This was my first visit to the High Museum of Art since I was a small girl and it’s been 20 years since I stepped over its threshold.  I have always wanted to go back to the High (as we Atlantans call it) because my experiences were enthralling but as adulthood ensued, I never  made the time.  I was born in the 70’s, raised during the 80’s.  I was bathed in culture with such exhibits featured at the High like the “China Exhibit” in which I can recall a memory of a huge card-catalog – like box filled with drawers of Asian spices one could pull out and sniff.  During field trips we frequented the museum when the “Sensations” exhibit came and we would stick our hands in holes filled with various items to heighten sensory awareness.  Not knowing what was at the end of that hole was what kept us loving when “Sensations” was at the High. My early contact with the High garnered life-long memories and now it was time for me to pass some of that on to my four-year-old and my girlfriend’s 15 year old daughter.

Therefore, on a day in late January, the three of us trudged through the cold and drizzle in search of artistic displays that could warm us at least visually and aesthetically. After checking our coats, (which is free!) paying the for the ticket (only $18, and tickets were buy one get one free on that day) the enthusiastic guide handed me a map of the museum and asked us, with even more enthusiasm if we were going to see the Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit which was one of the featured attractions and one of the artists recently covered in my young friend’s art class. We headed up to the second floor of the immaculate space and made our way to see what gifts the great Italian artists and scientist left behind for us.

We were all excited to see authentic pieces of the work of the one of the most famous artists in the world.  The da Vinci Exhibit, which will be at the High until February 21^st, contained about 50 works but boasted only 20 pieces that were actually done by the hand of the artist himself.  Most of these were drawings done in the early stages of his career. At that time, according to the information written on the wall signs next to the pieces, da Vinci was very interested in horses and equestrian arts and many of the pieces displayed exemplified that. One of the most impressive features of the exhibit were the huge statues made by Giovan Francesco Rustici, giving evidence to the influence Leonardo da Vinci had on the younger artists following him. Moving through the exhibit, we could see three stages of Leonardo da Vinci’s career:  the beginning, when he himself was a student, the phase when he was perfecting his craft as a sculptor, and finally, as a teacher, when artists inspired by him learned from his expertise and benefitted from his guidance.

The High had so much to offer that the different exhibits felt as if they would never end! As soon as we thought we might be done discovering, we stumbled upon more to see.  Our observations ranged from the John Portman Exhibit on Art and Architecture showing models of buildings from around the world to paintings highlighting local culture by Hale Woodruff featuring the consequences of erecting “housing projects” like Hearndon Homes on Northside Drive.  A beautifully colorful and moving political piece, the painting entitled, “Results of Good Housing,” speaks to the era in American history when housing projects were seen as the solution for the poor (which equaled out to blacks)  to receive adequate places to live during the Depression.  In actuality, this undertaking further pushed blacks into the bondages of racism and stereotyping.  Right now, Hearndon Homes is being demolished for many good reasons. One of the positive effects will be eradicating racial scars of the past.

Some of the most amazing paintings were of the Civil War era from the American Art exhibit.  On the walls were expansive portraits depicting the beautiful landscapes of the southern most regions of America. The beauty of the pictures contrasted with the desolation of deserted farms and plantation houses as the War swept through the land and the slaves ran for freedom.

The African Exhibit featured many different examples of the rich culture of the African peoples and was refreshing after viewing paintings that were both pleasing to the eye and painful reminders of a shameful past the Civil War can evoke.  My daughter, whose father is from Ghana, was excited to observe pieces from his home land and we marveled over huge masks made from wood used by the Bwa peoples from Burkina Faso.  Pieces from Nigeria, the Congo, Rwanda, and the Ivory Coast were also proudly displayed.

After three hours and complaints from my daughter that her feet were hurting, I turned to my friend and asked her if she was ready to leave.  She looked at me, gave me a hug, and told me she was glad we came.  She said she learned a lot and that she was anxious to get to school to let her art teacher know how much she had learned over the weekend.  I asked my daughter what she liked the most as we left the building and she said, “The Ghana stuff.”

The visit made an impression on all of us and definitely made me realize that going to the High is a great way to instill knowledge and culture within us without even leaving the city.  Take an afternoon, grab a friend or co-worker and check out all the wonders the High Museum of Art has waiting for you.

