Last weekend was packed with institutional Atlanta events such as DragonCon and the Decatur Book Festival, but this weekend marks the third anniversary of a younger civic tradition: Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, a three-month-long exhibition that brings visual and performance art to the BeltLine’s twenty-two miles of trails, parks, and rail lines. Festivities kick off tomorrow evening with the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons’ lantern parade, in which attendees will convey paper lanterns from Inman Park to Piedmont Park on the soon-to-open Eastside Trail and finish with a party at Park Tavern.
The homemade beacons of light will feel extra symbolic this year. After the recent rejection of T-SPLOST, which would have channeled some $600 million to the BeltLine, and the ongoing Atlanta Symphony Orchestra lockout, both transit advocates and art lovers could use a little spiritual healing.
Click here for a brochure with a complete performance schedule and map of art installations. And click here to read our feature (with photo gallery) on the substantial progress the Atlanta BeltLine Inc. has made since its inception—with a cameo from one of Art on the Atlanta BeltLine’s colorful characters:
Uniman in action from Will Eccleston on Vimeo.
