THIS OCTOBER ELEVATE 2012 BRINGS ART & INSPIRATION TO DOWNTOWN ATLANTA Contemporary Art Happenings Will Transform Buildings, Parks, Sidewalks & Streets Atlanta, GA.

 Elevate is a contemporary public art experience that transforms the streets of Downtown Atlanta into an open-air, visual and performance art space.  Curated by the City of Atlanta of Cultural Affairs, Elevate brings together local, national, and international artists to state a collaborative, multi-disciplinary exhibition over one week and at dozens of venues, aimed at stimulating innovation and economic development in Downtown Atlanta.  “We are delighted to present Elevate, a contemporary art series designed to heighten the downtown Atlanta cultural experience,” states Camille Russell Love, Director of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.  “Some of the artwork will be temporary, but a number of the large-scale paintings will be permanent aesthetic additions to the urban landscape. From witnessing the creative process of world-class graffiti artists including Hense and Push, to attending a spectacular gallery event, we invite you to join us October 19-27.  All activities are free and open to the public.”  Here’s an overview of Elevate 2012:

Friday, October 19 from 8-11 pm – Unveiling of “Banho de Luz” @ Carnegie Education

PavilionThis mixed-media installation and interactive video event features the art of Lillian Blades, Linda Costa and Roni Nicole Henderson. Musical entertainment will be provided by Yamin Semali.   A led light-studded, quilted drapery will enclose the pavilion and images will be projected in a unique photographic “light painting.” You’ll see the marble monument at the corner of Peachtree & Baker Street in a whole new way! 

Saturday, October 20 from Noon-2 pm - Elevate Downtown 5K Run/Walk Artwork Tour

Tour includes map and will be guided by the national civic organization, Back On My Feet. Featured artworks on this day are by printmaker, Jessica Caldas.  Also on view are large scale Elevate sculptures by Randy Walker and Adrian Barzaga. This pedestrian friendly Art Tour begins and ends at the Trinity House-Big Bethel located at 21 Bell Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30303. Refreshments provided! 

Mon, Oct 22-Wed, Oct 24 and Friday, October 26 from Noon-2 pm – Elevate Walking Art Tours

Led by the Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program, these tours will provide insights into the wealth of temporary and permanent public art in downtown. Bring your walking shoes and prepare to enjoy the fall weather while you learn about the amazing new artwork! Tours begin at Peachtree Center Plaza Courtyard. (10 blocks)

Wednesday, October 24 from 7-10 pm – The Imaginary Million Creative Tie Gala @ 200 Peachtree

The artwork of 100 artists will be on display in the 200 Peachtree Street Atrium – formerly Macy’s.  During the evening each of the 100 artists will bid on the work of his/her peers with $10,000 in “play” money in a free-wheeling, fun auction. At the end of the night, artists will take home the work they’ve won, even though no real money has been exchanged, only “the imaginary million.” Hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCAGa), Kennesaw State Museum and WonderRoot. 

Thursday, October 25 from 6-8 pm – Elevate Evening Walking Art Tour

Led by the Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program, the tour will provide an overview of public art in downtown, as well as highlight artworks from Elevate. Experience what the city has to offer at night! Tours begin at the Peachtree Center Plaza Courtyard, loop around and end at the Carnegie Pavilion where you will experience the second evening of the “Banho De Luz” interactive “light painting” from 8-11 pm. 

Friday, October 26 from Noon-6 pm – Elevate South Broad Mural Painting

See some of the world’s most interesting graffiti artists creating paintings on four South Broad Street building facades. Locations are in the 100 block of South Broad (near the intersection of Broad & Mitchell Street.) Artists Hense (Atlanta), Tilt (Toulouse, France), Sever (Atlanta), Push (Los Angeles) and Born (Atlanta) have been commissioned to help breathe new life into this downtown Atlanta block. This is a unique opportunity for art students and art lovers! Bring your cameras and sketch pads and come be inspired.

Saturday, October 27 from 4-8 pm – Elevate South Broad Festival 

Broad Street will be closed to vehicles in order to create a vibrant street party in view of the beautiful new murals. There will be several performances by renowned French choreographer Pierre Rigal and his hip-hop dance troupe, alternating with entertainment from the Atlanta Music Project. Food trucks and vendors will allow guests to shop and purchase delectable treats and unique items during the event. 

Not only will the events of Elevate be free, entertaining and educational for the one week of activities in October, but the art series also serves to help in the ongoing process of refurbishing areas of downtown Atlanta.  Working in cooperation with groups like Hands on Atlanta and Central Atlanta Progress, the Office of Cultural Affairs is dedicated to their mission of presenting art and culture in a welcoming, safe environment.

