The Chunklet Music Preservation Project, along with The Patch Works Art & History Center, is proud to premiere these photos for the first time since they were shot exactly 50 years ago. Prints, books and postcards will be available.
The opening is a special two-night event with some of Cabbagetown’s esteemed legacy musicians. Kelly Hogan, along with Bill Taft and Chris Lopez, will perform to a limited capacity audience on Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25.
Location
Cabbagetown Community Center
177 Estoria St SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
Opening Nights
Doors: 6:00 PM
8:00 PM Showtime
$25
Beginning July 26, the exhibition will be free and open to the public three days a week through August 30. During this time, Nina and Jacob Elsas will be on hand, welcoming visitors on Fridays from 4:00–8:00 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00–4:00 pm.
Exhibit Days and Hours
Fridays from 4:00–8:00 pm (July 31; August 7, 14, 21, and 28)
Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00–4:00 pm (July 26; August 1–2, 8–9, 15–16, 22–23, and 29–30)
Cabbagetown ’76: The Photographs of Barbara McKenzie offers the public a first opportunity to experience
the work of the late Barbara McKenzie, an associate professor of journalism and mass communications at the
University of Georgia and a published author. McKenzie’s photographs document Cabbagetown residents at a
pivotal moment in the neighborhood, presenting the community with a rare depth, intimacy, and nuance.
While other photographers—most notably Oraien Catledge and Panorama Ray (Ray Herbert)—have gained recognition for their Cabbagetown portfolios, McKenzie’s work is distinctive. Her photographs are marked by an unassuming honesty, capturing moments that may initially appear heartbreaking but often reveal pride, resilience, and unrepentant joy. Rather than diminishing the importance of other photographers’ contributions, McKenzie’s images complement them, offering viewers an unmanipulated lens into everyday life in Cabbagetown.
When McKenzie entered the neighborhood, Cabbagetown was already grappling with widespread job loss and economic uncertainty. Yet her photographs capture a community that remained vibrantly alive. Among her images is a lively neighborhood festival—anything but somber—illustrating how daily life, celebration, and connection persist even in times of hardship. McKenzie’s ability to build trust within the community afforded her rare access to residents’ homes, resulting in deeply personal and intimate photographs.
