Agostino Iacurci(Italy)

At first glance, you might mistake Agostino Iacurci's vivid murals as only a picture. A charismatic way of making the street brighter. However, the murals depict the surroundings they inhabit.

"Beardwatching" (France)

Pietro non torna indietro

The dialogue

Using ironic undertones to bring attention to his murals, Iacurci has a very unique way of bringing a community together by the circumstances and development that have seen. 

Future Simple

Punti di fuga

Smemo

Autostalk

Fish and Kids

Exert from Agostino Iacurci's interview from Lanciatrendvisions.com, 

"A first level of reading of the murals in Porto Fluviale can be the infantile image of a person that swims among fishes. If you look at the context though, you discover that you are in an area historically linked to the fish market, an unhappy environment for the protagonists of the murals. In addition, the title, "Fish'n'Kids", apart from describing the scene, refers also to a famous dish. So in total you have a vital image that contemporarily represents a catastrophe. It’s the irony unleashed by a sadistic element. I try to work on that threshold mechanism through which an innocent image can become mischievous, or serenity can become a premonition. This is my motivation, my story. But I think the interesting aspect comes afterwards, in the interpretations of others."

Agostino Iacurci will be one of the artist featured at this years Living Wall Atlanta 2013.

More Information:

www.agostinoiacurci.com

3ttman( France)

Known for his vibrant colors and psychedelic imagery, 3ttman (@3ttman)  graces us with his presence at this year's Living Walls Atl.

The cartoony whimsical images that he creates continue to amaze me and make me laugh.

From Ekosystem Blog, 

"One of the parts I love from working in the street is the fact that you offer the piece to the people and in these countries where they are so used to “classical tourism” the feedback is extraordinary. Once they understand that you are doing something for free, that in a way it’s a gift, the gratefulness they show in relation to their belongings is incomparable with western countries one."

More Information:

Vimeo.com/3ttman

Living Walls Atlanta 2013

The number of white walls in Atlanta are diminishing but, I am here for it. Everywhere I turn there are artist doing there part to make this city alive with the power of art. Then again that is what Living Walls is here for.From August 14th to 18th, Atlanta streets will be alive with the sound of......artists!

La Pandilla

Featuring 20 progressive artists from around the world come together to create murals around Atlanta involving film screenings, lectures, block parties, gallery exhibits, and bike tours. 

All Free

Open to the public

Starting in 2010, Living Walls has set itself apart by being not only one of the nonprofit organizations that bring together artist from every spectrum, but they introduce art to communities and engage the public in street art. 

Gaia and Nanook

In 2012, two murals were removed after being deemed as controversial.

Hyuro

McDonough Blvd. SE and Sawtell Ave. SE Atlanta, Ga 30315

Pierre Roti

While it was a shame it further asks the question, What is art? Or better yet what defines it. Critique is an can be an artist best friend. Yet the residents of Pittsburgh, Atlanta  felt that them never being inquired on having the mural there was a clear sign of being casted aside. The community said it was "demonic imagery" that resulted in removal and the Hyuro mural was vandalized. 

Living Walls is the perfect example of the regular trials and tribulations of the artist. Your art is somebody's issue, your issue is sometimes someones art,its a vicious cycle. It was a birdseye view on alot of subjects and issues artists face such as:

Who is my audience?

What to me is art?

Where is my art going to be displayed?

When is a good time to find all of this out?

What the hell am I doing?

Pictures from Living Walls Atlanta 2012:

Sheila Pree Knight

TIKA

ROA

Sarah Emerson

Hyuro

Art Hs

Fefe

Indigo and Andrzej

Sten and Lex

As an ode to Living Wall Atlanta, Im doing a blog post on each artist.

3ttman(France)

Agostino lacuri (Italy)

Axel Void (Spain)

Brandon Sadler(Atlanta)

Christopher Derek Bruno (Atlanta)

Elian(Argentina)

Freddy Sam (South Africa)

Gyun Hur (Atlanta)

Inti(Chile)

Jaz (Argentina)9

Joshua Ray Stephens (Atlanta)

Know Hope(Israel)

Marcy Starz (Atlanta)

Matt Haffner (Atlanta)

Laura Bell (Atlanta)

Never 2501 (Italy)

Pastel(Argentina)

Roti (France)

Sam Parker(Atlanta)

Trek Matthews (Atlanta)

 I also plan on going to most of the events :

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14TH
BSA Movie Night
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
980 Briarcliffe Road, NE
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Jaime and Steve from Brooklyn Street Art will screen a series of street art and graffiti short films

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH
Block Party
Edgewood Ave
9:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Restaurants, bars and music venues will come together in support of the conference.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16TH
Lecture Series
W Atlanta - Midtown
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Featuring Tim Crimmins of Georgia State and Dana White of Emory, Rebecca Burns of Atlanta Magazine, Assata Richards, Marcos Feldman, and Lisa Murch

SATURDAY
Main Event at The Goat Farm Arts Center
1200 Foster St
8:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Gallery exhibit featuring work of this year's participating artists, Pecha Kucha style talks, DJ's and bands

SUNDAY
Bike Tour of Walls
Location TBA
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

More Information:

Website: http://livingwallsatl.com/

Twitter:@LivingWallsAtl

More to come! Cant wait to see you there!

