Dialogism: Le Flash 2008

Mathieu Goulet, Detail from Nuite Blanche Montreal

As pretty much everyone has already pointed out, Le Flash looks like it’ll be one of the biggest arts nights of 2008. Events begin tonight at 7PM. The Burn Away team is especially excited about Le Flash because this modern-day carnival gives us a chance to quote Mikhail Bakhtin, one of our favorite critics:

Nothing conclusive has yet taken place in the world, the ultimate word of the world and about the world has not yet been spoken, the world is open and free, everything is still in the future and will always be in the future.
—Bakhtin describes the medieval carnival, Rabelais and His World

Le Flash organizers Cathy Byrd and R. Stuart Keeler see Le Flash as a way to provide a new interpretation of Atlanta/Castleberry Hill’s mental and physical space:

Cleopas Johnson Park is inside the green section labeled "University Park." The Castleberry Hill district is on the right.

The notion of Le Flash came from our desire to bridge two cultural spaces: Castleberry Hill and Cleopas Park. The park is one block from Castleberry’s Walker Street, but it might as well be a mile away. The two are separated by the river of cars that’s known as Northside Drive.

- Cathy Byrd

This is a beginning vision for what can happen here in ATlanta. IT is not “copying” rather, in a professional point of view we are modeling a new process of how to connect the city through arts and culture, and Nuit Blanche is a great way to begin looking at how the Atlanta framework can evolve and become its own style.

- R. Stuart Keeler

Le Flash will be held from 7pm to midnight in Castleberry Hill. There will be a special shuttle system in place for those using public transportation.