Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Take a Look. It's In a Book.


Am I the only one out there who watched Reading Rainbow as a kid?  It came on PBS right after Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and every episode was about the theme from a certain book.  The whole purpose of the show was to encourage children to read.

The show was cancelled a couple of years ago after a near 30 year run.  This made me a little nostalgic and kind of worried that this was yet another example of how kids these days didn't appreciate literature as an important art form.  You would think that the show's host for all those years, LeVar Burton (a/k/a Kunta Kinte from Roots) would share my concerns, right?  Not so much.  Here are a few hilarious quotes from an article he wrote after learning about the show's cancellation:

  • "May that godforsaken show burn in hell."
  • "Fact is, I couldn't care less whether kids learned to read.  There, I said it."
  • "All I've done for 26 years is drive to work, clock in, read my lines, clock out, go home, and cry myself to sleep."
  • "Every day I went to work hoping that the studio had burned down."
  • "Do you know what's at the end of the 'Reading Rainbow'?  A giant crock of shit, that's what."
You can read this very entertaining article in its entirety here.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Art for the Homeless

                             Photo: © Shaina Oliphant


Atlanta has been placed on The National Coalition for the Homeless' Top 5 Meanest Cities list multiple times.  The city seems more concerned with removing the homeless from the eyes of its convention crowds and business investors than providing any meaningful solutions to the problem.  At one point, the mayor actually publically declared that "feeding the hungry is a health hazard." 

It's rough being homeless anywhere, but especially in this city.  That's why it's so good to hear about people like Anita Beaty, the executive director of the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless.  She recently combined her love of art with her dedication to helping those in need by transforming a homeless shelter into an art studio for the homeless. 

Anyone who shows some artisitic ability and stays drug-free is given free studio space.  The homeless artists get to keep 80% of the proceeds from the sale of their art and the remaining 20% goes back to the shelter.  This place has been a godsend for people who can barely find a place to sleep for the night, much less a safe place to foster their creative expression.  It has even helped a few people earn enough money to get off the streets for good.

If you'd like to help out this wonderful cause, please click here and donate whatever you can.

      

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Armani

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

I'm still in shock about what I'm about to tell you, but ... I shot an event for Armani last week.  The company's design team flew in from Milan to conduct a "styling seminar" in their boutique at Phipps Plaza.  It was all so unexpected and so much fun!  I'm still pinching myself to make sure that it really happened.

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

The boutique itself is really beautiful and (besides all the gorgeous clothes) has the most amazing collection of shoes and accessories.

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

Before the seminar started the guests were served drinks and hor d'oeuvres while they mixed and mingled. 

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

The seminar turned out to be a mini-runway show of different looks created from pieces actually sold in the stores.

           Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

All-in-all it was a great time, but now I can't stop obsessing about all of the incredible clothes I saw and how great they would look hanging in my closet.  Oh well.  One day ... 

Monday, March 14, 2011

Man Against the Wall

          Photo: © Shaina Oliphant


                                   Photo: © Shaina Oliphant


                                   Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Art Exhibition(ist)

       Photo: © Shaina Oliphant


I found this at a 2nd hand shop a little while ago and just had it framed.  I was so excited to see it because we had this same poster hanging up in my house when I was a kid and I think it's as hilarious today as I did back then.  It turns out that the background story behind it is almost as funny as the image itself.  If this poster makes you smile like it does for me every time I look at it, you should definitely order one for yourself!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

One Bad Cat

                                                  Holy by Albert Wagner



                                      Mississippi Mud by Albert Wagner


The first time I ever heard about Albert Wagner is when I watched One Bad Cat: The Reverend Albert Wagner Story, an award-winning 2008 documentary that chronicles the life of this so-called “Moses of East Cleveland”.  The movie takes us on a wild ride through the ups and downs of his life, including his origins as the child of sharecroppers to his becoming a “slave to sex, wine and women” to him being spontaneously and miraculously reborn as an artist and ordained minister.

Albert Wagner’s story is a very interesting one to say the least.  The entire time I watched it I kept going back and forth about whether I actually liked him or not.  Should I focus on the passion he puts into his paintings or the truly heinous crime he was convicted of?  Either way, people tend to have very strong opinions about him and his work. 

