SCAD SERVE DEBUTS NEWEST “PAINT OUR PARKS” MURAL AT ADAIR PARK I

Unveiling of vibrant basketball court mural by SCAD SERVE

Alumni Ambassador Alex Waggoner

ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 2022 – Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to present the newest installment of the SCAD SERVE Paint Our Parks public arts initiative with the unveiling of a vibrant basketball court mural at Adair Park I in southwest Atlanta. Paint Our Parks is a unique university initiative envisioned by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace focused on serving the citizens of Atlanta through the creativity, expertise and altruism of SCAD’s supremely talented network of students and alumni.

The brilliant Adair Park I basketball court mural was conceptualized and led by painter, muralist and SCAD SERVE Alumni Ambassador Alex Waggoner (B.F.A., painting, 2012) with a team of over 100 SCAD artists and community volunteers to bring this whimsical work of art to life and enhance the neighborhood’s popular recreational space. Inspired by the architectural identity of the Adair Park neighborhood and incorporating solar-themed elements, Waggoner’s mural conveys a bright and joyous energy, radiating the unity of one of Atlanta’s most uplifting and eclectic intown historic neighborhoods. SCAD also contributed significant funds to restore the park’s court surface and provide new basketball hoops, fully bringing this basketball court to life.

"Creating this mural with SCAD SERVE for the Adair Park community has been such an incredible experience. The SCAD POP (Paint Our Parks) interdisciplinary initiative has allowed me to utilize skills I have honed while at SCAD and in the professional art world,” said SCAD alumna and artist Alex Waggoner.  “I am constantly inspired by the SCAD community, their excitement about volunteering through SCAD SERVE, and their enthusiasm with every stroke of their brushes and rollers! I am excited to see the community play on our colorful and vibrant basketball court for years to come."

This is the second basketball court mural painting by SCAD SERVE in partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Parks and Recreation following the unveiling of the first Paint Our Parks mural at Arthur Langford, Jr. Park in October, 2021. For this Adair Park I project, SCAD SERVE collaborated with Art in the Paint, an organization that uplifts communities through art by partnering with artists and community leaders to revitalize recreational shared spaces with scenic murals.

"The Adair Park 1 basketball mural is one of many park murals we are working with SCAD SERVE to install throughout our community. I love that art is being placed in unexpected and unique spaces,” said Camille Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Atlanta. “Public art — such as the Adair Park I SCAD POP mural — is an important inspiration to our community. Children will not only play basketball on the Adair Park I court, but they will also experience amazing art! The SCAD POP mural beautifies this park, inspires our children to play safely and keep the park beautiful, and may encourage them to become artists.”

SCAD is a leader and champion of Atlanta’s vibrant arts scene and Paint Our Parks is an important community-focused initiative through which SCAD students, alumni and faculty realize shared visions of positivity, wellness and joy to uplift local neighborhoods. SCAD SERVE will continue working with local civic leaders bringing these thrilling murals to deserving communities and neighborhoods with installations planned in the coming months for Mozley Park, Howell Park and Adair Park II. For more information about SCAD SERVE, please visit www.scad.edu/scadserve.