When the High Museum of Art announced in April that it had received nearly $4 million to support its photography initiatives, it said it planned to add a dedicated full-time gallery space to showcase prints from its 5,500-work photo collection.
And, in short order, that wedge-shaped space, newly named the Lucinda Weil Bunnen Gallery for Photography, has opened on the Skyway level of the Wieland Pavilion.
The debut installation, “The Invented Image: Photographs From the Collection,” is a grouping of 23 images drawn from the High’s holdings of experimental photography. The thread linking the photographers — including Vik Muniz, Dawoud Bey, David Hockney, Christopher Bucklow and Barbara Kasten — is their innovative approach to constructing images and blurring the boundaries of conventional photography practice.
“Invented Image” will remain on view through Jan. 4, 2015.
The space named for Bunnen, the Atlanta photographer and arts patron, should give High visitors the opportunity to better make connections between photography and contemporary art, which commands the adjacent galleries.
The gallery also is open in time for Atlanta Celebrates Photography, the annual October festival that brings photo exhibits, lectures and more to some 150 venues across the metro area (www.acpinfo.org). Meanwhile, the High's major photography retrospective "Wynn Bullock: Revelations" continues through Jan. 18.
1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4444, high.org.
THEATER
High School Musical awards hit prime time
The scheduled Aug. 16 telecast of the sixth annual Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards offers a rare chance to catch a star on the rise.
Sure you’ve no doubt heard that pitch before in conjunction with this high-energy, high-intensity competition, also known as the Shuler Hensley Awards.
But while those Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre shows overflowed with talent, they didn’t feature Jai’len Josey. The Tri Cities High School student followed up her best actress win in the April event by taking the best actress prize at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in June in New York.
The two-hour broadcast on Channel 2 WSB-TV, hosted by anchors Jovita Moore and Fred Blankenship, will air starting at 8 p.m.
Fifty-nine Georgia schools competed in the Georgia awards, and Fulton County’s Tri Cities dominated with 13 trophies for its production of “Dreamgirls,” running the table on acting prizes while also snagging the best musical and best director awards, among others.
The Cobb Energy show includes an appearance by Marietta-born Broadway star Hensley, who also met Josey and Georgia best actor winner Rubin Barksdale for lunch in New York when they were preparing to compete for the national honors. The special also includes Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, both taped in New York, responding to student questions.
VISUAL ART
Get This Gallery shuts bricks-and-mortar gallery
Get This Gallery, which had assembled a formidable artist roster and mounted many exhibitions that garnered strong notices, has shut its doors after a 10-year, 50-exhibit run.
Owner Lloyd Benjamin suggested he was going out on a high note, amid the Midtown gallery’s best year of business, to concentrate on independent curatorial projects and art consultation through a new venture, 4th Projects. In fact, a 4th Projects installation — featuring works by Scott Ingram, Alex “Hense” Brewer, Heather Greenway and Bean Worley — is on view at the Hyatt Atlanta Midtown through Sept. 1.
Among his gallery’s accomplishments, Benjamin said the High Museum of Art has acquired eight pieces for its permanent collection from Get This artists over the past three years. The gallery also recently placed a Ben Roosevelt painting of Iggy Pop in the eternal rocker’s personal collection.
Artevaggio spreads wings in Duluth
Meanwhile, Duluth boasts a new art spot, Artevaggio Fine Art Gallery. Launched by Samantha and Jim Meeker in June and specializing in representational art by local, national and international artists, it is opening its third group exhibit, “Depiction,” with a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9.
Continuing through Sept. 16, the show features works by Chin-Cheng Hung, John Jaster, Daniel Sachs, Kimberly Beck, Jessica Medovich, Emily Cameron, Surin Jung, Paolo Chiezzi, Suzy Schultz and Kathleen Flowers. Hung is an art professor at SCAD, where Samantha Meeker graduated with a BFA in painting and design in 2009.
The gallery seeks to position itself as a resource center for artists, hosting workshops and critique groups and offering podcasts and artist interviews on its active website.
Artevaggio is at 3294 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 2003, Duluth. 770-833-3461, www.artevaggio.com.
