Elevate ART ABOVE UNDERGROUND
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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