It all started with Instagram.
Tim Moxley, a commercial photographer of 20 years, was checking the #atlanta feed of his Instagram back in 2012, only to find a “lot of selfies and other crap.” Feeling that there was a need to be fulfilled, he started to think of a way to tell a simple, authentic story about the city through images while at the same time serving a charitable cause.
He met with fellow photographers Aaron Coury and Keith Weaver and together they hatched the idea: building a community of photography-minded souls united around an hashtag and a shared pride for their city. The Instagram submission device #weloveatl was born.
Three months later, the team opened a gallery show showcasing the pictures collected through their feed. Whereas they expected a few submissions, within 30 days of sending request, they received thousands of photos. The success was unexpected but reflected, according to Moxley, a true need for people to showcase their love for the city.
Last year, the #weloveatl team bought an old food truck through a Kickstarter campaign and turned it into a mobile photo gallery. They have curated close to 1,000 pictures to this day. Their operating system is quite simple: Once they pick a picture that they feel tell a compelling story of Atlanta, they email the photographer, asking for permission to use the image. Then they print it and sell it for a modest sum (4”x6” sells for $5; 10”X10” for $40). All proceeds go to a charitable in-town organization.
“Originally our motto was “taking the arts from the streets to the streets,” said Moxley. “I am not sure what it is right now,” he added with a laugh, “but we continue to be interested in unconventional spaces to exhibit work.
Their most recent endeavor, “45×45: Neighbors Connected” is true to their words. Inspired by French street artist JR’s “Inside Out” project, it features 45 portraits of residents living in 45 neighborhoods adjacent to the BeltLine, a 22-mile loop of trails and public parks recently reclaimed from historic railroad corridors. For each neighborhood, #weloveatl assigned a photographer and gave him/her mission to shoot a portrait of one of his residents. The result is an outstanding 15-foot-by-50-foot wheatpaste, comprised of the 45 monochrome portraits plastered on a concrete wall. “We really wanted to show that the BeltLine is more than just a place to walk. It is all about connecting humans. And that what we are interested in,” commented Aaron Coury.
ACP Closing Party
October 30th, 6-9pm
Ponce City Market
650 North Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
http://www.45x45project.com