 Programming for Elevate is made possible by the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) whose mission is to solidify the role that arts and cultural resources play in enhancing the social fabric and quality of life for Atlanta citizens and visitors.  For a complete list of events and projects, as well as information on participating artists, visit the Office of Cultural Affairs web site: www.ocaAtlanta.com/ElevateAtlanta.  To set interviews, request artwork or more details, contact Karen Hatchett at Hatchett PR: karen.hatchett@charter.net or 770-433-1137.

High Museum of Art Names Lily Siegel New Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

ATLANTA, Sept. 24, 2012 ― The High Museum of Art is pleased to announce the appointment of Lily Siegel as the Museum’s assistant curator of modern and contemporary art. Siegel is currently a curatorial associate at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) and will join the High on Oct. 8. Siegel has been involved in all aspects of the curatorial department at MOCA since 2008, including serving as the curatorial representative of the MOCA Think Tank – a cross-departmental committee that oversees a residency program for Southern California artists.As assistant curator of modern and contemporary art, Siegel will work closely with Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Michael Rooks, to develop original exhibitions, organize traveling exhibitions, foster innovative partnerships in Atlanta and elsewhere, and further build the museum’s growing collection of contemporary art. “We are excited to have Lily join our curatorial staff,” said Michael Rooks. “Lily has an impressive record of organizing thought-provoking exhibitions and we look forward to bringing her energy and enthusiasm to the High.”Most recently, Siegel assisted with the organization of the exhibitions “Ends of the Earth: Land Art to 1974” and “Martin Kippenberger: The Problem Perspective” at MOCA. She was also the project coordinator of the exhibition “Dennis Hopper Double Standard,” and curator of the galleries devoted to MOCA’s Artist Advisory Council in “The Artist’s Museum.”“I am thrilled to join the team at the High and to become part of the Atlanta arts community. Michael’s vision to grow the region’s knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art is one I passionately share. This is a very exciting time for the arts in the Southeast; I am honored to be a part of the growth.”Siegel received a Master of Arts degree in modern art history, theory and criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree in visual arts from the University of California, San Diego. She also received the NextGen Arts Professional Development Grant in 2011.

AURA Exhibit, Emerging Art Scene

This past weekend in Castleberry Hill, Emerging Art Scene hosted a collaboration of art, photography, technology and fashion all found within the works of one multi-media extraordinaire.   Artist Amy Rader was the star of the exhibition titled AURA, which served as an intersection for the mediums.   Rader combined photography by Alex Martinez and fashion designs by Atlanta’s favorite Bill Hallman and added her own artistic touches to create larger-than-life canvases with fashion models of the future.

As technology progresses, we can expect to see more of these collaborations in the art world.  The concentration on fashion in these pieces, however, is what sets these works apart from other digital mixed media.  Through Rader’s models, we can imagine a future of runway shows restricted to the canvas.  Her women are reminiscent of 18th century French fashion plates, yet with a 21^st century feel.  Can you sense a future Vogue cover, anyone?

AURA is on display at Emerging Art Scene for the next few weeks.  Come see the works and witness the collaboration of art and fashion, where the catwalk meets the canvas, and support your local artists and community.

James O’Donnel, The Welch School of Art & Design 

The Welch School of Art & Design Gallery at Georgia State University is pleased to present Where do we go from here? a video installation by James O’Donnell on view March 5 – 9 2012. The public is invited to a reception with the artist Thursday, March 8 from 5 until 9p.

Where do we go from here? is a video installation by Atlanta-based multimedia artist James O’Donnell using footage collected on Cumberland Island and inspired in part by Ann Morrow Lindbergh’s book Gift from the Sea, which extolls the virtues of solitude, simplicity, and spiritual healing, with a bit of art history thrown in for good measure.  Ocean imagery unifies the installation just as it connects Lindbergh’s book to O’Donnell, who grew up along the Florida seaside.  “Watching the waves rollings in, a person can lose oneself in them – and find oneself as well.”

Location & Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. 
Welch School Galleries
Georgia State University
10 Peachtree Center Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30303

The Welch School Galleries are located at the corner of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Ave. Free evening event parking at the United Way deck at Auburn Ave. (between  Courtland & Peachtree Ctr.) or streetside after 7p.  The gallery is within walking distance of the MARTA Five Points Station. All gallery programs are free and open to the public and accessible to persons with disabilities.

