Starting at Ponce De Leon Ave, Boulevard cuts south through Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, runs alongside Cabbagetown, continues over I-20 through the Grant Park community and then delivers you to the front door of the United States Penitentiary, Atlanta.
This almost 4.5 mile route, complete with historic landmarks, eclectic neighborhoods, dilapidated structures, flavorful illicit activity and it’s own “YoBoulevard!” marketing campaign, gives you a mix of the best and, unfortunately, the worst Atlanta has to offer.
In tilting the scale in favor of the best, a collaboration between the Boulevard Tunnel Initiative and Living Walls brought artist MOMO to Atlanta and allowed his creativity to breathe new life into the tunnel that runs beneath Decatur Street/DeKalb Avenue and connects Edgewood Avenue and Memorial Drive.
Having traveled this path countless times, the vibrant colorscape is a much appreciated enhancement to the underpass. With Living Walls murals and other street art already decorating the surrounding communities, this full-length mural fits naturally into the existing urban setting.
With Living Walls 2014 just weeks away, I hope this urban art installation + community improvement project are a great preview of the projects that residents can soon expect to see in the streets of Atlanta.
