Screams, clowns, WIT, and a roving curatorial practice | The ATL Arts Collective

Spamalot, Dior, Peaches on Peachtree & Olympic Mascot Izzy | The ATL Arts Collective

✦ Summer Evans ✦ Spamalot ✦ Peaches on Peachtree Street ✦ Izzy ✦ Dior ✦ Best Bets ✦ ☕ Want to buy the podcast a cup of coffee? Here’s how to support [https://patron.podbean.com/atlartscollective] the work we do. ☕   ✦ This Week On The Show ✦  This week’s featured contributor is Summer Evans [https://www.instagram.com/summer.tells.stories/]! She is a freelance journalist and multimedia storyteller based in Atlanta. Summer’s background is in public radio, and she currently works as a freelance social media content producer for Rough Draft Atlanta. Here’s her picks for our Beats, Bites, and Sights segment, where our featured contributor shares their favorite gems across the city: Beats: Catching concerts from the front row at The Eastern [https://www.easternatl.com/] in Reynoldstown and checking out the acoustic singer-songwriter legacy of Eddie's Attic [https://eddiesattic.com/]in Decatur. Bites: Upscale dining featuring kangaroo appetizers along the Chattahoochee River at Canoe [https://canoeatl.com/]in Buckhead, and sipping a "Sangrita" on the rooftop patio of La Fonda Latina [https://lafondaatlanta.com/] on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Sights: Viewing ancient Egyptian mummies at the Michael C. Carlos Museum [https://carlos.emory.edu/]at Emory University, and browsing world-class photography at Jackson Fine Art [https://www.jacksonfineart.com/]in Buckhead. ✦ Delaney Benson in Spamalot Tour at The Fox Theatre ✦  ArtsATL theatre correspondent Sally Fuller sits down with Gainesville, Georgia native Delaney Benson as she tours in the hit Monty Python Broadway musical Spamalot [https://www.foxtheatre.org/events/detail/spamalot]at the historic Fox Theatre. The triple-threat performer shares what it’s like to step into the ensemble, handle twelve quick changes, and understudy the powerhouse role of the Lady of the Lake. Plus, she reflects on growing up in a theatrical family with her mother, Jodi Benson (Broadway star and the original voice of Disney's The Little Mermaid), and her father, Ray Benson, learning Singin' in the Rain choreography in her kitchen, and her early days performing with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. ✦ Why Are There No Peach Trees on Peachtree Street? ✦  Featured contributor Summer Evans of Rough Draft Atlanta unpacks a quintessential Atlanta riddle: why, until very recently, have there been no peach trees on Peachtree Street? We trace the historic thoroughfare back to its roots in the Muscogee Creek Nation settlement of Standing Peachtree, explore the 1812 military origin of the road near Fort Peachtree, and look at how modern civic efforts have shaped the city’s urban tree canopy. ✦  History of Izzy: The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Mascot ✦   We also celebrate a major cultural milestone: the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games. Documentarian Wesley Boutilier [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RHxeNtUO68] dives deep into the history of the city's highly debated Olympic mascot: Izzy. From designer John Ryan’s original computer-animated "What Is It" design to the merchandise boom featuring boxing legend Evander Holyfield, we explore how this polarizing blue character became a staple of 1990s pop culture, spawned a Sega Genesis video game, and starred in an animated special.  ✦ Dior Crafting Fashion Exhibition at SCAD FASH Museum ✦  ArtsATL writer Robert Stalker [https://www.artsatl.org/scad-fashs-dior-crafting-fashion-exhibit-tracks-couture-through-the-ages/] joins us to pull back the curtain on the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film exhibition, Dior: Crafting Fashion [https://www.scadfash.org/exhibitions/exhibition-dior-crafting-fashion] (on view through August 23). We trace the legacy of Christian Dior from his mid-century "New Look" revolution to modern creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Jonathan Anderson. Discover the painstaking, fully handmade secrets of the Parisian haute couture ateliers, the architectural genius of 1990s director Gianfranco Ferré, and how the fashion house continues to style legendary Hollywood clients from Marlene Dietrich to contemporary stars.   ✦ ArtsATL Best Bets for the Week  ✦ ArtsATL Executive Editor Shane Harrison joins the show to share his top cultural recommendations for the week. His curated mix features The Atlanta African Dance and Drum Festival, Tommy Davidson at City Winery, and the Monster Ball in Little Five Points. Special thanks to today’s sponsors: The Sun ATL [https://vinsonart.com/the-sun-atl/] It’s UATL [https://www.uatl.com/its-uatl/] Join us on social at @artsatlanta and @atlartscollective Our theme music is K Michelle Dubois [https://www.instagram.com/kmdmusic8/]' "Hit the Deck from her album "Astral Heart," courtesy of Wicked Superb Records. ☕ Want to buy the podcast a cup of coffee? Here’s how to support [https://patron.podbean.com/atlartscollective] the work we do. ☕     00:00 Introduction and Welcome with Kim Drobes 02:29 Delaney Benson on Spamalot National Tour at Fox Theatre 09:16 The History of Standing Peachtree and Peachtree Street 16:54 The History of Izzy: The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Mascot 27:47 Beats, Bites, and Sights: Atlanta Culture Recommendations 31:41 Christian Dior Crafting Fashion Exhibition Review at SCAD FASH 41:59 ArtsATL Best Bets: Local Concerts, Festivals, and Comedy with Shane Harrison 46:10 Show Wrap-up, Support Links, and Next Week's Preview

Stop-Motion Animation, FRESH JUGO and Lucy Luckovich | The ATL Arts Collective

✦  Julián Gonzalez-Diaz of FRESH JUGO  ✦ Stop-Motion Animation ✦ This is Somewhere ✦ Lucy Luckovich ✦ Best Bets ✦  Co-Curating the Future ✦ ☕Want to buy the podcast a cup of coffee? Here’s how to support [https://patron.podbean.com/atlartscollective] the work we do☕ ✦This Week On The Show ✦  This week’s featured contributor is Julián Gonzalez-Diaz [https://linktr.ee/FRESHJUGO]! He’s a painter and the host of the FRESH JUGO [https://www.youtube.com/@juliandegeorgia] podcast, where he has casual conversations with Atlanta creatives in a variety of disciplines. Julián breaks down his nomadic studio-recording setup and shares his journey from a pandemic-era graduation to navigating the local DIY art scene. We learn how his Mexican heritage and life in the American South converge to shape his portraits, still lifes, and his drive to amplify Atlanta artists. ✦ The Magic of Frame by Frame Animation at the Center for Puppetry Arts ✦  Atlanta documentarian and Viewist Productions founder Wesley Boutilier [https://www.instagram.com/viewistproductions/]dives into the painstaking, beautifully tactile world of stop-motion animation at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Their new exhibition, Frame by Frame: The Art of Stop-Motion Animation [https://puppet.org/programs/frame-by-frame/], explores three decades of master craftsmanship. Learn about the intricate physical armatures, puppets, and production sets behind legendary cinematic milestones like Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, and SpongeBob SquarePants. After you hear the story on the podcast, go watch Boutilier’s short documentary [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk0H54mnTBk].  ✦ Double Exposure: Capturing Soul in Atlanta & New Orleans ✦  ArtsATL reporter Jhazzy Joiner [https://www.artsatl.org/review-the-diversity-and-beauty-of-the-south-shines-in-this-is-somewhere-at-haugabrooks-gallery/] takes us to the historic Haugabrooks Gallery along Auburn Avenue for aKAZ! ATL’s This Is Somewhere. Founders and curators Anja and Jumbe Sebunya celebrate family ties by juxtaposing the drone-manipulated Atlanta cityscape photography of software engineer and YouTube personality Craig Lou [https://www.youtube.com/@Craiglou] with the striking black American cultural portraiture of Iman Sebunya [https://www.akaziatl.com/iman-sebunya], whose work honors the Black Masking Native Americans, second lines, and the essence of New Orleans. ✦ Lucy Lukovich's Dolly at Wolfgang Gallery ✦   Julián Gonzalez-Diaz [https://linktr.ee/FRESHJUGO] sits down with Atlanta contemporary painter Lucy Luckovich [https://www.instagram.com/lucyluckovich/?hl=en] to discuss her upcoming solo exhibition, Dolly [https://wolfganggallery.com/]. Fresh off completing her Master of Fine Arts at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), the Georgia State University alum explores the complex layers of female desire, advertising culture, and text-based lineage. She details her surrealist collage-to-canvas paintings and hidden illustrative drawings that will be on view at Wolfgang Gallery from July 17-August 22. ✦ ArtsATL Best Bets for the Week  ✦ ArtsATL Executive Editor Shane Harrison joins the show to share his top cultural recommendations for the week [https://www.artsatl.org/9-essential-atlanta-arts-events-this-weekend-67/]. His curated mix features the Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival, several concerts, and a new Off the Wall film screening projected onto the Beltline’s 725 Ponce building.  ✦Memento Gallery and Alday Hunken Gallery team up for new partnership✦   Reporter Mitali Singh [https://www.artsatl.org/memento-gallery-and-alday-hunken-gallery-team-up-for-new-partnership/] examines a radical new collaborative gallery model shaking up local art spaces. Gallery owners Madison Dailey of Memento Gallery in Virginia-Highland and Alfonso Alday Vergara of Alday Hunken Gallery discuss their shared curatorial vision. They dive into their debut joint exhibition, Held Traces, showing how the raw stone sculptures of Mexican artist Paula Cortazar and the haunting negative space in paintings by African-American artist Gabriel Choto reflect themes of migration, memory, and the decentralization of global art markets. Special thanks to today’s sponsors: Soul Food Cypher [https://www.soulfoodcypher.com/] Mainline Magazine [http://mainlineatl.com] It’s UATL [https://www.uatl.com/its-uatl/] Join us on social at @artsatlanta and @atlartscollective Our theme music is K Michelle Dubois [https://www.instagram.com/kmdmusic8/]' "Hit the Deck from her album "Astral Heart," courtesy of Wicked Superb Records. ☕Want to buy the podcast a cup of coffee? Here’s how to support [https://patron.podbean.com/atlartscollective] the work we do☕     00:00 Soul Food Cipher Freestyle Rap Sponsorship 01:30 Center for Puppetry Arts Stop-Motion Animation Exhibition 06:13 Julián González-Díaz Interview on Creative FLND Studios 13:05 Akazi ATL This Is Somewhere Photography Exhibition 18:05 Lucy Lukovich Dolly Exhibition Interview at Wolfgang Gallery 30:12 Best Bets 34:17 Julián’s Picks & Quick Q&A 34:39 Memento Gallery and Alday Hunken Gallery team up for new partnership 41:30 Fresh Jugo & Wordplay Collective Podcast Family Credits

Encore: Atlanta Paints Its World Cup Story | The ATL Arts Collective

This episode of the ATL Arts Collective spotlights Atlanta’s creative surge around the FIFA World Cup, featuring new city-commissioned murals, conversations with artists like Charity Hamidullah, Kyle Brooks, Melissa Mitchell, and Nick Turbo Benson’s Waffle House mural. We also cover the Atlanta Cultural Exchange at the CTR, spotlight Sheila Pree Bright’s Footwork exhibition at the Carlos Museum, ArtsATL’s Best Bets for the July 4th weekend, and community programs bringing art and sport together across the city.

