The Guide is a figurative sculpture, which was accepted as part of the annual juried Art on the Atlanta BeltLine Public Art Exhibition. The Atlanta BeltLine (a 22-mile former railroad corridor) is revered as one of the nation’s leading urban greenspace developments.

Spanning seven miles of trail on the east and west sides of Atlanta, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine strives to make art accessible to all. The linear gallery represents artists from across Atlanta, the nation, and the world in a variety of mediums: sculpture, murals, dance, music, theater, photography, fashion, film, and more. Now in its ninth year, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine is taking a new approach to the exhibition with expanded focus areas, brand new events, and a year-long temporary exhibition. Art pieces seek to enhance the visitor’s sense of discovery and adventure. 

The Guide was fabricated from W8 x 40 I-beams that were meticulously notched, fit and welded together to form a figure, which stands in the classical contrapposto pose (similar to the sculpture of David by famous renaissance artist Michelangelo). This figure holds a 16’ tall acrylic staff that illuminates after dark. A solar module located near the sculpture powers the four LED strips inside the tube. 

All of the beams of The Guide sculpture were hot-dip galvanized. The hot-dip galvanized finish gives the piece a bright silver color, which reflects the light from the staff at night. Since the figure is located outside in a free exhibition, coating durability, corrosion performance, sustainability and minimal maintenance were important features that influenced the decision to hot-dip galvanize the steel. 

Since 2010, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine has grown in scope to become the largest temporary outdoor art exhibition in the south that is completely free to the public. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine features a year-round public art collection as well as temporary exhibitions designed to engage the community in thoughtful expression. The Guide is intended to be a spiritual, emotional and physical symbol to light a way through dark times.