel and Mario Schambon. shopping experience by Each one is a successful offering things money just artist in their own right. can’t buy. Using a nostalgic Individual styles remain style of sign painting that defined throughout their recalled how downtown large-scale, collaborative Atlanta’s retail shops looked public paintings on exterior in the 1940s, the artists storefront walls. By using created fantasy stores vinyl imagery, stencils, paint called Love Shop, Friend and anything else they can Emporium and Respect find, the group produced Store. The paintings became a façade mural featuring clever tricks of the eye that a preacher holding a Bible at first glance appeared to in one hand; a gun in the be real shops. Using colorful other. The intricate and graphics and humor, their dynamic painting entices work was a compelling the viewer to look closely. statement on what’s The longer they look, more really important in today’s hidden layers are revealed. commercialized world.

26 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 27 A colorful carpet of ­cerulean, cobalt and ­ultramarine blues cascades over an otherwise blank concrete stairway.

DEANNA SIRLIN of Atlanta is well-known for her boldly colored installations on windows done in an ­abstract painterly style. Her site-specific work titled C-Flow ­became a colorful carpet of ­cerulean, co- balt and ­ultramarine blues cascading over an otherwise blank concrete stairway in the center of Underground ­ Atlanta, adding ­motion, texture and whimsy. Remi- niscent of cool water­ flowing over rocks, the striking image came even more alive when NATHAN SHARRATT him by following his silent a family that was both people interacted­ with it by created a powerful cues. Every blood brother left random and very deliberate. walking and sitting on it. performance piece titled behind a fingerprint dipped in Sharratt is a graduate of the Sirlin has been commissioned Be My Blood Brother. The artist the artist’s fake blood. Each Savannah College of Art and by the City of Atlanta for transformed a bleak, empty print was added to a new Design where he studied several public art installations storefront to resemble a sleek kind of family tree built by sculpture and animation. including new facades for yet nightmarish version of a hundreds of people over the He now focuses his creativity Fire Stations #13 and #18. doctor’s office. The public 66 days. Everyone was also on interactive installations Her work has been shown was invited to participate in photographed and images and conceptual work that in Italy, France, Turkey and several live performances, were posted on an interactive use humor and word play to several U.S. cities. She is also one at a time, where website where the artist connect with his viewers in editor of The Art Section. individuals sat across encouraged comments and unexpected ways. from Sharratt, looked connections between his him in the eye and trusted newly created brotherhood,

28 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 29 Digitally enhanced video clips were projected over the paintings to create an animated, living mural.

PRISCILLA SMITH RUTH STANFORD AND EDWARD of Atlanta presented a WENZER of Atlanta light installation titled teamed up with video artist Promise, a single vertical Neil Fried and dancer Taye searchlight shooting Beasley to create a multi- upward into the night media piece titled Reunion. sky to mark Underground Smith is a performance artist Atlanta’s location. Stanford and Wenzer is a painter. All reprogrammed the powerful mediums came together in a beam, usually used for video the group shot at the movie premieres and store Five Points MARTA station in openings, to be more the heart of Underground. subdued. The beam moved Several video clips were uncertainly - just enough selected as still images that to hint that something big were painted on a wall near might be happening. the train station. Digitally Stanford teaches sculpture enhanced video clips were at Georgia State University projected over the paintings and received her MFA from to create an animated, Carnegie Mellon University living mural that was visible and a BFA from the at night for one month University of Texas at Austin. during Elevate. She also holds BS and MS degrees in zoology and worked as an endangered species ecologist before her career in art.

30 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 31 THÉÂTRE DU RÊVE of VALERIA Atlanta is the only French- YAMAMOTO speaking theater company creates sculptures inspired in the U.S. For Elevate, they by organic natural forms. partnered with Derezo, a In her site-specific wall theater group from France installations titled Flying to adapt an award-winning Away Composition IV, the performance piece called artist worked with actual Microfictions. Based on flight patterns of a flock of a novel by French writer birds, then abstracted those Régis Jauffret, Microfictions patterns in cast hydro cal, features 500 very short stories a durable form of plaster. that celebrate the diversity, Yamamoto is a Japanese- fragility and commonalities Argentinian artist born of the human condition. in Buenos Aires. Her Microfictions was performed background is in graphic in Paris in 2008 during a nine- design and she earned a hour event at the Théâtre du BFA in sculpture from Florida Rond-Point on the Champs International University. Elysées. In Atlanta, eight site- specific performances were adapted to Underground Atlanta’s urban landscape. Small groups were taken to hidden alleys and balconies they would probably not experience or even notice on their own. Performances included storytelling, puppetry and a live jazz concert by local and French musicians.

32 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 33 Windows were transformed into backlit projection screens that featured dioramas and digital face mapping.

WONDERROOT was ZYGOSIS is an artists’ founded in 2004 in response collective at the Savannah to Atlanta’s need for a College of Art and Design’s community arts center that video and digital arts unites art and advocacy. By department. During Elevate’s blending two of its artistic opening night party, Zygosis disciplines – photography presented a series of digital and their literary publication works titled Micro Macro. Loose Change magazine Storefront windows were – the group presented On transformed into backlit History and Condition. projection screens that The project documented featured dioramas and parts of downtown Atlanta digital face mapping with in photographs that were interactive videos that invited enhanced by a written audience participation. narrative intended to The collective is led by create new realities through SCAD professor Allessandro storytelling. Believing that Imperato who is also a artists have the potential member of the video art to change the world, and performance group WonderRoot supports Medeology Collective. more than 1,000 musicians, photographers, writers, filmmakers and visual artists in Atlanta by offering resources and support.

34 Elevate || ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND 35 CLOSING NIGHT October 29, 2011

What an extravaganza it was! The nonstop energy of live performance in a carnival atmosphere crystallized the contribution Elevate brought to downtown Atlanta. Concentrated in two blocks in the center of Underground, more than 100 artful performers made the streets come alive by attracting about 1,000 people throughout the night. The action was presented in four themes MOVING IN THE SPIRIT beginning with a Halloween-styled celebration geared to kids and families. A creative costume contest was featured along with dance performances by Moving in the Spirit and the twirling neon hula hoops of HoopEssence. The energy ramped up as the program moved into a Carnival theme with fire eaters, stilt walkers and acrobats from The Imperial Opa Circus, Liquid Sky Aerial, Museé du Coeur, Howie the Great and the Thimble Rig Circus. Next was a dynamic two-hour segment called Disguise with performances by contemporary artists 2 Kids and a Dream, Lelavision, Allison Rentz and Medeology Collective. The finale took a Salon theme with unforgettable burlesque-style performances by the Syrens of the South. The vibrant elements of such a playful and expressive live performance series came together beautifully, setting the stage for an encore. THE IMPERIAL OPA CIRCUS HOOPESSENCE Elevate: ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND THE CITY OF ATLANTA OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS PUBLIC ART PROGRAM ocaatlanta.com/public-art