Pryor Fine Art moved from a Bennet Street to a new location in Miami Cirlce.  The new location on  boasts an impressive 5500 square feet of gallery space. Multiple large windows flood the gallery in natural light, and the raw concrete floors add to the beautiful aesthetic of the interior.  A feast for the eyes and inspiration for the soul, Pryor Fine Art captivates an audience with ease.  There is always a buzz in this space; artists and collectors come and go throughout the day while phones ring and new shows are installed.  Collectors feel at home immediately as director Tiffany Hay introduces them to artists and they become entrenched in the creative process.  Established in 1988 by artist Susie Pryor, the gallery is home to 50 artists from all over the US and Canada as Pryor continues to curate the stable to include a unique mix of genre and to introduce the emerging and established artists who will prove to be important. 

Next month, Pryor Fine Art will present an exhibition featuring new work by Peter Burega, Helen Durant and Felice Sharp. The show will begin with an Opening Reception on Friday, March 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., and will run through April 20, 2012. The artists will be present for the opening, and the event will be free and open to the public.

The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and Main Street Stone Mountain will co-host a bluegrass music and arts festival in historic Stone Mountain Village on Saturday, March 31, 2012.

This one day festival includes southern Bluegrass musicians on stage, street jams, Contra dancing as well as an arts & crafts show for up to 150 self-taught artists and artisans. There will also be local food and beverages and a children’s area.  The event is held on Main Street in historic Stone Mountain Village, just a 15 minute drive from Atlanta.  This event is co-hosted by AFFPS and is organized by artists for artists.

This is the best recipe for a New Southern Tradition.  Mixing bluegrass musicians and self taught southern artists and artisans is a combination worth savoring!  Up to 150 artists and artisans will brighten the historic charm of Stone Mountain Village.  A small stage will showcase group Contra dances and bluegrass music, plus bluegrass “street jams” will be featured throughout the festival.  This event will bring much needed attention to the restoration of this historic village.

Location:  922 Main Street (for GPS directions)

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Times: Sat., March 31 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Admission: Free to attend

 “The combination of historic Stone Mountain Village, bluegrass music and self taught folk and outsider art is irresistible,” says Patrick Dennis, President of the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces.  “We love our local musicians and artists and look forward to this becoming a New Southern Tradition!”

CONTACT INFORMATION

Stone Mountain Village BlueGrassRoots Music & Arts Festival

www.affps.com

www.stonemountainvillage.com 

Robert Meredith Artist Talk, Emerging Art Scene

Flower Shop

It usually takes a medical miracle or divine mirage to deceive the human eye, yet Robert Meredith’s paintings effortlessly do just that.  His “trompe l’oeil” method of painting, literally translated from French to mean “to fool the eye”, has gained him renowned recognition across the country and throughout the art world.  Fortunately for Atlantans, he brought his little artistic miracles to Castleberry Hill where Emerging Art Scene is proudly displaying his work.

Before stumbling on his found success with the trompe l’oeil medium, Meredith painted landscapes and custom portraits for forty years.  He has had forty five one-man shows, his most recent exhibition being  a retrospective at the Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, Georgia.

Jack of All Trades

Merely looking at images of his work do not do the paintings justice. His realistic representations of open cabinets with three dimensional objects inside invite viewers to touch the canvas to see if they can reach out and grab the contents. His transcendent store window paintings with city street reflections make one think they are actually looking in a store window.  For once, the artist encourages the viewer to touch the work to understand the optical illusion.

Emerging Art Scene will be hosting an artist talk for Robert Meredith on Saturday, June 4^th from 1:00-3:00.  Stop by and hear the undoubtedly engaging talk the artist will give on his masterful work.  RSVP by emailing denise@emergingartscene.com.

FLORA, Kai Lin Art

Flora, Anne Esler

Flora is an arrangement of indigenous life, and Kai Lin Art’s appropriately titled exhibition is just that – a blending of art that represents life and artists who breathe the beauty of creativity.  Kai Lin’s FLORA opened in full bloom with flowers, intestines (!), and a strong pink pallet that filled the space with a springtime glow.

How do flowers and intestines co-exist in the same exhibition, one may ask? When the focus is on living, breathing objects, whether in nature or the human body, all bets are off. Artists Anne Elser, Drew Watts, Karen Divine and Lucha Rodriguez joined together to display their unique representations of the FLORA subject matter, and together formed  one of this spring’s most vibrant art exhibitions in Atlanta.

