Photography

(Atlanta: Sweet Auburn Historic District)

Concentrated along Auburn Avenue, the Sweet Auburn Historic District reflects the history, heritage and achievements of Atlanta's African Americans. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is a wonderful tribute to the vision, sacrifice, dedication and love that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated as the nation's most prominent leader in the 20^th century struggle for civil rights.

Photography

(Atlanta: Cabbagetown Landmark District)

You're existing within another era, strolling along the gentle rolling hills of magic-realism; this is Cabbagetown. The streets are lined with 19^th century to early 20^th century cottages, shotgun homes and small groceries. Flowering vines of morning glory, brilliant orange trumpet, honeysuckle and moon flower climb exuberantly on trellises and porches of the well-kept residences. The intoxicating fragrance of roses and jasmine ebbs and flows... suspended on the breeze. Homeowners greet passersby from their porches; everything is peaceful and beautiful, eccentric and other-worldy.

This is truly an intact vintage neighborhood; the ambiance is similar to walking through a small hamlet in the Appalachian mountains or a quaint town along the Maine coast or among the old fishing cottages in the small town of 'Sconset on Nantucket Island or the village of Carmel, CA. The only thing missing is a musician on one of the porches, playing a mellow Miles Davis piece on his trumpet...

The Cabbagetown neighborhood was established in the 1800's, consisting of poor whites recruited from the Appalachian region of north Georgia as workers in the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill, which has been converted to loft condos. In 1979 the neighborhood was the first in Atlanta to be designated a Landmark District.

Photography

(Atlanta: Historic Oakland Cemetery)

Historic Oakland Cemetery: tranquil, calm, serene, relaxed... these are some of the feelings evoked while visiting this rejuvenating oasis in the midst of cosmopolitan Atlanta.

Established prior to the Civil War, this landmarked cemetery offers panoramic vistas which are breathtaking; the topography is the highest elevation in the city. Massive branches of ancient trees stretch toward billowing clouds, floating lazily across an azure blue sky. There is an abundance of historically significant architecture in a variety of classic styles. Lush, beautiful landscaping carpets the rolling hills and reflects the changing seasons.

Well-placed benches throughout the grounds provide comfortable seating for contemplation, reading, and observing the 360° views from the highest natural elevation in Atlanta. While one is oriented toward the northwest, the skyscrapers of downtown Atlanta (just a few miles away) are visible between the well-preserved mausoleums and the undulating branches of magnificent trees.

Art

(photography, sculpture)

Mark VanAllen's abstract mixed-media constructions reference architecture, dream sequences, cosmology, existential thought, archaeology, anthropology, industrial infrastructure, jazz... Often, the pieces are assembled wood frameworks, incorporating found objects, fabric, metal, rubber, wire, molded plaster... His inspirational influences are: open panel...