City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program Announces “WEST END REMEMBERS” The White Street Mural Project

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), and District 4 Council Member Cleta Winslow are excited to announce Malaika Favorite as the recipient of the first mural commission along the BeltLine. The mural, titled, West End Remembers will be located in the West End on White Street under the Laughton Street Bridge.

“This vibrant, colorful artwork will be an interactive and unique learning tool for the children of Brown Middle School, who will get the opportunity to work with Ms. Favorite to create the mural. This mural will also teach the children and the community about the West End’s history, and its cultural richness and diversity.”  -- Cleta Winslow, Council Member, District 4

Favorite is a Georgia-based artist, who has worked on several public art commissions that include community involvement and participation. Her murals include: The Women of Brewster Place Mural, created in 2007 located on Auburn Avenue, a mural painted with children involved in the City of Atlanta’s Summer Murals and ARTSCooL programs located at the Rosel Fann Recreation Center in 2006 and the West End Mall Mural created in 1999.

“With this mural, I intend to trigger the imagination of the viewers and help them appreciate what they have.”  --  Malaika Favorite, Artist

This project is the first of many public art projects that will be incorporated into the design of the Beltline. This effort will include commissioned works of public art, as well as artist designed park and transit features such as  benches, lighting, transit stations and other streetscape features along the BeltLine corridor.

“The White Street Mural is the first example of new public art along the BeltLine and will serve as a model partnership between community and citywide stakeholders. This piece, which carries the distinct historic imprint of this neighborhood in its themes and content is just the beginning of great public art taking place in the neighborhoods connected by the BeltLine.” - Fred Yalouris, Director of Design for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.

The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs is committed to working with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. to create opportunities for public art.  The partnership creates jobs for artists and cultural exposures for children and the communities in which the artwork is placed.

“Malaika Favorite’s proposal shows a visual outpour of colors that impacts the viewers.  Is a piece that can be appreciated by the person walking or running, by the biker or the passenger in a car. It is an attractive and powerful mural, but at the same time, it is sensitive to the West End’s history and community.” – Camille Russell Love, Director, Office of Cultural Affairs

The artist will work with the students at Brown Middle School and members of the West End community to complete the mural. This vibrant mural includes historical facts using whimsical imagery.