Poets, Artists & Madmen

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Jim Stawnkiak

Patrons get their fix at the Turner First Thursdays Art Walk.

INFO

Urban Explorer's Handbook 2005

• Welcome
• Castleberry Hill
• Pine Lake
• Northcrest
• East Atlanta
• Village Green
• Whittier Mill Village
• West End
• Benteen Park
• The Metropolis
• Huntley Hills
• How To Raise Hell at City Hall
• Make A Difference
• Do You Know Much About History?
• Poets, Artists & Madmen
• That's the Ticket
• For Urban (Music) Explorers
• Consumer Culture
• Achin' for Antiques in Chamblee
• Five Unique Groceries
• Oral Pleasures
• After Dark

Sometimes it takes getting out of your car and spending some quality time interfacing with the gum and spittle-speckled pavement to remember that we do indeed live in a thriving urban landscape.

On the first Thursday of every month, locals are reminded of Atlanta’s cultural diversity when the Turner First Thursdays Art Walk is held. Downtown galleries keep their doors until 8 p.m. for the occasion. Sometimes they even throw together some vittles or live music to entice gallery-goers to linger. Pedestrians can design their own itineraries on the self-guided walking tour (maps of the gallery locations are available at participating venues). The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia’s satellite gallery at SunTrust Plaza is a good place to start if you need a place to ditch your car (parking is free with a validated ticket). Just a short distance away is another essential stop, the always intriguing Museum of Design, which has featured exhibitions devoted to Japanese product design, eco-friendly architecture and vintage lunch boxes.

But the tour is largely what you make it — a crash course in Atlanta’s cultural offerings, or a reminder of what makes the city great.

Turner First Thursdays Art Walk. Free. 404-658-1877. www.atlantadowntown.com.

Art Galleries

ARTS FOR ALL GALLERY Dedicated to providing access to the arts for economically disadvantaged and disabled artists and patrons. Viewers can often find a variety of memorable, thought-provoking shows in this airy gallery tucked in the ground floor of downtown´s historical Healey Building. 57 Forsyth St. 404-221-1270, ext. 202. www.VSAartsGA.org.

ATLANTA COLLEGE OF ART GALLERY Some of the best conceptual work from a range of national and international artists. 1280 Peachtree St., Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5050. www.aca.edu.

ATLANTA CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER An essential stop for anyone interested in smartly curated contemporary artwork by a variety of regional, national and international artists. 535 Means St. 404-688-1970. www.thecontemporary.org.

ATLANTA PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP GALLERY If you want to get a bead on the variety of approaches and styles in Atlanta´s thriving photography scene, you couldn´t do better than a visit to this nonprofit photography group´s recently renovated Buckhead gallery. TULA Art Center, 75 Bennett St., B-1. 404-605-0605. www.atlantaphotographygroup.org.

BARBARA ARCHER GALLERY Dedicated to self-taught artists, including established masters such as Howard Finster and Thornton Dial. 280 Elizabeth St., Suite A-102. 404-523-1845. www.barbaraarcher.com.

CITY GALLERY CHASTAIN Though it has a reputation for eclectic, provocative shows, the gallery has had to fight to stay alive in recent years amid budget and staff cuts. 135 W. Wieuca Road. 404-252-2927. www.bcaatlanta.com.

THE DALTON GALLERY This Agnes Scott College-affiliated gallery features an eclectic array of group shows from both local and national artists working in all media. Dana Fine Arts Building, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur. 404-471-6430. www.agnesscott.edu.

EYEDRUM ART AND MUSIC GALLERY The place to go for a crash course in underground art. Also showcases an impressive range of musical acts, poetry, films, performance and just about any permutation of cutting-edge creativity. 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 8. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org.

GALERIE MC Dedicated to emerging photographers. Has also exhibited an ambitious desire to educate viewers about the art form through salons and lectures. Corner of 6th and West Peachtree streets. 404-876-1444. www.galeriemc.com.

GALERIE TIMOTHY TEW An established Buckhead gallery defined by its owner´s globe-trotting interest in contemporary paintings from international and local artists. 309 E. Paces Ferry Road, Suite 130. 404-869-0511. www.timothytew.com.