Whether you are heading to a metal show at Lenny’s or to the bottom of a pitcher at 97 Estoria, chances are you will pass through the Krog Street Tunnel.  Intersecting Dekalb Avenue and Wylie Street, the graffiti-blanketed tunnel conjoins more than Cabbagetown and Inman Park.

From the humblest tag – an artist’s signature, to intricate pieces – in the sense of slang for masterpieces – the tunnel is a cultural hub.  Along with its 4 and ½ star ranking on yelp.com, the tunnel has that other factor which makes something a place: pathos.

Built in the early 1900’s and becoming a popular canvas since the ‘80’s, the tunnel’s persistent controversy is more intriguing than its history.  Though not legally a free space to draw graffiti, and despite certain neighbors’ disapproval, it is clear the tunnel is going to be painted regardless of any resistance.

Even when a long-time Cabbagetown resident jumped from a tree at 2 a.m. and punched a kid who was tagging the wall, artists remained undeterred.

The tunnel today is proof that creativity will find its own avenue. Though it is considered poor form to “tag” over another’s work, any blank space the tunnel once had has been exhausted with multiple layers of spray paint. Unless one were to hazard a column closer to the road, in order to make a mark on this notorious street forum, it is considered a necessity to eclipse fellow artists. It is this “here today, gone tomorrow” sentiment that perhaps furthers the competition while also maintaining the public interest in the tunnel’s constant evolution.

Yet the Krog Tunnel does not just serve as a street gallery for tourists and locals alike to enjoy, it triples as a political forum and advertisement space also.  Littered with show posters, anti-war sentiments, and simply sentiment, the tunnel embodies a certain pulse of the city.  Though some artists simply scribble “Akron cats is da hardest,” another takes it upon themselves to lend perspective, i.e. “3,000 DEAD IN IRAQ IS BAD.  1,000,000 DEAD IN DARFUR IS WORSE.”  Whynatte, Atlanta’s original canned coffee drink, is endorsed in yellow letters on the outside of the tunnel on the Wylie Street side.

Many artists eschew a platform altogether and let the art speak for itself, using the colors of the Rasta – red, yellow, and green – to paint the sun rising out of a woman’s hair.  Someone even portrayed Detective Lenny Briscoe from the infinite-seasoned Law and Order.

Though not advisable at night – just a thought prompted by the sight of a column boasting a Sur 13 gang tag – visiting the Krog street tunnel and observing the diversity it represents is a must for those who want to see and know Atlanta.  May be if not visiting on purpose – a good idea might be just to begin noticing, when you inevitably drive through it, the constant evolution of one of Atlanta’s most interesting free exhibits.

Feel free to explore the original TheRealAtlanta.com photo collection here by the author of the article. Click on any photo image at the bottom of the page to get to a higher resolution one.

Thieves’ final performance  and CD release party was at Kavarna Coffee Shop in Oakhurst [editor: area in Atlanta, GA] on Friday, January 15, 2009.  The all-girl group, comprised of Jessie Calmes on vocals and guitar, Meta Gary on violin and vocals, Rene Lambert on bass and mandolin, and Khalilah Karim on backup vocals and accordion have come a long way to develop their sound of lilting, poetic folk.  Directly after the post-show cigarette break, I gathered the band for some giggle-ridden girl talk, where they recalled their worst show ever, performing with the legendary Desk Ark, as well as a possible comeback.

Summer Stanley: Thieves, I was just ruminating on how it’s rather unusual to have a CD release party in conjunction with your final show, so to begin, is it really the final show?

Rene Lambert: So far.

Jessie Calmes: It was a publicity scam (Laughter).  We’re gonna come out of retirement in a month.

Summer: Like Jay-Z?

Jessie: Like Jay-Z.

Summer: Well it did him a lot of good.

Jessie: We’re all gonna marry Beyonce too.

(The girl gaggle giggles)

Khalilah Karim: (Laughing) I think I’m already married to Beyonce.  We have little Beyonces running around.

Summer: All right, well, the reason I ask is because I heard a little birdie mention that a French band contacted you through MySpace that wanted to tour with you.  Care to comment?

Jessie: It’s possible that after some months we might come out with a bunch of different, new material and maybe a reincarnation.

Summer: OK. OK.  So this would be like same people, different name and sound?

Jessie: Maybe.

Summer: Maybe?

