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Eyedrum red ink spurs benefits

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Like many organizations — make that non-profit organizations … er, make that, non-profit, avant-garde, experimental, alterna-wacky organizations, Eyedrum is hurting through the current economic downturn. For the first time in 10 years of continous operation on the proverbial shoestring, the fabled multi-media arts venue has begun missing rent payments.

What to do? Well, the all-volunteer Eydrum board and supporters have put together a benefit art auction this Friday. More than 100 local artists — including Kojo Griffin, Lilian Blades, Angus Galloway, Eric Mack, Marcia Cohen, Mario Schambon and Nancy Floyd — have donated works to be sold to shore up Eyedrum’s bottom line. The event is free for members and $10 for others.

Still want to help? Next month, SoPo Bikes‘ Rachael Spiewak is helping put together a 24-hour dance-a-thon(!) to benefit Eyedrum. The dancing begins Sat., Sept. 26, at Eyedrum and lasts, well, about 24 hours, give or take. Music will be provided by the Atlanta Sedition Orchestra, Pleasure Cruise and Strezo, as well as DJ Gnosis and a whole passel of fellow disc-spinners.

As the late, great Billy Mays once said, But wait — that’s not all! The entertainment and activities will also include aerialists, burlesque dancers, a kissing booth, a silent auction, a bicycle scavenger hunt and a midnight booty shake contest. Admission ranges from $5-$10, depending on when you arrive (the later you arrive, the less you pay), or FREE with the purchase of an Eyedrum membership. See you there.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter stays open for now

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

UPDATE: The AJC reports that a judge has ordered the city to restore the shelter’s water service on the condition that the Task Force make a $15,000 payment by June 30.

Just after noon today, Anita Beaty, executive director of the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless was involved in a drive-by: Her pro-bono attorney pulled up to the curb outside the giant Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter; Beaty came out of the building and signed some legal documents, which were then stamped by a notary on the hood of the car; and the attorney then raced off to Fulton Superior Court to try to get a judge to restore water service to the shelter.

“Hopefully, we’ll get relief from the court,” Beaty said after the car pulled away. She said she expected to have a court hearing later in the day.

Beaty is in a race against time. The shelter stayed open last night, after the city had shut off its water because of unpaid bills, but had been ordered by Fulton County health officials to vacate the building by noon today if water service hadn’t been restored.

Although the Task Force had missed the noon deadline, Beaty said she was talking with county officials about getting an extension. In the meantime, well-wishers continue to drop off cases of bottled water.

“While the county strictly enforcing the law, they’re working with us to solve this problem,” Beaty said. “They’ve been very helpful.”

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