Cleveland native Anne Elser seems the perfect artist choice for an exhibition based on love and life. “I see our universe as a living, breathing organism, rich with color, passion, grace and infinite goodness,” she says in her artist’s statement. “Believing our worlds reflect everything about us, I use symbol and metaphor while creating in fullness and in love.”  Her feminine floral canvases contain optimistic singular words that send their own messages of life and of hope.

Twinned Apparatus Grisacio, Lucha Rodriguez

Drew Watts has a more a more surreal, unconventional portrayal of flora in his work for the show.  Though painted with oils, his work appears translucent, like layers of opaque flower petals overlapping to reveal figures interacting in the distance.  His contemporary techniques of portraying the figure in a landscape aim to have one think differently about painting and figural portrayal, and in his words, about “certain issues of our own culture and society” as a whole.  Bringing together people and nature in art is a concept not often explored.

Karen Divine is the sole photographer of the show, using photo montages to portray Alice and Wonderland-esque settings through a blurred lens.  In Karen’s world, kangaroos hold chickens in their pouches,  pigs fly, and imagination reigns king.  She “sees the world in layers, stacking colors and ideas, forms and stories onto each other as if one were walking through their day with blurred vision.” Her work is reminiscent of the mind of a child – playful, imaginative, and self-discovering.

Lucha Rodriguez took the living concept to a whole new level, exploring various definitions and conceptions of the internal, related to the human body and the mind.  The “internal” is taken literally as  the inside of a human body.  Her three dimensional works of hand cut and sewn etchings showcase intestines weaving through each other in interesting patterns and forms, inviting the viewer to become entangled among the organs.  The layering effect is most interesting, what the artist likes to call a dialog between science and metaphysics.

Join these artists and the staff of Kai Lin Art for an artist talk this Friday, May 13th, between 5-7pm to hear more about how the work was created and view the spectacular FLORA exhibit first-hand.

Blonde Bombshell exhibition, Huff Harrington Gallery

It’s the age old question whether blondes or brunettes have more fun, but this past Friday the blondes reigned supreme as they kicked off their Blonde Bombshell exhibition at Huff Harrington gallery in Buckhead.   The “Huffingtons” chose a group of artists whose paintings they thought worked beautifully together, who all happened to be blonde and beautiful in their own right, and the Bombshell exhibition was born.

Lorraine Christie I Wish

Artists Lorraine Christie, Melissa Payne Baker, Dawne Raulet, Bonnie Beauchamp Cooke, Liz Barber, and the lucky solo male artist Aaron Whitehouse wore the Bombshell label proudly as they worked the crowd, displaying their finest paintings.  The pieces had subtle tones, soft lines and cool colors, which contracted with the loud and boisterous crowd that evening… the gallery packed a full house, a sure sign of a successful show.

Despite their similarities, each artist brought their own unique style and flavor to the exhibition; Dawne with her subdued animal paintings on contrasting stark black backgrounds; Liz with her whimsical abstract configurations and cool color choices;

Melissa Payne Baker Colorful Landscape

Bonnie with her beautiful horse paintings and country-girl flair;  Aaron with his moody and textured canvases; and Melissa with her serene  impressionist landscapes and soft brushstrokes- the show had something to offer all artistic tastes and was truly an art lover’s delight.

The Blonde Bombshell exhibition will be at Huff Harrington Gallery until April 2nd.  Stop by the gallery and see the Spring’s hottest color palettes, in the paintings and in the coiffure.

Fay Gold Home and Collection Tour, April 3rd

Atlanta’s art scene has Fay Gold to thank for its modern flair and international contemporary status.  This grand dame of the art world single-handedly put Atlanta on the art map by bringing talents such as Cindy Sherman and Robert Mapplethorpe to her gallery in the early 80’s.  Their satirical photographs were so ripe with controversy the budding talents instantly became international superstars – and they took Fay along for the ride.  Like a modern day Peggy Guggenheim, Fay jump started the careers of major contemporary artists like Sherman and Mapplethorpe and was Atlanta’s connection to all things avant-garde.  From its initiation in 1982, Fay Gold Gallery remained the most esteemed art space in Atlanta for almost 30 years (read her full bio here).

With a career this exhilarating, one could image the plethora of art she accumulated in her personal collection. Now the Atlanta public, through the High Museum’s Art Partners, will have the opportunity to see Fay Gold’s art collection first-hand when she opens the doors of her Buckhead home for a private tour on Sunday, April 3 at 3:00 pm.   Those who attend will experience her passion for art though her personal stories and unique contemporary collection.  RSVP for your spot by emailing artpartners@woodruffcenter.org or call the box office at 404-733-5000 .  Tickets are $25 for museum members and $35 for non members.