Jessie: This is all hypothetical.

Summer: All right I’ll take hypothetical.

Meta Gary: I think we might just sing in French.

Summer: I’d pay to hear an American girl band sing French lyrics.  Well kind of in a “looking back” vein, I know it’s pretty immediate, but how did Thieves originate and how long were you together for?

Rene: Originally we were all hanging out being sad and were like, “Hey, let’s make music.”

Jessie: It basically started with a different formation in the beginning, and we all were really bummed out about uh, ladies.

Summer: Mmm hmm.

Jessie: And so we literally just drank a lot of whiskey and wrote lots of songs really, really late at night.

Summer: Some of the best songs have been written that way.

Jessie: And then played them out of tune for the while.

Meta: Much to my dismay.  I heard that there existed a group of really, really sad girls, and I was like, “I have got to get in on that.”  And so I did.  And uh, I brought ‘in tune’ with me.

Jessie: Meta made us tune our instruments.

Rene: She was like, “I can’t do this unless we tune!”

Jessie: And then we became “legit.”

Summer: Wow.  When was it that you guys started playing shows regularly?

Jessie: Our first show was for Amy and Matteas’ benefit after their accident (scooter accident) two summers ago.

Summer: Yeah, that’s been a while.  Well what bands have you guys been members of previous to Thieves?

Rene: The Bangers, Stanley’s Car – back in Louisiana.

Summer: Cool.  What kind of a band was Stanley’s Car?

Rene: Ska.

Summer: So do you foresee yourself continuing as a musician after this?

Rene: Of course!  Absolutely.

Summer: Do you have any upcoming projects at all?

Rene: Hopefully.  I don’t know just yet.

Summer: But you will.

Rene: Yes. Of course.

Summer: (To Jessie) What about you?

Jessie: I did vocals for Bangers and now I’m in the Gazelles.  I play drums.

Summer: Cool.  I didn’t know you played drums.  Who are The Gazelles? Are you performing around town now?

Jessie: We’ve been playing around Atlanta – I think we’re gonna book a show at Lenny’s soon.  It’s kind of, I don’t even know, garage rock, 60’s girl groove. . .

Rene: Think Black Sabbath.  It’s like old school metal.  It’s awesome.

Jessie: Dirty.

Summer: I can’t wait!  (To Khalilah) And what previous bands have you been in?

Khalilah: I was in a small band back in the early nineties, well it was kind of like mid-nineties, called Destiny’s Child.

(Laughter from everyone)

Khalilah: And um, I got kicked out because my dance moves were not up to par, but you know, I made it again with Thieves.  So me and Beyonc’ are still close ‘cuz she’s having my babies.

Summer: I think you’re the only one who isn’t ill with her after she left Destiny’s Child to go solo.

Khalilah: (Laughing) You know, I’m OK as long as I get paid.  You know they’re still using my lyrics.

Summer: (Laughing) Do your thing girl!

Khalilah: I’m a survivor (laughs).  But whatever.  But really, no.  This is it.

Summer: No future projects?

Khalilah: Unless someone else wants me.  Yeah, and if Thieves does a comeback tour…

Summer: Oh well I’ll miss you and I’m glad I got a lot of good pictures to memorialize this properly.  (To Meta) And for you?

Meta: I was in one band in college – it was a math rock band.

Summer: A math rock band?  What kind of band is that?

Meta: Um…

Jessie: It’s like math-y rock.

Summer: I’m sure it all adds up.

Meta: Good one.  It’s like instrumental rock. . .

Summer: That sounds like genius rock!

Meta: I was in a genius rock band called Baracka.

Jessie: (In mock disbelief)It was called Baracka?

Kahlilah: Was it really?  Baracka?  Like the movie? (Laughs)

Meta: Yes it was.  And it’s also a Mortal Combat character.

Summer: You are cool.

Meta: I always played music my whole life and I was in that band and then I kind of stopped for just being busy until I met these guys and I started…

Summer: And how did you guys meet?

Meta: (Gestures to front door of Kavarna) Out front right there.

Jessie: Yeah.

Meta: We were sitting at a table smoking cigarettes. . .

Jessie: And we were like “Oh, you play violin?  And you look good?!  OK.”

(Everyone laughs.)

Jessie: “Put on that hat!”

Meta: “Are you interested in being sad?  Am I?!”

