With the Installation of Sculptures in Brooke Street Park, Art Takes Center Stage
The art scene in Alpharetta continues to expand every day, with murals on downtown buildings, public sculptures in Brooke Street Park and around downtown, and a new arts center building under construction.
Four wheat-paste murals installed by artist JOEKINGATL are a creative way the Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Services Department has found to raise awareness of the Alpharetta History Museum opening April 26th in City Hall. The murals are life-sized images of Alpharetta residents that tell stories from different time periods in Alpharetta history.
The seven sculptures that make up Miscellany will be on display from May through December 2018 in Alpharetta’s Brooke Street Park. In 2017 an international call for artists resulted in seven artists selected from around the world. The sculptures reflect a variety of materials and styles, from cast iron and steel to fiberglass and acrylic paint to polished terrazzo. The sculptures will be rotated every 12-24 months, beginning with works by artists Xin Meng, Rob Lorenson, Tamsie Ringler, Gerald Siciliano, Mike Wsol, Eileen Blyth, Tristan Al-Haddad. Miscellany is a project of Arts Alpharetta in partnership with the City of Alpharetta and sponsored by the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In addition to Miscellany, the City’s permanent public art collection has recently grown. In 2018, the city added a series of works around downtown Alpharetta themed Instruments of Inspiration to its permanent collection. The works celebrate the Alpharetta music scene which includes various events and multiple music venues throughout the city. The art installations now include new works by Georgia artists Michael Dillon, Gregory Johnson, Marc Moulton, Duke Oursler, and Deanna Sirlin.
“I am excited about the beauty and diversity of our public art, which offers an opportunity for the community to engage directly with art while enjoying the fun, playful events and activities happening in Alpharetta,” said Kim Zane, Manager of the Cultural Services Division.
The Alpharetta Arts Center, slated to open fall 2018, involves the extensive renovation of the former Alpharetta branch of the Fulton County Library, located at the northwest corner of Mayfield Road and Canton Street. The Arts Center will provide the community with a centrally located facility for cultural arts classes, exhibits, lectures and performances, and will include an exhibit room, multiple arts classrooms, a clay studio, a media center and a black-box performance space.
“The flexibility of the gallery space with the movable walls and lighting, offers the possibility for different types of events, shows and performances,” said Toby Smallwood CPRP, Cultural Services Supervisor. “This creative variety and flexibility is what the community has been asking for, and we are thrilled to be able to offer it.”
The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to support Alpharetta’s growing arts and cultural scene. “We are excited to partner with the City of Alpharetta to bring these new art features to our community, says Janet Rodgers, President and CEO. “We invite art enthusiasts to come out and experience the cultural side of Alpharetta by touring sculptural displays throughout the city, visiting our museum, or attending a musical performance. With so many things to do, paint your perfect weekend in Alpharetta and create your own masterpiece by staying in one of our 25 hotels.”