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Art You Can Play On
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta children (and their parents) are fortunate to have “Playscapes,” the artistic playground in Piedmont Park designed by world-renowed sculptor Isamu Noguchi. How exciting it must be for kids to look at, jump over, swing on and slide down such unusual structures.
A new group — the Atlanta Task Force on Play — wants to build more artistic play spaces around the city. The task force was started by Atlanta artist Cynthia Gentry, who has done murals in schools and a children’s hospital, among other places. Gentry’s initiative got a jump-start Tuesday — a $25,000 grant from KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that helps build playgrounds.
Inspired by New York’s Rockwell Group, the Atlanta task force plans to hold competitions with architecture and design firms to create highly imaginative playgrounds for Atlanta’s children. Gentry also wants to encourage children to make their own art for their playgrounds, whether it’s decorating tiles to be embedded in a wall or making stepping stones.
The task force is working closely with city officials to plan the play spaces. Mayor Shirley Franklin appears in the group’s video application for the grant, which you can view here.
What would you like to see in these new playgrounds?
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