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The Athens Music Walk of Fame
AN INTERACTIVE PROJECT HONORS PAST AND PRESENT MUSICIANS
By Jessica Smith arts@flagpole.com
H onoring the artists who have contrib
uted to Athens’ iconic musical heritage
spanning genres and decades, the Athens
Cultural Affairs Commission has officially
launched the Athens Music Walk of Fame, a
series of bronze plaques that kicks off with
10 inductees. The project aims to foster
community pride, promote place attach
ment, educate visitors about local music
and enhance the experiential appeal of
downtown.
While several of the inductees, such as
R.E.M., The B-52s and Pylon, are well doc
umented for their roles in coalescing the
early alternative and new wave scene that
took root in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, other
selections take a step to correct the canon
by digging deeper into a musical heritage
that far predates Athens’ indie reputation.
Born in 1888, inductee Hall Johnson was a
choral director and composer who dedicated
his career to preserving African-American
spirituals performed during the era of slav
ery. Blues musician Neal Pattman, born in
1925, went from busking with a harmonica
on downtown streets to performing along
side high-profile acts across the country.
Other inductees include Danger Mouse
(Brian Joseph Burton), Drive-By Truckers,
The Elephant 6 Recording Company, Vic
Chesnutt and Widespread Panic.
Encircling a two-block area bound by
Pulaski, East Washington, North Lumpkin
and Clayton streets, the route passes by
most of the live-music venues concentrated
at the western end of downtown—the 40
Watt Club, Flicker Theatre and Bar, Morton
Theatre, Georgia Theatre and Caledonia
Lounge—as well as Taylor Shaw’s new post-
card-like mural in an alley that pays homage
to several local bands. The bronze plaques
were designed by graphic artist Allen
Sutton, who cleverly acknowledges the link
between music and location with a shape
inspired by both guitar picks and map pins.
Both the music and tourism industries
have been severely affected by the pan
demic, with no clear pathway to recovery
in sight. According to a survey conducted
by the National Independent Venue
Association that was released in June,
90% of 2,000 venue owners, promoters
and industry professionals across the
country predict that they will be forced to
close within six months if there is not a
significant financial intervention from the
government. With most self-sustaining
musicians earning the bulk of their income
through touring, it is not difficult to imag
ine a dystopian trickle-down effect.
The pandemic can be framed as a period
of forced reflection and a time to take
deliberate steps towards preserving and
one day reviving treasured elements of the
community. Though the planning process of
the Walk of Fame began well over two years
ago—and should be interpreted primarily
as a tourism initiative, not an attempt at
providing the support local musicians so
desperately need right now—it arrives as
an unintentional yet fortuitous substitute
for the many activities that remain on hold
until large gatherings are safe.
“The Athens Music Walk of Fame is a
perfect activity to enjoy during the pan
demic: outside, socially distanced and a way
to learn about Athens’ incredible music
heritage,” says Linda Ford, director of
business services at the Athens Downtown
Development Authority.
The Walk of Fame will soon be accom
panied by a mobile app that uses proximity
beacons to share specific sights and sounds
associated with each honoree as users
come within about 20 feet of the plaque.
Developed by ThinkProxi, the app has the
potential to expand in the future by incor
porating a live-music calendar, a public art
guide and a historic Athens tour.
The ADDA received full funding for
the app through a Tourism Product
Development Grant from the Georgia
Department of Economic Development,
which awarded over $64,000 for 14 new
projects in the state last year. These grants
are available to communities that have
participated in Explore Georgia’s TPD
Resource Team program. At the request of
the Athens Convention Ik Visitors Bureau,
a team of 10 tourism professionals visited
Athens to develop a 67-page music tourism
report—released in June 2018—that inves
tigates how best to preserve, support and
ultimately leverage the music scene as an
attractive travel destination. Of the plan’s
many suggestions—others of which focus
on supporting businesses, incubating talent
and prioritizing diversity—was the Athens
Music Walk of Fame. After the cultural
affairs commission secured SPLOST fund
ing, they were able to fund the initial round
of plaques, and a timeline was established
for moving the project forward.
Naturally, condensing a decades-long
performing presence into a mere 10-act
lineup is a nearly impossible task that
required a significant amount of deliber
ation. Over the course of several months,
Didi Dunphy, program supervisor at the
Lyndon House Arts Center, spearheaded
a series of conversations among over 30
musicians, industry professionals, business
owners and community representatives to
determine criteria that could be used by a
selection committee. Appointed by Mayor
Kelly Girtz, this committee consists of local
residents who attempted to weigh a handful
of considerations: historical context, contri
bution to the identity of Athens, breadth of
career, distinct musical style and a diverse
representation in cultural and racial iden
tity. Approved as a multi-year project, funds
have been reserved for an additional two or
three plaques per year.
“This project has, I hope, at least for
me, really provided some positivity in the
midst of the beginnings of recovery. And
some joy for our previously empty streets,
as we know outside and apart is our best
hope, and this project is so perfect for that,”
says Dunphy. “The Athens Music Walk is a
statement of strength for our city and the
acknowledgement that musical talent is
part of that strength.” ©
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10 FLAGPOLE.COM | SEPTEMBER 2, 2020