Khalilah: Any excuse to cry.

Summer: I really like that you guys were on the melancholy trip here.  This is something that I didn’t know about you guys personally, but your music is very cathartic and haunting so I get it.

Jessie: At one point we actually covered Otis Redding’s “Sad Song.”

Summer: I wish I had heard that one!  I also wish I had heard your famous cover of Mariah Carey’s “Shake it Off.”

Khalilah: A lot of people really wish they had heard “Shake it off.”

Rene: If we only knew everyone would chant.  If we only had one more chance we could have prepared it.

Summer: Sorry, I kinda started the chanting.  I didn’t realize.  (To Meta) Well, do you have any musical projects on the horizons?

Meta: Not specifically, but yeah.

Summer: I get it.  There will be.  OK, well what else?  Looking back, do you have a best/worst show moment?  I’m gonna go one by one here, because this is gonna overwhelm my microphone, so Rene first.

Rene: Eddie’s attic is the show. (Everyone laughs.)

Summer: The best or the worst?

Rene: Um, the worst.

Summer: Tell me why.

Rene: Because everything was out of tune, and it was incredibly professional and we were not.  And it was very embarrassing.

Summer: What was the crowd’s reaction?

Rene: They just sat there.

Jessie: One person said, “You know guys, you don’t have to play all your songs every time you play.”

Summer: Ouch.

Jessie: And I would agree.  Horribly out-of-tune.  Embarrassing.

Rene: We have a copy.  You can hear it.  It’s horrible.

Jessie: We like to listen to it for s…t and giggles.

Summer: Well, those days have come and gone and you guys have arrived at this point, but what was your best show moment?

Rene: Actually probably tonight.

Jessie: It was fun.

Summer: Yeah, it was a really fun night.  It was great.

Rene: The crowd was really cool.

Summer: A lot of people showed up.

Rene: Yeah, I mean the whole environment was pretty, pretty right on man.

Summer: Yeah.

Jessie: I also think the best practice moment was today when we all sang Lady Gaga a capella to one another.  I thought that sounded really, really good.

Summer: That’s pretty cool.

Jessie: Yeah definitely good use of our time before our last show.

Summer: Oh, definitely.  And I’m sure there were, rather, I’m assuming, there were drinks.

Jessie: Yeah, well, I think there are anytime we do vocal exercises together too, which, involves Mariah Carey’s emotions.

Summer: Yes.

(The band starts doing their various Mariah Carey impressions.)

Jessie: Yeah, those are all good.

Summer: I love it!  Khalilah, best/worst show moment?

Khalilah: I guess other than tonight I would have to say our first show in Athens that I played was a really good night.

Summer: Where did you guys play in Athens?

Khalilah: Little Kings.

Summer: That’s a fun place:

Khalilah: It was a really fun day.  Good show, nice crowd, like I don’t actually know if the crowd was nice as in big, but the few people who were there were very nice.

Summer: They were like respectful and clapping at all the right times and everything. . .

Jessie: We played with The Shondas who were like a really big deal for us.

Summer: Oh cool.  Tell me about The Shondas.

Jessie: They’re this, like- they were called the next “Sleater Kinney,” but they’re like this Jewish, rrriot girlish music.

Summer: Ooooh.  That sounds really good.

Jessie: Queer.  Really, really great violinist.  And they were on the cover of Curve magazine the month before we  booked the show.  Louisa… that girl.  So we played with them in Athens and in Atlanta.  And that was cool

Summer: Cool.  Besides The Shondas who were some of the most famous people that you performed with?

Jessie: Des Ark!

Rene: Yes!

Summer: (Enjoying the enthusiasm) Say it again!

Jessie: Desk Ark was my favorite show because I’ve been listening to Desk Ark since I was like 15.

Summer: I was at that show and it was astounding.

Rene: Wow.  Yeah, it was incredible to meet Aimee.

(Aimee Argote, frontwoman for Desk Ark)

Jessie: Yeah.

Rene: She was uh, wow.  Yeah.  That was great.

Jessie: That was good.  That had to be the best I think.

Summer: Yeah, yeah.  That was at the Eyedrum.  Thanks Marissa Overton for organizing that show!  (To Meta) Best and worst for you?

