Ashley D. didn’t want the history of Atlanta’s black neighborhoods to be forgotten, so she picked up her paintbrush and helped the city’s residents transform their communities into vibrant works of art.
Bridges, alleyways, transit stations, bike racks and abandoned buildings all serve as canvases for her giant murals.
Her 125-foot mural highlighting the Atlanta University Center’s history with the Ashview Heights community covers up gang graffiti that was plastered on the side of the Fair Street Superette in the West End.
She painted black children playing in a pool with the words “Just keep swimming …You’re almost there” on bike racks in Pittman Park in southwest Atlanta to remind visitors to never give up and to tackle an old racial stereotype that black people can’t swim.
The Ashview Heights 125-foot mural on the side of the Fair Street Superette in southwest Atlanta.
Ashley D. painted positive messages on the bike racks in Pittman park in Southwest Atlanta.
Ashley D., as the artist is known, draws inspiration from old wives’ tales, current experiences and childhood memories. She uses symbolism to address racial stereotypes and sociopolitical preconceptions.
The combination of a colorful palette and her use of whimsical imagery helps her create art that straddles the line of fantasy and reality and is reminiscent of a child’s coloring book. She wants her work to connect people from different walks of life and spark commentary that challenges people to view the world through a different, more colorful lens.
It isn’t uncommon for Ashley to employ the neighborhood to assist her with painting exterior colors, prepare a wall or even just watch out for her safety. She believes residents working together on beautification initiatives will help restore the faith in the community.
“Teens who hang around the corner every day, the elderly who grew up in the neighborhoods, and even former prisoners living in shelters and halfway houses nearby have all come out to help me paint murals around Atlanta,” Ashley said. “The neighborhoods in and around the SWATS (southwest Atlanta) are beautiful, the people are beautiful, and I hope working together on my murals creates the intergenerational communication we need to revive the soul of old ATL.”
Ashley began painting murals on the mundane hallways in the inner-city public schools where she taught because she wanted to encourage students to always remember to dream. In fact, it was the school system that inspired her to launch Tapestry Murals, her art business that has partnered with several organizations, including the Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, and local schools around the metro area.
“The Sky is the Limit” murals decorates the lobby of Deerwood Academy located at 3070 Fairburn Road in Southwest Atlanta.
“As adults, we forget that we used to dream about flying, and I don’t want the kids to forget how to use their imagination,” Ashley said.
She has 12 Tapestry Murals around Atlanta. Her largest mural is called “Flight of the Fireflies,” a 150-foot mural that decorates the side of the Atlanta Music Project’s headquarters at 883 Dill Ave. It features the faces of student musicians playing instruments, singing and performing for their community under a starry pink, blue, purple and orange sky. She also painted a giant keyboard on the sidewalk in front of the mural.
“Flight of the fireflies” is a 150-foot mural outside of the Atlanta Music Project’s headquarters located at 883 Dill Ave.
“Ashley’s mural amplifies the mission of the organization and puts students in the foreground in a very large scale,” said Dantes Rameau, CEO of the Atlanta Music Project.
“She really did a good job of highlighting the Capitol View neighborhood, and we’re happy a local artist helped make the students feel like all-stars in the community,” Rameau said.
Ashley hopes to partner with the city of Atlanta in the future to create a program that will teach at-risk youth and young adults viable skills that can help them earn a living wage through art. She also plans to open an academy to help new artists hone their skills and learn the business side of art world.
“Everybody isn’t meant to go to school, some people are gifted with their hands, and I want to show people that you can make art employable,” Ashley said. “My calling to art is universal.”
Among current efforts, Ashley is vying for a chance to be selected by the city of Atlanta as the artist to paint a mural honoring the Atlanta Child Murder victims.
For a complete list and location of Ashley’s Tapestry Murals please visit www.ashleydpaints.com.
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