Around Atlanta
High Museum of Art Commissions New Accessible Piazza Installation, Continues Site-Specific Series
Working with advocates with disabilities and their allies, Bryony Roberts Studio will create an inclusive and immersive environment
This summer, the High Museum of Art will present an immersive maze of accessible, sensory environments by award-winning design and research practice Bryony Roberts Studio as its seventh site-specific installation on The Woodruff Arts Center’s Carroll Slater Sifly Piazza. Titled “Outside the Lines,” the installation continues the High’s multiyear series of inclusive and inviting commissions to activate the Museum’s outdoor space and encourage community engagement. On view July 10 through Nov. 28, 2021, “Outside the Lines” emerged from conversations between Bryony Roberts Studio and self-advocates with disabilities and their allies throughout Atlanta, with the goal of creating a space that is engaging for all.
“‘Outside the Lines’ builds on our tradition of attracting visitors of all ages with participatory art experiences and providing a gathering space for all Atlantans to stimulate their sense of wonder and play,” said Rand Suffolk, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr., director of the High. “We look forward to welcoming audiences with wide-ranging abilities to explore this year’s unique, outdoor installation.”
“Outside the Lines” provides an environment that is accessible and playful for those with physical, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, supporting discovery and social connection through an array of tactile environments. The installation aims to present a richer environment for everybody by offering spaces that celebrate a range of sensory experiences.
“Bryony Roberts is a designer who understands the power and immense responsibility of public space by creating community-based projects involving multiple collaborators,” said Monica Obniski, the High’s curator of decorative arts and design. “For me, her research-driven methodology gives weight to the project’s objective, while the aesthetic ambitions of interlocking geometries and colorful tactile surfaces offer a visually stunning and joyful experience for all Atlantans.”
The gently curving steel structure of “Outside the Lines” supports thousands of hanging strands, along the rise and fall of the frame, that will form both small enclosures for quiet relaxation and open environments for social interaction. Emulating a forest-like atmosphere, the tactile materials, designed in collaboration with individuals who are blind and visually impaired, invite safe interaction and enable dynamic navigation through touch. The variety and height of the materials provide a spectrum of exploration within reach of all people, including those who use wheelchairs and mobility devices, and produce a range of intensity and stimulation, offering choice for people with sensory sensitivities.
Community engagement is a central part of the design process at Bryony Roberts Studio, with extensive conversations and interviews with local residents informing both the design and programming of a project. For this project at the High, Bryony worked alongside self-advocates with disabilities and their allies to collaboratively imagine a space that would be both inviting and playful. Representatives from the Center for the Visually Impaired suggested ideas for tactile navigation and exploration, while parent advocates from Parent to Parent of Georgia described the benefits of interactive materials and quiet spaces for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Self-advocates helped to brainstorm spaces both for social interaction and restorative calm, while doctors from the Marcus Autism Center and Emory Brain Health offered further insights into the relationship between materials, colors, textures and experience.
This project builds on the success of the six previous Piazza commissions: “Murmuration” by New York-based architectural firm SO – IL (2020); Japanese designer Yuri Suzuki’s “Sonic Playground” (2018); Spanish designer Jaime Hayon’s “Merry Go Zoo” (2017) and “Tiovivo” (2016); and 2014-2015’s “Mi Casa, Your Casa” and “Los Trompos” (“The Spinning Tops”) by Mexican designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena.
Community Partners
Greg Aikens, BEGIN Program Manager, Center for the Visually Impaired
Shelby Ball, STARS Program Manager, Center for the Visually Impaired
Victoria Dugger, Artist
Lindsay Flax, Advocate
Paula E. Forney, MMSc, RPT
Dr. Madeleine Hackney, Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine
Eric Jacobson, Executive Director, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
Dr. Cheryl Kaiman, Program Director, Marcus Autism Center
Sitara Nayak, Vice President of Programs, Parent to Parent of Georgia
Mitzi Proffitt, Director of Support Services, Parent to Parent of Georgia
About the High’s Piazza Activation Initiative
The High’s Piazza activation initiative launched in 2014 to explore how engaging with art and design can extend beyond the Museum’s walls. Varied programs, art-making activities and other interactive features enliven these dynamic outdoor installations. More info at high.org
Local artist and Peachtree Corners resident, Amy Rader, will be part of the first-ever Atlanta Art Fair, being held at Pullman Yards October 3–6. The fair will feature local galleries, artists and curators alongside a variety of national programs and a dynamic series of public art projects and events presented at locations around town.
