Hollywood South

Atlanta, aka “Hollywood South”, is rapidly becoming a leader in the film industry.

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To say that the film industry is making an impact on Georgia’s economy would be like saying that “The Godfather” is a decent little movie.  An understatement of blockbusting proportion.  In 2012, direct economic benefits of film production came to nearly $3.1 billion for the state.  Films like “The Blind Side”, “Driving Miss Daisy”, and “Forrest Gump” were all filmed in Georgia.  But, it’s not just A-list actors and revenues generating buzz, Hollywood is also a boon to students, residents, cultural events and local communities.  This month, we explore the epic of cinema in the South and why Georgia wants to continue to roll out the red carpet.

The premiere of “Gone with the Wind” prompted the then governor to declare December 15th a Georgia state holiday.

Atlanta and Georgia’s history in film goes way back, most famously to “Gone with the Wind”, premiering at Loew’s Grand Theatre on December 15, 1939.  The Fabulous Fox Theatre has also played a major role as one of the grandest movie houses ever built, and one of Atlanta’s proudest preservation efforts.  To talk about the tax credit that’s helping to relaunch an already storied career is the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Lee Thomas, Director of Film, Music & Digital Entertainment.

SCAD Atlanta’s Digital Media Center. Copyright SCAD.

A big part in Georgia attracting major studios and production houses is our base of local talent.  But, before the cast, crew, and future directors get their cue, they first have to be trained.  Dean of SCAD’s School of Digital Media, Tina O’Hailey, brings a colorful conversation to Sidewalk Radio, revealing how Hollywood is helping both SCAD and the students, and how that’s good news for the rest of us.

“Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp” is bound to add some street-wise character to the Atlanta Film Festival.

Chris Escobar, Executive Director of the Atlanta Film Festival, also joins Gene in the studio to talk about what he credits as Hollywood’s contributions to Atlanta’s cultural undercurrent.  Chris shares an insider’s guide to a fantastic festival, the mojo behind the movie industry in Georgia, and a good bit of back story about Hollywood’s film culture in the capital of the South.

Mark Asworth, Doritos, and a goat, captured Superbowl gold.

Last, but certainly the funniest, is Mark Asworth.  Mark has been working on his acting career and in dining rooms of some of Atlanta’s best restaurants (Sotto Sotto, and now Miller Union) for 7 years.  He’s had success on the small screen, stage and in film roles, like “Lawless”, but it was his casting as lead in the “Doritos Goat 4 Sale” advertisement by Pogo Pictures that garnered wild applause the world over; the commercial aired during the Superbowl, being viewed by over 100,000,000 people.  We want to party with you, Mark.

So, with that hopefully tantalizing preview, grab your popcorn and let the listening being.  Enjoy the show.

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For film reviews and therapy sessions wrapped into one, check out POPCORN THERAPY.

Show #21: The Art of Education

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This month Sidewalk Radio presents both a radio show and an art show that journey along the path to discovery in Atlanta’s arts and culture realm.  The radio show delves into the world of education as told through an arts critic, an arts collector, and an architect who specializes in design for student life.  The art show, by way of The Sidewalk Art Project, is the end product of a creative partnership between Sidewalk Radio and SCAD Atlanta that exhibits student work about our history and culture.  What we learn through our exploration is that education is both in itself an art form and a producer of art, how it is constructed many times parallels the path of the student.

Thornton Dial (b. 1928). In the Roosevelt Time: Penned In. 2003. Pencil, acrylic, and watercolor on paper. 44 X 30 in. Photo credit: Tinwood Media.

Art collector and explorer, Bill Arnett, is Founder and Chief Curator at Tinwood Media.  While extremely accomplished, being perhaps the foremost collector and educator about the art of the southern black slave tradition, Arnett is himself “self-taught”.  Joining Gene in the studio this month to talk about his journey toward knowledge and the unorthodox route he took, Bill enlightens and educates about discovery in the arts and within the individual.  AM 1690 has extensive coverage about Arnett’s work, and can be further enjoyed by listening to an interview done by “The Voice of the Arts” own David Lewis in his interview.

Colorado State University Student Center. Rendering by Perkins+Will.

Jeff Stebar is an architect and student life expert with Perkins+Will.  Jeff joins Gene to talk about the future of education from both the built environment and from life outside the classroom.  Since the students for whom Stebar is now designing are only in the 6th and 7th grade presently, predicting how they will learn and where they will learn when they get to college makes the work he and his team embark upon interesting and a challenge.  What our discussion uncovers is that buildings are being designed not to predict the future, but to adapt to it.  The interests of the students and the advancements in technology are highly considered as is the new reality of having to recruit in higher education.

Guests of The Sidewalk Art Project Gallery Show enjoy art and The Atlanta Preservation Center’s charming appeal.

Cathy Fox is a long-writing Atlanta arts critic and founder of ArtsAtl.  While Cathy does not have a focus on arts education per se, she is certainly one of Atlanta’s top voices when it comes to covering the arts.  Her interview is in part to educate upcoming artists such as those who participated in The Sidewalk Art Project about how to and where to learn, and in another way meant to take a critical eye on education within the arts.

“Miss Winter (Juniper)” by Elizabeth Castaldo. 32 x 25 inches. Silkscreen.

“Knights Armor, Palisade, Lucky Penny” by Nate Kamp. 18 x 17 inches. Photogravure.

