Atlanta Percent for Art Campaign

Cyclists love Public Art

2008-04-07T13:49:00.005-04:00

This weekend we had a successful first event to promote Public Art awareness. A few more then 20 riders met at SOPO as the clouds were clearing on Sunday April 6th and departed on a 10 mile journey into downtown. View the map of bike route and click on individual tags to learn about the works of art.

One of the first stops, inside Coan Park, literally made music to my ears as the whole group used their knuckles to activate the musical playscape by Bond Anderson, 1993. Resting in the
grass on Highland Ave we debated the loved and hated 54 Columns by Sol Lewitt, 1998. Downtown we dug into the history of Atlanta and the icons that mark the spaces. A deconstructed Phoenix designed by local Architects Lord, Aeck and Sargent, commemorates the "Zero-mile post" the original center of Marthasville. A rider in the group remarked that the actual pin still remains in the ground floor of what is now a parking structure just east of the sculpture. Braves game traffic detoured our final leg on an Olympic vista, but everyone enjoyed ending at Eyedrum and viewed the final works of art in doors.

Look for more Public Art bike tours later in the year. There are lots more neighborhoods to cover and citizens to reach out to.

Public Art Everlasting

Public Art Everlasting Bike Tour

2008-03-27T22:28:00.003-04:00

Bike Tour Rescheduled!

This ride, on behalf of the Atlanta Percent for Art Coalition, intends to bring more awareness of local public art to our allies, the urban cyclist. If you see the value of bike friendly and culturally vibrant public spaces, you will enjoy this ride.

Riders will meet in East Atlanta at the workshop of the SOPO Bike Collective. We will work our way west to downtown and end at Eyedrum Art + Music Gallery in the Old Fourth Ward. North and South boundaries of the route are Highland Ave. and Memorial Dr. A complete map will be made available in print and online April 6th.

The ride will last 1 1/2 hours and we will cover 10 miles with some steep hills. All riders should wear a helmet. Expect a casually paced, fun and informative ride.

RSVP to the evite: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=QBQDNAISKZFYHHZGFNTW

Bike Tour postponed moved to April

2008-03-06T22:33:00.002-05:00

Attention**

The Public Art Bike Tour planned for this Saturday, March 8th 2008 will not take place due to weather concerns. The rain date - 3/22/08 will not be used because it is a holiday weekend.

The Public Art Bike Tour will take place as a free guided tour of public art in Atlanta during the first weekend in April (4/5 or 4/6).

Check here for further updates.

We apologize for the delay. The goal is for everyone to have fun and be comfortable on the ride, so the event will now take place in April. I hope you'll join us then.

Newsletter #01

2008-02-06T23:25:00.000-05:00

Stickers have hit the street

2008-01-19T17:03:00.000-05:00

Pick yours up at Eyedrum

Mayor's Message

2008-01-17T08:20:00.001-05:00

Two recent speeches by Shirley Franklin, Mayor of the City of Atlanta.
Briefly, her objectives are financial organization and environmental sustainability.

Please inform yourself by reading the following links and leave comments on the direction of our city leadership.

Business Breakfast Speech.

http://www.atlantaga.gov/media/socbreakfast_011108.aspx

State of the City Council speech.

http://www.atlantaga.gov/media/soccouncil2008_011108.aspx

Another Early Sighting...

2007-12-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

No art beyond this point!! ?????

One of our first actions....

2007-12-29T23:23:00.000-05:00

More action along Freedom Pkwy...one of the first sightings!

Graphic

2007-12-27T20:53:00.001-05:00

Everlasting Sticker Ideas

2007-12-27T20:43:00.001-05:00

*note: printed on yellow vinyl

Simple % Sticker Design

2007-12-27T20:04:00.000-05:00

Superman's in town

2007-12-27T19:48:00.000-05:00

I got on my bike and hung up a few posters tonight. Right before sun went down I started in my neighborhood and rode towards downtown.

Mandie's Sticker Ideas

2007-12-23T09:47:00.001-05:00

Eggtooth Posters!

2007-12-12T09:37:00.000-05:00

Press Release

2007-12-11T09:06:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2007

Citizens Urge City to Modernize Percent for Public Art

ATLANTA – Thirty years have passed since the inception of the public art ordinance. The ordinance was adopted to reserve 1.5 percent of capitol improvement budgets for public art, however enforcement of the ordinance is irregular and unaccountable based on findings in the 2006 Baseline Allocation for Public Art Report. Without a sustainable program in place, our public spaces have lost millions of dollars in cultural value, and residents have missed opportunities for public performance and education. Citizens who value public art recognize that now is the time for change.

The collective voice, Atlanta Percent for Art, emerged from mutual interest in public art and began a campaign to support the percent for art ordinance. The collective includes, but is not limited to, art organizations, artists, architects, and business owners. We are speaking out today because as Atlanta grows, there is opportunity to raise Atlanta’s status as a cultural capitol, and create a model for a progressive public art program. Atlanta Percent for Art’s campaign identifies the need for a collaborative modernization of the public art ordinance.

Atlanta Percent for Art encourages the City of Atlanta to engage in dynamic advocacy and constructive negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable settlement regarding the current percent for art ordinance and its related procedures. As citizens, we believe that the ordinance falls short of its potential from a lack of clarity in definition and accountability of capturing funds. These shortfalls prevent the public art department from developing a robust public art program that the public is demanding.

Public art is important because it invites participants to explore the world we live in. Often challenging issues can be brought into the open and expand an individual’s perception of their history, place, and culture. In other instances, public art is an opportunity for discovery, stimulation and relaxation. Public art has benefits not only to the individual experience but also the community at large. Research shows that providing opportunities for experiencing art offers a higher quality of living for residents and is attractive to business and tourism.

The goal of Atlanta Percent for Art is to establish a sustainable strategy for the growth and development of our cultural landscape through public art.