What is and who's at the Goat Farm?

Atlanta's Goat Farm is 11 acres of total awesomeness - historic, industrial, re-purposed awesomeness. If you want to find out what's happening there, start with Facebook.

I'm going to show you a bit of what's inside thanks to MOCA's ArtMerge on November 10 and thanks to Corrina Sephora Mensoff our host for the evening. They are totally awesome. I also want to mention The Creatives Project which supports some of the Goat Farm artists in their "artist in studio" program. Its driving force, Neda Abghari demonstrates the awesome energy in Atlanta's art scene.

You don't need an occasion to visit the grounds. You can drive right on back there. It's OK. Go to Forsyth Fabrics and keep going south on Foster Street. The first street to the right is to the Howard School. The second street goes to the Goat Farm. Take a right and be impressed.


There is a pretty good chance you'll find some goats maybe some chickens. They are penned up so don't worry about getting butted or pecked. The artists probably won't butt or peck you either.


The Goat farm was at one time the E. Van Winkle Gin and Machine Works but not any more. If you like maps, diagrams, factories and history just click here. It's totally awesome.


We started our tour in the multipurpose Rodriguez Room. Inside "Flowing-as-Water" featured painting, sculpture, animation, and music by Corrina Mensoff, Matt Gilbert, Ana Balka.


Out in the yards: sculptures, Corrina's boats with wings.


gloAtl's studio takes up almost half of Goodson Yard.


We got to see them rehearsing.


The other half of Goodson Yard is a huge gallery space where TindelMichi (John Tindel and Michi Meko) were showing.


Many of the Goat Farm artists opened their studios for us. Corrina led the way.


Mmmm, artist studios are totally awesome. Ingrid Magnuson is gesturing.


Across the hall...


... photographer John Paul Floyd held court.


In another building we found artist Linda Mitchell who was part of "Lair" by SixFold Collective at the Abernathy Arts Center.

In the next building we found


fashion artist Tian Justman. She designs, she chooses fabric, she "patterns," cuts and sews at the Goat Farm.


Tain shares her building with actors, costume and set designers Marium Khalid and Phillip Justman. You need angel wings? This is the place.

The next building is huge.


Downstairs Mark Hopper did some bronze casting for us.


Hot, dirty, hard, noisy, awesome work.


Upstairs, more studios with graffiti'ed corridors.



Awesome.


This is Vanessa Williams.


Vanessa made her studio into a gallery of miniature works of folded and glued paper. The scale made me feel like a giant. This is a fish stair.


Ashley L. Schick is a printmaker (and a The Creatives Project artist) and assistant to Brian Dettmer, the guy who carves books. Awesome.


Ahley shares a studio with Hannah Perner Wilson ( a The Creatives Project artist) who does art/rocket science. Awesome.


Marci Starz and Brandon Sadler share a studio and both are part of a The Creatives Project. Brandon (red sweater) has work in the High Museum. I could see why.


I'd seen Marci Starz's work in local galleries; it's unforgettable.

Awesome.


We finished at Corrina Sephora Mensof's place. Among other things, she's a blacksmith.


Corrina shares her studio with the awesome Jane Garver. Jane did "Voice Box for Flux 2011, remember? This is where all the voice boxes roost.

This was the end of my tour. I hope you enjoyed it.

My "Windows on Design" Expedition

"Windows on Design" is a project by Atlanta's Design Collective. "It pairs one Showroom window with a Designer to create a one-of-a-kind window display."

I headed out with my trusty maps. I had no hope of capturing these displace with my camera, so I made it all about me. After all, there was prize.


On the west.




Verde Home featured Liquid Design Studios and it looked good enough to eat.




Jennifer Schwartz Gallery & Balance Design looked great in the rain.




Redefined Home Boutique & New Mood Design did a bed and a dress.

I headed east.






At Regalo Antiques, Taylor Galen Workroom with Charm Home Design pushed all the eclectic buttons.




At Robuck and Company, Mill and Forge showed a metal table with beautiful reclaimed wood.




Rebecca Keller built a studio / map room at Beau Holland.




Jenn Ryan Designs built a dining room inside Moattar.

Congratulations and thanks to all.


Thanks to Regalo Antiques for sending me this picture.

