MARTA Means Freedom, 82 x 85 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2009.

When an artist is commissioned to capture a particular vision for a special occasion, there is naturally a bit of trepidation that the commissioned piece will not live up to expectations. When I was asked to create a quilt that captured the spirit of MARTA’s 30 year history as well as its future, I was naturally a little nervous that my vision would not coincide with their vision.

The quilt, MARTA Means Freedom, was unveiled at a very special ceremony December 18, 2009, and I was very happy that everyone seemed to like the quilt.  Later, I received a heartfelt thank you letter from Ms. Beverly Scott, MARTA’s General Manager. Her letter read in part as follows:

Your contributions to our Commemorative 30th Anniversary quilt blended your artistic creativity, with our vision of the past, present and future of MARTA. By incorporating student art from our Creating Pride education program, you were able to demonstrate a generational connection to MARTA’s importance in the region. It also added to the sense of optimism that Atlanta’s elected and civic leaders oiced to once again make transit a major priority in the Atlanta region in the future. I was deeply humbled by the quilt and the statements you made about the importance of MARTA, and the vital role we must play in addressing the region’s transportation dilemma. You made our 30th Anniversary a truly memorable evening.

It was truly my honor and pleasure to be a part of MARTA’s history.