South Fulton Arts, ArtsXchange, and BronzeLens have partnered to present “Art in Action,” a night of documentary film screenings, on June 20 at ArtsXchange in East Point.
The four documentaries were selected from South Fulton Arts’ Filmer series, which is an event that spotlights Atlanta’s art community through film. The movies are “City of Kings,” directed by Will Feagins Jr.; “Rhyme Travelers,” from filmmaker Ethan Payne; “Just People,” from filmmaker Jonathan Banks; and “Say Yes to Destiny,” also made by Banks.
South Fulton Arts Executive Director Jennifer Bauer-Lyons said that the idea for the event came from ArtsXchange Executive Director Alice Lovelace. Lovelace is also the subject of one of the documentaries that will be playing, “Say Yes to Destiny.”
“I know you’ve got this amazing catalogue of Filmers that you’ve produced over the years,” Bauer-Lyons remembered Lovelace saying to her. “Could we pick some of those Filmers and do a screening at ArtsXChange?”
The duo decided to bring the BronzeLens Film Festival in, and the “Art in Action” screening was born.
“It really came as a way to take these films that we’ve produced over the years and figure out how we can have them reach a broader audience,” Bauer-Lyons said.
She added that part of the impetus for the event was to share stories that show how art positively influences society. In early May, President Donald Trump and his administration began canceling National Endowment for the Arts grants. The president also proposed eliminating the agency, which helps fund artistic organizations throughout the country, in its entirety from the federal budget.
Bauer-Lyons said that while South Fulton Arts wasn’t directly affected by those cuts, they are allied with the rest of the arts community who was.
“We are standing in solidarity with the rest of the arts community, because we know it’s a trickle down effect,” she said.
This event is free to the public and starts at 7 p.m. on June 20. “Art in Action” will also include a talk back with filmmakers and artists moderated by Bem Joiner of Atlanta Influences Everything.