And, speaking of arts critique, we must take a moment to recognize our Juror Panel who helped select “Best In Show” for the art show portion of this month’s exploration.  Special thanks to Spalding Nix, Ronnie Land, Bruce McEvoy, and Stuart Horodner.  Each of these individuals are big in Atlanta arts, and dedicated their time and expertise not only to help the SCAD students learn more in the way of exposure to success in the arts, but also to learn themselves about the students and their work.

Congratulations to the two students selected “Best In Show”, Elizabeth Castaldo for “Miss Winter (Juniper)” and to Nate Kamp for “Kights Armor, Palisade, Lucky Penny”.  To see their work and read the artist’s statement visit us on Sidewalk Radio’s Facebook Page.

ART STROLL: BOOK IT.

Mary Murphy is not your typical librarian (she’s a with-it, stylish, Visual Resources Librarian) and the books in SCAD Atlanta’s ACA Library are not your typical books.  In this excursion of Art Stroll, Gene sits down with Mary to talk about why some books are better off being on the coffee table instead of on the tablet.  In fact, some of the books in the collection (like ones created by Tauba Auerbach) are the size of a coffee table, measuring nearly 3 feet long and retailing for $550.00.  Now that’s a book!

The ACA Library features over 2100 “artist books” that encourage interaction.  You can make an appointment to view these amazing and touchable works of art anytime, but if you head over to SCAD through April 13, 2012, you can see everything that Mary helped collect over the past year.

Tune in Monday, March 12th (host Gene Kansas‘ birthday, by the way!) to hear this show.  Email Visual Resources Librarian Mary Murphy at mmurphy@scad.edu to schedule a visit.  Book it and enjoy!

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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 #5: Peachtree Street

Peachtree Street circa 1875

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On Sidewalk Radio’s February show, the phrase “street smart” takes on new meaning as some of Atlanta’s brightest minds share their expertise and insights about our city’s icon, our connective landmark, the history laden, world famous Peachtree Street.

There is Broadway in New York, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Sunset in LA, and Bourbon in New Orleans, but Peachtree Street is more than famous, it is a living, breathing, archeological diorama of Atlanta’s history told through its transitioning neighborhoods and ascending architecture.

Join host, Gene Kansas, as he explores the history, lore, legacy, culture and character of a street whose name really came from a pine tree.  See, it’s already getting interesting.

To discuss the past, present and future of urban planning, transit and architecture is David Green AIA, LEED AP, and Senior Urban Designer with internationally renowned architecture and design firm, Perkins+Will.  In addition to his applied professional chops, Green also adds a professor’s point of view, gained from more than 20 years of teaching at Georgia Tech, helping to educate us about how cities develop and why Peachtree is so important to Atlanta.

Perkins+Will took extra steps to make 1315 Peachtree not only beautiful and environmentally friendly, but also connected to the street, a move that limited their parking, but added to the appeal for Peachtree and Atlanta.

Preservationist Mark McDonald, President & CEO of The Georgia Trust, enlightens us about the street that boasts such treasures as The Georgian Terrace, The Temple, The High Museum, and The “Fabulous” Fox Theater, saved from certain destruction through a grassroots effort in 1974.  McDonald also discusses important places we’ve lost and “Places in Peril” that we need to protect.

Lowe’s Grand Theater was site of the 1939 premiere of Gone with the Wind. It was built in 1893 and lost to fire in 1978.

Adding some real legs to our tour along this famous route is Atlanta Track Club’s Executive Director, Tracey Russell, in charge of putting on The Peachtree Road Race.  In its first year, 110 runners finished the race.  41 years later, on July 4^th 2011, 60,000 participants will take part in the world’s largest event of its kind, and Russell runs down a long list of impressive stories and statistics that will have you entertained and intrigued from start to finish.

And, very much a place-maker, Shannon Powell, COO of The Midtown Alliance, rounds out the guest list taking us back 15 years to shed light on a neighborhood that at one time was so unsavory you would not have walked down Peachtree at night, but now is thriving with the arts, restaurants, residences, and the promise of incredible street level retail that one day soon will be on par with its Midwestern cousins along “The Magnificent Mile”.

shopSCAD’s “Pop Up” Shop at Atlanta History Center’s 990 Peachtree Street.

Peachtree has come a long way, both literally and figuratively, growing and developing in parallel with the city, and spawning 71 variations of its name along the way.  And, just like in the treaties of the Creek Indians that inhabited our land before Peachtree, the “pitch” still holds us together, symbolizing the vows that we have to history.

AND, A SPECIAL “THANK YOU” TO OUR SPONSOR, PERKINS+WILL.

Sidewalk Radio on iTunes

Check us out and send along to friends…Sidewalk Radio on iTunes.

Show #3: The Art Show

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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.

Friday December 3rd – Holiday Happy Hour – Join Us

Come celebrate the holidays and Sidewalk Radio’s upcoming December episode, “The Art Show”, with us and shopSCAD at their Pop-Up Shop at 990 Peachtree.  Enjoy the rest of the Midtown Pop-Up Shop while you’re there!

Show guests include: Celebrated local artist with upcoming solo show at the High Museum – Radcliffe Bailey, Stuart Hordoner – the Artistic Director for Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, SCAD’s Chair of Printmaking – Robert Brown, and a dude named Terry Legge who never carved out of wood before, picked up his father’s chainsaw, and sculpted an owl out of a 20′ tree.  Oh yeah.

Show airs December 6th at 8:30am and 6:30pm on AM 1690 WMLB.