FAY GOLD GALLERY Featuring both promising regional work and international names like Robert Mapplethorpe, this venue has earned its reputation as Atlanta´s highest profile contemporary art gallery. 764 Miami Circle. 404-233-3843. www.faygoldgallery.com.

GSU WELCH SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN GALLERY The university gallery highlights work by both Georgia State University students and instructors, as well as original curated shows. Georgia State University, 10 Peachtree Center Ave. 404-651-2257. www.gsu.edu.

HAMMONDS HOUSE GALLERIES Showcasing a wide range of work by African-American artists, this cozy museum is housed in a beautiful 19th-century Victorian house in the historic West End of Atlanta. 503 Peeples St. 404-752-8730. www.hammondshouse.org.

KIANG GALLERY Abstract conceptual work, often reflecting the owner´s interest in Asian culture, is the gallery´s focus, though contemporary photography has also recently been added to the repertoire. 1545 Peachtree St. 404-351-5477. www.kiang-gallery.com.

THE LOWE GALLERY Bill Lowe´s eponymous gallery tends to feature bankable solo shows by established big-ticket artists like Dale Chihuly, William Morris and Ida Applebroog. 75 Bennett St., Space A-2. 404-352-8114. www.lowegallery.com.

MARCIA WOOD GALLERY A move to the Castleberry Hill art district has revitalized this forum for contemporary work characterized by a great selection of regional and national artists working in every medium but united by their provocative pieces. 263 Walker St. 404-827-0030. www.marciawoodgallery.com.

MASON MURER FINE ART This 24,000-square-foot space brings the big-box retail concept to the gallery scene at this local art superstore centered on emerging and self-taught artists. 199 Armour Drive. 404-879-1500. www.masonmurer.com.

MATRE GALLERY Established artists like Steve Penley share quarters with an impressive cast of newcomers including Cedric Smith and Jonathan Fenske in this Buckhead art mall gallery. TULA Art Center, 75 Bennett St., G-2. 404-350-8399. matregallery.com.

ORANGE HILL GALLERY This new kid on the block presents an array of self-taught artists, large and small, in an approachable, comfortable space more like a living room than a white cube gallery. 331 Elizabeth St., Suite C. 404-215-2100. www.orangehillart.com.

SALTWORKS GALLERY Under the aegis of curator and director Brian Holcombe, this former piano warehouse has been transformed into a must-see temple of smart, edgy conceptual work installed with a scrupulous attention to detail. 635 Angier Ave. 404-876-8000. www.saltworksgallery.com.

SANDLER HUDSON GALLERY Now in the booming ¨Midtown West¨ district, this gallery specializes in both old-school and emerging artists of Atlanta and the Southeast working in a variety of media often united by a distinct Southern aesthetic. 1009-A Marietta St. 404-817-3300. www.sandlerhudson.com.

SAVANNAH GALLERY Affiliated with the Savannah College of Art and Design, this satellite gallery highlights work by SCAD professors, alumni and students in group shows, but mixed up with a fair number of well-regarded national artists. 3096 Roswell Road. 404-816-0247. www.scad.edu/thesavannahgallery.

SKOT FOREMAN FINE ART A self-described blue chip gallery in a pawn shop setting, this upscale space often features works on paper by artists like Salvador Dali, Tom Wesselmann and M.C. Escher. 315 Peters St. 404-222-0440. www.skotforeman.com.

SOLOMON PROJECTS A slice of New York in Morningside, this small but expertly laid-out space highlights conceptual work in many forms by some of the city´s best local artists, and a smartly culled sampling of up-and-coming New Yorkers. 1037 Monroe Drive. 404-875-7100. www.solomonprojects.com.

SPRUILL GALLERY This Dunwoody gallery is centered on fostering artistic community in the ´burbs with a funky approach to group shows incorporating a large, diverse cast of local artists. 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road. 770-394-4019. www.spruillarts.org.

SWAN COACH HOUSE GALLERY Scrape the prissy surface of this Buckhead setting and you´ll find a variety of wonderful, small group and solo shows featuring some of Atlanta´s most interesting artists. 3130 Slaton Drive. 404-261-0636. www.swancoachhouse.com.

YO YO BOUTIQUE AND GALLERY Graffiti, culture-jamming and street culture collide in this funky little shop and gallery with a great energy well-suited to the quirky Cabbagetown ´hood. 188-A Carroll St. 404-389-0912, 404-389-0913. www.yoyoboutique.com.