Meta: Easily Eddie’s Attic.  And a side note on the Eddie’s Attic show, I think I’d been playing with them for like three weeks at that time and uh, I had them, this was, I knew that they were out of tune, but I didn’t one hundred percent know how, how.

Jessie: Bad.

Meta: How bad the situation, how deep-rooted this problem was, and so in order to learn all the songs in time for the show because the shows was booked when I started playing with them, I had them record everything, and then I learned my parts, I made up parts according to recordings, and then uh, we were on stage playing and um, nothing! Nothing!  Not a damn thing was in the same key.

(Everyone Laughter)

Summer: None of the instruments were tuned together at all?

Meta: No!  So everyone that starts playing, and all these parts that I had, you know, studied …

Summer: Right.

Meta: And learned …

Jessie: (Laughing) In key?

Meta: … were all wrong.  And it was absolutely horrible.  And I was wearing this same hat, and I kept pulling it lower and lower during the course of the show, and lower past my face because I kept wanting to hide and I wondered multiple times how bad it would be if I just quietly stepped off the stage.

Summer: (Laughing) That’s great to admit that.

Meta: It was horrible.  And the other side of that I would say is tonight, which is really ironic, because up until recording our CD, which went very quickly, we haven’t played in at least like a month or two.

Summer: I didn’t realize it had been that long.

Meta: So I wasn’t really foreseeing tonight going well, and I was kind of, I was nervous.

Jessie: I know and after that we stopped playing shows!

Meta: (Laughing) Done!

Meta: But yeah I don’t know what it was but tonight everything just felt like really solid, and the crowd was awesome.

Summer: Yeah.

Meta: Tonight was like a really good night.  It was great.  A great night to end on.

Summer: Absolutely.

Khalilah: Or to begin again on.

Summer: Don’t tease me!

Khalilah: Or to come back on!  (Laughter)

Summer: That’s going to be the vein of my article, I want you to know that I’m going to paint you guys as a phoenix rising from the ash, so I’m editing it the way that I want it to be. (Laughter)

(Jessie starts doing the “Angels in the Outfield” flying motions.  Everyone laughs.)

Summer: I just have to ask this one last question, out of personal curiosity, because I’m about to start learning the drums and I wanna know percentage-wise, how much more play I’m gonna get, than I have as a regular person now?  And in addition to play specifically, what about perks of being in a band in general?

(Everyone shakes their head, laughs.)

Summer: (In disbelief) No perks!  None whatsoever?!

Rene: Well, I mean, the connection you have with people when you play music it’s like family.  That’s my favorite perk.

Summer: I feel that.

Rene: The intimacy with friends playing music … it’s pretty rad.

Summer: Totally.

Jessie: I would disagree.

(More laughter.)

Summer: Which part do you disagree with?

Jessie: Well, whenever we play I just crawl back into my anxiety hole, which involves me quickly loading instruments into the car and avoiding eye contact with anyone.

Rene: But we get to hang out with each other!

Jessie: No.  But we’re talking about play.

Renee: Oh.

Jessie: No extra play.

Summer: No extra play at all?

Jessie: No.

Khalilah: I think that would only be lame when you’re like, “Yeah I play music and it’s blah blah blah blah.”

Jessie: Yeah, that’s nice, but no, never after a show have I been like “Hey girl how you doin’?”  It’s more like (nervously giggles, voice shaking): “Hi- thank you ha ha.”

(We all laugh.)

Summer: Yeah, you’re just like, “OK, get me outta here.”

Jessie: Well Khalilah gets all the honeys.

Khalilah: I mean since I’ve been in this band, guys, oh my god.  (Laughs) I can’t count the amount of a.. I’ve got!

Meta: She can’t count the amounts.

Khalilah: Yeah.

Summer: OK, well I’m always curious about the dating life of a musician.  Are there any other perks?

Khalilah: Yeah – stage fright.

Summer: I never would’ve thought any of you had stage fright.  It’s interesting talking to you about that, because it’s new information to me.

Jessie: I puke either before or after any first performance I’ve had with a band.

Summer: Wow.  I would too.  I was at a show in New York – I went to go see Atmosphere, and Slug has super-fan karaoke before the show where he serves at the hype man, but the fans have to rap his songs onstage without any lyrics.  The participants just have to know it by heart.  And when Slug was introducing them, he said “You guys need to be nice to these people because before I go on for every show, I have to sh… .  Literally.  And I wrote the songs.”  Sooooo. . . I get that.

