michael anderson - all for love

photo by steed media service

African American culture has always embraced the arts with great interest, in part because blacks can truly empathize with the artists' life experiences in such a powerful and fundamental way. As a key contributor to this year's Heritage Arts Festival in Atlanta's Underground district, graphic artist Michael Anderson will see his individuality put under the microscope as his design is the logo for the annual event.

"The artwork itself was inspired by interacting with local artists and it was later chosen to represent the Heritage Arts Festival. They bought the piece from me and said they wanted to use it indefinitely because everybody just loves it," says Anderson. The piece, which is titled LOCS (Loving Our Creative Spirit), ignited a movement among other local artists in the Atlanta market eager to see more exposure for nontraditional art.

"It's not a nurturing atmosphere here for local artists who are not well known or who do not really fit into the commercial artists image like graphic designers, visual artists and people into gaming and urban design, so we're kind of like a different set of artists. LOCS is the front end of us getting together and doing a festival of our own without expecting the department of commercial affairs to support us," explains Anderson.

With many of his previous works having already been featured with such established art shows as the National Black Arts Festival, Anderson hopes this year's Heritage Festival will give local artists an even greater platform to showcase their talent. -jason thompson


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