Written by | Ray Cornelius
Beginning Thursday, October 15, the City of Atlanta will kick-off its celebration of “all things art” with ELEVATE Atlanta 2015. The annual program features large scale public artwork and offers performances, educational opportunities and cultural experiences that stimulate positive urban growth.
This year’s theme is F(orever) I L(ove) A(tl) – F.I.L.A and is curated by visual/performing artist and scholar Fahamu Pecou. It also features “The Art of Organized Noize,” an exhibition that traces the legacy of Organized Noize and their Dungeon Family collective (which includes Outkast, Goodie Mob, Joi, Slimm Cutta Calhoun, Big Rube and more) from their dirt-floor basements to stages around the world.
I had a chance to briefly chat with Pecou about his role as curator and what art enthusiasts can expect at this year’s events. We also talked about his work being featured on such shows as Empire and black-ish and why artists “aren’t always worth more dead than alive.”
Check out our conversation below:
Photo Credit: AfrostoShelltoes.com