Moreland Mural Project

Drab underpass to become canvas for 22 female artists

In contrast to the vibrant culture around it, the underpass in question sits painfully pale. “I just felt like something needed to change,” said Berg. Not one to sit idly by, she is now President for Little Five Alive (littlefivealive.org), and has also gotten involved with Little Five Arts Alive, where she holds a position on the steering committee. Little Five Arts Alive is formed from a partnership between Horizon Theatre Company and the Little Five Points Community Improvement District, and seeks to provide arts programming that connects the community.

By getting involved with these organizations, Berg found an outlet for her passions and a good use for her business skills. It was a fortuitous introduction by Little Five Arts Alive director Rachel Parish that brought Berg and Stumberg together, and there was an instant connection. They began talking about the blank underpass, and they decided it was high time to do something about it. “When I met Lauren, I thought – this is my opportunity to do something creative,” and the Moreland Mural Project began.

Another big factor, beyond getting the neighborhood on board, Georgia Department of Transportation regulations met, and artists lined up, is finding the funding to put this whole idea in action. Stumberg feels strongly that artists deserve to be fairly paid, and she has set specific financial goals in the execution of this mural. “For some reason artists are one of the vocations where people are expected to work for free, so part of the funding from the grant will go towards paying the artists for the sketches that they generated.”

When Stumberg learned that the City of Atlanta pays individuals

$4,000 for an artist project, she decided that’s what she wanted to do for each of her 22 artists. All told, the two are seeking to raise around $100,000 for materials, artist pay, legal fees, traffic calming per DOT regulations, and renting the necessary equipment.

“We are kinda crazy,” Stumberg said with a laugh, “but we really want to amplify the voices of these artists and to show how art lends value to the community.”

Though there are many more pieces yet to fall into place before this project can come together, Berg and Stumberg are tentatively hoping to launch the project in spring of 2017.

To learn more about the project and keep up with its progress, visit facebook.com/morelandmuralproject or c4atlanta.org/project/little-5mural-project.