In collaboration with Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, Arbitrary Living presents Friends and Neighbors event series. Friends and Neighbors is a mini boutique festival and day party celebrating southern hospitality, public art and creative commerce at Historic Fourth Ward Park Outdoor Theater and Meadow. The next edition of the event is on Saturday, November 2nd from 12-9 pm. Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective will bring their popular “No Tables, No Chairs” Parade and Concert back to the Atlanta BeltLine from 12:30pm to 9:00pm. This is the seventh anniversary of the event with activities that will take attendees on a funk-filled exploration of the pulsating rhythms of the African Diaspora. Honoring the New Orleans-based tradition, Mausiki Scales & Common Ground will kick off the event with a ¾-mile second-line/Funk parade. This year, the parade will also feature a taste of the Caribbean with the Atlanta Junkanoo Band joining the line-up. Egbe Sekere of Atlanta will be also adding their rhythms to the processional.
The location of F&N was chosen with intention. In Old Fourth Ward there is still a sense of mystery and uncomfortability between established and new residents. The gentrification of this neighborhood is based on color lines, racial dynamics and transportation.
The location of F&N was chosen with intention. In Old Fourth Ward there is still a sense of mystery and uncomfortability between established and new residents. The gentrification of this neighborhood is based on color lines, racial dynamics and transportation. The intent of #ChopItUpATL is to use this performance art pop up to bring people together from all backgrounds in green spaces with an intentional focus on amplifying and connecting women, nonbinary, black and POC creatives and entrepreneurs, as well as informing the conversation from the lens of marginalized creators.
“I am passionate about us getting back outside, getting into nature and getting in touch with our spirit and what our bodies need,” says Quianah Upton the founder of Arbitrary Living and #ChopItUpATL. “We are hoping that being invited to play and meet in green space serves as a bridge to community engagement and fun.”
“Art on the Atlanta BeltLine offers free public art and programming that crosses boundaries to bring people together in artistic celebration,” said Miranda Kyle, Arts and Culture Program Manager at Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “Events like the Friends and Neighbors Day Fest support our goals of equity, inclusion, and community.”
Art on the Atlanta BeltLine strives to create a welcoming and inclusive art experiences for all. Now in its tenth year, the exhibition has grown to be the largest temporary, outdoor public art display in the south. The year-long exhibition includes performances, sculptures, murals, concerts, festivals, special exhibits, pop-up experiences, and collaborations – all of which are free to the public. View this Friends and Neighbors event on Facebook.
Media contact: chopitupatl@gmail.com
About Arbitrary Living:
Arbitrary Living was founded as a vintage and handmade housewares retail organization in 2013. They began event production as well as creating art installations and curated markets with colorful and distinct pieces in 2014 and quickly made a name for ourselves. To keep up with demand, they founded Arbitrary Living Agency offering skills in social media, branding, art installations and event production in 2018.
About #ChopItUpATL:
#ChopItUpATL creates space for nourishing gatherings around social justice and dialogue, as well as events that serve to gather diverse community together in green spaces.
About Art on the Atlanta BeltLine
Art on the Atlanta BeltLine is largest temporary public art exhibition in the history of Atlanta. It showcases the work of hundreds of visual artists, performers, and musicians along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor. This spectacular project places working professionals alongside emerging artists, and draws residents and visitors into some of the most unique public spaces in the City of Atlanta, providing powerful new perspectives on the city and its vibrant neighborhoods. The exhibition showcases how art strengthens and beautifies current and former industrial areas and creates signature spaces exemplifying the transformation of the city through the Atlanta BeltLine. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine touches almost 20 intown communities.
