Teenage girl in dress sitting on step #309, 1982 by Oraien Catledge
TGIF, the weekend is here! Get some of your workday yayas out at one of these art events. This week’s agenda is loaded with nostalgia, celebrity, and packs some artist punch … literallly. As usual, read on for the rundown.
Continue reading “Weekend Arts Agenda: Broadening your horizons” »
Role Model Citizen by Fahamu Pecou
As usual, here are a few arts events to add to your weekend roster. Also, don’t forget about the Hense exhibition at The Rail Yard and the Kvares show at Beep Beep. This weekend’s art scene is chock-full so enjoy.
FRIDAY (Today)
Head to Castleberry Hill’s tattoo parlor/art gallery City of Ink to check out John Hairston Jr.’s vivid, realistic graffiti-style art. His latest work, Hollywood Africans, celebrates the life and career of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Walk away with a unique perspective on one of the world’s first African American art greats and maybe even some new ink. Free. City of Ink. 404-525-4465. www.thecityofink.com/.
Fresh from the NYC fashion scene House of Diehl’s Style Wars hits Atlanta runways. Watch designers battle head-to-head and make killer creations in 5-minute knock-out rounds. It’s Project Runway on crack! $15-$20 7:30 p.m. Opera. 404-874-0428. www.houseofdiehl.com/stylewars.
SATURDAY
Eyedrum’s First Annual Ear Ball is sure to satisfy all your aural cravings. The event–originally conceived as a fund raiser–is a showcase of the works of a diverse pool of local sound artists. Whether you’re into jazz improv or are looking for some electronic soundscapes Eyedrum’s got you covered. Pay what you can. 12 p.m.-2 a.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org.
Get This! Gallery is housing Atlanta neopop artist Fahamu Pecou’s first solo show. Whirl Trade was inspired by Pecou’s travels in Africa and explores the interpretations and misconceptions of blackness in African-decended communities. Through images that are arranged as faux magazine covers he sends a powerful message about popular media and the power of influence. Free. 7-11 p.m. Get This! Gallery. 678-596-4451. Gethisgallery.com.
SUNDAY
It’s Pecha Kucha time! Volume 14–the last of the fall season–is titled Back to Basics. The diverse roster (including CL favorite Danielle Roney and former mayoral candidate Kyle Keyser) promises to provide some tasty food for thought and make for lots of candid conversation. Free. 7 p.m. Octane Coffee Lounge (Westside). www.atlantapechakucha.com.
Breastplate by Flora Rosefsky
Add some extra excitement to this beautiful weekend by heading to these free art events. See what’s going on around town after the jump.
Calling all dancers! MTV’s coming to Atlanta to cast street dance groups to compete in the fifth season of “America’s Best Dance Crew.” The series (produced by “American Idol’s” Randy Jackson) pits 12 groups against each other in an intense 10-week competition. Each week the dance groups are presented with a choreography challenge and face elimination. The winning team receives 100K, a Golden B-Boy Trophy, and the satisfaction of knowing that it’s America’s Best Dance Crew.
Take a look at last season’s winner, We Are Heroes, below. The auditions will be held at Dance 411 Studios (475 Moreland Ave.) on Fri., Nov. 20 at 8 a.m. Callbacks will be the next day at the same time. E-mail info@dance411studios.com with your crew name and phone number to reserve an audition slot.
Euridice around town to promote The Atlanta Opera's production of Orfeo & Euridice
To garner interest in the premier of Orfeo & Euridice the Atlanta Opera is placing a living statue of Euridice in a different Atlanta neighborhood seven times between November 3 and November 18. The first person to take a picture with the statue each day she hits the streets gets a pair of free tickets to see the show. To win the contest just be the first to email your pic to cswint@atlantaopera.org. The winners will be contacted by e-mail and the photos will be posted to The Atlanta Opera’s Facebook page.
Euridice’s locations on upcoming dates from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. after the jump.
Create a puppet workshop (Courtesy Joe Boris)
The Center for Puppetry Arts just received a $75,000 Common Good Funds Grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta so they can keep doin’ what they do.
