Virginia-Highland on April 18 will unveil a new “neighborhood mural.”
It is aimed at “celebrating the community and adding visual identity to the namesake corner of Virginia and North Highland Avenues,” according to a press release.
The mural was conceptualized by Atlanta design studio Proper on behalf of Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate.
It is meant to “bring visual and cultural recognition to the historic Atlanta neighborhood.”
The Virginia-Highland mural, which reads “VA-HI” and features an illustrated peach tree, with partridges, was developed in conversation with the Virginia-Highland Civic Association and installed by art and design collective The Loss Prevention.
“We were excited to create a landmark mural that celebrated the rich history and essence of Virginia-Highland,” Jonathan Lawrence and Jason Orme of Proper, said in the release.
“We collaborated with neighborhood historian Lola Carlisle to explore the archives which led us to The Virginia-Highland Voice. In these old print newsletters, there were lots of little illustrations used to add visual interest. In the 1980 November issue, one of these drawings was of birds perched in a tree that we instantly felt a connection with. We adapted the illustration to a peach tree and updated the look of the birds. We added the messaging of a bold ‘VAHI,’ the abbreviated nickname of the neighborhood, and ‘Welcome to the neighborhood’ to give it that landmark feel.”
The Loss Prevention, a team of artists that provide high end art installations and visual storytelling around the country, are the people behind several Atlanta neighborhood murals, such as those located in Candler Park, Little Five Points, Grant Park, and the John Lewis HERO mural on Auburn Avenue (another collaboration with Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate.)
“We see this mural as a wonderful creative opportunity to take a wall and use it for common good, to celebrate the Virginia-Highland neighborhood as a place of culture, commerce, and community, and to help foster a greater sense of both individual and civic identity,” Gene Kansas said in the release.
An official unveiling event will take place in front of the mural, on the corner of Virginia and North Highland Avenues, on Thursday, April 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Councilmember Jennifer Ide who represents Virginia-Highland in District 6, among other community leaders, will be in attendance.
6 Responses
Did they take down the mural of the former bartender???
Did they take down the mural of the bartender from Moe’s n Joes???