World Cup Ready: Atlanta is Where Culture Lives in People

As anticipation builds for the arrival of the FIFA World Cup to Atlanta, a pair of local photography exhibitions are putting a spotlight on Atlanta’s rich cultural legacy, evolving communities and diverse spirit.

Internationally renowned lens-based artist Sheila Pree Bright is producing and curating a collaborative exhibition titled "Through Our Eyes: A Visual Photographic Journey". Opening June 11 in partnership with Leica and One Contemporary Gallery, the showcase centers on perspectives from communities rarely reflected in global media narratives.

Through Our Eyes opens on the heels of "Footwork: Where We Gather," on view through July 19 at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, exploring the intersection of Atlanta's sports fandom and community spaces.

Bright, a prominent visual cultural producer whose work is permanently held in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the High Museum of Art, is known for photographic series that challenge mainstream narratives.

“Through Our Eyes” opening as Atlanta prepares to welcome the World Cup, is a collaborative exhibition features distinct projects from three professional, Atlanta-based female photographers:

• Nicole Craine: An award-winning photojournalist contributing to The New York Times, Craine documents the breadth, joy and resilience found within Atlanta’s queer community through drag performances and roller-skating gatherings.
• Julie Yarbrough: A veteran photographer and educator, Yarbrough highlights individuality and collective history by capturing students at Atlanta's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
• Ysa Lopez: A creative director and content creator, Lopez captures the distinct culture and creativity driving local neighborhoods, stretching from the Atlanta Beltline to Little Five Points and Buford Highway.

"Through Our Eyes" opens with a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 11. The exhibition runs through July 26 at One Contemporary Gallery, located at 396 Edgewood Ave., Suite 6. Admission is free, and regular gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment. More information can be found at onecontemporarygallery.com