Cinderella, Community, & Chad Radford | The ATL Arts Collective

✦ Guest co-host Chad Radford ✦ True Colors Theater presents Cinderella ✦ GULCH Magazine's Making it Work ✦ Kess Fest ✦ Elizabeth B. Stephens International Organ Competition ✦ Best Bets   ✦This Week On The Show✦  This week’s guest co-host is Chad Radford [https://www.instagram.com/chadrad/]! As the former longtime music editor for Creative Loafing and author of Atlanta Record Stores: An Oral History [https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/atlanta-record-stores-9781467142977?srsltid=AfmBOorZJaXBKm7cEfq9MXf89mLHTELhuK64RnIXtvMABxD88ddsqIV0], Chad has spent decades documenting the city's underground music scene. He shares the origin story of his website, RadATL [https://radatl.com/], and explains how he single-handedly curates his new, independent live music and events calendar to help local music lovers avoid missing the best gigs in town. Chad will introduce and host a live-audience Q&A with Atlanta filmmaker James Schroeder for his new documentary, The Tree Economy [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt41268660/], on June 26 at The Garden Club at Wild Heaven West End. ✦True Colors Theater Presents Cinderella✦  The True Colors Theatre [https://truecolorstheatre.org/event/cinderella/] production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella has officially taken over the Southwest Arts Center, bringing an all-Black, 1980s-inspired celebration of resilience to the stage. Directed and choreographed by Juel D. Lane [https://jueldlane.com/#new-page-2], a College Park native in his directorial debut, the show infuses classic theater with ballroom voguing, breakdancing, and New Jack City fashion. Rising star singer Jai'len Josey performs as Cinderella, alongside former American Idol finalist LaToya London as Queen Constantina and Ithica Tell as the stepmother. ArtsATL writer Angela Oliver [https://www.artsatl.org/review-true-colors-cinderella-reminds-us-that-magic-belongs-to-the-marginalized/]drops by to review why this production is the exact cultural medicine Atlanta needs right now.  ✦Gulch Magazine’s Making It Work: Patricia Hernandez✦  In this month's edition of Making It Work, Jasmine Hentschel of GULCH [https://www.gulchmagazine.com/] Magazine sits down with prominent Atlanta muralist and visual artist Patricia Hernandez [https://patlsv.com/]. Patricia opens up about the reality of juggling freelance contractor gigs, multi-job survival skills, and parenting while pursuing a public art career in a rapidly changing city. She shares her personal experiences navigating the creative landscape as an immigrant and a woman of color and explains the mission behind her non-profit organization, Nuestra Creación [https://www.instagram.com/nuestra.creacion/?hl=en], a 501(c)(3) dedicated to uplifting immigrant, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC creatives. Learn about their upcoming call for artists ahead of their October 5 exhibition at Echo Contemporary Arts, ensuring the next generation of Atlanta artists don't have to navigate the creative ecosystem alone. ✦Independent Music Advocacy and Kess Fest ✦   We take a closer look at the upcoming Kess Fest [https://app.opendate.io/e/kess-fest-june-28-2026-688849] benefit concert happening this Sunday at the historic Smith's Old Bar. Chad Radford highlights how the event,  founded by drummer and production manager Noah Kess, doubles as a crucial fundraiser for the Atlanta Musicians Emergency Relief Fund (AMERF) [https://www.amerf.org/], providing financial aid to local players and production techs in times of crisis. Get a preview of the unique lineup featuring bands whose members work behind the scenes in the local music industry, including Albatross, Nobody's Darlings, The Head, and the nine-piece Fourth Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, followed by a special film screening of Homicide Don't Die and a set from DJ Full Frequency. ✦Global Virtuosos Headed to Buckhead✦   We dive into the third biannual Elizabeth B. Stephens International Organ Competition [https://www.prumc.org/event/elizabeth-b-stephens-international-organ-competition-2026/] at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Buckhead. ArtsATL