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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 21
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Museum’s shirt show suits hip, young crowd
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Richard L. Eldredge The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/21/06
Not only were T-shirts the apparel of choice at the opening night party for the Museum of Design Atlanta’s latest exhibition Thursday, the venerable fashion mainstay also served as the artwork.
About 800 of the city’s hipster young artist types flooded into the gallery inside the Marquis II Tower space at 285 Peachtree Center Ave. downtown to take in “To a T: T-Shirt Culture … Cute or Couture?” which features T-shirt designs from local designers and artists from as far away as Australia, British Columbia, Brazil and England.
So how did the Atlanta-based museum make contact with T-shirt designers halfway around the globe?
“We started a Museum of Design Atlanta MySpace page,” MODA rep Laura Moody told us. “It’s really been an invaluable resource tool. We never would have connected with some of these people through conventional means.”
The exhibition also boasts two original his-and-hers designs from “Project Runway” finalist Michael Knight. For his pair of framed shirts, it’s likely that the budding Atlanta designer smashed up a mirror ball or two.
“He actually called at one point to ask if the shirts had to be wearable,” said Moody of the cutting-edge designs. “We told him, ‘No, do whatever you want.’ “
Upstairs, the boys from Atlanta-based Esperanza Clothing were showing off their city-centric line of shirts that salute Sweet Auburn, the Clermont Lounge, the city’s colorful past (“ATL: We Only Get Burned Once”) and one shirt that pleads to “Bring Back the Point ‘Cause Nobody’s Gotten Their Head Kicked in Too Long!”
But when we were introduced to Esperanza co-creator Daniel Barbalho, we strongly suspected the recent Georgia Tech grad never actually dodged beer bottles beside us in the late Little Five Points rock club in the previous millennium.
“We wanted a way to celebrate what’s cool about the city, and people have really responded,” Barbalho told us.
The best business card of the evening, however, belonged to the party’s DJ David Vanarsdale. His cards displayed near his mixing equipment were made from recycled vinyl albums. We were assured that only ancient Celine Dion and Kajagoogoo platters were mangled to make Vanarsdale’s unique calling cards.
“To a T” runs through Jan. 13 at MODA.
In-house radio feud
It’s not uncommon to encounter a few morning show feuds on Atlanta’s airwaves. But within the same company? The morning teams at Viva 105.7 and 96rock may be charting new territory.
This week, Juan Tapia (Yogi on the air) and Jose Carias (who goes by Panda) sued their employers Clear Channel and 96rock’s the Regular Guys over a bathroom bit in which they were the target.
According to the lawsuit filed in Fulton County Superior Court, Regular Guys co-host Larry Wachs entered a bathroom at Clear Channel offices Oct. 9 and secretly taped a conversation between Tapia and Carias. Each was in an individual stall. “Defendant Wachs intentionally recorded Tapia’s and Carias’ conversation and recorded certain offensive sounds while they were utilizing the facilities,” the lawsuit said.
The next day, the Regular Guys aired Tapia’s and Carias’ conversations and made fun of their “race and sexual orientation,” the lawsuit stated. The pair, who helm a Spanish-language music station, said they have complained in the past to Clear Channel management about offensive comments made by the Regular Guys but felt they were “largely ignored.”
None of the parties involved would comment about the lawsuit, which cites invasion of privacy and negligent hiring and seeks unspecified punitive damages. After the lawsuit was officially filed Monday, 96rock took the Regular Guys off the air and has been airing repeats.
There was no immediate word if a judge would eventually flush the suit.
Coming Out month?
Apparently, a couple of folks didn’t get the memo that National Coming Out Day was last week. In a statement Friday to People magazine, “Grey’s Anatomy” actor T.R. Knight confirmed that unlike his character, Dr. George O’Malley, he is not a heterosexual.
“I guess there have been a few questions about my sexuality, and I’d like to quiet any unnecessary rumors,” Knight said in the release. “While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I’m gay isn’t the most interesting part of me.”
Former “American Idol” contestant and Cumming resident R.J. Helton, meanwhile, disclosed during a Sirius Satellite Radio interview this week that he is gay. The announcement had the potential to shock one grandmother somewhere in Billings, Mont.
Upside? A lucrative future awaits Helton performing aboard those gay cruise ships that crusty “A.I.” judge Simon Cowell is so fond of referencing.
Celebrity birthdays
Today: Actress Joyce Randolph (“The Honeymooners”) is 81. TV judge Judy Sheindlin (“Judge Judy”) is 64. Guitarist Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s is 53. Actress Carrie Fisher is 50. Actor Will Estes (“American Dreams”) is 28.
Sunday: Actress Joan Fontaine is 89. Actress Annette Funicello is 64. Actor Jeff Goldblum is 54. Comedian Carlos Mencia is 39. Country singer Shelby Lynne is 38. Reggae rapper Shaggy is 38. Drummer Zac Hanson of Hanson is 21.
Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
