Exploring joy and grief through art
March 19 — In this week’s Sketchbook, I’m excited to present a feature on renowned and award-winning artist Charly Palmer. For more than three decades, Palmer has been committed to showcasing the joys and hope of the Black experience through his compelling paintings. You may have even seen some of his work before, which appears on album covers, magazine covers, children’s books, Olympics posters, and even a USPS official stamp!
Also this week, I am sharing some information about Gyun Hur’s “Our mothers, our water, our peace” which has landed at The Goat Farm. The works explore the Asian community’s grief and resilience in the wake of increasing hate crimes, and the installment at The Goat Farm represents the culmination of a two-year project for the artist.
As always, thanks for reading!
Isadora
A common thread of love: artist Charly Palmer discusses hope and Black joy
🧵 For more than 30 years, artist Charly Palmer has been celebrating Blackness and African ancestry through inspired contemporary art.
“My common thread is love; a love of Black people, love of hope and the spirit and the ancestors, telling the story that is rich in truth and debunking all the lies,” said Palmer.
On a recent sunny morning, I joined Palmer in his studio in Atlanta’s West End to discuss his career and what motivates his art. Palmer’s large, paint-splattered workspace was surrounded by his paintings, and a drafting table sat covered in papers and reference photos that were off to one side. The space displayed various works from Palmer’s long career, plus collectible video game consoles, projects ready to be shipped out, and even an indoor basketball game, which I gather is one of his most prized possessions.
➡️ Read more about Charly Palmer here.
Data Meets Art at the High Museum!
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM
✨ Ryoji Ikeda: data-verse is now on view at the High Museum! Don’t miss this exhibition that shows how art, science, and data collide in an exploration of the digital age and the universe. Get ready for a mind-bending experience— Ikeda’s immersive light and sound installations are a must-see! Get Tickets Now!
Exploring grief with Gyun Hur’s “Our mothers, our water, our peace” at The Goat Farm
💧 More than 125 handblown and tear-shaped glass vessels are now hanging in a place of pride at The Goat Farm. Created by Korean American artist Gyun Hur in response to the rise in Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, the exhibit represents her devotion to producing poetic artwork centered around community healing.
Installed last weekend at The Goat Farm and on view through March 30, the exhibit’s timing corresponds with the fourth anniversary of the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings. This installment at The Goat Farm represents the culmination of a two-year project. A musical score by Hahn Rowe accompanies the installation.
➡️ Read more about “Our mothers, our water, our peace” at The Goat Farm here.
Art Happenings
🗓️ Third Thursday brings a variety of free exhibitions to venues across Athens. Programming includes the Circulating Stamp Project, Yoga in the Galleries at the Georgia Museum of Art, and a number of great exhibition opportunities. Free and open to the public. Thurs., March 20.
📷 Stephanie Hanlon’s photographic series “The Lost Family: ‘Summoning the Courage, Making the Cobbler'” will debut at the Maloof Gallery of the Atlanta Photography Group this weekend. Opens Thurs., March 20 from 7-9 p.m., followed by a roundtable discussion on Sat., March 22 from 2-4 p.m. (pictured)
🎷 Friday Jazz returns to the High Museum of Art. Téja‘s soulful sounds will fill up the Robinson Atrium while art lovers enjoy cocktails and tours of special exhibitions. Fri., March 21 from 6-10 p.m.
👟 Olivia Franklin will be present for an Artist Talk at Gallery Chimera in which she will discuss her current exhibition, “In Their Shoes.” Fri., March 21 from 6-7 p.m.
🛍️ Buckhead Art & Company will host a two-day pop-up event celebrating women in the arts for the Women’s History Month Artist Market. Sat. and Sun., March 22-23.
🎙️ Hammonds House Museum presents a panel discussion on community, collaboration, and printmaking with Allan Edmunds and Kevin Cole, moderated by Halima Taha. Free. Sat., March 22 starting at 1:30 p.m.
🖼️ The Abernathy Arts Center invites the public to attend an opening reception for the Asian American Artists Society Exhibit & Chinese Painting Brushes Party on Sat., March 22 from 1-3 p.m. Free and open to the public.
🗣️ Johnson Lowe Gallery will host a conversation between Sarah Higgins, Director of Art Papers, and artist Jimmy O’Neal whose exhibit “Spittin’ Image” is on display now at the gallery. Sat., March 22 from 1-2 p.m.
Post of the Week
💃🏾 The Bakery Atlanta has teamed up with Emory’s Center for Ethics and the Arts Program to present “A Network of Autonomy,” a group exhibition highlighting reproductive justice. The opening reception tomorrow, Thurs., March 20, will feature two choreographed performances, and from the looks of this clip on Instagram, I think it will be quite moving!
