Restful Tales on the Beltline: Exploring Courage through Storytelling
On Saturday, October 5, the Ke'nekt Cooperative on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard came alive with the power of storytelling.
- Arts & Culture
On Saturday, October 5, the Ke'nekt Cooperative on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard came alive with the power of storytelling. The "Restful Tales on the Beltline: Fables and Discovery" event, part of the 2023-24 Atlanta Beltline Art Exhibition, brought together community members to explore the art of brave narratives and discover tools of courage.
The event's creator, Sage Hall, a queer neurodivergent Atlanta-based artist and facilitator, drew inspiration from their own family experiences. "In my family, storytelling is an amazing way we share our feelings or truth," Sage explains. "I believe that storytelling acts as an archive for communal history."
This belief led Sage to create an event exploring courage in storytelling. "Courage changes as we get older, but kids always lead their days with it. I wanted to learn more," Sage notes. Through the event's activities, Sage encouraged participants to reconnect with that childlike courage, inspiring everyone to approach their stories with that same fearlessness and authenticity.
Participants created storyteller zines and journals, exploring affirmations, identity words, and prompts about the stories they value and who they empower through their storytelling. Sage chose these activities because they are an accessible way of summarizing and visualizing information, explaining, "I wanted participants to have multiple ways of remembering how to be responsible storytellers and to continue documenting their voice”. Guest facilitators Brandon Moultrie, Taylor Jiles, and Jordan Freeman contributed their unique perspectives and storytelling skills.
For aspiring storytellers, Sage offers powerful advice: "Practice saying the hard thing first—we need more truthful narratives in the world. However you decide to speak, knowing your story can free you as well as others." This emphasis on truth and courage is reflected in Sage's professional journey as an Atlanta-based artist for the past seven years, creating artwork and community programming that supports neighborhood wellbeing by honoring collective stories.
"Restful Tales" reminds us of the power in sharing our experiences. As part of the Atlanta Beltline's ongoing commitment to linking neighborhoods and people through shared spaces, experiences, and art, this event encourages us to find courage in our stories and recognize their value in shaping our interconnected communities.
The 2023-24 Atlanta Beltline Art exhibition is sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern at the Gold level; Jamestown – Ponce City Market, Kaiser Permanente, and Northside Hospital at the Silver level; and Cox Enterprises at the Bronze level. This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
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