The canvas of street art splashed on Krog Street Tunnel’s walls, floors and columns has become an artistic hub that attracts spectators of all kinds. But on Thursday, bicyclists and pedestrians walking through the underground tunnel stopped for a different reason: the reverberating voices of the Spelman College Glee Club.
Against the backdrop of the ever-evolving art gallery that is the Krog Street Tunnel, the HBCU glee club members stood underneath the tunnel’s pillars in long black dresses, pearl necklaces, and a touch of red lipstick. They were led by Kevin Johnson, the director of the glee club, in a setlist of hymns sung acapella that kicked off the choir’s spring tour celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The concert, titled “Resurgens Requiem: History, Heritage, Harmony,” was also part of South Art’s Foundations Creative Placemaking Summit to take place in Atlanta from March 5-8. In partnership with South Arts, Creative Placemaking Communities, Atlanta BeltLine Inc., Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Georgia State University’s EPIC Pop Culture Program and the Spelman Glee Club, it was a love letter to Atlanta’s diverse art community and former Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conductor Robert Shaw.
“This was just an excellent opportunity to celebrate local artists who’ve been part of the choral music legacy for decades — a century now with it being 100 years. It was great timing. Perfect group. Perfect time of year to do it. In the perfect space,” said Tyrone Webb, a representative for the Georgia Council for the Arts. “The acoustics of the tunnel, the reverberation, that’s part of the concept of why the project was put together.”
The immersive experience was the result of a collaborative effort between the summit organizers and the Inman Park and Cabbagetown neighborhoods. Davis Butner, the creative consultant for the summit, revealed that the discussions to celebrate the neighborhood’s history began in the summer of 2023, with organizers actively seeking ideas from the community.
So much of what Krog Street Tunnel is lies in community and free expression and the goal was to meld those values and celebrate the tunnel as not only a creative, visual escape but an oral one as well. Lynette Reid, Atlanta Beltine’s vice president of planning, engagement and arts and culture, also noted that it was a way to recognize and encourage art from communities that have been historically excluded.
“Celebrating culture and the power of voice and seeing them here in the Krog Street Tunnel is just pretty powerful. It just shows what public spaces can do and what opportunities it can give voice to,” Reid said. “We believe in creative expression and in creating spaces around the Beltline for artists. So, this was just a celebration to underscore what we believe in. And then to tie it to the Krog Street Tunnel, which is so iconic, and then the renowned Spelman Glee Club, it was something that you couldn’t create. It was kismet today.”
Simone Moales, the vice president of the Spelman College Glee Club, said the unique concert was special in that it allowed them to kick off their celebratory tour in Atlanta and gave them the opportunity to remove any barriers between them and the community.
“We took in all the art. We took in what it meant to be down there. We took in the aspects of unhoused individuals who are usually down here. We took in the elements of non-traditional art that sometimes we’re not showcasing at Spelman,” Moales said.
“Now our artistry, our creativity, is going to forever be steeped into these walls, the echoes will be able to surround the sound of those who walk in and out. And so, just reflecting on the history, and even bringing it to now, knowing that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves, and our home, is the best part for us to just continue on.”
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