Weekend arts agenda: Do you love ATL? I do. May 29 2009

Dear neighbors,

I’d like to draw your attention to two WonderRoot exhibitions by emerging artists. I say this, of course, keeping in mind my typical distrust of the phrase, emerging artist: When exactly does a creative person, whether a musician, writer, film director, or visual artist start and stop emerging? I suppose, as long as the term retains marketing value for you, you could technically begin as an emerging artist at birth (emerging, literally), and then finally dispense with the label when it’s no longer of use … at the nursing home.

Semantics aside — if you LUV ATL like I do — you should definitely check out WonderRoot’s schedule for the weekend. Today, May 28 from 5-7 p.m. at Eyedrum Art and Music Gallery, volunteer instructors including photographer Nicole Akstein will present a body of photos by students from Sequoya Middle School. The program was a cooperative, educational initiative between WonderRoot and CPACS, the Center for Pan Asian Community Services, a local nonprofit that offers social and health services to immigrants, refugees, and racial-ethnic minorities. If you ask me, middle school students certainly qualify as emerging artists.

On Sat., May 30, beginning around 4 p.m., stop by WonderRoot headquarters on Memorial Drive for the WonderRoot One-Year Anniversary, celebrating 365 days since the official opening of the community center. The event coincides with an all-media exhibition titled I Love Atlanta, which put out a call to artists to express their undying affection for dear ‘ole A. (Additionally, I hear there may be special shenanigans involving cofounder Chris Appleton<span style=”font-size: 12pt;font-family: “Times New Roman&quot&quot”>&#133;.) Steal the show flyer here for more info on musical guests.

For more local arts events, visit clatl.com/events or, check today’s visual arts To Do List at BurnAway.org.

(Photo courtesy WonderRoot/Thoughtmarker)