Summer: (To Meta) So perks for you?

Meta: Um, we usually get a tab.

(Everyone): Yeah.

Summer: Well that is a definite perk.

Khalilah: (To Meta) You get to show your artwork!  But I think we played because of your artwork.

Meta: I think what that is, is I get to deflect attention away from myself.

Rene: No!  From your artwork?

Meta: Yeah.  And turn it into a band show instead of an art show which is much more comfortable.

Summer: I had no idea this was a combination art show and band show.

Meta: See? (Gesturing to a flock of bird paintings on the wall).

Summer: Oh!

Jessie: It’s called Flock by Artist Meta Gary.

Summer: I’m so glad I know that now!  Do you have a website?

Meta: There’s a MetaGary.com website.

Summer: Great!  And what sorts of art do you do?

Meta: I’m a painter.  I’m currently in grad school for graphic design.

Summer: Great!  Well I’m so glad to know that extra little ditty.  Any last words before I shut off my recorder?

Jessie: OK. OK.

Rene: (short un-transcribable).

Jessie: (High-pitched Mariah Carey-esque squeal)

Khalilah: (Imitating Lady Gaga) Pa-pa-razzi!

Meta: I don’t have any last words.

Summer: OK.

Meta: That’s kind of ironic.

Jessie: This was kind of fun.

Summer: Isn’t it fun?

Dialogue in the Dark at the Atlantic Station Exhibition Center
(Ongoing until March 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
Have you ever wondered what a blind person’s life is really like? In this unordinary exhibition, the blind will guide normal visitors through galleries and interactive environments without any light. This is surely to be an “eye-opening” outlook on how the blind fully use their other senses, and how sometimes valuable things are not appreciated enough. The exhibition center is located at 265 18th St., Suite 4200, Atlanta, GA.
Tickets

Dweezil Zappa plays at the Variety Playhouse
(11^th at 8:00 p.m.)
Dweezil will be rocking out with his musically inherited guitar talent from his father, along with six other members. This show is a tribute to his father, Frank Zappa. The Playhouse is located at 1099 Euclid Avenue in Little Five Points, close to the Carter Center and Virginia Highlands.
Tickets

Karaoke Monday’s at the Uptown Comedy Corner
(11^th at 8:30 p.m.)
Special K. from the Ricky Smiley Morning show will be hosting Karaoke this Monday. Come perform a song you may have in mind, or get a kick out of other people singing! Uptown is located at 800 Marietta Street, ATL, 30318.
Tickets

Open Mic at Meehan’s Public House
(12^th at 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.)
Come prepared to sing acoustic, and compete! If you win over the most people with your performance, you’ll win a pretty great prize; free bar tab, cash, and a cab ride home! Meehan’s is located at 227 Sandy Springs Place, Suite 416, Atlanta, GA 30328.
Reservations

American Idol Viewing Party at the W Hotel
(13^th at 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
Review season nine’s auditions at the location they started in! There will be food from Jean-Georges Spice Market from 7-8pm and American Idol themed cocktails from Whiskey Park. The W is located in Midtown at 188 14th St. NE, ATL.
RSVP to watlanta.midtown@whotels.com
Directions

The Ansley Park Playhouse presents “A Sunday Afternoon at Loehmann’s”
(14^th at 8:00 p.m. & 17^th at 3:00 p.m.)
Shopping has become a form of fun relaxation, and the Southern ladies in this play will be displaying just that. The story starts off innocent, and then progresses into the dysfunctional standards of everyday living. It’s a very witty show that shouldn’t be missed. The Ansley Park Playhouse is located in the Peachtree Pointe Building on 1545 Peachtree Street.
Ticekts

Shen Yun at the Cobb Energy Performance Centre
(15^th at 7:30 p.m., 16^th at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., 17^th at 2:00 p.m.)
Shen Yun Performing Arts presents Chinese dancing that has been tradition for centuries. You will see the ancient legends and heroes come to life. Along with this, the Shen Yun Orchestra will be playing their original pieces with classical Western and Chinese instruments. Come to Cobb Energy for this uplifting experience at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339.
Tickets

The Loft presents Avenue X
(15^th at 10:00 p.m.)
The Loft is going to hold Avenue X – which is a new wave night presented by DJIT and Warholboy. The cover charge is $5 for 21+, and $10 for 18-20. The location is in Midtown at 1374 W. Peachtree St.
Information

