VOX POP: ATHENS SPECIAL

For those in the know, which is a lot of folks, Athens, Georgia is a special place and especially creative.  As a preview to this month’s ON THE ROAD: ATHENS episode which airs on Monday the 25th, we met up with a select group of friendly and inspiring talents who call Athens home.  Their interviews are in a very relaxed and conversational style, just like Athens, and the places we visit along the way are a must the next time you stop by town.

Cine Theatre. Design Team led by Carl Martin & Carol John.

We met up with architect and curator Carl Martin at Cine, the fabulous art house movie theatre and art gallery that is right next door to The National, a Hugh Acheson restaurant; see a movie, then get the stuffed medjool dates with celery, manchego cheese, smoked paprika.  Our interview is with one of Athens’ coolest collaborators, and certainly a great host for our VIP tour.  LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW WITH CARL NOW.

Darren and his dog, Dash. Painting by Jennifer Hartley.

While we were hangin’ and talkin’ to Carl at Cine, we had the pleasure of an impromptu art tour with artist Jennifer Hartley, who happened to be hanging her show there that afternoon.  LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER NOW.

“Terrain Installation” by Rinne Allen. Photo credit: Rinne Allen.

Just down the block from The National and Cine is the home and studio and garden and wonderland created by Rinne Allen with her husband Lee.  Rinne gave us an audio tour through her world.  It’s fascinating and picturesque.  Rinne has a cool connection to Sidewalk Radio, her brother Ben Allen composed our theme song and is a guest on Monday’s show.  Oh, and Rinne collaborated with Hugh Acheson to produce A New Turn in the South, a book that won a James Beard Award.  Cheers to that.  LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW WITH RINNE NOW.

Michael Lachowski at Georgia Museum of Art. Painting by Radcliffe Bailey. Photo credit: Gene Kansas.

Our last visit, before kicking around town for more art, food and music, is with Michael Lachowski.  A founding member of Pylon, an artist, a publisher, and now with the Georgia Museum of Art, Michael is certainly one of Athens’ most active and influential creative talents.  Take a listen to the interview, you’ll see. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL NOW.

AND, MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN ON MARCH 25TH AT 6:30PM EST FOR “ON THE ROAD: ATHENS” WITH FEATURED GUESTS: COACH VINCE DOOLEY, PRODUCER BEN ALLEN, IDEAS FOR CREATIVE EXPLORATION’S MARK CALLAHAN, & WIL GREENE OF THE GEORGIA THEATRE.  LISTEN LIVE HERE.

HOT-LANTA!

“Hot-Lanta Fan” by Ted Freeman plays upon Atlanta’s extreme heat & the artist’s love for the city. Photo by Heather Alhadeff.

Over here at Sidewalk Radio we do love Atlanta, but 106 degrees…are you kidding us?! We can’t change the weather, but we can tell you how these outta control temperatures have inspired art…and MARTA.

LISTEN NOW!

ART STROLL: MODERN ATLANTA HOME TOUR

Modern Atlanta’s 5th Annual education and exhibition series kicks off on Friday June 1st and promises to be the biggest and best thus far.  MA Co-Founder Elayne DeLeo joins Gene in the studio to talk about this years program, entitled “Design is Human”, and give some insight and info about the always popular Modern Atlanta Home Tour.

The Home Tour is going to be spectacular, and so is the Program Book created by Armchair Media. Get yourself one, and get out to the tour!

This episode of ART STROLL airs on Monday June 4th at 8:20 am and 6:20 pm on AM1690 “The Voice of the Arts”, but don’t wait until then to enjoy MA.  Program highlights feature the highest echelon in design from architecture to interiors to visual arts…all the things we love over here on Sidewalk Radio and ART STROLL.

Axor Bouroullec designed by Rowan & Bouroullec for Hansgrohe. 2012 MA Design Exhibition.

MA “Design is Human” runs June 1st – June 10th.

Definitely do not miss the Home Tour on June 9th & June 10th.

Get your tickets to the Modern Atlanta Home Tour now.  Enjoy!

One more “do not miss” event in MA…For all of you Michael Habachy fans (count us in on that list), make sure to head on over to Room & Board on the Westside for a design talk on Thursday June 7th, 6:00 – 8:00.

HEAR THIS SHOW NOW!

ART STROLL: DATE NIGHT

The choice....

