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Hi, friends,
It is autumn and the Artsxchange is alive with energy. Days like these highlight the importance of holding a committed space to build community. It is the foundation of our mission. This is a place where diverse groups can come together to celebrate, explore cultural connections, and gain knowledge. It is reflected in the excited exchange between a son and mother viewing The Haunts of Black Kirby, our latest exhibit. It's in the Garden Like a Boss students gathered outside learning about composting. It's in the beat of the drums coming from a traditional African spirituality festival in the Paul Robeson Theater. It's in the Dooley Room, where Market 166 is meeting to build a community-owned cooperative grocery store. And it's in our friends from Alternate ROOTS strategizing for institutional change in the library, all on one Saturday afternoon. There is happiness, wisdom and community in these walls. I feel privileged to play a small role in nurturing it for the artists who make the ArtsXchange their creative home, our members and supporters, and all those who come through our doors seeking inspiration and peace. As we move into our anniversary month of October, we must stop and acknowledge all of those who actively engage in uplifting this institution. For 39 years, the Artsxchange has played an important role in Atlanta’s art scene. Most of this has been under the dynamic leadership of our Executive Director, Alice Lovelace. This is a time of transformation as we continue to envision all the good work still to be done.
On October 14, 2023, we invite you to dream with us by supporting our annual fundraiser, UnMask the Future. Come dressed in a costume, cosplay, or mask! Together we will experience a night of good friends, food, entertainment, and a few fun surprises. Dance to the sounds of R&B/funk/reggae band Cafe Au Lait and DJ 5th Wurld, or enjoy an evening under the cosmic sky. This is also an opportunity to meet the studio artists and perhaps find an original holiday gift.
Before we put on dancing shoes, though, we also invite you to see the new "face" of the ArtsXchange as we dedicate our new mural by Atlanta artist, Charity Hamidullah!
Join us for the mural dedication and reception from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 13, 2023.
A prolific muralist with a heart for community, Charity tells a story of the seeds planted at the ArtsXchange and the many fruits it has borne — and will bear for generations — through vibrant colors and imagery that will positively impact our corner of East Point. We ask you to consider becoming a member today. We want to expand our outreach to schools, support efforts to address social issues, and continue to bring intergenerational audiences together. Come with us on a journey, planting seeds for our future! Best, Cheryl Johnson Cultural Curator & Board president
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Charity Hamidullah's work adorns many walls, from local public art projects including the Dorothy Bolden Tribute mural with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Pianos for Peace; to corporate commissions including Microsoft and Target. Charity's murals are also featured in various cities since their respective mural fests, including Birmingham, Ala., Chattanooga, Tenn., and South Salt Lake, Utah. We're thrilled to have not only her talent, but also her love for community. Charity is a multi-disciplinary artist who has been living and creating in Atlanta since 2011. Her work began as a tattoo artist where she assisted in helping clients honor their identity through body adornment. Her admiration for community soon transformed her canvas with hopes to inspires and uplift more individuals. Hamidullah utilizes color, figurative and environmental elements to illustrate stories of identity, empowerment and growth while uniting spaces with the love language of art. Follow her on Instagram @creatingfreedomnow.
The Southeast Community Cultural Center d/b/a the ArtsXchange receives support from the Fulton County Arts & Culture under the guidance of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the Georgia Council for the Arts under the guidance of the State of Georgia Legislators and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta through the A Place to Perform grant, Threshold Foundation, Fidelity Charitable, the estate of Dr. Doris Derby, Food Well Alliance, Peach State Health Plan, Schwab, and Shifting Energy. Support is also provided by our individual and business donors and members. We encourage you to become a supporter.