Since 1951, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been connecting community members, nonprofits, and other partners to strengthen the Atlanta region through philanthropy. Today they are one of the largest Community Foundations out of the more than 700 that exist around the country. With the support of their donors, The Community Foundation averages more than $75 million in grants annually to an estimated 2,000 nonprofit organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Center for Puppetry Arts nonprofit organization operates with minimal staff and limited resources and still manages to continually provide awesome programming to the community such as the Ghastly Dreadfuls this time of year. The Center is dedicated to educating the public about the past, present, and future of puppetry as an art form. It’s not afraid to experiment either, as with 2008’s Cinderella Della Circus. The Center also tries to make its programming accessible to as much of Atlanta as possible through ticket donations and special programming.
Untitled, Sovereign Tree (kingfisher branch) by Todd Murphy
The Atlanta art scene serves up some seasonal spooky shows as well as some great opportunities to meet local artists this weekend. Read on for the rundown.
GENRE: Hocus pocus standards to improve your overall quality of life
THE PITCH: Along with a rundown of some of history’s most famous curses this little book provides an alternative to waiting out life’s natural disasters. Downton lays down all the vengeful recipes you might need to take control of your life. Whether you incessantly get calls from telemarketers or can’t stand your monster mother-in-law, you’ll find a suggested remedy here.
Eyedrum Gallery is hosting a Day of the Dead art show that opened on Oct. 23 and will run through Nov. 29. Artists from all over the country decorated over 80 miniature coffins to display at the show. Patrons of the art gallery were treated to a performance from Uncle Daddy and the Kissin’ Cousins along with the portrayal of a colorful part of Mexican culture.
(Photos by Alan Friedman)
Click on the picture above to check out more photos from the show.
On Saturday night Clear Radio is hosting a “True Blood” Halloween party and costume contest at Space Atlanta. Guest DJ Taurus the Bull will spin while you enjoy drink specials and giveaways. So grab your gnarliest pair of fangs or your creepiest pair of maenad claws for a night of mayhem and homage to HBO’s infamously sexy vampire show. RSVP here for free entry. $5. 8 p.m. Space Atlanta. 404-756-9494. www.spaceatlanta.com.
GENRE: Random trivia with a not-so-hidden message from one of today’s most influential liberal journalists.
THE PITCH: In an effort to make an inconceivable number more palpable, Hendrick Hertzberg shows you one million dots. Five thousand dots per page means you get 200 pages of mind-boggling, eye-crossing circles about the size of a pin head. Each page has statistics that correlate with one of those tiny spots. Individually, the facts seem arbitrary, but collectively generate a weighty conception of a mil.
Continue reading “Shelf Life: One Million by Hendrik Hertzberg” »
"Autobiography: Egypt (Cairo Resdential) 1974," by Howardena Pindell. Join the artist for a talk Sat., Oct. 24.
Here’s the weekly rundown of the fiercest arts events happening around town this weekend.
TONIGHT (Friday)
Tweet Design presents their Second Annual “Day of the Dead” art show at Eyedrum. The show features over 80 mini-coffins decorated by artists from all over the country. See this cool tribute to the departed and join them from 8pm-12 am for their opening night fiesta. Get ready for some mean sangria, tasty taquitos and tunes from Uncle Daddy and the Kissin’ Cousins. Free. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org.
SATURDAY
Howardena Pindell stops by the Sandler Hudson Gallery to discuss her latest exhibition, “Autobiography: Strips, dots, and video drawings”. The show includes work from Pindell’s 25-year career. Most known for her use of varied techniques and mixed-media works, her work also explores a multitude of socio-political issues such as racism and feminism. Free. 2 p.m. Sandler Hudson Gallery. 404-817-3777. www.sandlerhudson.com.
Ever wonder how your favorite old-school Saturday morning cartoons came to life? Through ASIFA-Atlanta’s “Animation Draw” you can get a little insight. This workshop presented by WonderRoot Community Arts Center explores the core principles of traditional hand-drawn animation. By the end of this five hour workshop you’ll have learned how cartoons are made and have several short animations of your own to brag about. Free. 2 p.m. WonderRoot Community Arts Center. 404-254-5955. www.wornderroot.org.
