Atlanta to the Atlantic
Category
Projectby Rachel Parish and Sarah Cameron Sunde
Presented by Flux Projects in partnership with the South River Watershed Alliance (SRWA)
DETAILS
Journey from
Atlanta to the Atlantic
May 17 – June 30, 2024
Installations Sept. – Oct.
EVENTS
Flow Like Water Workshop
Mon, April 29, 5pm – 7pm
Flow Like Water Workshop
Sat, May 4, 11am – 1pm
Flow Like Water Workshop
Sat, May 4, 2pm – 4pm
Project Launch
The Journey Begins
Beginning in Atlanta, the South River flows southeast to the Atlantic Ocean, yet many Atlantans have never heard of it. Classified as the fourth most endangered river in the United States by American Rivers in 2021, Atlanta to the Atlantic aims to foster awareness of the South River and its environmental health by bringing people into closer relationship with its waters that run through their backyards.
A two-stage project, artists Rachel Parish and Sarah Cameron Sunde will first journey hundreds of miles on the river to the Atlantic Ocean. Afterwards, they will return to create a series of temporary public art installations in three Atlanta neighborhoods Arthur Langford Jr. Park, Kirkwood Urban Forest, and Perkerson Park.
The Journey: Launching mid-May, Parish and Sunde will spend over five weeks traveling by kayak and foot along the waters of the South River, from its beginnings in southeast Atlanta to Sapelo Island. A durational work, their journey will take them from the South River (aka Weelaunee) to the Ocmulgee, then along the Altamaha and finally to the Atlantic Ocean.
To highlight the interconnectedness of Georgia’s urban and rural communities, Parish and Sunde will invite engagement from local communities along the way. Documenting this journey through video, audio, drawing, and writings, their observations will construct a dynamic portrait of the human and natural communities that are united by this vital waterway.
The Installations: In the fall of 2025, their project will culminate with a series of temporary installations along the tributaries in three Atlanta neighborhoods. These installations (and supporting programs) will highlight the presence of the waterway, offer opportunities for recreation and reflection, and incorporate elements of the collective portrait that emerged along the journey.
Both a physical and artistic journey, Atlanta to the Atlantic seeks to bring residents in closer relationship with the water flowing through their neighborhoods, while strengthening community understanding of how to improve the river’s water quality and enhance the health of our environment.
ADVISORS
Jacqueline Echols | South River Watershed Alliance
Margaret Spalding | South River Watershed Alliance and the South River Forest Coalition
Dorian McDuffie | City of Atlanta Department of Planning
Nedra Deadwyler | Community Builder + Social Practitioner
Paul Medders | Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Ryan Gravel | Sixpitch
Kit and Mary Carson | Ocmulgee Water Trail
James Reilly | Altamaha Riverkeeper
Joe Cook | Georgia River Network
Ben Emanuel | American Rivers
Teri Nye | National Park Service
Scott Taylor | Three Rivers Outdoors
Adam Heagy and Madison Green | Ocmulgee Outdoor Expeditions
Cindy Dennard | SouthEast Adventure Outfitters
Neill Herring | Environmental Lobbyist
Francis J. Magilligan | Professor of Geology and Policy Studies
Janisse Ray | Author, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood et al.
Suzanne Welander | Author, Canoeing & Kayaking Georgia
Richard Milligan | Political Geologist, University of Georgia
Adam McKinnon | Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Cathy Sakas | Coastal Naturalist
Marie Lorenz | Artist, Tide and Current Taxi