YOUNG BLOOD GALLERY This edgy Grant Park art space and boutique has managed to weather the years by reinventing itself, blurring the line between art and commerce, and showcasing provocative under-the-radar work. 629 Glenwood Ave. 404-627-0393. www.youngbloodgallery.com.

Dance Companies

ATLANTA BALLET From story ballets to folk rock pliés to the occasional edgy, post-modern foray, Georgia´s premier ballet company delivers the graceful goods. Performs at the Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. 404-873-5811. www.atlantaballet.com.

BEACON DANCE The most avant-garde of Atlanta´s major companies, Beacon Dance creates modern work locally grounded but epic in scope. 404-377-2929. www.beacondance.org.

CORIOLIS DANCE PROJECT You´ll spend days unraveling the complex skeins and cerebral dreams of this modern company for the thinking aficionado. 404-931-0212. www.coriolisdance.org.

DUENDE DANCE THEATER Playful, theatrical, sweet and sincere, this dance theater company always puts on a great show. 404-377-2534. www.duendedance.org.

SEVERAL DANCERS CORE At 25 years and counting, SDC may be our oldest and most established modern dance company, but these politically active dancers are as idealistic and experimental as a newborn underground troupe. (Check out the ¨Lunchtime in the Studio¨ series to learn about the group´s process.) 139 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-373-4154. www.severaldancerscore.org.

ZOETIC DANCE ENSEMBLE The wildest, wackiest modern company in Atlanta, these playful dancers (who also do some soulful, serious work) are Atlanta´s most athletic. 678-966-0253. www.zoeticdance.org.

Film Events

ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL Presented by IMAGE Film and Video Center, this nine-day juried event in June features more than 150 films from around the world. 404-352-4225. www.imagefv.org.

FILMS AT THE HIGH The High Museum of Art film program presents international film programs throughout the year at Rich Auditorium in the Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-4444. www.high.org.

OUT ON FILM Presented by IMAGE Film and Video Center, the festival features a selection of new gay and lesbian films every November. 404-352-4225. www.outonfilm.com.

MuseumsHIGH MUSEUM OF ART Destination architecture and art for audiences around the region, this Richard Meier-designed institution promises to kick it up a notch with its Renzo Piano-designed expansion, scheduled to open in November. A recently inked deal with the Louvre in Paris promises the exhibition of world-famous master works. 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-4400, 404-733-4529. www.high.org.

IMAGINE IT CHILDREN´S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA It took awhile, but local children finally have their own hands-on, interactive activity zone and experiential art training ground. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive. 404-659-5437. www.imagineit-cma.org.

MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE AND MUSEUM The apartment building where Mitchell wrote much of Gone with the Wind has been restored, burned up and restored again. Also hosts an impressive lecture series featuring notable writers and journalists. 990 Peachtree St. 404-249-7015, 404-249-7118. www.gwtw.org.

MICHAEL C. CARLOS MUSEUM This stunning Michael Graves-designed space on the Emory campus houses the largest collection of ancient art in the Southeast. It also features a small gallery dedicated to works on paper, a collection of African art, and periodically hosts lectures by visiting artists and academics. Emory University, 571 S. Kilgo St. 404-727-4282. carlos.emory.edu.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART OF GEORGIA An important collecting and exhibiting institution for a vast pool of regional artists, this beautifully conceived space in the Midtown arts district gives the work of contemporary Georgia artists its due. 1447 Peachtree St. 404-881-1109. www.mocaga.org.

MUSEUM OF DESIGN ATLANTA This Smithsonian-affiliated downtown gallery has featured shows on artist-designed furniture, Japanese product design, lunchboxes and eco-friendly architecture. 285 Peachtree Center Ave. 404-688-2467. www.atlantainternationalmuseum.org.

SPELMAN COLLEGE MUSEUM OF FINE ART A venue for cutting-edge contemporary work that often manages to be both socially relevant and witty. Features such well-known artists as Carrie Mae Weems, iona rozeal brown, David Hammons and Gary Simmons. 350 Spelman Lane. 404-270-5607. www.spelman.edu/museum.

Opera

THE ATLANTA OPERA Atlanta´s only full production opera company. Performances are held at the Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave. 404-881-8801. www.atlantaopera.org.