Aimed at amplifying local voices and acting as a platform for the city’s incredible creativity, the Atlanta Art Fair — the first major art fair of its kind in the city — will showcase a wide range of artistic styles and genres, including contemporary work, paintings, photography, live performances and innovative projects.
Represented by the esteemed Fay Gold Gallery, Rader will have several pieces on show at the Fay Gold Booth E07, something the artist is thrilled about, as her connection to Gold spans three decades.
“In 1993, while still in high school, I attended a summer arts program at Lagrange College,” Rader recalled. “We took a field trip to visit the top gallery in Atlanta — the Fay Gold Gallery. I stood in awe of the marvelous pieces on display … [Later] after years working with ad agencies for Fortune 500 clients, I was ready to leave my career in graphic design to pursue art full time. Showing my work at a gallery in Buckhead introduced me to Fay Gold 29 years after that visit in 1993. It was a full circle moment.”
A local legend
An Atlanta art legend, Fay Gold is best known for her groundbreaking exhibitions of artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cindy Sherman, Keith Haring, Andres Serrano and Robert Mapplethorpe.
She curated the formative years of Elton John’s personal art collection and raised $750,000 for the Elton John Aids Foundation by creating and chairing two art auctions for the organization. Over the years, she’s also worked with corporate clients and has received dozens of awards for her many contributions to the Atlanta art scene.
Fay Gold represented Rader’s work in a successful art show in 2022 followed by an art auction in 2023 and now at the Atlanta Art Fair in 2024.
A lifelong love of art
In love with art from an early age, Rader was encouraged by a high school teacher to apply to art school, which she did, receiving a scholarship from the Art Institute of Atlanta and graduating from the (now-closed) art school with the Best Portfolio Award. For the past 25+ years Rader has worked within the design and art fields, building an impressive body of work, with a particular focus on creating traditional art and large-scale pieces for hospitality spaces.
Her work can be seen in galleries, private collections, luxury buildings, restaurants and more, including the Buckhead Art & Company Gallery, The Hue Midtown and Chops restaurant in Buckhead.
According to her website, Rader’s notable accomplishments include “being selected to represented Tesla and Microsoft at Art Basel, commissioned work for a new Lake Nona project with Tavistock, creating custom pieces for two $140 million luxury Related Group buildings and commissioned work for Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima ships.”
Rader is especially excited about the Atlanta Art Fair — not just being part of it, but the fact that it’s happening at all.
“This is such a big deal for the arts community,” said Rader. “The Art Fair is a wonderful addition to Atlanta’s cultural offerings. I’m describing it as our very own ‘Art Basel’ level fair, with both national and international galleries. We are used to art festivals, but this is a different caliber of event by the producers behind the San Francisco Art Fair, Seattle Art Fair and Art on Paper New York.”
The details
The Atlanta Art Fair takes place at Pullman Yards and other venues throughout the city, October 3–6. Schedules, artist lists, tickets and additional information can be found online at theatlantaartfair.com.
For more about Amy Rader, visit raderdesigns.net.
To learn more about Fay Gold and the Fay Gold Gallery, visit faygoldgallery.com.
Around Atlanta
Brennan Lee Mulligan, DrLupo, Biqtch Puddin’ and More Headline Action-Packed DreamHack Atlanta Lineup
Three-day gaming lifestyle festival brings best of gaming, tabletop roleplaying, indies, music, esports and cosplay to the Big Peach
DreamHack (ESL FACEIT Group’s international gaming lifestyle festival) has announced exciting new guests and programming taking place at this year’s DreamHack Atlanta, October 4–6 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Brennan Lee Mulligan returns to DreamHack alongside the festival’s largest-ever Dungeons & Dragons area. World-class creators, including DrLupo, and the Atlanta debut of the Drag & Drop cosplay drag show hosted by local performer Biqtch Puddin’ are also on the schedule.
“DreamHack features the best of gaming culture from all over the world right here in Atlanta,” said Guy Blomberg, director of festivals, North America, DreamHack. “We’re bringing the best global talent and highlighting local developers, streamers, performers and storytellers to create a celebration of everything to do with gaming.”
Over 20 of the biggest names from Dimension 20, Critical Roll, Lynvannder and more expand DreamHack’s roleplaying offerings
Following his DreamHack debut this summer, Dropout’s resident Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan returns to DreamHack with an all-star cast of adventurers. Joined by Zac Oyama, Erika Ishii, Anjali BhimaniandAliza Pearl, the party will explore an all-new one-shot adventure designed specifically for DreamHack Atlanta.
