As one of the most important cities in the south and the nation’s 4th largest black-majority city, Atlanta has been the home to people, places and events that shaped the course of the nation and influenced world events. From its humble beginnings as a railroad hub connecting the port of Savannah and the Midwest, to its phoenix like rebirth from the ashes of the Civil War, Atlanta has always been a center for commerce, culture and civil reformation. The beating heart of this city is its 242 neighborhoods, each with their own unique story and distinct culture. Each neighborhood has contributed to making Atlanta a world class metropolis.
The series 242 was commissioned for the Mercedes Benz Stadium. It is included in their permanent art collection which explores themes of football, soccer, the history and culture of Georgia and the Atlanta community. The works in 242 highlight neighborhoods in Atlanta that were instrumental to the development of Atlanta’s identity. These neighborhoods are presented from the aerial perspective by utilizing appropriated and manipulated satellite imagery. Aerial imagery offers a vantage point unique from the everyday view that we are accustomed to, and as the artist Lásló Maholy Nagy told us, “an invitation to re-evaluate our ways of seeing”.
By manipulating an already abstract and transformative view I am inviting the viewer to experience Atlanta in an entirely new way as well as offering new interpretations and insights into this metropolis. One could view these as DNA strands revealing the inner workings of the city or as a form of Morse code producing a new form of language unique to Atlanta. Regardless of how you view each image, the importance of each neighborhood in crafting the unique identity of Atlanta is paramount and should always be present in the mind of the viewer when observing this series.
