Please join me in welcoming, Atlanta’s own country music artist, Leslie Christian.  

Leslie is country music’s latest Black female vocalist.

Leslie comes from a family of vocalists, which are her biggest supporters. Her mother and father initially met singing for various bands. So it doesn’t surprise you where Leslie’s musical talents derived from. She has been singing all her life. Leslie states that she always participated in talent shows and was always singing background for her sister in shows.  A greater focus developed for country music in the last ten years. Leslie conveys that she listens to all types of music. In country music, some of her biggest influences are Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and Sara Evans.

She talks about how at first her family couldn’t understand her love for singing country music but her desire, perseverance and phenomenal soulful voice, gave them great clarity on why it fits her and why rising to the top in country music could be her ultimate destination. Originally from Shelby, North Carolina, Leslie has made great things happen since she migrated to Georgia in 1994.

Leslie has been up and down the road to Nashville, Tennessee, which of course, is known as a major hub for country music. Leslie is recording her album with well known country music producer, Gordon Mote. Gordon produces Christian music and is a country music’s icon. Leslie wants to follow any direction he gives. Not only does Gordon believe in her, but his wisdom, guidance, experience, talent and display of will power over life’s adversities as a blind man who consistently strives for success, completes the formula for her success in singing.

Most of her recordings are within major studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Her authentic sound and tracks were recorded in the Tracking Room, a famous recording studio in Nashville, and her vocal recordings were done at another famous studio called, Beech Creek Studios out of Nashville as well. Beech Creek is highly known for their producing of children’s Christian music.

As I sat across from Leslie and one of her managers, Jason Freeman, I was trying to visualize the hard work and dedication that was described by their words. The working relationship is  admirable and one to be remembered and none the less, respected.

The most intriguing part of this interview was when Mr. Freeman spoke of her talent. His belief in her appeared very heartfelt and genuine. I said to them, “There is nothing better than having someone believe in you more than you believe in yourself, especially when you have already set the standard high for your own beliefs and success.”

While interviewing I noticed that Leslie’s remarkable talent in music is magnified by her a great skill in writing.  Leslie acknowledges that writing is her passion, and she wants to write for all genres of music. She currently writes songs with Adrian Porter, b.k.a. “AP”.  Leslie wrote all the songs of her album, My Life is a Country Song, which is a bird’s eye view about her family.  Leslie states that she loves to write music that people can relate to in all walks of life. However, she has mentioned that all the songs written are similar experiences of her personal life.

While speaking with Leslie and her manager Jason we are finding out that one of their many goals is that they want Atlantans to get behind them on this musical ride. She wants to have the support from the city she calls home. Jason states, “I want Leslie to be recognized as a successful black female country artist. There is no studio magic in her voice. All her tracking sessions are authentic.”  He along with Leslie says that she wants to be remembered, with hopes of her music granting access to becoming an icon in the genre.

Leslie mentions that she just finished a phenomenal photo shoot in Colorado on a 200 year old farm in the Colorado Mountains. Former Playboy Playmate, “Hope Marie Carlton” directed the entire shoot. Hope did everything, from fabulous hair and make-up, to being her personal stylist while on set.

 While interviewing and capturing the beauty, talent, and drive of this young lady, definitely of my own opinion, “Leslie has it together”. Leslie did this entire album with all her hard earned money. She paid for everything. She writes her music with no melodies. She has a gift of her own. She mandates the continuance of writing good songs because, she says, “good songs are never outdated”. Years from now she wants her songs to be like those of Michael Jackson, and various other artist, that no matter what century it is, the song will be played and it will still blast the airwaves and move you like no other.  Jason expresses the opinion that what he finds so unbelievable about Leslie, is that not only is her voice pure and confident but also so at ease. He says, he took his already elevated belief in Leslie to another level, when she recorded her vocals while having major voice complications. “Her music flows regardless”, goes Jason. 

