1 Good Question: ATL Art Gals take over Stacks Squares

Atlanta is full of great street art, and occasionally muralists come together to produce an array of new works in a concentrated area and time frame. One great example of that is Stacks Squares in Cabbagetown. The program, founded in 2017, offers a rotating series of 10 murals adorning 7 feet by 7 feet squares on an architectural wall along Carroll Street. Every April, August and December, a guest curator invites artists to transform the wall into a fresh set of murals. 

Currently on view is a series of murals curated by ATL Art Gals, an artist collective founded by artist Elaine Stephenson, aka Artsy Elaine, presenting public art projects and exhibitions that highlight women and non-binary artists. For this new series on ArtsATL, we are highlighting eight of the participating muralists by sharing their answers to one good question. We hope that this fun, new series will help our readers get to know the artists that beautify our city.

Adana Tillman
What was your favorite part of working on this project?
I wouldn’t be able to pick my favorite part of this project. This was my first mural and I was a bit nervous on how it would all come together. I really appreciated my partner Elaine for sharing her expertise and helping to bring our designs together. I loved meeting the other women and sharing our art experiences. My favorite part was the process — creating the design, making my first stencils and learning about transferring my design to the wall. I am so excited to have completed my first mural. 

Artsy Elaine
What is one thing you wish you knew when you were starting your artistic career?
When I was just starting out, I wish I knew just how much careers really evolve and pivot over the course of someone’s life. Picking a college major seemed so set in one direction that I don’t think I considered weaving in other disciplines into my practice and organically creating a focus of my own. That has gradually happened over the course of my career, and I think if I embraced that idea sooner that I might be even farther along.

Brianna Gardocki
What’s the funniest thing that has ever happened to you when working on an art project?
I don’t know how funny it is, but it was memorable all right! When I was painting an exterior mural in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2023, the sky turned gray and the wind started picking up. I knew a storm was coming, but it doesn’t rain much in New Mexico, and I figured I still had some time left to paint for a little while. I was about to head up my ladder when 50 feet away, a telephone pole was struck by lightning! It was so intense, extremely loud and bright!! Immediately, I rushed to put my stuff away and get outta there unzapped!

Hannah-Rose Broom
What lessons do you think Atlanta could learn from other major metros when it comes to embracing the arts?
I feel like while she’s trying, Atlanta needs more public art. Of course more murals but also sculptures in parks and along the beltline. And more public performances. I find it such a blessing to live in a city that has so much green space (and we need to work together to ensure it stays that way), but we aren’t offering enough public opportunities to see art — concerts and theater. With the right funding, these experiences can be low cost or free to the public. 

Jin Kim
What’s your favorite snack? 
I’ve been really into a canned fish kick lately and some of my favorite ones are smoked rainbow trout and mackerel. My best friend introduced them to me recently, and I like to enjoy them with some wine and bread/crackers!

Maria Coles
What’s one of your favorite childhood memories surrounding your artistic practice?
One of my favorite childhood memories surrounding my practice is gardening with my grandfather who passed two years ago. A lot of my work surrounds the natural environment, and I don’t think I would have the same appreciation for it without him. I definitely wouldn’t have the green thumb I have without him. Sometimes, I can remember the smell of his orange and lemon trees in his backyard in Florida. These are some of the memories I remember fondly, and I try to keep them as close to me as possible through my artistic practice.

Patricia Hernandez
What was the inspiration behind this piece? 
It is a combination of intercalated cultures, growing up as with the same values and beliefs, but Kat and myself are from different backgrounds, which is why when I met her we connected right away, not only as creatives and thriving females. We have so much in common that we wanted to share our intercalated connection of where are we coming from and our shaped beliefs. 

Vanna Black
What’s the most rewarding part of making public art?
Getting the doodle grid up playing with all the wording and thoughtful messaging. I think my favorite part is really getting into the piece. Getting compliments is always a good feeling, and seeing a small portion completed keeps me going, knowing I’m almost to the finish line.