Gwinnett Performing Arts Center presents Ralphie May
(16^th at 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.)
Ralphie May has been a professional comedian since the age of 17. He has made appearances on Comedy Central, Craig Kilborn, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, and The Man Show. You may have even seen him on the infamous website Youtube. The Gwinnett Center is at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097.
Tickets

Living Novel at the Relapse Theatre
(16^th at 9:00 p.m.)
The Relapse Theatre is offering something a little different in the arts department. Living Novel is a book that reads itself going along with music, all put together by Trey Duke. The general admission price is $10, but students can get in for $5. The Relapse Theatre is located on 380 14^th street, Atlanta.

Directions

“I have so many ideas in my head I don’t know where to start”, she said as we looked at the collection of used wood pieces of furniture, shelves, plaques and the like stacked in a corner of her garage. End tables, night stands and a dresser that needed a little TLC before the first coat of paint could be applied, and she does all of the wood repair herself. Nearly every piece was a cast off, found at a yard sale, by the side of the road or on Craigslist, just waiting for the new found personality she would give each one with her acrylic paints and imagination. Some items are new, like plaques and corner tables.

Then we began to look at pieces that she had transformed; a matching breadbox and recipe box with the big smiling flowers that she appropriately named The Happy Little Bread Box, a small hutch and buffet in a muted lavender blend sporting a blooming magnolia branch, and an adorable barn red breadbox with a slightly whimsical rooster on every side and a very whimsical egg running across the top leaving his tale-tell footprints behind. Sports tables! Your favorite sports emblem on a small round three legged table…and she takes orders for them! She has figured out a way to make it versatile by removing the legs and putting a wire on the back of the table top for wall décor. Then there’s the round tiger table, whose head takes up the entire tabletop. The table legs are his legs and his tail rests across the lower shelf and those life-like eyes lock on and just won’t let you look away. I don’t know, maybe that’s a sign of my cat addiction, but you feel a need to find a logical reason for the embarrassing experience of being held captive by a tiger without a heartbeat.

“I found out by accident that I could paint in the late 90’s when I gave a painting class to my daughter. She went to only one lesson and decided it wasn’t for her. So, I decided that rather than waste the money for the class I would go for the lessons myself. It was the beginning of a new passion for me.” Debbie Hampton started out painting on canvas and now paints wall murals and ceramic tiles as well as wood items. Children’s rocking chairs are personalized by order for under $60.

Debbie showed me pictures of her first wall murals she painted in her own home. A silhouette of her grandchildren as if standing in a group in her hallway, and a lovely basket of magnolia blooms that never made it off of the wall when she moved to Georgia. Since then she has contemplated hiring herself out to paint murals, and even though she is willing to do so she just has never pursued it. She stays occupied with her wood projects, many of which have been painted as gifts for family holidays, stirring up jealous competition over who wanted what. “She just thought we were fighting over the pieces because we love her,” her daughter told me, “she just didn’t think her work was that good in the beginning.” Every family member from her mother down to the youngest Grandchild has or will soon have a specially painted piece to cherish, each signed and dated.

Retiring her position at Kennedy Space Center in early 2007 to join family in Georgia, Debbie’s desire to focus on her passion has kept her from re-entering the workforce. She showed me the display of pieces that dance across the gallery on her Myspace page, which she sends interested parties to. Debbie showed me her earliest pieces, and although I can see how her skills have improved with experience it was still difficult to pick them out of the collection A perfect example of how her work has evolved is a wooden tray that she faux painted to appear as white tiles with a fruit medley in the center.

I asked Debbie where she would like to see herself five to ten years from now. “My desire is to make a living doing what I love, and that’s my art. I like to see others get as much enjoyment out of my work as I get creating it.” Debbie has worked with water color at times, my favorite, but she says her favorite medium is acrylic, an easier medium to “fix” if she doesn’t like the outcome.

Debbie has posted her work on art pages such as eon’s art and drawing group page, and has received strong reviews and encouragement to continue from accomplished artists on the site. She even took on a challenge one of the artists gave her and was praised for her results. Many of her pieces can be seen on her Facebook page, where she also can be contacted. The address is http://www.facebook.com/saphire916fl