What does art have to do with love?  Find out this Wednesday morning by tuning in to Art Stroll on AM1690 “The Voice of the Arts” at about 8:20am (yeah, we know, early), and then cruise on over to Johnny’s Hideaway on Thursday night around 7:00pm (also a lil early).  Not enough info?  Okay, read below too.

One Love Generation is an Atlanta arts based non-profit that seeks to educate and inspire young artists through classes and mentorship.  The organization aims “to inspire positive social change through art, service, and awareness,” and offers multiple programs each month to students.  For this week’s Art Stroll we sit down with One Love Generation’s fearless leader Jennifer Lester, to discuss the young Atlanta arts community.  Among other things we also discuss an upcoming fundraising “opportunity” that you are invited to.

One Love Generation will be hosting their 3rd Annual Date Night fundraiser this Thursday at Johnny’s Hideaway, and you’re invited.

is yours

The prospective dates include skydiving, wine tours, a trip to the shooting range, and lots of dinners at Atlanta’s fine restaurants, all complete with some of the city’s interesting and attractive people (visit Facebook for a complete list of folks being auctioned and included activities).

So why wait?  Tickets are $15 online, or $20 at the door.

Think about it–art, charity, fun, dancing, hot dates.  Why hesitate? It’s for the kids. One Love Generation’s 3rd Annual Date Auction April 19, 7p-11 Johnny’s Hideaway.

Sidewalk Radio celebrates Year Anniversary!

A “Thank You!” letter from Sidewalk Radio creator & host, Gene Kansas.

October 4, 2011

Friends,

On this, the 1 Year Anniversary of Sidewalk Radio, and on behalf of the entire Sidewalk Radio crew, we’d like to thank you: the listener, the fan, the supporter. Your interest and enthusiasm have been wonderful and both have made the past year a true joy. Thank you so much.

We would, of course, also like to thank all of the wonderful guests (50 in all) whom have joined us over the past 12 shows.  Each one of our guests was charming, intelligent, entertaining and informative and each a true individual. From celebrated local artist Radcliffe Bailey to former Mayor Sam Massell, from The Clermont Lounge’s Blondie (yep, she was on) to Atlanta Preservation Center Executive Director Boyd Coons, from Coca-Cola Archivist Ted Ryan to H&F’s Greg Best, and from Atlanta BeltLine President & CEO Brian Leary (our first interview) to Senior Military Historian of the Atlanta History Center Gordon Jones, plus many others, we certainly are lucky. [visit show blogs to see - and hear - all of the guests]

Of course, we’d also like to thank our sponsor, Perkins+Will for their support of and belief in our show. P+W truly “gets it” and we are truly grateful for them. Their mantra of creating “Ideas + buildings that honor the broader goals of society” is right on and makes us proud to be associated with such a cool, creative, collaborative and conscious organization.

Additionally, I’d like to personally thank Max Arbes, the Producer of Sidewalk Radio and the Programming Director of AM 1690 “The Voice of the Arts”. Max’s adventurous spirit and keen ability to keep things flowing, sounding good, and coming together each and every month, along with his vision and interest, really make Sidewalk Radio the best it can be.

And, neither Max nor I could not do it without the support of Matt, Sharon, Brandon, Stephen, Jeff, Scott, Larry, and everyone else that contributes to Atlanta’s coolest radio station. You all have been fabulous to work with and I consider you good friends. And speaking about friends of Sidewalk Radio, none of this would be possible without the leadership and vision of WMLB owner, Joe Weber.  Joe has believed in the show from the get-go, and certainly is a huge believer in our Atlanta community.  He offers his tremendous support to both.  Thank you, Joe.

So, that’s about it. We’re going to keep on doing what we do and you all keep tuning in, we do appreciate it!

Yours Truly,

Gene Kansas

Host Gene Kansas (left) and Producer Max Arbes at the Sidewalk Radio launch party October 2010.

Show #10: MARTA ART, ARCHITECTURE & HISTORY

LISTEN TO “MARTA ART, ARCHITECTURE & HISTORY” NOW!

MARTA is more than a method of transportation, it’s about connecting people, neighborhoods, promoting business, and conservation.  And then of course there’s the art, architecture and history.  In essence, MARTA is integrally important to Atlanta.

“Hot-Lanta Fan” by Ted Freeman juxtaposed to original pediment of Eiseman Building. Photo by Heather Alhadeff.

