New Art Unveiled At MARTA's Dunwoody Station

Press release from the City of Dunwoody:

06/22/2021 4:52 p.m.

ATLANTA – June 22, 2021 – Commuters and guests passing through Dunwoody Station will be greeted by a suite of station enhancements in the shuttle loop, most impressively a 70-foot wide 3-panel mural – one of the largest pieces of public art in the area. To better serve the hundreds of professionals and visitors who use last-mile shuttles at the station, the City of Dunwoody and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) partnered with MARTA to implement the mural along with new shuttle signage and enhanced lighting. (photo by Acres Studios)

As commuters return in greater frequencies to Dunwoody Station, they’ll have the chance to admire “The Commuters,” designed and painted by Atlanta artist Neka King. King’s piece was chosen from among two dozen candidates by a panel of local stakeholders including representatives from the City of Dunwoody, Spruill Center of the Arts, and MARTA Artbound. King’s concept was chosen for its vibrancy, unique perspective and connection to the space around it.

“Neka King’s artwork transforms bare walls into an inviting space that is colorful and creative,” said Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch. “Improving the commuters’ experience is key to increasing ridership both on MARTA and the shuttle services. I’m excited about this collaboration with MARTA and look forward to more public art projects at the Dunwoody Station and throughout the City.”

Enhancements to the station also include prominent shuttle wayfinding, an important functional addition for riders navigating connections between MARTA, Xpress and shuttle services. A new information panel will give riders easy avenues to access real-time tracking, schedules, and other updates. Additional lighting will be completed later this month to improve visibility in the shuttle loop.

The PCIDs funded the mural and shuttle improvements as part of a special initiative to improve the daily transit experience for area professionals, visitors and residents. In partnership with MARTA’s Artbound program, station architects and engineering team, staff of the PCIDs’ Perimeter Connects program mapped out a series of improvements that would better reflect Dunwoody Station’s growing importance and connections to Central Perimeter’s business district.

“Transit is a key ingredient for the success of the Perimeter business district and the thousands of companies that call it home,” said Ann Hanlon, Executive Director of the PCIDs. “As offices reopen and people return to their commute, we had the opportunity to give them a better experience and to do so quickly. We’re proud of the partnership that made this possible, and we look forward to continuing to work together to support transit in Perimeter”.

This press release was produced by the City of Dunwoody. The views expressed here are the author’s own.