Talk of the Town - Form and function August 07 2002

John Kay and his partner, Jason Eubanks, find refuge from the outside world in their cozy two-bedroom garden-style apartment in The Palisades. Situated on Peachtree Street, this Buckhead locale is affordable (rent is $800 a month) and convenient for both Kay, a full-time student at Georgia State University, and Eubanks, who manages a bookstore across the street. Their home is filled with artsy artifacts, thrift-store finds and a large collection of books. A single lamp lights the room, filling it with a soft yellow glow.

CL: Where did you get all of these things? The great vintage green-and-yellow cloth suitcase, the daisy made out of bent steel wire in a vintage Pepsi bottle, the heirloom black-and-white photos — it’s like Pottery Barn meets my grandparents.

John Kay: It’s really an eclectic mish-mash in here, isn’t it? Almost like a museum. Mostly these things are what friends have given us over the years — it’s like having everyone here with us, even when they can’t be. It’s home.

What about all of these books? They’re stacked everywhere. I feel like I’m in my grandfather’s library, not a Buckhead living room, except the titles are so various — books of poetry, literature. Ha! There’s Martha Stewart Weddings, Texas Death Row, Greek Homosexuality. Even books on astrology, Germany, learning Spanish, art.

The one on weddings is Jason’s, not mine. Martha Stewart scares me.

Really? How?

She’s the devil. Her minions do all of the real work. I think if I went to a party of hers, off in the background, I’d see flying monkeys carrying spools of cloth trying to make her chosen craft of the moment.

And, of course, you do all of your own creative work. What’s that yellow print on the wall behind you?

It’s titled “Condemnation.” First, I scanned the story of Sodom and Gomorrah from the Bible. Then I imported the biblical text into Photoshop. I took a digital picture of myself in a pose of shame, and superimposed it under the text.

Impressive. Graphic design seems to be the perfect match for you.

Graphic design is a great place for artists — those interested in function, not simply form. It’s form and function. But whatever I do, it’s got to be creative.

I can see that from looking around your apartment. The second bedroom is filled with paintings, pens and paint. Did you make these gingerbread men yourself? They’re adorable.

Yes, for class.

You work too, right?

Yep, 30 or so hours at work a week — and I’m a full-time student. Now that I’m in the graphic design program, I have a very specific sequence of classes. I adjust my work schedule to allow for classes.

Going to college in Atlanta usually means getting a job to pay for a decent place to live, too. You’re older than the average college student. Can I ask how old?

I’ll be 30 this month. I’ve been in and out of school. The summer that I was 26, something just clicked. It hit me that I was ready to go back. Life takes you where you’re supposed to go. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. There’s nothing I’d change. Well, I suppose if I could’ve been independently wealthy ....