 With several interviews under her belt, recently recording with Sara Evans, being a guest on Obnoxious TV here in Atlanta, video snippets on Facebook, and more prominent projects to look forward to, there is no stopping now. Leslie’s goal is to sell the album and become one of Atlanta’s newest unforgettable faces and voices to music. Her video snippets on Facebook include songs such as, “Hit the Road Jack”, “You Don’t Love Me” and “She Ain’t Half The Woman I Am.” Stay tuned for Leslie’s phenomenal debut and information on her upcoming listening party. Download her on iTunes, and feel the vibe of her unique style for writing songs.  You can follow her and become fans on Facebook as well.  Leslie states, “It’s not about selling the most records, I do it because of my love for music”.  Leslie believes that her heart will always be in country music. With a completed product, the backings of Gordon, along with Ben Fowler a well known mixing engineer out of Nashville, and her managers Jason Freeman and her father, Leslie is sure to break some hearts.

While reaching for attainable goals and consistently displaying vocals that are sure to send a chill through your bones, Leslie’s intentions are to make a lot of noise.

Good ole country noise that is!

Stay Tuned for more on Leslie Christian.

Contact info: free43@bellsouth.net

www.facebook.com/LeslieChristianMusic

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.

This past weekend, there were a slew of art and photo shows, but only a handful of them were recent graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design. In Atlantic Station, taking over the former location of Chaplins, Jennifer Hope Jacoby had her first photo show. Ten photos adorned the walls, each of them had a phone number beneath them and a stop number included. When one dialed the number and entered the stop number, the subject of the picture spoke a thousand words about themselves.

Jennifer told me that she originally wanted twenty-five people to participate in the show, but due to time constraints and various other outside factors, the field was narrowed down to ten. The subjects of the picture included her mentally handicapped sister, a former roommate of hers, friends and even one friend that she had known for two decades, after re-connecting on Facebook.

One of the photos from the show

Each of the pictures captured the subject with something that defined them as a person. For one, it was the jewelry she makes. For another, it was her children. Everything from a laptop to a snake were brought to define the subject of the photo. Listening to the subjects talk about themselves was an experience in and of itself. Each person revealed something about themselves that they normally would not.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and each person at the show probably drew their own story from the picture, without even hearing what the subject had to share. Food was provided and there was an open bar, complete with beer and wine. At the end of the tour, there was a total of ten pictures and each person was asked to write their own story about what was behind the photograph.

Jennifer Hope Jacoby’s show will be running through Tuesday, the 22^nd of December, viewings are available by appointment only. For more information, please contact Jennifer Hope Jacoby at JHJ.Photography@gmail.com or visit her website at www.JenniferHopeJacobyPhotography.com

These times of economic instability find the market for art dwindling, and many galleries are unable to stay afloat.  Here in Atlanta, we have lost many galleries to the harsh reality of declining sales. Despite the mess, Gallery 4463 in Acworth has been able to survive.

The structure of the building itself is quite striking.  Brick walls and high ceilings offer enough space to accommodate a crowd.  They house a number of different artistic mediums, including (although certainly not limited to) paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and pottery.

Luckily for Clemens Johnson, the Executive Director of Gallery 4463, the artists on display are very talented and able to bring in customers. The artists are not the only thing allowing this gallery to survive; however, it is also due to an operating framework that is unique among area galleries.

Gallery 4463 has come up with a new way to make money while still offering local artists invaluable exposure for their work.  Once a year, for $30 ($20 for students) artists can purchase an online registry under the Gallery website.  The artwork will be on display for the public through this registry and is officially affiliated with the Gallery.

Artists who have yet to achieve gallery recognition the old fashioned way can proudly display their artwork and pad their resume with this new virtual art gallery. For a beginning artist just trying to get noticed, the difficulty in getting a gallery to accept your artwork is one of the toughest obstacles to overcome.

Like most art galleries, Gallery 4463 has a panel of experienced artists who come together to judge a prospective new artist’s work.  They meet and make a final decision as to whether or not the new artist can display their art in their gallery.  This process is daunting to someone with no experience, which is exactly why having their work displayed online is so beneficial.

In addition to new artists and the gallery itself, this registry also benefits art lovers.  It offers a chance to see fresh new artists with a broad spectrum of different art mediums, without being constrained to what is physically available on the Gallery floor.

If you or someone you know would like to be a part of this online registry, you can sign up through their website at www.gallery4463.com.  Click on ‘registry information’ on the left hand side of the screen.