Rob Simmons

Fabulous Fox

Many Atlanta residents may identify with Rob Simmon's choices of location, but not many can capture the beauty in a photo that so much of us see everyday.

Guiding Flight

A gritty stairwell turned into a creative mind's drawing board, caught through a lens. As if it was a quick glimpse of magic;something  so dull and normal became something radiant and alluring.

From the Pb&J Gallery (@pbjgallery),

"The things that draw his attention are the ordinary aspects of life – using this as a starting point, he shoots to make the ordinary interesting"

After Dark

Streetlight

 The Magnolia

 The Varsity

We Need Help

Rob Simmons Photography 

http://www.rhsfoto.com/

35 Howard Street Atlanta Ga 30317

404-606-1856

http://www.pbj-gallery.com/

Recovery Sessions WOOT WOOT!

Its that time again!

Well...not just that but you gotta admit, thats pretty awesome.

RECOVER SESSIONS AT THE W HOTEL IS BACK!

 

For those who don't know....(like me a couple of weeks ago)

Equipped with a DJ and bar, the W downtown heated rooftop pool (called WET) is the place to be in the summer! Hosted by : Dell Harris(https://twitter.com/dellharris)

This pool party is exactly what you need after a weekend of complete and utter DEBAUCHERY! (Because everybody knows the only way to cure a hangover is to drink booze and party harder). If the bar, pool, and view isn't enough for you

Can you beat this view???

no...no you cant.

theres a DJ playing nothing but the best funk ,garage, house, and disco so you KNOW ima be in my swimsuit bustin a move. Entrance is $20 but the password(ask around when you get there) will get you in free! (more money for drinks!) So from 2pm-8pm every Sunday when your holding your head, sipping seltzer water, and cringing at the thought of the person whose gum is in your mouth ;drag yourself out of bed, throw on a bikini, and head down to Recovery Sessions!

Your head will pound alot less up here.

Recovery Sessions at The W (WET pool)

Hosted by: Dell Harris

Cost: $20 (With password free)

*Extended to every sunday*

2pm-8pm

Website

W Atlanta -Downtown

45 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW · Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Phone: 404-582-5800

Website

Octopus Bar

The weather was a tad dreary, but not dreary enough to explore. The air had a sense of mystery to it..and I had to find out why...
It also could of been that I have had the flu for the past few days, been cooped up in the house and had to GET. OUT!
But as crazy as it sounds, the fog and rain called to me. The commonality of sunlight annoys me at times.
David and I were cruising down I-85 when he said the loaded statement. "Im so hungry". Followed by the loaded question "What do you want to eat?" I could feel my eyes sparkle

I.LOVE.FOOD

No no no you don't get me . I love it! I don't have a favorite type per se because I love to try all types. There's so many different dishes so many different taste...its a mild obsession.
Its a medium obsession...
Okay, its a full blown obsession. And trust, I thank god everyday that I haven't woken up to being one of the family members from the Klumps.
I take pride in my sickness of the norm and it goes hand in hand with my food endeavors and even though being a foodie seems like a full time job sometimes ,one of the qualifications is having an open palette. Trying something you've never heard of, in a place you would never go to, and meeting people who you would of never seen. Its not just the food for us self proclaimed foodies, its the experience.

Atlanta and I have a love/ hate relationship. To me, Atlanta is a bittersweet city. For all of Atlanta's great events, tasty restaurants, and beautiful walking trails, most are very hidden. Around 15% of events in Atlanta are broadcasted, the rest seems to be word of mouth. But who do you blame? Atlanta is so diverse that every part of atlanta is not only different, but every part has their own  itinerary. People who are accustomed to their areas rarely leave. ESPICALLY if theyr'e  ITP(in the perimeter) which means inside the city. Then theyr'e people who are OTP(outside the perimeter) like me....who are not in the city but want to be....but have no idea where to start. So you then you have to ask yourself, how do I find out about these events? Do I stand on a corner along with the crackheads gone wild asking people who walk by "wheres the party at?" That won't blow over well..it will actually get you in more of a hole then you were beforehand.

