Art on the Atlanta BeltLine
Atlanta Art Week Event:
Little Amal: Chasing Monarchs | Eastside
Sunday, October 8 | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Ponce City Market Shed Space - 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
***This event is a parade starting at Ponce City Market and ending at Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark. Explore Amal’s complete Atlanta route here.
Ride Share/Biking and Marta is always encouraged. There is parking available at 725 Ponce and Ponce City Market.
It is always free to walk with Amal. To help make a difference The Amal Fund with Choose Love supports displaced children across the world. If you can, please make a donation today: chooselove.org/theamalfund
About:
A global symbol of compassion and human rights, Little Amal is a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee who has spent the past two years traveling over 5,500 miles to 15 countries. Her journeys are festivals of art and hope that aim to bring awareness to the growing number of children fleeing war, violence, and persecution.
As part of her 2023 United States journey, Amal will travel along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, where she’ll join the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, Liquid Sky, and Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective. Amal Walks has previously been welcomed at over 260 unique events in 97 cities, towns and villages across the globe.
Artistic Director: Amir Nizar Zuabi
Producers: David Lan and Tracey Seaward
The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company
The puppet of Little Amal was designed and built by Handspring Puppet Company.
About the Monarchs: Little Amal’s visit coincides with the Monarch Butterfly migration passing through Atlanta on their 2000-mile journey to Michoacán, Mexico. The Monarchs are inspiring for the sheer might in their fragile bodies, their transformational potential, and the mystical power of their inner compass. Monarch Butterflies hold powerful symbolism in the South for the naturalness of migration. The Monarch has become the symbol of the human right of migration, particularly for those south of the colonial border of the United States and Mexico.
About Art on the Atlanta Beltline: Art on the Atlanta BeltLine hosts the largest temporary public art exhibit and linear gallery in the United States. With sculptures, murals, performances, and many multi-organizational collaborative works year-round, the program strives to enrich and reflect the communities it serves. We endeavor to create a legacy of inclusion by encouraging historically excluded populations to participate in Art on the Atlanta BeltLine exhibition.
The Atlanta BeltLine has emerged as a vibrant cultural corridor that has redefined the artistic landscape of the city, leaving an indelible mark on the region, country, and international art communities. Through its dynamic history, the Atlanta BeltLine has fostered a thriving artistic ecosystem, showcasing a diverse range of artworks, nurturing community engagement, and inspiring creative expression.
The origins of the art movement on the Atlanta BeltLine can be traced back to the early 2000s when leaders recognized the potential of the underutilized railway corridor encircling the city. With a vision to transform this forgotten space into a vibrant public amenity, the BeltLine project gained momentum. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, an ambitious public art initiative, began in 2009 and was the first program offered by the fledgling infrastructure project to activate the space. AOAB was seen as an access point for the project. Now the largest, free public art exhibition in the American South, AOAB is the gold standard for temporary public art programs.
Since its inception, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine has flourished, attracting local, national, and international artists who have transformed the linear greenspace into a vast open-air gallery. The BeltLine's ever-evolving collection of murals, sculptures, installations, and performances have become a testament to the power of art in reimagining urban environments.
The impact of Art on the Atlanta BeltLine extends far beyond the city's boundaries. It has revitalized neighborhoods, fostered community pride, and encouraged economic development. As visitors and residents alike explore the BeltLine's art installations, they are immersed in a tapestry of cultures, stories, and perspectives, forging connections and nurturing a sense of belonging.
The artistic renaissance on the Atlanta BeltLine has captured the attention of the wider art world, propelling Atlanta onto the international stage. Artists from around the globe have been drawn to the BeltLine, bringing their unique artistic visions and enriching the local creative fabric. This convergence of artistic talent has sparked dialogue, collaboration, and cross-pollination of ideas, elevating Atlanta's position as a cultural hub.
Moreover, the Atlanta BeltLine has inspired similar projects and initiatives in other cities, both in the United States and internationally. Its success has served as a beacon of hope for urban planners and art enthusiasts seeking to reimagine neglected spaces and harness the transformative power of art to create inclusive and vibrant communities.
The history of Art on the Atlanta BeltLine has been a remarkable journey of artistic transformation, impacting not only the city of Atlanta but also the region, country, and international art communities. By infusing creativity and beauty into the fabric of the city, the BeltLine has become a symbol of artistic innovation, community empowerment, and cultural exchange, leaving an enduring legacy for generations to come.
www.art.beltline.org | @walkwithamal | @chantellerytter
Images courtesy of the Handspring Puppet Company.