As some of you know, I was in the Atlanta area earlier this month for a number of different meetings with artists and heads of local arts organizations.  After my first foray into the Atlanta area in 2006 — the trip where I didn’t rent a car, figuring Atlanta was a walking town (it’s not) — I’ve been enjoying the city and its many artistic pleasures ever since.

This particular trip, I also journeyed out to the Watkinsville area (near Athens) and spoke to members of the Athens Area Arts Council and Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (the latter of which has a lovely space, with lots of sculptures surrounding the building and an ample gallery space filled with work by local artists).  Along my drive to Watkinsville, I passed tobacco fields, many black Angus cows, and side-of-the-road stands selling boiled peanuts and “meat skins.”  (To be completely honest, I really wanted to stop, but I didn’t know where I was going!)  I was surprised to find this haven of art — OCAF Center — in the middle of it all.  And next time, I’ll definitely make time to stop in Athens… I just needed to beat the football traffic that was about to enter town.

From there, I met with my friend and colleague, Jessyca Holland, who has returned as the leader of one of our Open Arts Network partners, the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts (affectionately known as Atlanta Performs), which runs the AtlanTix discount arts ticket booth, among other things.  I’m glad to hear they are back on the upswing after a year or so of uncertainty.

I visited with Gabriel Wardell and Paula Martinez, the leaders of the Atlanta Film Festival 365, another Open Arts Network partner organization.  Gabe and Paula are tell-it-like-it-is people and I respect them and their organization quite highly.  So much so, that I heed their recommendations like none other and, after returning to the office for only one day, have already purchased Dan Pallotta’s book, “Uncharitable,” based on their suggestion.  I’ll let you know how it is.

From there, it was a quick update with Kamal Sinclair, our friend, colleague, and frequent guest blogger from the Atlanta area who is helping us develop Fractured U. (you know, the online course system that you should totally be checking out!).  It looks like two courses will be launched in the next few weeks, so stay tuned to this blog for more info!

A meeting with our friends at Southern Arts Federation introduced me to the great work they are doing to help artists and arts organizations prepare for emergency situations (from natural disasters to computer failure).  This is insanely important information that every artist and administrator should consider.  You never know when something bad will happen (knock on wood!).  For more information and resources, check out ArtsReady.org.

Then, I was able to meet two new(er) staff members — Shannon Turner and Keryl McCord — from Alternate ROOTS, the great arts service organization that helps artists and arts organizations who are creating art that is community-based and/or based in social justice.  Keryl and I have a shared background in that we both worked for the Theater/Musical Theater disciplines at the National Endowment for the Arts (though not at the same time).  Shannon, Keryl, and ROOTS’ executive director, Carlton Turner, graciously hosted a conference call for me to speak to some of their members, many of whom do their work in very rural areas.  Check their website in upcoming weeks, as I believe this call will be posted as a podcast.

But, the main event and my reason for making the trip was that I was once again invited to speak at The Foundation Center - Atlanta’s Arts Resource Market, part of Funding for the Arts Month.  This year, I spoke about arts advocacy, which is a topic I do not often get to speak about at length.  Fortunately, I believe my wonderful co-presenter, Jan Selman of the Arts Leadership League of Georgia, and I relayed some interesting, energizing information to the audience.  A video of this workshop should be available on The Foundation Center - Atlanta’s website soon.  And, thanks to Nikki Estes over at Southern Arts Federation, an introduction to my talk is currently available as a podcast that can be downloaded here.

And, of course, I saw some art while I was in town!  Besides the awesome work on display at the OCAF Center,  I took in the lovely architecture and public art that makes up the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown Atlanta.  I visited the indy fashion stores that inhabit the neighborhoods of Little Five Points and Inman Park.  I saw Twyla Tharp’s new dance-musical, “Come Fly With Me,” at the Alliance Theatre, which uses Frank Sinatra recordings plus a live orchestra to create a narrative storyline (and Ms. Tharp herself was in my row!).  I revisited the musical “Grey Gardens” after seeing it two years ago on Broadway by attending a [sold out!] local production at Actor’s Express.  And, for those of you who believe that the culinary arts is an artistic discipline (we certainly do here at Fractured Atlas!), I ventured to some Top Chef-related restaurants, including the insanely well designed Flip Burger Boutique (helmed by Top Chef alum and molecular gastronomist, Richard Blais) and Woodfire Grill (led by current Top Chef contestant, Kevin Gillespie).

Overall, the trip was quite successful and I was glad to catch a good amount of local art, meet up with local arts leaders, and connect with artists in the Atlanta area.  Thanks again to those who attended the events and to those who led them or met with me along the way.  We hope to return again next October, if not sooner!