A promenade of curated landscaping, public art, and improved pedestrian infrastructure befitting the Southeast’s largest concentration of arts and cultural venues has officially arrived, according to project leaders.

A 137-foot-long mural has been installed as one highlight of Midtown’s most recently finished Art Walk section, a pedestrian corridor and series of public plazas that aims to engage and inspire anyone walking between 10th and 11th streets near the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

The three-sided mural—called “Electric Saturation” by Baltimore-based duo Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn, known in art circles as “Jessie and Katey”—joins vibrant new pavement markings on the 10th Street crosswalk and 11th Street intersection as finishing touches on the latest ½-mile Art Walk piece. The artists’ work marked a collaboration between Living Walls, Midtown Alliance, and MARTA Artbound.  

The recently finished mural, at left, and artist Andrew Crawford’s 2003 sculpture “Lift” are Art Walk highlights. Midtown Alliance

The Art Walk also includes “color-changing custom light spheres” hung from catenary wires overhead that help with wayfinding; upgrades along the Peachtree Walk corridor include new public furniture, specialty concrete, landscaping, security bollards, and sidewalk alterations for a more shared-street vibe, per Midtown Alliance. 

Eventually the Art Walk is planned to stretch five blocks between the Midtown MARTA and Arts Center MARTA stations, incorporating both private property and public space.  

The “Electric Saturation” mural (in the background) and the recently spruced-up 10th Street crosswalk mark the southern entry to the newest Art Walk section. Midtown Alliance

Sections of the remaining four Art Walk phases have been completed in conjunction with private development, including the dual-branded AC/Moxy hotel (2019) and Selig’s 1105 West Peachtree mixed-use complex (2021). Phase two, between 11th and 12th streets, was moved from initial concepts toward design development and construction last year, per Midtown Alliance. And the final piece—phase five, between 14th and 15th streets—is pending future redevelopment of the failed No2 Opus Place parcel.

According to Midtown Alliance’s latest update, the fresh Art Walk section will be home to programming (yes, please) and more art installations throughout this year and next. That will include monthly community events and “ephemeral works” that periodically rotate. 

Midtown Alliance

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