With eyes trained over the edge of water, you may witness a swimmer in a moment of suspended balance. The second where their body is a weightless, floating object; their guarded breath escape in bubbles that distort their head’s swirling image. Any swimmer knows this moment, the quiet break from gravity’s bonds where you are for an instant captured by the pull of water.

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“How you treat others is a reflection of who you are. Be Yourself. Be Persistent. Be Patient!” Inspiring words from photographer Kris Lou of the photography duo Kris + Erik, in a brief interview with children’s fashion outlet, petitePARADE. Kris Lou and Erik Rodgers, better known as Kris + Erik, are a married couple who’ve been working together on some very powerful projects.

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As I sat on the bench alone, strangers waved and smiled as if we’d crossed paths a thousand times before. A little girl asked to pet my dog and told me all about the King of Pops popsicle her Mom finally let her have on a school night. I sat feeling as if I’d stepped off the city streets into a small town escape. Swirled around the busy city of Atlanta, Georgia the (soon-to-be) 22 mile pathway invites people to stroll along restaurants, parks, and an amazing display of community art. 

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Many great movements are said to be born out of oppression or frustration. Pick a time and you can guarantee that there is always some art form that provides the pulse for a particular movement. Look at the rise of German expressionism, protest songs of the 60s, or the use of documentary film making to promote reform and you’ll see that they all serve as artistic time capsules.

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