music reporter Jordan Owen [https://www.artsatl.org/a-celebration-of-the-organ-and-of-a-life-of-service-to-the-atlanta-arts-community/]explores the profound legacy behind the competition, organized by Sally Stephens Westmoreland to honor her late mother. Discover how this prestigious event drew 72 global applications for just six finalist spots. Organist and music director Scott Atchison joins the conversation to discuss the unique, required performance of Pamela Decker's contemporary piece Kairos alongside traditional classical compositions, as international finalists compete for $21,000 in cash prizes. The final round takes place on June 27. ✦ ArtsATL Best Bets for the Week  ✦ ArtsATL Executive Editor Shane Harrison stops by with his highly anticipated weekly roundup of need link top cultural happenings around the city. Today, his curated mix includes the Southern Fried Queer Pride [https://www.southernfriedqueerpride.com/] festival, the Classical Remix Festival’s [https://classicalremixmusicfestival.org/] Gala Concert, and a screening of High Fidelity with John Cusack [https://www.foxtheatre.org/events/detail/coca-cola-film-series-high-fidelity-an-intimate-screening-and-evening-with-john-cusack-mov0626?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=EvergreenSearch&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22739966102&gbraid=0AAAAADiOPG6cqEwpBoKzQ070nG9SYkY7W&gclid=CjwKCAjwuuPRBhAnEiwA2Ji8eulCw93L4tpHqnRvhON3c67_1ns6bUMtrmyyckgZqBfZi5vaEvJ_GBoCePoQAvD_BwE]. Special thanks to today’s sponsors: Motherlode [https://www.instagram.com/motherlodeatl/] Mainline Magazine [http://mainlineatl.com] It’s UATL [https://www.uatl.com/its-uatl/] Join us on social at @artsatlanta and @atlartscollective Our theme music is K Michelle Dubois [https://www.instagram.com/kmdmusic8/]' "Hit the Deck from her album "Astral Heart," courtesy of Wicked Superb Records ☕ Want to buy the podcast a cup of coffee? Here's how to support [https://patron.podbean.com/atlartscollective] the work we do. ☕

Screams, clowns, WIT, and a roving curatorial practice | The ATL Arts Collective

✦  Gulch’s Jasmine Hentschel and EC Famming  ✦ Atlanta Variety Shows ✦ WIT ✦ Best Bets ✦ Art News ✦     ✦This Week On The Show ✦  GULCH [https://www.gulchmagazine.com/] magazine’s Jasmine Hentschel and EC Flamming join as guest co-hosts today! We dive deep into the origin story of Gulch Magazine, Atlanta's premier print and digital visual art publication. The co-founders discuss their individual professional backgrounds, transitioning from tech startups and historic regional institutions like Art Papers to documenting the contemporary local art scene. They pull back the curtain on how they meticulously curate their comprehensive weekly art calendar on Instagram, and we learn about their massive new data-driven community research survey [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXU_eCCEdVwKOO-JA1Y4ajq_zTFhS4SE1uQAEsoEuh4_CwAg/viewform], which aims to analyze the behaviors, mental models, and needs of regional creators to spark actionable strategy ahead of the highly anticipated Atlanta Art Fair [https://theatlantaartfair.com/] this October. ✦ Atlanta's Live Variety Revue Boom ✦  Ever since the pandemic shutdown, a unique breed of live variety entertainment has taken over the Atlanta theater scene. These recurring productions feature a wild mix of local performers aiming to lift the gloom with pure entertainment, community connection, and plenty of laughter. Arts ATL Editor-at-Large Benji Carr [https://www.artsatl.org/atlanta-variety-shows-offer-laughter-screams-and-clowns-to-counter-modern-day-woes/]catches up with the creative minds behind these recurring shows to find out exactly what makes them tick. Gina Rickicki, an acclaimed Atlanta actress and improviser, shares the inspiration behind her hit monthly show, Joy Deficit, [https://redlightcafe.com/events/joy-deficit-monthly-live-performance-event-jul-28-2025] at Red Light Cafe in Midtown Atlanta. Discover why every performance kicks off with a therapeutic 13-second primal scream and how audience participation helps conquer isolation. Plus, puppet designer and clown Scottie Rowell discusses Down to Clown [https://www.instagram.com/downtoclownatl/], a