SCAD SERVE INTRODUCES “PAINT OUR PARKS” PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE AT

ARTHUR LANGFORD, JR. PARK IN ATLANTA

Unveiling of basketball court mural by SCAD SERVE Alumni Ambassador Emily Eldridge

ATLANTA — NOVEMBER, 2021 — Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to announce the “Paint Our Parks” SCAD SERVE public art initiative, with the unveiling of a brilliant large-scale mural enlivening the basketball courts at Arthur Langford, Jr. Park in southeast Atlanta. The university’s public arts beautification project was developed in partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Parks and Recreation. SCAD contributed significant funds for the restoration of the park’s court surface, and towards the creation of a larger-than-life mural to enrich and inspire the local neighborhood community. 

Envisioned by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace, SCAD SERVE is a university initiative that brings together the SCAD community to address neighborhood needs, listen to local leaders, and create meaningful design solutions that improve quality of life. Through SCAD SERVE, the newly launched “Paint Our Parks” (POP) initiative focuses on serving the citizens of Atlanta through the creativity, expertise, and altruism of the university’s supremely talented network of students and alumni. 

In this inaugural SCAD SERVE POP project, through the month of October, SCAD SERVE Alumni Ambassador and acclaimed muralist, illustrator, and graphic designer Emily Eldridge (B.F.A., Illustration, 2004), led a team of over 40 SCAD students, alumni, faculty and staff, a group of enthusiastic Joyland community volunteers, and family members of the late Arthur Langford, Jr. in the creation of a vibrant and whimsical 100 x 100 feet mural on the basketball courts at Arthur Langford, Jr. Park. The culmination of this POP project is a vibrant and dynamic showpiece which enhances the shared recreational space at this popular community park and fosters a unified celebration of the power of the arts.

“The places where we lounge, laugh, and play. The spaces where we stroll, reflect, and reinvigorate. Our parks are where we find our best selves — and SCAD SERVE's new Paint Our Parks public art initiative, debuting with Atlanta's Arthur Langford, Jr. Park, invites our neighbors and friends to enjoy the work of accomplished SCAD artists,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “SCAD SERVE Alumni Ambassador Emily Eldridge — whose murals enliven streetscapes worldwide, from Berlin to Barcelona, Córdoba, Hong Kong, and beyond — leads the Paint Our Parks public art initiative to realize shared visions of positivity, wellness, and joy, and uplift neighborhoods from Atlanta to Savannah.”

The creation of this special collaborative SCAD SERVE POP mural took place during the city of Atlanta’s Elevate public arts festival, further illustrating SCAD as a champion of the greater Atlanta community and the university’s collective commitment to advancing the arts and education in Atlanta. SCAD is honored to present this showpiece for the Joyland community and everyone in Atlanta to enjoy.

“Every community is deserving of art and beauty, not just privileged places. It's been an absolute honor to work together with SCAD SERVE to create artwork for the basketball courts at Arthur Langford, Jr. Park here in Atlanta,” remarked SCAD alumna and muralist Emily Eldridge. “I've also had the incredible opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise in the design field with current SCAD students, the up-and-coming leaders in the art world. I hope that through this experience working together, they have not only gained insight into the mural process, but have also been inspired to create change in their own communities through art. We are so excited to see this project come together and to share our work with the neighborhood!"

SCAD SERVE will continue to work in partnership with civic leaders in the university’s home communities of Atlanta and Savannah to identify deserving public spaces for this unique SCAD SERVE Paint Our Parks mural initiative. For more information about SCAD SERVE, please visit www.scad.edu/scadserve.