Sports And Performance VenuesATLANTA CIVIC CENTER Home of the Atlanta Opera, as well as concerts, plays and comedy performances. 395 Piedmont Ave. 404-523-6275. www.atlantaciviccenter.com.

ATLANTA SYMPHONY HALL Home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and part of the Woodruff Arts Center. 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-5000. www.woodruffcenter.org.

CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK Downtown open-air park hosts a variety of music series in the spring and summer, including On the Bricks. 265 Park Ave. West. 404-222-7275. www.centennialpark.com.

CHASTAIN PARK AMPHITHEATRE A venue for several outdoor concert series featuring everyone from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to pop tours. Patrons are encouraged to bring elaborate picnics and their own beverages. 4469 Stella Drive. 404-249-6400.

DEKALB ATLANTA CENTRE 3595 Clairmont Road. 404-982-0989. www.dekalbatlantacentre.com.

EARTHLINK LIVE Formerly Center Stage, this historic theater has a high-tech sound system and attracts a variety of music acts from international, hip-hop and pop, as well as sporting events like boxing. 1374 W. Peachtree St. 404-885-1365. www.earthlinklive.com.

14TH STREET PLAYHOUSE Managed by the Woodruff Arts Center. Three stages provide venues for theater and dance performances. 173 14th St. 404-733-5000. www.woodruffcenter.org.

FOX THEATRE Historic mosque-inspired movie palace, the facility hosts film, theater and dance events, as well as a variety of national and international music acts. 660 Peachtree St. 404-817-8700. www.foxtheatre.org.

GEORGIA DOME Home of the Atlanta Falcons, the dome hosts football, basketball, motorcross, monster truck rallies and battles of the bands. 1 Georgia Dome Drive, 404-223-8427. www.gadome.com.

GWINNETT CENTER Home of the Arena at Gwinnett Center, a multipurpose venue that can accommodate up to 13,000, and the Performing Arts Center, a 702-seat theater. 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-813-7600. www.gwinnettcenter.com.

HIFI BUYS AMPHITHEATRE Managed by House of Blues, this shed has 7,000 reserved seats and 12,000 lawn seats. 2002 Lakewood Way. 404-443-5090. www.hob.com/venues/concerts/hifibuys/.

PHILIPS ARENA Home of the Atlanta Thrashers, Atlanta Hawks, and Georgia Force. The multiuse facility can seat 21,000 in a concert setting. 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.philipsarena.com.

RIALTO CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Voted ¨Best World Music Venue¨ by Creative Loafing, this Georgia State University stage features dance, theater, film and a variety of music acts. 80 Forsyth St. 404-651-4727. www.rialtocenter.org.

ROBERT FERST CENTER FOR THE ARTS Georgia Tech´s state-of-the-art facility for lectures, film, dance, theater and concerts. 349 Ferst Drive. 404-894-9600. www.ferstcenter.org.

ROXY THEATRE Buckhead´s concert venue features a rock-heavy lineup of national acts, as well as regional and local talent. The venue features a balcony, open dancefloor, two bars and music memorabilia display. 3110 Roswell Road. 404-233-7699.

SCHWARTZ CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS The 90,000-square-foot facility includes a world-class concert hall, a dance studio, and a theater lab. Emory University, 1700 N. Decatur Road. 404-727-5050. schwartzcenter.emory.edu/about/index.html.

SPIVEY HALL Clayton State College, 5900 N. Lee St., Morrow. 770-960-4200. 770-961-3670. www.spiveyhall.org.

TABERNACLE Historic church with two deep balconies hosts national, regional and local music acts, as well as boxing and comedy. 152 Luckie St., 404-659-9022.

TURNER FIELD Home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team. 755 Hank Aaron Drive. 404-522-7630. atlanta.braves.mlb.com.

VARIETY PLAYHOUSE Concert venue that seats up to 1,100. 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.

WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER Home of the Alliance Theatre, the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta College of Art. 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-5000. www.woodruffcenter.org.

Theaters

ACTOR´S EXPRESS Possibly Atlanta´s most exciting theater company, Actor´s Express specializes in finding bold new plays and rediscovering classics that are still kicking. 887 W. Marietta St., Suite J-107. 404-875-1606. www.actorsexpress.com.