For the first time ever Brotherman Comics is showcasing their unique brand of comic book art in exhibition format. “Drawing from the Soul: The Official Brotherman Comics Art Experience” opens Saturday night and gives fans an inside look into the Brotherman World. See how the creators go from concept to development to finished product and craft an original philosophy and an edgy visual experience along the way. Free. 7 p.m. Studio Clout. 404-688-2787. www.studioclout.com.
SUNDAY
The Marcus JCC of Atlanta invites you to “Lunch and Learn with Lorraine Peltz.” The latest exhibition of the Artist’s work–”Excellent Hostess: Paintings and Works on Paper”– is an homage to her mother’s survival of the Holocaust. The series of paintings contrasts the exterior world with an interior space of comfort and memory. Go for the talk. Stay for the lunch. Free. 11:30 a.m. Dunwoody, The Marcus JCC of Atlanta. 678-812-4000. www.atlantajcc.org.
The Contemporary developed a day of sculpture and photography activities for the family inspired by Corin Hewitt’s “Seed Stage”. “Seed Stage”–presented at the Whitney in NYC–investigated the processes of harvesting, consuming, building, documenting, and recycling. For months the artist worked in an exhibition space/science lab/kitchen/art studio as an audience watched. After an educational day of family fun make sure you check out Hewitt’s photographs of his experimental New York exhibition. Free. 1-4 p.m. The Contemporary. 404-688-1970. www.thecontemporary.org.
The High Museum teams up with Mattress Factory Studios for a Membership Drive Kick-off Party. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet emerging and established artists, tour their studios, and learn more about the High’s Art Partners program.Original works will be raffled off throughout the evening . Take a look at some of the featured artists works beforehand on the Mattress Factory Studios website. Free (reservations necessary RSVP @ high.org/mattressfactory). 4 p.m. Grant Park. www.high.org. 404-733-4444.
See 'The Accumulation of Change' at Eyedrum Fri., Oct. 16.
This weekend’s arts calendar is jam packed with a little something for everyone, whether you’re into wearable art or are fascinated by DNA and all things genetic.
TONIGHT (Friday)
Beep Beep Gallery presents Pretty Awesome at Aurora Coffee L5P, a combo art auction/concert/fund aiser. In an effort to host more all ages shows (and keep up their rep as the 2009 Best of Atlanta Readers Pick for Best gallery spotlighting local artists) art from 25 local artists, including Lucha Rodriguez, Ann-Marie Manker and Shaun Thurston, will be auctioned off between 7 and 10 p.m. Afterward, for only $5, there’ll be a concert featuring Carnivore, Recompas, El Fossil, Pleasure Cruise and Em! (The Back Pockets). Auction: Free. 7-10 p.m. Concert: $5. 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Aurora Coffee Little Five. 404-429-3320. www.beepbeepgallery.com.
Lelavision brings The Accumulation of Change, a unique and interactive performance, to Eyedrum. Expect a hybrid art-science experience that blends Lelavision’s kinetic musical sculptures, music and dance with the research of biomolecular chemistry professor Dr. David Lynn of Emory University. Audience members will participate in a twisted and spectacular game of genetics through the use of classroom clicker technology as they learn about the chemical origins of life and Evolution. $10-$15. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org.
Continue reading “Weekend Arts Agenda: A little of this, a little of that” »
Film Love curator Andy Ditzler, who brings experimental and avant-garde cinema to Atlanta, needs your help setting up his for his screening at Landmark Midtown Arts Cinema this week. If you have a half-hour to kill around 1 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) please e-mail info@frequentsmallmeals.com.
This week’s Film Love is part of the Out on Film Festival. The weeklong event of contemporary films dealing with LGBTQ themes concludes by delving into two of Andy Warhol’s most influential works of the 1960s.
Blow Job (1964) features the titular sex act performed on an anonymous jacketed male. But don’t get too excited … the camera is focused on the man’s face for the film’s 36-minute running time. For this reason, the work reads as an intimate of exploration of human sexuality and excitation rather than an explicit portrait of oral sex.
The second film, My Hustler (1965) focuses on the same themes as Blow Job but in a vastly different way. Largely improvised by its actors, the raucous comedy focuses on Ed Hood, a Harvard grad student out for a weekend on Fire Island with the beautiful (but rented) Paul America.
$10. 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 8. Landmark Midtown Arts Cinema. 678-495-1424. www.landmarktheatres.com.
