Art Showcase Returns to Decatur Book Festival

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution Decatur Book Festival presented by DeKalb Medical returns for its ninth year. Over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 - 31, thousands will gather in downtown Decatur Square for the largest independent book festival in the country -- fourth largest overall.

For the second year, the festival will present art | DBF, an arts and cultural showcase to engage book lovers’ imaginations with artistic and cultural opportunities around them.

“Once again, we have assembled a stellar selection of innovative artists and arts organizations who care deeply about connecting with audiences through storytelling,” said Julie Delliquanti, Executive Director of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center who will oversee art | DBF, according to a news release. “My goal is for art | DBF to provide opportunities to bring artists, writers and readers together in unexpected and imaginative ways.”

The art | DBF showcase will consist of six components:

- Atlanta PlanIt art | DBF Neighborhood: The festival area will showcase a variety of arts organizations that will exhibit, present, perform and activate individual spaces.

- art | DBF Stage: The Decatur High School Performing Arts Center will serve as the stage. 11 performances and presentations are scheduled throughout the weekend.

- Community Bandstand: A casual outdoor performance space will engage festival attendees with short format music and storytelling.

- Pop up performances throughout the festival grounds

- Artist installations by Kelly Kristin Jones, Mike Germon and John Carroll, P. Seth Thompson and Meredith Kooi.

- Children’s parades led by art | DBF participants, music in the park with Kebbi Williams on Saturday morning and Serenbe Playhouse on Sunday morning

Organizations participating in the 2014 art | DBF include Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, Atlanta Shakespeare Company and more. The full list of participants can be viewed on the art | DBF website.

art | DBF sign from 2013 Decatur Book Festival. Photo from Decatur Book Festival Facebook Page