His critics think that his art is too basic and primitive and that it reflects his controversial views about race relations, which often conflict with opinions found in the rest of the Black community.  His supporters believe that his work is simple and soulful in the tradition of great folk art, and that it’s an important contribution to the art world. 

What do you think?  Watch the movie here and let me know.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Have Camera Will Travel

        Photo: © Shaina Oliphant


Top 10 Travel Photography Tips:
  1. Capture the essence of your vacation by shooting destination-specific objects;
  2. Photograph interesting locals in their everyday setting for a glimpse of what real life is like in a certain place;
  3. Find a high vantage point like a mountain or skyscraper for cool city views (don't forget the view from your hotel);
  4. Get up early and take pictures in the morning for dramatic lighting effects and to beat the crowds at popular locations;
  5. When shooting through glass enclosures at zoos, aquariums, museums, etc. avoid annoying reflections in your photos by not using a flash and by pressing your lens right up to the glass;
  6. Keep your photos from looking like a run-of-the-mill postcard by looking for unusual views and angles when shooting local landmarks;
  7. Don't just visit the popular tourist traps, explore local streets, parks and markets to capture authentic images of your destination;
  8. Whether you're headed to sand or sea, protect your camera from harsh elements by keeping it in a plastic pack and remove it only when shooting;
  9. Protect yourself by constantly being aware of your surroundings and try not to make it so obvious that you're a tourist;
  10. Do a little research before you go to learn about must-see places and upcoming events.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

                                   Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Google Gets it Right

                                      The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh


I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist.  I tend to think that:

     (1)  there's been a massive alien cover-up;
     (2)  the Illuminati runs the world; and
     (3)  don't even get me started on who killed Kennedy

So as you can imagine, when Google Maps came out with satellite technology that lets anyone with access to a computer have close-up views of my house with a few quick keystrokes, I was kind of nervous that Big Brother had gotten way out of control.

But Google has (slightly) redeemed itself with the launch of the Google Art Project.  This site lets you take virtual tours of some of the most well-known museums from all over the world for free.  From New York's Museum of Modern Art to London's Tate Museum, you can wander through famous art collections and use the high resolution zoom feature to view the works so close up that you can actually see the original brushstrokes.  Genius!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Move Over Marvel

       Illustration: © Dorian White


I’m working on a new project that I am sooo excited about!  The brains behind Dream of the Machine, an Atlanta-based graphic design firm, has created the storyline for a comic book about a young girl living in a post-apocalyptic world who has to make some serious decisions that could affect the fate of the planet.  It’s a really cool concept and I’m looking forward to putting words to the illustrations to help bring the story to life.  I’ll keep you posted on our progress. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Art Center

       Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center offers cutting-edge art and educational programs to the public.


        Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

                                    Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

Photos of the Art Center's message board.



       Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

I didn't take any photos of the "Dana Schutz: Drawings & Prints" exhibit, but if the Art Center's description of her and her work doesn't make you want to go see it for yourself I don't know what will:

Dana Schutz is an acclaimed painter known for her exuberant canvases featuring grotesquely comic figures performing activities of creativity, violence, and contemplation.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Big Easy

       Photo: © Shaina Oliphant


I recently took a mini-vacay to that other well-known southern city – New Orleans! 


                             Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

 

There’s so much to love about this place, but for me, the biggest draw is the people.  They’re not afraid to be different at all.  They are kooky and crazy and proud of it!


                                   Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

 

                                    Photo: © Shaina Oliphant                     

And they love to show off their creativity and individuality through music.  Lucky for me a lot of that takes place outdoors so I got to enjoy New Orleans’ never ending soundtrack as I strolled the city streets.  Can’t wait to go back.  Mardi Gras anyone?         

Sunday, January 23, 2011

MLK Mural Volunteers

                                   Photo: © Shaina Oliphant



                                   Photo: © Shaina Oliphant

The MLK holiday has come and gone but if you haven't yet seen prominent artist Louis Delsarte's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Mural at the MLK National Historic Site's visitors center, I suggest you do so.  It really is amazing and you can't appreciate the scale and beauty of it unless you see it in person.

Many of us from the community who came out to help Mr. Delsarte paint the mural also happen to be artists and you can find some of our work at the MLK Volunteers Art Exhibit at the Buckhead Library Community Room. 





















Image Courtesy: http://www.afpls.org/buckhead-branch

Buckhead Library
269 Buckhead Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404.814.3500