ARTLANTIS takes underground art to street level
June is going to kick my ass in the best way. Between a month’s worth of Art on the BeltLine performances and installations, and, like, everyone having a gallery opening, it’s shaping up to be a deliciously exhausting month. The big kick-off: ARTLANTIS coming back to sing praise to the underground art gods on the stoop of Druid Hills Baptist Church on Saturday, June 5. Come get you some religion, son!
ARTLANTIS is a festival aimed at highlighting local bourgeoning artists and bands, organized by Atlanta emerging art champions Mark Basehore and James McConnell of Beep Beep Gallery. As a follow up to last year’s inaugural event, the boys of Beep Beep are bringing their lowbrow sensibilities and penchant for throwing awesome parties to the corner of Ponce de Leon and North Highland. A full gallery show will offer affordable wares from artists like Plastic Aztecs, Evereman, CL cover artist Joe Tsambiras, and certified art cool kid R. Land - for starters. MINT Gallery, Eyedrum, Kibbee Gallery and WonderRoot will also be manning tents at the event with even more tasty treats for your visual consumption, and information about their organizations. Bottom line: if you’re looking for a crash course in underground art in Atlanta (and a steamy summer block party while you’re at it), this is the place to go.
Plus, there will be food and beer (next door at the Righteous Room.) Who doesn’t like beer and food?
Even if you don’t give a damn about art, come for the music; psychedelic darlings Carnivores will be there, along with other local favorites Abby Go Go, El Fossil, Mermaids, Buffalo Bangers, and more. And when the whole scene gets just too hip to deal with, Mule Skinner MacQueen will be on hand to take the edge off with his mountain dreamy folky greatness.
This summer appears to be all about showing love to the creative southern subterraneans and exalting the unsung art heroes - ARTLANTIS and Art on the BeltLine in June, Gather Atlanta (a conference that brings together movers and shakers from hubs of emerging creative endeavors like MINT Gallery, BurnAway, ThoughtMarker and WonderRoot) in July, and street art / urbanism conference Living Walls in August...to name just a few. The hot days are giving the creative set in this town a hyper-productive fever this year, and events like ARTLANTIS are giving them a much-needed platform for their fervor.
Want more? Scoot yourself to the ARTLANTIS blog.
ARTLANTIS Music & Arts Festival. June 5. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Druid Hills Baptist Church, 1085 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.artlantisfestival.blogspot.com