Atlanta's Streetcars
Artist Statement: Working on this artwork became unexpectedly sentimental for me. I compiled vintage patterns and hand drawn elements to depict the history of Atlanta's once immense streetcar system. I learned through this experience that the neighborhoods I know and love were developed because of the growing interest of real estate developers, and the creation of new streetcar lines.
While discussing my research topic with my family, my great aunt reflected on her own experiences, and shared a newspaper clipping with me. In this photograph, and the first image in this artwork, I see my 98 year old Aunt Virginia as a young woman. In this image she stands with her sister, my great Aunt Georgia, who is no longer with us. They are together as a family, with their grandfather and cousin, all preparing to board onto a streetcar together. The creation of this piece not only opened my eyes to Atlanta's history, but also that of my family.
Nicole Merizalde, or "ZaldePaints", is a Muralist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born to a Colombian father and Greek-American mother, her culturally diverse upbringing heavily influences her work. Sculptural figures, Colombian flora and fauna, myths, and regional expressions can be found interlaced in her pieces. She aims to represent the ever-growing population of "hyphenated Americans" and the beauty in being culturally and ethnically multifaceted.