History. Heritage. Harmony. along the Atlanta Beltline
Renowned for its colorful street art, murals, tags, and stickers, Krog Street Tunnel is legendary as a hub for visual artistic expression in Atlanta. For one afternoon, however, it took on a special new role. A gritty but vibrant backdrop, its unique acoustics served as an accompanying instrument for a spectacular acapella musical showcase by the Spelman College Glee Club.
The performance, entitled “Resurgens Requiem,” was inspired by “The Mile Long Opera,” a similar placemaking performance event in 2018 on New York City’s Highline. It also drew upon the legacy of Atlanta’s diverse choral traditions championed by Choral Conductor Robert Shaw, the Grammy-winning conductor who had a decades-long tenure with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
This site-specific choral performance activation, was planned as part of the 4-day Creative Placemaking Summit: South and Appalachia, presented by South Arts, Creative Placemaking Communities, Atlanta BeltLine Inc., Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association, and Georgia State University’s EPIC Pop Culture Program. The summit is a gathering of artists, administrators, community leaders, planners, designers, and other professionals exploring models at the intersection of arts, cultural heritage, and public policy.