Lillian Blades Installation on display in historic downtown, Atlanta

A new installation by Bahamian artist Lillian Blades is on display in the historic district of Underground Atlanta until October 30th as part of Elevate/Art Above Underground, a series of public art installations around historic downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Lillian's piece "Ancestral Totem" consists of four benches surrounding a pillar centerpiece. Though called a totem, Blades points that it acts like a 'memory jar'—a vessel for memories shared by the city-dwellers. “Ancestral Totem” is a departure from Lillian Blades’ previous assemblages through the use of new material. The concrete holding in place mirrors, glass beads, shells, etc. has become a strong juxtaposition to the ephemerality of the material. Viewers were invited to add pieces of ephemeral material Blades had set aside for “Ancestral Totem”, and the mirrors invite passersby to see themselves in the tribute to the city.

“It’s the same approach as Junkanoo and quilting, a type of collaborative response by the community,” says artist Lillian Blades of the interactive approach to her public installation piece, “Ancestral Totem”.

Elevate / Art Above Underground is a temporary art event featuring innovative projects by local, national and international artists along the Upper Alabama Street Corridor and surrounding areas in central downtown Atlanta. It is an initiative of The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Programme which brings public art to downtown Atlanta that will stimulate an emerging interest in public art and downtown Atlanta. Elevate will present an assortment of exhibitions ranging from large murals to highly conceptual art with a focus on showcasing local talent. (Information compiled from The Nassau Guardian.)