Heritage Arts and Soul Festival set for Underground Atlanta

The 45 artists scheduled to be at the festival, which began Friday and runs through Sunday, include Atlanta painter Sylvia “Gbaby” Cohen, Baltimore painter Larry Poncho Brown and Atlantan Wycliffe “Linc” Bennett, who paints and sculpts.

Kiini Ibura Jewelry, Marian Collier Collections and Densua’s African Treasures are among the designers participating in the festival, where fine art, wearable art and home decor will be available for purchase. The festival also includes an emerging artists pavilion and a fashion show.

“We want to bring back what people remember about the old Atlanta Underground,” said Michelle Lawrence, Underground’s director of marketing. “There will be roaming musicians, street performers and singers throughout the park, something that a lot of people remember about Underground Atlanta back in its heyday.”

On-site demonstrations and lectures will be offered throughout the day Saturday in the Visitors Center Theater in Underground. The lectures are free and open to the public.

Brown, whose first traveling show at the beginning of his 36-year career was held at Underground, is the featured speaker for the art of self-promotion lecture from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Fonde Bridges will talk about literacy in art, noon-4 p.m.; Denise Wells and Francene Breakfield will discuss how to create a written legacy, noon-1:15 p.m.; Jay White will cover the art of branding 1:30-2:45 p.m.; and Jewel Diamond Taylor will offer her secret to the art of successful living 4:30-6:15 p.m.

Scheduled for the Event Loft in Underground is a spoken word, music and dance event set for 6-8 p.m. Sunday.