Fans can also step into the Tabletop Tavern, a dedicated stage for live roleplaying game content presented in partnership with Lynnvander. Veteran storytellers, writers and actors will join forces for a slew of custom adventures. Special guests include worldbuilder and dungeon master Jasmine Bhullar, writer and actress Rekha Shankar, game designer and writer Keith Baker, voice actress Mela Lee and many more.
The LEGO Group makes DreamHack Atlanta debut with all-new Builders Zone
DreamHack guests can expand on the games they know and love through the unlimited creative opportunities of LEGO®️ bricks at DreamHack Atlanta’s all-new Builders Zone, sponsored by the LEGO Group. Attendees can participate in gaming-themed make-and-take builds, contribute to the LEGO brick-built mystery mural on-site or even participate in DreamHack Quests for a chance to take home new LEGO sets. DreamHack will also invite creators to the Main Stage for a competition to celebrate gamers’ creative LEGO builds at the festival — with special guests to be announced.
DreamHack Atlanta hosts largest-ever Indie Playground and Artist Alley
DreamHack’s Indie Playground and Artist Alley will have their largest footprints yet, with 60 game developers as well as 60 more independent artists — almost half of which are Atlanta locals. In addition to exploring booths, guests can participate in the Artist Alley Stamp Rally, trade unique pins at the pin swap board, trick-or-treat with vendors and get hands-on with up-and-coming video games. Both the Artist Alley and Indie Playground are open to all guests daily from 12 to 6 p.m.
Drag & Drop cosplay drag show returns with Atlanta debut
Drag & Drop, the festival’s flagship cosplay drag show, will return after its debut at DreamHack Dallas. Hosted by Emmy-nominated artist Biqtch Puddin’, the show will feature a host of new nerdy performances and performers who slay video game bosses, and looks. Participating artists include Brigitte Bidet, LaZanya Ontré, Dotte Com and more.
Drag & Drop complements a full weekend of cosplay programming for attendees. The festival’s cosplay competition on Saturday, will be judged by an all-star cast of professional cosplayers, including Atlanta-native Pumpkin.Pixie.Princess and host Jahara Jayde.
DreamHack Atlanta sets record with over 500 creator guests, including Jake Lucky, bbjess and more
This year’s DreamHack Atlanta will host the largest creator cohort ever for a DreamHack Atlanta festival, with over 500 local and national influencers onsite. After receiving a record-setting number of applications, DreamHack Atlanta’s host of content creators will participate in Main Stage competitions, host meet & greets with fans and stream live from DreamHack’s Creator Hub. Top guests include Main Stage emcee bbjess, creator interview experts Jake Lucky and HUN2R, veteran streamers DrLupo (hosted in partnership with Anthros) and Amouranth and more.
Georgia FIRST Robotics brings local high schoolers to DreamHack for STEM showcase
Georgia high school students from across the state will take part in Georgia FIRST Robotics’ interactive showcase live at DreamHack Atlanta. The program requires students and their peers to collaborate on creating their own industrial-size robots to go head-to-head in challenging field games. Students are behind it all — from raising funds to designing their teams’ brand to building and piloting their robots — and the festival’s showcase will highlight the work that goes into making these high-tech machinations.
All of this is just one slice of what DreamHack Atlanta 2024 has to offer.
The details
DreamHack Atlanta takes place at the Georgia World Congress Center on October 4–6
For more information on competitions at DreamHack Atlanta — including world-class esports tournaments, grassroots competition in the Freeplay area, cosplay contests and more —click here.
Tickets are still available and start at $45 for a single day or $109 for three-day access.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit dreamhack.com/atlanta/tickets/.
Concerned Citizens, County and City Officials Address Issues at Jones Bridge Park
PTC Arts Inc. Furthers Mission to Provide Accessible Art
From Corporate to Sci-Fi Author: Jill Tew Discusses ‘The Dividing Sky’ [Podcast]
Peachtree Corners Dedicates Memorial Garden to its First Lady
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PCBA Awards $3,500 to Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer
Good Samaritan Gwinnett Receives State Authorization to Launch Access Academy
PCBA Awards $3,500 to Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer
Good Samaritan Gwinnett Receives State Authorization to Launch Access Academy
Peachtree Corners Dedicates Memorial Garden to its First Lady
Concerned Citizens, County and City Officials Address Issues at Jones Bridge Park
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PTC Arts Inc. Furthers Mission to Provide Accessible Art
Councilmember Sadd to Host Town Hall Meeting on October 29
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Parks & Recreation7 days agoConcerned Citizens, County and City Officials Address Issues at Jones Bridge Park
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Community7 days ago
Peachtree Corners Dedicates Memorial Garden to its First Lady
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Tech1 week ago
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Community13 hours ago
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