Atlanta Contemporary Exhibits Works by “Real Atlanta” Creators at Annual Art Party

“There are so many versions of Atlanta that people talk about,” Hall said. “The art scene is always a reflection of people. It’s about giving people a real experience through the arts in Atlanta and a chance to attend.

Credit: Stanchez Kenyata

Credit: Stanchez Kenyata

In the courtyard of Atlanta Contemporary, 13 artists from its Studio Artist Program are hosting open houses in their individual workspaces. The venue’s incubator program, the Studio Artist Program, provides working artists in Atlanta with affordable space to produce creative works for up to three years.

Atlanta Contemporary’s largest exhibition this season is a group exhibition titled “30 Summers,” which features 30 artists living in metro Atlanta, creatively interpreting what the city means to them.

Atlanta photographer Mary Stanley is preparing a series of portraits. Ateaelle, a Black-owned gift and specialty boutique, is hosting a pop-up trade show and merchandise collaboration with the space. Atlanta DJs DJ Kemit, DJ Tabone and Salah Ananse provide the music.

Atlanta Contemporary was closed from May 20 to June 21 to allow for construction of the new facility.

Credit: Atlanta Contemporary

Credit: Atlanta Contemporary

Hall, a College Park native, says including native creatives in the Real Atlanta Art Party is a way to bring authenticity to the special event.

“If you’re having a party called Real Atlanta, you have to come together with brands that have represented the city for a long time,” Hall said.

“It’s a time when all the things people love about the city converge.”

ARTiculate ATL, a nonprofit organization that provides emerging artists with spaces to showcase and sell their work, curates three-artist galleries in the project spaces.

“Georgia Retyped,” a solo exhibition by Los Angeles-based visual and performance artist Tim Youd, is an ink-on-paper work featuring six novels retyped on the same typewriter and paper as those used by the original authors.

Creating her work over two weeks, Youd performs “An American Marriage” by Atlanta author Tayari Jones live in her studio at the Real Atlanta Art Party.

Hall, co-founder of Canopy Atlanta, a nonprofit community journalism organization and former interim director of Science Gallery Atlanta, says Atlanta Contemporary welcomes the perspective of new transplant artists.

Credit: Atlanta Contemporary

Credit: Atlanta Contemporary

“We welcome artists from outside of Atlanta who come here to try to understand and engage with our geography,” Hall said.

“We have a legacy of cultural production in Atlanta where we reflect a lot of history and become the driving force for new things happening here. Art is a reflection and a vehicle of ongoing change.

Credit: Stanchez Kenyata

Credit: Stanchez Kenyata

Hall says the Real Atlanta Art Party’s goals are to create a “family” and preserve Atlanta as a theme in all art forms.

“The best part is hearing and understanding all the different generations of Atlanta artists and what their perspectives are,” Hall said.

“Art helps inform, reflect, and provide spaces to explore big ideas in the community. We try to engage with the people, the city and the different communities so that they can see each other, learn from each other and interact with each other.

Real Atlanta Art Party: 6 p.m., Saturday, June 22. Atlanta Contemporary, 535 Means Street NW, Atlanta. 404-688-1970. BilletTailor.

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