For the first time, artistic creations will come to life in new spaces along Buford Highway with a one-of-a-kind street art extravaganza.
Living Walls, an Atlanta based non-profit organization, is partnering with We Love BuHi to bring The Buhi Walk Buford Highway Conference to the surrounding areas, where public art ranging from murals to installations will showcase the multicultural landscape of the area from Sept. 8- 17. The open-air art installation is expected to draw more than 5,000 art lovers, according to Monica Campana, executive director of Living Walls.
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Campana has been leading the movement for placing "intentional, thought-provoking public art" throughout Atlanta for seven years through Living Walls. With each piece, that totals more than 100 murals, Campana has seen how art creates a powerful connection with the community.
Campana said it was important to bring Living Walls to Buford Highway because the area is a hot bed of culture, which is shown through the wide variety of ethnic food spots and multicultural shops lining the expressway.
As an immigrant from Peru, Campana said it took her a while to feel like she belonged even though she moved to the United States in 1998. It wasn't until she fell in love with creating street art that she felt the true sense of home.
"It allowed me to connect with the city a little bit more. I ended up feeling like I belonged or feeling like I had a voice as well," she said.
Now, Campana uses her non-profit as a way to give artists of color and women a medium to express their creativity for the world to see. Each artist within Living Walls has their own focus for their piece that has the goal to spark a conversation about issues that matter to them.
"Especially right now, more than ever, I think that representation is so important. It's so important for people to see themselves represented in this kind of art," she said. "In order to change the narrative for this sort of thing, we need to start creating opportunities for people that usually don't get represented."
Through donation and support, she has already reached her goal for the year to be able to pay her staff and artists as contractors. She said her non-profit is always seeking donations through its website that goes to funding the group's efforts.
Expect for this year's conference to be all about showcasing culture.
Here's some of the lineup:
- A lecture series on the history and future of Buford Highway at the Latin American Association, 2750 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30324, on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. A movie night screening "In Search of General Tso" will happen at the Canton House Chinese Restaurant, 4825 Buford Hwy, Chamblee, Georgia 30341, on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
- The Night Market & Block Party, which Campana expects to draw around 2,000 attendees since rapper Kap G will be performing, which takes place 4 p.m. to midnight Sept. 16 at 3307 Buford Hwy NE, Brookhaven, GA 30329-1709.
- Come hear about the state public art at the Curator's Talk & Case Study at Third Rail Studios, 5801 Peachtree Rd, Doraville, Georgia 30341, on the final night of the conference.
Campana hopes attendees feel like they are immersed in the art presented by Living Walls.
"I believe that we will be presenting Buford Highway in a way that people have never seen before," she said.
For a complete rundown, visit livingwallsatl.com.