As we all know, this summer has been notoriously hot.  It is serendipitous that our art interview focuses on a sculpture called Hot-Lanta Fan, a work by industrial designer and all-around creative Ted Freeman.  Freeman’s work was selected by MARTA as one of seven works of public art exhibited at the highest-traffic stations, his at Five Points Station.  Ted joins Gene to talk art and his love for Atlanta.

The Eiseman Building was torn down in the mid 1970′s, but its ornate pediment was saved and is now housed within the Five Points MARTA Station.

Brian Bell with BLDGS Architects is a Harvard graduate, a Georgia Tech professor, and a patron to the arts, but it’s his love for and knowledge about MARTA that brings him into the studio.  Bell, along with business partner David Yocum, bake in a rich, historical perspective to their work, and Brian shares the history of MARTA’s architecture along with some personal sentiments for spots like King Memorial Station, Decatur Station, Arts Center and Five Points Station to name a few.

Certainly it is not surprising to know that city planning has played a big part in MARTA’s making, and Heather Alhadeff, a Senior Transportation Planner with Perkins+Will, has been on the forefront of our city’s efforts for many years starting with her work in Mayor Franklin’s administration on Atlanta’s first, true transportation plan.  Heather also practices what she preaches, taking MARTA daily, and joins Gene to share her insights about the process and effect of planning for transit.

The new Manager of Streetcar Development, and long-time MARTA mainstay, Paul Grether, is the glue that brings the whole show together.  Paul imparts his extensive knowledge about the origin of MARTA and the promise of its future.  Additionally, Grether goes into some of the behind the scenes details about how MARTA came to be, and what its predecessors were like in the early days of Atlanta history.

Atlanta’s fist public transportation came in the form of mule-drawn wagons.

Show #3: The Art Show

LISTEN TO THIS SHOW NOW

How To See Art.

Do you ever look at a painting and wonder if you’re missing something?

Ever consider why the work is even in the place you’re seeing it to begin with?

Can you see art, but can’t see how it can become a career?

What about trying your whole life to create something, and then suddenly, and without explanation, obtain the ability? We’re workin’ on this one too!

If the answer is “yes” to any of the questions above, then YES, “The Art Show” is for you.

Sidewalk Radio’s “The Art Show” considers the question about “how to see art” from four uniquely creative perspectives.  On this show we hear from The Creator, The Curator, The Career Counsler, and The Chainsaw (wait, you’ll see a little later in this post).

The “Creator”: Radcliffe Bailey is one of Atlanta’s most celebrated artists. If you’ve been to the International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, then you’ve seen his incredible mural “Saints” as you head down the escalator to your next destination.  Perhaps this is your first encounter and connection with Atlanta.  This June, many more will be connected and exposed to Bailey’s breadth of work at his upcoming solo show, Memory as Medicine, at The High Museum of Art. Gene and Radcliffe talk about how he sees his art and how others may see it, in an interview that ranges from the artist’s childhood to the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

The High Museum’s curator of African Art, Carol Thompson, was generously in the studio during Bailey’s interview with Gene, and helped give us insight into how the southeast’s premier museum looks at collecting, curating, and cultivating in the art community.  Thompson is a co-curator of Bailey’s upcoming show.

The “Career Counsler”: Robert Brown, Chair of Printmaking at SCAD, joins Sidewalk Radio to discuss SCAD’s incredible contribution to the Atlanta community and how they guide students to a career in the arts.

The “Curator”: Also bringing his perspective and expertise to “The Art Show” is the Artistic Director for the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Stuart Horodner. According to Horodner, “Art is anything that is created with the intention of it being art.”  And, on the show, you’ll hear how he works tirelessly to allow us to see art in an educated and entertaining way.

“Boundary Issues” by Daivd Yocum & Brian Bell. Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

The “Chainsaw”: Lastly, a man, who has never before in his life sculpted with wood, is hired to trim a tree struck by lightening. Using his recently deceased father’s tools, he channels a natural talent to create an absolute work of art. The Washita Tree sculpture. Terry Legge joins Sidewalk Radio for a few words about divine intervention, innate ability, and therapy through art.  NOTE: While we question the former height of the tree, the art is unquestionable in it’s uniqueness and how it transforms space.

So, at the end of the day, hopefully we help answer the question, how to see art.  Join us for a listen, contemplate art, and then decide for yourself. Enjoy.