Mapping Atlanta Exhibit & Closing Night Reception

Digital Exhibit of GSU’s Mapping Atlanta Project Lab


Mapping Atlanta Exhibit – Closing Night by Stephanie Rountree, Ph.D.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022 | 6:20 – 7:30 pm | GSU’s CMII & Whova

Reception and In-Person Exhibit: GSU’s CMII at 6:20pm

Links to Mapping Projects Available on Whova

During SSSL’s Closing Night Reception, we welcome attendees to explore a digital exhibit of GSU’s “Mapping Atlanta” Project Lab, which works with faculty, the Library, and outside organizations on public-facing mapping projects, most with a focus on Atlanta. Organized by Mapping Atlanta Director Brennan Collins (GSU), this exhibit will feature three of the Lab’s ongoing digital mapping projects.

“The Rap Map: Locating Hip Hop Atlanta“

  • Brennan Collins , Georgia State University

“The Rap Map” focuses on Atlanta communities and explore the intersections between data visualization and storytelling. Commenting on the fact that the hip hop trio Migos came from the suburbs of Atlanta, Quavo in a 2017 Fader interview explains “If we came out of there, we wanted to make sure we screamed that to the fullest and put it on the map. It’s not like a part of Atlanta, but we made it a part of Atlanta.” Using the ATLMaps.org platform, the Rap Map locates the lyrics of Atlanta hip hop artists to create a map of the city based on narratives from historically marginalized communities rather than the traditional maps created by those in positions of power. Initially started by a Political Science grad student at GSU, the project now includes a growing number of undergraduates close reading an artist’s body of work for locations. Students are also researching where artists went to school, own businesses, and are doing philanthropic work. We are collecting more official GIS data sets as well, like police zones, census information, and city resources. As our data grows, we are working on ways to tell stories through various mapping platforms. 

“Krog Codex: Archiving the Ephemeral”

  • Curt Jackson, Georgia State University

“Krog Codex” focuses on Atlanta communities and explore the intersections between data visualization and storytelling. The Krog Street Tunnel is one of Atlanta’s premiere destinations for street art, political communication, and a community bulletin board. For decades, artists have added and subtracted new paintings, messages, and designs to its walls, effectively creating a rapidly changing archive of local cultural concerns. The tunnel and the walls connected to it on Dekalb Avenue and Wylie Street comprise a single living dynamic work of art that is a cultural center of Cabbagetown and Atlanta. As such, it is important to not only examine the art but also the creatives who give the tunnel life. Our project archives the constantly changing art of Krog Tunnel through 3d scans, 360 capture, and photography, along with research into the history of the tunnel and interviews with artists and community members.

“South-Asian Restaurants in Metro Atlanta: Locating Culture Through Taste”

  • Abhik Banerjee , Georgia State University
  • Yeshi Pelzom Pradhan, Georgia State University

“South-Asian Restaurants in Metro Atlanta” focuses on Atlanta communities and explore the intersections between data visualization and storytelling. Food being a significant component of culture, it has always been contingent on geography, climate, resources, practices, and the natural and acquired tastes of people living in specific regions. Due to its originality, Asian food and cooking styles have had a tremendous influence around the world. In the last century, the migration of people from South Asia due to geopolitical and economic reasons has created small yet influential immigrant communities and centers in America. Consequently, South-Asian restaurants have mushroomed in both downtowns and suburbs of big cities as viable business enterprise. Using the ATLMaps.org platform, our project creates a restaurant map of the city that detects the influence of South-Asian food and cuisine in the Atlanta metropolitan area. We examine official databases to archive general information regarding these restaurants and investigate articles/blogs/vlogs to analyze their impact on American food culture.

Mapping Atlanta is second of three Closing Night Events at Georgia State University’s CMII

Tuesday Evening: June 28, 2022 | GSU’s CMII (25 Park Place, Atlanta)

SSSL 2022’s Tuesday Night Event will be held at Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) and will feature three Marquee Events