Atlanta Muralist Discusses His New Piece ‘The Jewel Of Atlanta’ In Adair Park
George F. Baker III, also known as GFB3, might be one of the most “Atlanta” visual artists on the scene. His street art and murals enrich spaces with a playful style that embraces simple themes: love, friendship, neighborhoods, and Atlanta-ness. Baker joined “City Lights” senior producer Kim Drobes to talk about his newest mural, “The Jewel of Atlanta,” recently painted in Adair Park, and other recent artworks that celebrate the city for its heroes, landmarks, and hidden treasures.
Interview highlights:
On discovering and embracing Atlanta:
“[This is] not my birth home at all… I got to Atlanta in 2003, I’ve been here ever since. This is now, in my eyes, my forever home. I don’t really want to be anywhere else. Atlanta has done so much for me, and has really opened my eyes to just how wonderful of a place that it is,” said Baker. “I always like to tell people this is the place where everybody knows everybody.”
“Atlanta is a beautiful tapestry. And I wanted to be able to illustrate that with [the Best of Atlanta 2020 cover] by putting in things like Supremo, which is one of my favorite taco spots in Atlanta, giving some shout outs to the Braves… even giving some shouts out to the Starlight Drive In,” said Baker, referring to his original cover illustration commissioned by the popular local culture magazine.
Public spaces that inspire:
“I was just incredibly happy as soon as [MARTA] picked me for the project… MARTA is a way for you to connect with all these different types of people that are coming from all these different types of places. And at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to get better. We just happen to be doing that together, and we should acknowledge that,” said Baker, referring to artwork he painted on street dividers in coordination with MARTA.
“[Adair Park] is a place that hasn’t really gotten as much shine and spotlight when it comes to the neighborhoods of Atlanta, but it has such a beautiful history, it has such welcoming people… I’ve been in that park before, I’ve played basketball, I’ve gotten dunked on because I’m not good at basketball at all,” recounted Baker, laughing. “It just always seemed like it’s this one special spot in Atlanta… that everybody that is there in that community frequents. And I wanted to be able to amplify the beauty that was already there.”
On the characteristic warmth and youthfulness of GFB3’s art:
“I was really raised with just seeing the beauty in everything, especially people. And people are some of the main inspirations behind why I do what I do, because I love when they just bring their authentic, childlike selves out to the forefront.”
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