To get past this you have to submerge your way into the crowd. Go to festivals and events that you in fact do know about, meet people and make friends, and soon enough you will be getting emails and text messages for things you have never seen in magazines or online before. Submerging yourself in an area you have no idea about is indeed scary but finding something you enjoy doing in a different area is alot easier than doing something totally different with people you totally don't know. I started to submerge myself in Atlanta's art scene. "Atlanta art scene?...." Yes believe it or not there is one. And it not just the High art museum which is a good start, but submerge to me is getting my hands dirty, helping out with the artwork, meeting artists, and meeting like minded people. Not just going somewhere to look at art and nod my head only to leave with my head just as empty as it was when I walked in. Since art itself is something new to me, I wanted to see not only its ending but beginning and middle. What was the artists inspiration, what are the tools they used, how long did it take them, or what is the canvas. Questions that are vaguely answered but not really explored, and I am a explorer.

Close enough...

My curiosity brought me to Wonderoot, a non profit community art center on memorial drive that seems like one of the beacons of new and seasoned artists, filmmakers, photographers, and musicians to come to perform, rehearse, sell their artwork, have classes, or work in the community garden. Wonderoot has everything an artist of any kind would need and want to perfect their craft. 

A few things they have:

A digital media lab that is equipped with 5 iMacs, Final Cut pro, and Adobe Creative Suite

A ceramics studio with pottery wheels, clay(Free recycled but for new its only $15), and glazes

A darkroom

A recording studio(Studio engineers are sometimes available to come help you with your session if you call and give a heads up)

A performance space(For shows)

A gallery

And this is all for 10/a month or 60/ annually. Its a steal and the reason I love it here. There mission is to empower and bring people together through art and with that enstilled, change will be created.

I love it at Wonderoot. There mission is working because there are all kinds of people from all over who come to either perform or work on their crafts. Since I meet most of them being at one of the front desk, I find out about different places and events(like I wanted)and that is how I found out about Octopus Bar. I was giving my first tour of Wonderoot to a guy who worked for Creative loafing when we started talking about restaurants. I told him I was looking for a different experience but not just that...hidden gems that only known by people around them. He told me a few places , one being Octopus bar which stuck out in me head. He said it was real low key, small, dim lit, and some of the most amazing food you will ever eat.

Octopus bar is attached to Soba, a Vietnamese restaurant.

At first glance, it looks like a house with a bar in it. Which made me venture into it. (David and I waited in the car and watched some people go in so we were sure it was an actual restaurant. Its right by a niehborhood so we didn't want to walk in someone's house). A blast of heat and a warm smile from the waitress greeted us as soon as we walked in. Confused where the heat was coming from I looked around the covered patio and noticed a small fireplace in the corner. As we sat down we were immediately greeted by the waitress who was in the front earlier. She described the sakes. We chose the "star filled sky". As we were waiting for our sake I took in the restaurant.

Graffiti covered the walls and  candles lit the whole restaurant. The reggae they were playing puts you in a trance and after a few sips of sake I felt myself mouthing the songs and swaying in my seat....A few more sips after that I was actually singing. Most of the patrons walking in went straight to the bar which was on the other side. The bar itself had an fiery octopus picture wrapped around it!

 Looking at the menu I saw something that made me realize I will be coming back at least a couple of times a year. The menu says it changes daily. I love that! But i also hate it. Because after the sake, i forgot to write the menu items down that we ate....but I can remember some!

The first thing we tried was the Lobster roll.





. The roll the lobster pieces were in was sooooo buttery and sooooo soft, it melt in your mouth. 

The second thing we tried was an egg and steak brioche. The steak was cooked a perfect medium well and I had never had eggs that fluffy before. It went perfect with the sake.

We also tried the fried shrimp that was....um....an acquired meal.

 The shrimp itself was great, its just...it was a whole shrimp, eyes and all. It freaked David out, which soon freaked me out because how hard is it to eat something when the person across the table is making gag noises and screwing up their face. So I took it home and fed it to the stray kittens by my apartment dumpster. 

The finale of the meal was an orange butterscotch pie.(No picture. It was that good.) The pie crust tasted as if it was homemade. It was crunchy and went hand and hand with the orange whipped filling. 

The place, the meal, the ambiance was just...bad ass. Everything from the smiley waitress dancing with the bartender. It is definitely a cozy comfortable spot to either hang out with friends or have a nice quiet night out. Either way I will be returning and can hardly wait.

Octopus Bar

561 Gresham Ave
Atlanta, GA 30316
OctopusBarAtl

(404) 627-9911