Suzanne Kasler, writes, signs, talks, and parties

Things That Inspire emailed that I should go to meet Suzanne Kasler signing her book, Suzanne Kasler: Inspired Interiors, at Bungalow Classic in Atlanta's west side. TTI said there'd be food!

Now it just so happened - a coincidence? I think not - that Ms. Kasler did an interview with the Skirted Round Table last week. Have you listened? You should. Ms. Kasler not only has a rare design talent, she has an even rarer talent: She can explain what she's doing.

Only one of my pictures worked, it shows the big crowd and a great room. Ms. Kasler spent the entire evening at the signing desk. There was a line all night. This picture looks pretty good if you click and make it bigger. (You can see a bit of her face under the leftmost lampshade.)



Meeting Atlanta Bloggers
I went by myself. The crowd was a bit above my pay grade. Well dressed and coiffed designer ladys, well dressed designer guys, well dressed clients and design fans, me in my cleanest Lands End khakis.

So I was wandering around trying to look as if I belonged when designer Claire Watkins, author of the High Gloss Blue blog introduced herself. And right beside Claire was blogger Brilliant Asylum. Both had their book ready to be signed. After a bit of chat blogger Things That Inspire walked up. What a pleasure. They were so nice to me. Clair has already blogged about it.

Meeting Jay Reardon, president of Hickory Chair
TTI introduced me to Jay Reardon. I grew up in High Point where nearly everybody had a tie to the furniture industry. I'm sure I knew of Hickory Chair before I was weaned. Talking with Mr. Rardon was an honor for a High Pointer. I was delighted to learn that 85% of Hickory Chair's products were made in the USA. Mr. Reardon's enthusiasm for the industry was contagious. Hickory Chair has a blog, "Made by Hickory Chair" Laura Holland from Hickory Chair is on Twitter.

A store room full of designers
TTI introduced me to a few designers. I met Atlanta designer Gretchen Gilstrap Edwards. I wish I had time to meet the all.

Tête-à-têtes everwhere
Bungalow Classic has many cozy corners where you could have a quiet conversation in spite of the crowd. Designers were doing doing business throughout the store, many with fabric books at hand in serious conversation.

Thanks to the Atlanta design community and my fellow Atlanta bloggers for an unexpectedly great time.

P.S.
Here are the 3 whites if I heard correctly:from the Skirted Round Table interview.
Benjamin Moore
OC-17 White Dove: (F0EFE6)
912 Linen White (F3ECDB)
OC-29 Floral White (EEECDE) 

Westside Art Walk, September 19, 2009, Atlanta

I did a brief solo run, hitting Emily Amy Gallery, Bobbe Gillis Gallery, Sandler Hudson Gallery, all showing original work offered by the artist/gallery. Kiang Gallery showed works for sale from collections billed as "Art Wants a New Home."

Kaing Gallery had an impressive variety but what caught my eye...well I thought something looked like Kathy Yancy's work and - sure enough - it was her Queen of Hearts Bowl. Kathy's work charms and haunts. It deserves a better picture that I can take.



I couldn't take my eye off Ida Kohlmeyer's Semiosis, 1984, the colors really appealed to me.



I can't resist Howard Finster, these are early works, considered most valuable of his 1000's of works.



Howard Finster, Angel is 15" x 50"



Howard Finster, Camel



Howard Finster, Cadalac



Howard Finster, left - Bust of Woman, right - Mona Lisa



Howard Finster Bust of Man



Howard Finster, The Messenger



Then to Sandler Hudson Gallery featuring Holle Black and her exhibition "an exaltation of larks". She was kind enough to pose with her humming birds, my favorite. Her eye-open picture was out of focus. I apologize.



Mario Petrirena was also showing at Sandler Hudson: "my mother's house and other struggles"





Then to Bobbe Gillis Gallery where I didn't take decent pictures. This is leftover from the last stroll, you'll need to hunt a bit to find it. I love it, I love the shadows too. Don't know the artist.



Finally, Emily Amy Gallery. I was there for the Collage Opeining last week. In the meantime Gary Bibb who is in the show sent me an email so I went back to photograph his work:



Which is from a set of 5.



This took less than an hour, from a single parking place. Not bad.

Here is the whole thing in a slideshow:



Thanks so much,
Terry
nest