A new chapter begins
April 23 — Hello, art lovers! This week’s Sketchbook is a special one for me because it’s my last.
After nearly three years, the time has come for me to pass the baton, as I will be taking on a new role as Senior Editor of Art + Design and Dance for ArtsATL.
While this new opportunity is exciting, it’s also bittersweet. I have truly loved launching and curating Sketchbook, and it has been an honor to share the stories of so many incredible artists and organizations over the years. I am grateful to have worked with the amazing team at Rough Draft since we launched Sketchbook in June 2022 (Here’s a link to our first issue!)
Editor Collin Kelley’s endless support, wisdom, and passion for journalism have marked my career for more than ten years now, while publisher Keith Pepper’s forward-thinking vision provided space for the idea of Sketchbook to take root and bloom.
I am so pleased to announce that Sketchbook will continue with a new, passionate curator who will undoubtedly usher in a new era of great art stories and news: Sherri Daye Scott.
Sherri is a longtime writer and creative strategist who has helped share the stories of Atlanta’s artists through print, video, and online. She led the award-winning Big Facts, Small Acts public arts campaign, highlighted local artists using their work to inspire change, and has reported for national outlets like NPR, Essence, and The Washington Post. She was also profiled by Rough Draft in 2021.
Sherri has strong ties to Atlanta’s arts community and brings a thoughtful, experienced voice to Sketchbook. She’ll continue to cover the exhibits, artists, and ideas that shape how we see our city. Have a show, event, or story idea for Sherri? Reach out and say hello via email.
Before I go, I’d like to take this opportunity to look back on a few of my favorite stories and features from Sketchbook.
And with that, I say for the last time –
As always, thanks for reading!
Isadora (📸 Connect with me on IG)
The man, the enigma, the myth: exploring the folk art of BlackCatTips
FROM SKETCHBOOK, AUGUST 28, 2024
🖌️ Chances are, you’ve seen the work of local folk artist Kyle Brooks, who works under the pseudonym BlackCatTips. His witticisms and whimsical painted creatures often appear on discarded scraps of wood, which are then affixed to telephone poles or propped up along roadways.
“Brown Dogs, $25” reads one piece that I pass almost daily. “Is God Clear?” asks another sign that is positioned prominently across from the DeKalb Farmers Market.
“Let’s Be Thankful For The Simple Things,” “Be Good Not Bad,” and “Tell A Friend Hello” are just some of the positive messages incorporated in his recent works.
➡️ Read more about BlackCatTips here.
Share The Harvest, Know Your Farmer
SPONSORED BY FRESH HARVEST
🥕 We are Fresh Harvest! We deliver Georgia-grown, organic produce and groceries across Atlanta. Share the Harvest is our food access program, funding farmers markets for refugee and immigrant families in Clarkston, GA.
📦 We commit 10% of our profits to this work because we believe fresh food should be accessible to everyone. Every produce box, donation, and shared story helps grow a better food system.
➡️ Try us out, because when you eat well, so can your neighbors. We deliver to Dunwoody on Thursdays & Fridays each week. Learn more at FreshHarvest.com.
The fantastic and divine art of Shanequa Gay
JANUARY 24, 2022
🎨 What does fantasy look like from the perspective of a strong, confident, southern Black woman? That’s just one of the questions that multimedia artist Shanequa Gay asks with her work.
Inspired by her family history and African American traditions, Gay embraces a sense of play when conceptualizing her colorful works. Using a range of materials that include oil paints, acrylics, photographs, watercolors, fabric, spray paint, vinyl, and even weave, she crafts figural works that pose open-ended questions and entice the viewer to consider their own perceptions.
➡️ Read more about Shanequa Gay here.
Lose yourself to find yourself at The Hambidge Center
FROM SKETCHBOOK, MAY 1, 2024
🖼️ The hot sun beat down on my arm through the open window of my Subaru. Wind whipped my hair across my forehead and around my neck like a wild improvisational dancer. With music barely audible over the rush of my car’s tires on the pavement, I had plenty of time to think and reflect on my journey.
I was on my way to The Hambidge Center.
➡️ Read more about The Hambidge Center here.
Light it up! Chantelle Rytter leads the return of the Beltline Lantern Parade
FROM AUGUST 25, 2022
🔮 After a long pandemic hiatus, the beloved Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade returns earlier than usual and on a new route. This year’s parade steps off May 21 on the Westside Trail, but you can expect the same music, laughter, cheering, and a sea of fantastical glowing creatures and puppets
The 12th annual Lantern Parade will, as usual, be led by its creator and parade expert, Chantelle Rytter. With a deep love for the art form that ties back to her affection for New Orleans, she has made it her mission to bring the joy of parading to Atlanta.
➡️ Read more about Chantelle Rytter here.