If you are interested in visiting the Gallery in person, you can find them at 4463 Cherokee Street , Acworth , GA 30101

The metro Atlanta area is dotted with hundreds of tucked away culinary gems. Field Good Gourmet Deli, featuring the refined creations of Chef Christophe Le Metayer, is a North Fulton jewel that should not be missed. Hailing from France, with over 25 years of gastronomic experience, Le Metayer remains humbly understated in a world of overboard cuisine. I stumbled upon his restaurant when my publisher summoned me there for a meeting. As we ordered a couple of espressos, I asked the chef if they had chai tea to make a dirty chai latte. Unfortunately for me, I had to settle for a simple latte, because they did not carry chai. By the time my meeting was finished, I returned to the counter to thank our host, and to my utter dismay, Christophe presented me with a pot from his stove filled with chai tea he had made from scratch. Starbucks, eat your heart out. It was the best dirty chai latte I have ever had. At that point, if I may sound so trite, Christophe Le Metayer had me at chai!

… Hailing from France, with over 25 years of gastronomic experience, Le Metayer remains humbly understated in a world of overboard cuisine …

On a cloudy Monday afternoon, with the quiet café closed to the public for its day off, I spent two inspiring hours indulging in conversation and cookery with the charismatic chef. I would leave that day with a fresh outlook on my, admittedly less than positive, preconceived notions about French food, as well as French chefs.

Field Good is too relaxed to label as a bistro, yet it exudes more character and experience than the images we often associate with a simple delicatessen. The awning above the door advertises the quaint, café-like surroundings as a gourmet deli. Although, I came to discover that Chef Christophe isn’t completely comfortable having his French background associated with the sometimes haughty term, “gourmet”. The chef attended the formal French culinary school, Lycee d’état De St. Quentin en Yve Lines, beginning when he was just sixteen. However, the experience of working as a chef in France did not develop into as desirable an experience for Christophe. After years of predictable, unfulfilling, albeit appreciated, positions throughout his career, Le Metayer hopes to have finally unearthed a long sought after sense of job satisfaction. That has been his goal in creating Field Good, which Christophe has successfully done with the aid of partner chef, Cody Taylor. The pair formerly worked together at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead, prior to opening this store. Though, with its relaxed, inviting atmosphere, Field Good presents itself in a manner far more inviting than your average table at the Ritz.

Approximately, three years ago Le Metayer began to dabble in food photography. A collection of his work was published this year in his book, “Enhanced Cuisine”. Today, the walls of Field Good illustrate the chefs beautiful, abstract portraits of simplistic, raw foods. I, curiously, asked Christophe, “Where do you believe the relationship between food and art meet?” He explained to me that food has escaped from its natural connection with human beings. Keeping food simple and beautiful brings the act of eating back to nature and awakens all of the human senses, and as a result, consumption rediscovers its more animalistic roots. Le Metayer prefers using no more than four or five ingredients in preparing a dish. He feels it is better not to over-complicate the palate. Le Metayer’s sentiments concerning the art of food are best summed up in the following excerpt from his book.

… keeping food simple and beautiful brings the act of eating back to nature and awakens all of the human senses, and as a result, consumption rediscovers its more animalistic roots …

“Coming from a place where food has been treated with a cultural approach for centuries with a diversity of specialties, even in the smallest villages, made me understand that I have the opportunity to transform in a few hours, minutes, or even seconds, an ancestral edible product into a moment of pleasure. These magic transformations happen in my hands and reflect on the faces of the guests. It is not insignificant. It goes in the mouth. It is swallowed. It can’t be more carnal and sensual. Transform an ephemeral moment into an unforgettable memory. In a great kitchen and at a great table, so much can be shared with others. These are probably the last civilized places where pleasures with no limit can be experienced. Let your imagination wander. I try to transpose all these feelings in my photos…”

The fare being showcased at Field Good is not limited to recipes of French descent. While, you could be tempted by the gorgeous pastries for breakfast or a croque monsieur for lunch, Christophe informs me that he really takes pleasure in offering personalized variations on American classics, such as the traditional BLT, homemade biscuits with sausage gravy, and even a Georgia trail mix salad with peach dressing. Each Sunday is highlighted by the “Field Good Brunch” from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., starting at an affordable $10. Beyond breakfast and lunch, Le Metayer is serving pre-set five course dinners every Saturday evening. Do not be intimidated, I am assured the dinner is a casual affair. The restaurant is certainly worth a trip to dine-in, however the chef offers meals made fresh to go, with tailored menus for all occasions. An, “In Office Friday Delivered Lunch”, can be ordered, delivered, and is served in individually packaged portions of lunch menus that change for each Friday of the month. Catered menus for holiday events are also available to order for pick up. I witnessed the popularity of this option for myself, as I interviewed the chef just a few days prior to Thanksgiving, the chef was still busy taking calls from patrons on his day off. I really enjoyed seeing a restaurant that is breaking the mold, giving the public options that don’t follow the lead of what we typically find in each new shopping center that makes up the urban sprawl around Atlanta.

