Tag Archive for: art installation

CANSTRUCTION ATLANTA PUBLIC ART COMPETITION COMES TO PONCE CITY MARKET IN APRIL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/8/20

Canstruction Atlanta Kicks Off 21st Annual Public Art Competition Benefitting Atlanta Community Food Bank & Raising Awareness of Atlanta-Area Hunger Insecurity

Renowned Metro Atlanta Design Teams to Build Giant Canned Food Structures for Public Display at Ponce City Market from April 21 – May 5, 2020

In Association with the Atlanta Chapters of the American Institute of Architects & Society for Design Administration

 

Canstruction® Atlanta, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization benefitting the Atlanta Community Food Bank, announces the launch of its 21st annual art exhibition program and philanthropic event in association with the American Institute of Architects (AIA, Atlanta Chapter) and Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Design Administration (SDA). The announcement kicks off months of advanced planning and participation on the parts of Canstruction Atlanta committee members, a variety of sponsors and numerous design teams, resulting in massive art structures made of canned food goods. Free and open to the public, the structures will be on public display throughout the first and second floor of the Central Food Hall at Ponce City Market from April 21 – May 5, 2020.

 

The Canstruction Atlanta organization, which comprises Architectural, Engineering and Construction (A/E/C) industry members and a wide range of related community members, inspires and facilitates metro-area participants to create and build food can art displays. The program raises awareness of Atlanta-area hunger insecurity and generates food and funds for the Food Bank, while shedding a spotlight on the local design industry. Since its inception in 1998, Canstruction Atlanta has donated approximately 1.2 million meals to the local food bank.

 

The art structures will feature design expertise from some of Georgia’s most talented architects, engineers, construction professionals and designers. Each canned food art display will showcase a design concept as a standalone part of the exhibition’s entire series and draw inspiration from futuristic cars and airplanes; popular cartoon characters; items related to Atlanta’s burgeoning film industry; iconic area landmarks; and more. Participants will be able to use canned goods of all sizes, wood, tape, rubber bands, wire and Velcro to create self-supporting structures.

 

The can structures art exhibition will commence with an initial build-out day on April 20, during which up to 20 design teams will have 10 hours to assemble their individual can structures at Ponce City Market. 

Culminating during an awards gala at The Plaza at Ponce City Market on Friday, April 24 from 7-10pm, a jury will select one winner in each of six Canstruction International categories, including “Best Meal,” “Most Cans,” “People’s Choice,” “Best Use of Labels,” “Structural Ingenuity” and a new award this year: “Best Original Design.” A seventh award, selected by the Canstruction Atlanta committee, known as the “Can-ambassador Award” is presented to the team that goes above and beyond the original scope of the Canstruction event. Tickets ($25) to the gala can be purchased at www.canstructionatl.com in advance or at the door.

 

The annual program and event activities will end with a special Disassembly and Donation Day on Wednesday, May 6, when all structures will be dismantled and bestowed to the Food Bank for distribution to hundreds of interrelated, nonprofit organizations with hunger-relief programs benefitting Metro Atlanta and North Georgia citizens.

 

Canstruction Atlanta is seeking individual and corporate sponsors to provide participatory support. Seven sponsorship packages are available in exchange for applicable benefits. Sponsorship levels include “Elite,” “Corporate,” “Platinum,” “Diamond,” “Gold,” “Silver” and “Bronze.” Sponsorships and donations are tax deductible and can be attained through www.canstructionatl.com/sponsors.

“The annual Canstruction Atlanta program and canned food exhibition help enrich the Atlanta-area community and bring together people from different design-oriented industries,” says 2020 Co-Chair James Byers. “Most of all, the program provides a sense of unity which lends to the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s goal of conquering area hunger.”

 

About Canstruction® Atlanta: Canstruction Atlanta is a unique charity which hosts competitions, exhibitions and events showcasing colossal structures made of full cans of food. After the structures are built, the creations go on display free of charge for the public as a giant art exhibition. At the conclusion of the event, all food is donated to local hunger relief organizations. Recognized for commitment to innovation, hunger relief and collaboration, the organization has helped raise more than 25 million pounds of food since 1992. Learn more at www.canstructionatl.com.

WRS GREEN LIGHTS UNDERGROUND TO HOST ICONIC LOCAL-TO-GLOBAL ART INSTALLATION

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/8/19

Urban Catalyst Lab To Enlist Local and Global Artists For Community-Centric Project

Underground Atlanta developer WRS today announces the approval for non-profit Urban Catalyst Lab to install the first Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based local-to-global art installation on property. The installation will find its home in the heart of the city amongst the 4-block Underground redevelopment. With the ambition to advance urban resilience and sustainability, the installation will be created in partnership with renowned local and global artists and the Atlanta community creating an inclusive and visionary experience spotlighting the community’s most pressing issues.

“Following the success of the Pillars Project at Underground, we worked alongside the team at Cultivating Cultures to envision an installation that would generate an even stronger sense of culture and collaboration,” said Scott Smith, CEO of WRS, Inc. “The Pillars Project represents togetherness, diversity, and inclusivity, and Urban Catalyst Lab’s art installation is set to extend the conversation around those values even further. We are happy to support an initiative that is not only forward-thinking but also, and most importantly, community-driven. This art installation will live beyond the streets of Underground for years to come.”

Urban Catalyst Lab has strategically curated a strong list of brilliant artists that will bring to life their mission of contributing positively to urban space by using Art-As-A-Solution for a resilient and equitable community and city. Urban Catalyst Lab will kick off the art installation by hosting a launch event on Tuesday, May 14 at Underground. The names of three Atlanta-based artists and two global artists working on the project will be announced at the event, invitations to follow.

“We salute WRS’ openness to our progressive vision of elevating Art-As-A-Solution and positioning Atlanta as the city of new art. Together with three Atlanta-based artists, and two from Africa and Cuba (Afro Cuban), we invite the entire community of Atlanta to participate in creating a permanent art installation that captures Atlanta’s identity – its heritage, present, and future. We are excited to be working with WRS and Cultivating Cultures in broadening the perception of people-private-public partnerships,” said Ruxanda Renita, CEO of Urban Catalyst Lab.

“At the height of its success, Underground attracted 10 million visitors annually. Underground is the perfect location for the art installation because it is a vibrant hub for our community and visitors alike,” said Craig Waters, General Manager of Underground.

Installation of the art will begin in 2020 on Lower Alabama Street. The future-focused installation will constantly evolve, creating a connection between the past, present, and future. It will be powered by Urban Catalyst Lab’s proprietary IoT and AI technology, collecting and measuring real-time and meaningful community impact. This installation and framework will be the first IoT and AI based local-to-global art installation in the world.

“The sculpture will be cutting edge, embedding pioneer IoT and machine learning to provide much-needed data about the impact of the installation to urban resilience and sustainability,” said Christophe Choquart, CFO of Urban Catalyst Lab, who is actively engaged in fundraising to get the project off the ground.

A board of advisors for this initiative has been created and includes Steve Weir, Housing Innovation VP of Habitat for Humanity International; John Cushnie, VP of Georgia Chamber of Commerce; Stephane Pinel, Manager of Data Science at Mailchimp; Jerry Thomas, lawyer and art collector; John Cushnie, VP of Georgia Chamber of Commerce; and Michelle Wiseman, Waste Management & Recycling Officer of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Resilience. Additional advisors will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Creative consultancy Cultivating Cultures will play a crucial role in engaging local communities and stakeholders.

To follow updates on the art installation and transformation of Underground, visit:
www.undergroundatl.com