Creative Placemaking Communities Conference: Atlanta 2024

I was thrilled to join the Creative Placemaking Communities conference this year in Atlanta, especially after presenting last year in Jersey City. I love working at the intersection of community building, economic development, and art– this conference attracts other folks who bridge these worlds. Attendees are architects, planners, artists, musicians, community organizers, and funders. 

Performance by American Roots, Folks, and Zataco inspired band, Magnolias Ft. Marcella Simien and Anne Harris in the Rich Theater

This year’s conference was in Atlanta, GA, a place that I see has a lot of parallels with my beloved, Oakland, CA. Not to mention, that people in Atlanta have a lot of love for Oakland –sometimes at conferences when I say I’m from Oakland, people make assumptions and immediately bring up crime. Atlanta and Oakland have similar populations, (500k and 430k respectively), a rich legacy and continuation of creativity and Black art, and unfortunately redlining and displacement. During the conference, we examined some case studies of how creativity, art, and design can be leveraged to help right some of the wrongs of past policies, hold down space for the culture keepers, and repurpose infrastructure for today’s needs. It’s a story replicated in cities nationwide and is part of why at the studio, we know economic justice and creative placekeeping are so important. Now, with that laid out, I wanted to share some highlights and the bright spots in a field that can often feel a bit overwhelming. 

ArtsXchange

The ArtsXchange is a repurposed school filled with galleries, artists, studios, and a beautiful community garden, and is a real beacon in East Point.  This was an amazing place. Just being in the space you could feel how much care and creative energy flowed through the space. As Alicia Garza says in her podcast, ‘Oakland is the center of the universe’, and so naturally I met folks with connections to Oakland– my absolute favorite being Miss Charlie. She leads the Champion Youth Entrepreneurs for Agriculture, where youth are taught how to farm, produce food products, and sell at the market. I love meeting other folks who are passionate about plants and entrepreneurship! 

Sweet Auburn 

CDCs (Community Development Corporations) can be amazing mechanisms for placekeeping and placemaking. Sweet Auburn neighborhood is home to important institutions including the first Black-owned and operated radio station, the first Black bank to be a part of the FDIC, and the first Black-owned newspaper. LISC Atlanta was a key partner in the placekeeping and revitalization effort as an organization focused on economic development to close the racial wealth gap. LISC Bay Area is one of our clients, so it was great to see what the Atlanta chapter has helped to support. 

First Saint Mark African Episcopal Church Performance

Creative placemaking isn’t just about policy and placing art in public places, but also about storytelling and belonging. On the final night of the conference, live music performances were held in an incredibly unique venue– the Saint Mark African Episcopal Church. The acoustics in the space were unbelievable and it was such a unique way to hold space for the community to repurpose beyond religious congregations. 

I believe deeply in the need for artists and creatives to be at the forefront of change, and this conference was a wonderful time to be around other people who share a similar theory of change. Creative people can generate new ideas and view the world differently, but can’t do it alone. We need more places like the CPC conference where different industries can collide and we can find our co-conspirators in making changes in our communities.  

Atlanta Arts & Culture

Now of course you know when I travel I’m going to also make a point to find other creative things so I visited the the High Museum, the Atlanta Botanical Garden,  and (oddly enough) the Center for Puppetry Arts– but stick with me here. 

The High Museum

One of the stand out exhibitions was on Black Ceramics titled “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina”. The exhibition tied the history of uncredited enslaved Black potters who created Edgefield ceramics with contemporary artists who’s work responds to the Edgefield story– including Woody De Othello, a ceramicist and painter practicing in Oakland. 

In case you don’t know, I’m also a ceramicists and so this exhibition was very impactful for me.

Atlanta Botanical Garden 

The botanical garden located in Piedmont Park was just starting to show signs of Spring! The tulips were in bloom and some of the magnolias were starting the bloom. The garden included some beautiful paths and an extensive orchid collection. If you find yourself in Atlanta, I would highly recommend a visit (maybe on a slightly sunnier day).

Center for Puppetry Arts

Now this was a very surprising and delightful detour. One of the conference attendees told me about the Center for Puppetry Arts, which at first I was a bit skeptical of, but it was absolutely amazing. Their exhibition was on the work of Jim Henson, meaning they had most of the Sesame Street crew, Labyrinth, and muppets in the center. I have to say, after visiting, I feel like puppetry is an underestimated art form! 

Let me know, what did you think of this post? Do you want to know more about the conferences and events that I attend for the studio?