ALLIANCE THEATRE The lavish sets and production values at times risk upstaging the actual shows at Atlanta´s biggest and most prestigious theater company, which features the 750-seat Alliance Stage and the more intimate 200-seat Hertz Stage. 1280 Peachtree St., Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.alliancetheatre.org.

ANSLEY PARK PLAYHOUSE This intimate, sleek venue currently provides the home of the long-running, runaway success Peachtree Battle, a broad family comedy set in Atlanta that makes a great show to take your older relatives. 1545 Peachtree St. 404-875-1193. www.PeachtreePlayhouse.com.

AURORA THEATRE Probably the fastest-rising OTP playhouse, this Duluth-based theater grows more professional and intriguing with every season. 3087-B Main St., Duluth. 770-476-7926. www.auroratheatre.com.

CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS Entertainment comes with strings attached at this theater, museum and education center that features both wildly creative puppet plays for mature audiences and kid-lit adaptations that deliver fun for all ages. 1404 Spring St. 404-873-3391. www.puppet.org.

DAD´S GARAGE THEATRE As much funhouse as playhouse, Dad´s reliably presents high-spirited theatrical hijinks that appeal to young audiences, from satirical new plays to such late-night fare as improv shows. 280 Elizabeth St. 404-523-3141. www.dadsgarage.com.

GEORGIA ENSEMBLE THEATRE Classy productions of middle-of-the-road comedies, musical revues and theatrical chestnuts mark this Roswell playhouse. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-641-1260, 770-641-1360. www.get.org.

GEORGIA SHAKESPEARE Formerly the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, this company goes beyond the Bard to offer slick, reliable and at times surprising productions of classic plays, particularly during its annual summer repertory. Conant Performing Arts Center, Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road. 404-264-0020. www.gashakespeare.org.

JEWISH THEATRE OF THE SOUTH This company´s consistently rich balance of dramas, comedies and musicals showcase fine stagecraft as much as it does the richness of Jewish culture. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. 770-395-2654. www.atlantajcc.org.

HORIZON THEATRE A gift for sparkling comedy marks this scrappy Little Five Points playhouse, dedicated to finding intriguing new voices in Southern theater. 1083 Austin Ave. 404-584-7450, 404-584-8815. www.horizontheatre.com.

NEW AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE TAVERN Enjoy beer and Americanized versions of English pub food along with boisterous, student-friendly productions of Shakespeare classics and other plays from the canon. 499 Peachtree St. 404-874-5299. www.shakespearetavern.com.

PUSHPUSH THEATER True to its name, this company specializes in pushing artistic limits and expectations in its anything-goes approach to stagecraft. Not always for the timid. 121 New St., Decatur. 404-337-6332. www.pushpushtheater.com.

7 STAGES Atlanta´s avant-garde playhouse enjoys a sterling national and international reputation for the persistent stylistic daring and moral urgency of its work. 1105 Euclid Ave. 404-523-7647. www.7stages.org.

SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP This young, itinerate company demonstrates a flair for offbeat new plays that specialize in female perspectives, without being limited by them. 404-325-5168. www.synchrotheatre.com.

THEATRE GAEL Winsome and witty Irish, Scottish and Celtic-themed plays mark this long-lived Atlanta theater company. 404-876-1138. www.theatregael.com.

THEATRE IN THE SQUARE Accessible yet creative, this Marietta playhouse makes clever choices that transcend some familiarity in its scripts, and reserves its smaller Alley Stage for more challenging, often fascinating work. 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta. 770-422-8369. www.theatreinthesquare.com.

THEATRICAL OUTFIT Having just moved into a new, 200-seat performance space downtown, this long-running, venue-hopping Atlanta theatre is now poised to begin staging more risky shows alongside its impeccable, crowd-pleasing fare. The Balzer Theatre, 84 Luckie St. 404-577-5257. www.theatricaloutfit.org.

TRUE COLORS THEATRE COMPANY The new company of artistic director Kenny Leon specializes in plays that celebrate diverse voices and emphasizes neglected classics from African-American writers. 404-588-0308. www.truecolorstheatrecompany.com.

WHOLE WORLD THEATRE Improv proves the order of the day at this popular venue that increasingly presents stage plays in its small, ¨black box¨ space. 1216 Spring St. 404-817-0880. www.wholeworldtheatre.com.