A new mural soon will adorn the North Avenue MARTA station by way of a partnership with Norfolk Southern.

Carla Contreras, Norfolk Southern’s artist in residence, who occupies a studio space in the company’s headquarters across the street, will paint the mural at the North Avenue MARTA Plaza, facing Ponce de Leon Avenue. Contreras was selected for the project by Norfolk Southern and Midtown Alliance.

“The mural will depict a surreal landscape featuring maple seeds blowing in the wind at sunset,” said Contreras, a native of Ecuador who lives in Roswell. “The concept design derives inspiration from maple seeds in the spring and celebrates the revival and activation of Midtown’s public spaces through uplifting and symbolic artistic interventions that elevate our public life and interactions,” she said. “This dynamic and bright concept features the formal and conceptual beauty of Maple seeds blowing in the wind — as a symbol of outreach, hope, renewal, and thriving energy of Midtown and its people.”

Contreras plans to begin the mural by the end of February, weather permitting, and complete it by the end of March. A public unveiling and celebration is expected later this Spring; the date and details will be released by Midtown Alliance. The project is a gift to the city of Atlanta from Norfolk Southern with no cost to the public. 

There are two components to the project that will be connected by this design:

• MARTA Plaza’s facade
• A 30-foot-long shipping container that will be provided by Midtown Alliance, placed in front of the façade, and transformed into a performing arts stage.