Today, as I conducted my daily bike errands, I noted the scenery around me. The highlights? A dirty bucket and a decaying sock of questionable origin. I figure if I’m going to freeze my ass off riding around town, I (and my fellow street-stompin’ travelers) could at least use something pleasant to look at. This is where you come in, esteemed artists of Atlanta. The latest in the far-too-sparse list of public art opportunities comes with the announcement of the BeltLine’s new public art initiative, Art on the BeltLine: Atlanta’s New Public Place.
A series of kick-off workshops and walking tours (info below) heralds the BeltLine’s spring installation of several city-funded works of public art along nearly eight miles of the future BeltLine corridor. These locations will be open to the public as trails for pedestrians and bicyclists this spring, and in conjunction with the visual, performance, and educational arts events running from May through October, 2010.
The Art on the BeltLine decision committee (which includes WonderRoot executive director and local art crush, Chris Appleton) will award mega brownie points to project proposals that emphasize the “historic, environmental, cultural, functional, urban design, and/or aesthetic parameters of the [Beltline] sites.” The BeltLine powers-that-be also provide the following list of potential public art and performance proposals:
• Temporary art and sculptural or visual installations;
• Gateway or entrance works;
• Performance works of all kinds, including but not limited to music, dance, theater, and performance art;
• Transformation of existing structures or surfaces, such as bridges and overpasses;
• Utilization of fences or screening devices;
• Transformation of the backs of buildings;
• Amenities for visitors—such as benches, bike racks, shade structures, and recycling and trash collection receptacles;
• Establishment of play areas or game sites;
• Loan of existing artwork, such as sculptures or assemblages;
• Murals;
• Plantings or environmental works.
Personally, anything that doesn’t include gross, discarded footwear is just fine with me.
All entries are due by March 12 at 4PM. Selected artists will be notified the week of April 5. For all other details regarding entry guidelines, funding amounts, workshop locations, and all dates for events, check out the Art on the BeltLine website.
