City of Atlanta to ‘Elevate’ culture with the help of legendary Organized Noize
Editor
Photos by Terry Shropshire for Atlanta Daily World and Real Times Media.
ATLANTA — It is apropos that the theme for ELEVATE 2015 event is Forever I Love Atlanta (F.I.L.A.), because the multifaceted, multi-day arts extravaganza will feature talent, including the legendary Organized Noize, that have helped to cultivate and harness the city’s talents and transform the region into one of the country’s music, arts and entertainment powerhouses.
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced this week the artist lineup for ELEVATE 2015, the City’s annual visual arts program and festival. Now in its fifth year, ELEVATE will take place over nine days in downtown Atlanta, from October 15-23, 2015. It will feature a special art installation presented by Rico Wade and Ray Murray of the Atlanta-based hip-hop production company Organized Noize, the group that helped give us the iconic rap group OutKast. All of the programs, workshops and lectures presented during ELEVATE are free and open to the public.
ELEVATE aims to promote city-wide cultural growth among residents by exhibiting large-scale public art installations, visual performances, and educational opportunities.
“The city is home to nationally-renowned visual and performance artists, poets, authors and scholars,” said Camille Russell Love, executive director for the Office of Cultural Affairs. “ELEVATE 2015 will celebrate and spotlight Atlanta’s own homegrown, world-renowned arts and cultural community. Our goal is to ensure Atlanta residents feel a strong sense of pride in their city and the cultural resources and experiences it offers to the world.”
Programming for ELEVATE is curated by internationally-recognized visual/performing artist and scholar Fahamu Pecou whose artistic work is featured on Emmy award-winning shows including the FOX drama Empire and ABC’s hit comedy Black-ish.
Additional contributing artists include: Christopher Chambers, Jason Kofke, Joseph Dreher & #WeLoveATL, Gwendolyn “Kitty” Pope, Lionel Daniel, Heritage High School, Lumumba Mogerie, Max Woo, Nelly Bonilla, Rachel K. Garceau, Bent Frequency, Sanithna Phansavanh, Angela Davis Johnson, AllWays Open Creative & Brandon Sadler, Balmori Associates, Vek Neal, Rico Wade and Ray Murray.