vintage game-show-inspired collaboration with Karie Vieira, and Nick Lynn-Rulon details the weekly open-mic performance, NoShame [https://www.instagram.com/noshameatlanta/]. ✦ Pulitzer Prize-Winning Drama "Wit" at Actors Express ✦  Atlanta radio legend Lois Reitzes [https://www.wabe.org/people/lois-reitzes/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20163454261&gbraid=0AAAAADQwscVnj457VggDCL0DVgB5BvwkG&gclid=CjwKCAjwxb7RBhA5EiwAQ-AAdDYkm1G6OdOixppurZPAQVviAYQmEeN3yyVBDmt54IrVx-7a-Rf1lBoC9jsQAvD_BwE] returns to the microphone for a deeply nuanced conversation with Freddie Ashley [https://www.freddieashley.com/], the Artistic Director of Actors Express. They explore the profound thematic layers of Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, Wit, [https://actors-express.com/play-page-wit/] which is at Actors Express theater in the King Plow Arts Center through June 28th. Freddie breaks down the tragic journey of Professor Vivian Bearing, a demanding scholar of 17th-century literature and the holy sonnets of John Donne, who must learn to shed her intellectual armor while battling stage four ovarian cancer. The discussion highlights the play's dual portrayal of healthcare through an ambitious young fellow and a nurturing nurse, its enduring legacy as an educational tool for teaching hospitals and medical schools, and playwright Margaret Edson’s enduring 30-year connection to local education as a teacher at Midtown High School. Freddie and Lois reflect on an emotional quote from Edson, sharing her ultimate desire for the production: that the audience leaves feeling fundamentally closer to the people they love. ✦ Nomadic curating & Tomorrow Mourning at the Hambidge Hive ✦   GULCH’s Jasmine Hentschel and EC Flamming highlight the fascinating world of elsewhere [https://www.instagram.com/else.where____/], a roving, nomadic curatorial practice led by Anna Akpele. [https://www.instagram.com/ayyeeekay/] Operating outside the constraints of traditional "white wall" galleries, elsewhere activates alternative spaces like houses, apartments, and backyards. The duo reviews elsewhere's latest exhibition, Tomorrow Mourning, on view at the Hambidge Hive [https://www.hambidge.org/hambidge-hive-atlanta], a massive 30,000-square-foot industrial project space on the 15th floor of Uptown Atlanta in Lindbergh. Featuring artists Makita Lewis-Kanuthia, Scott Kightley, Ezekiel Robinson, and Stemlines, the exhibition explores heavy, intimate themes of impermanence, grief, loss, and the fluid space between denial and acceptance.  ✦ ArtsATL Best Bets for the Week  ✦ ArtsATL Executive Editor Shane Harrison joins the show to share his top cultural recommendations for the week. [https://www.artsatl.org/9-essential-atlanta-arts-events-this-weekend-64/]This week, his mix includes Juneteenth celebrations, the Georgia Shorts Film Festival, and a performance by Georgia’s own Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight. ✦ Atlanta Arts News Brief with Isadora Pennington ✦   ArtsATL Senior Editor Isadora Pennington stops by with a celebratory look at the individuals and organizations shaping the local cultural footprint. Highlights include: The 21st Annual David C. Driscoll Prize, awarded by the High Museum of Art to Spelman University professor Dr. Cheryl Finley. SouthArts Grants celebrates writers Ashlee Haze and Kelundra Smith, The Goat Farm's Loop, and more.   Special thanks to today’s sponsors: Motherlode [https://www.instagram.com/motherlodeatl/] Mainline Magazine [http://mainlineatl.com] It’s UATL [https://www.uatl.com/its-uatl/]   Want to buy the production team a coffee? Drop a one-time tip via Venmo [https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3337447916175360332&created=1781559624]   Join us on social at @artsatlanta and @atlartscollective.   00:00:00 Sponsor open 00:01:33 Show Preview & Segment Rundown 00:02:10 Variety Reviews (Benji Carr) 00:08:40 Interview: GULCH Magazine Founders (Jasmine & EC) 00:15:02 Interview: Wit at Actors Express (Lois Reitzes & Freddie Ashley) 00:26:21 GULCH Feature: elsewhere at Hambidge/Hive (Tomorrow Mourning) 00:39:35 Arts ATL Best Bets (Shane Harrison) 00:44:04 Art News Roundup (Isadora Pennington) 00:48:39 Closing, Credits & Next Week Preview