If you are interested in paying Chef Christophe a visit, you can find Field Good Gourmet Deli at11500 Webb Bridge Way in Alpharetta 30005. For ordering info call (770)-343-9697 or go to FieldGood.com.

(Enjoy some of Christophe Le Metayer’s photography masterpieces  – above in the article and here the images are click-able for a higher definition version:)

What do fine French desserts, a Georgia Tech quarterback completing a pass, and a heavily-tattooed hardcore vocalist screaming at an enraptured crowd all have in common? Well, for starters, all are included in the photography portfolio of Josh D. Weiss, Creative Loafing readers’ pick for Atlanta’s Best Emerging Visual Artist of 2009.

“I’m not a specific type of photographer,” says the Atlanta freelancer, sitting down for a drink late Monday evening. “This coming Friday I’m shooting some production stills for a training video Foot Locker is making,” he says, detailing the diversity of subjects encountered during his sojourn into the photographic profession.

Though he claims there is no particular subject upon which he places the most attention, as a photojournalism student at the University of Georgia, Weiss often found himself trotting along the sidelines during SEC football showdowns, snapping away at all the monster plays and brutal hits.

“I’ve found I’m better at [shooting] sports than a lot of people,” says Weiss, quickly adding, “Most people aren’t able to do Division 1 sports on a weekly basis. I had access to that.”

Weiss has not always found it easy to access just any type of photographic work, however. After college, he began working for small local papers, first in Anniston, Alabama and later in the Atlanta suburbs, always at the mercy of editorial demands for footage of the local bake sale or arts and crafts fair. But when the economy sank last year, Weiss did what many consider the last thing anybody would do in the face of rising unemployment.

“I put in my resignation,” he says.

Anticipating the further decline of print media, Weiss risked his career on the assumption that as a young photographer with a smaller portfolio, he could take advantage of a market calling for photographers able to charge lower rates.

“For me it seemed like a good opportunity where if I could get out there, make contacts with people who are hard up financially and need people who could work for less, well, that was me at the time. I’m just getting started, and I know you’re hard up right now. It’s a good match.”

Then what about all the recognition received for making beautiful photographs? Is the artist now sacrificing the image for the sake of making a few bucks off a wedding shoot? Has it all become a business?

“It’s real competitive,” Weiss admits. November had been a notably slow month, he explains, “when out of nowhere I get a call from US Presswire saying hey will you come out and shoot the Georgia Tech-Duke game, and then the next day I get an email asking if I can do this thing for Foot Locker [...] A week ago, I really had no idea if I was going to be able to pay rent.” He adds, “You just never know.”

And having photographs you’re proud to present is integral to building relationships and turning your talents into a profit.

“Like how many times have you gone to a restaurant where they have photos of their food around the restaurant, and it just looks terrible?” asks Weiss. “And you say, ‘Do I really want to eat at this place?’

“Having a bad photo represent your product probably makes people not interested in your product,” he adds.

Okay, so why is Josh Weiss anything more than your ordinary birthday/bat mitzvah go-to-guy? Where do the profession and the artistry blur together?

“It’s all intermingled, I think,” allows Weiss.

Instead of predictable, often canned, journalistic people-photographs, Weiss presents his subjects in context. He does this through inclusion of as many visual elements necessary to create a composition worth a second, or third, glance from viewers. It is a method that is marketable precisely because it is pleasing to the eye.

“I just try to find ways to make the background accentuate the main subject,” reflects Weiss, calmly sipping at his drink, “and on top of that, tell a story.”

Josh Weiss’s portfolio is available at www.joshdweiss.com.

We also included some samples of his work here.

Click on the page numbers below photos to see the different samples.

Gatroy