The Verdict: Art House ATL
This weekend, I eagerly joined the many young artists carrying in canvases and rolling in clothing racks to the Beltline Studios of Atlanta, Georgia for the final gallery of Arthouse Season 3. Prior to this event, I had never attended or showcased my work at any Arthouse event, but I’ve certainly been hearing the buzz about this growing group of creatives around the Atlanta neighborhood.
By and for youth, Arthouse strives to build a platform for young and developing artists who are searching for their place in Atlanta’s art scene. The Arthouse community is led by a group of young creatives formally known as the Collective, which include Uncle Bendr, Chriz Vaughn, Jlenz, Kix Hendrix, Mack Walker and Mael.
From the moment I arrived, it was clear to see the growing Arthouse community. Many artists I spoke with had participated in more than one Arthouse event. Community members had only the best things to say about the Arthouse family. Featured artists only have to pay a generously small fee to set up and sell their work. Unlike almost any other markets, galleries and exhibitions, Arthouse doesn’t collect a portion of sales from its artists in the best interest of young creatives like themselves.
It wasn’t long before the shabby, underground gallery was crawling with a diverse crowd made up of faces familiar and new. Visitors to the pop-up could shop through art and apparel, watch artists paint and graffiti live, and explore the skateboarding area in the back of the venue.
Among this “collaboration of culture”, you could find things such as laptop stickers for only 25 cents, one-of-a-kind, name-your-price vintage clothing, and locally designed streetwear by brands such as Not Famous and Low Valley. Pictured above, gallery artist Olivia Towe’s beautifully iconoclastic imagery is inspired by Catholic artwork. (@friendlycatlady on Instagram)
For future events, I personally think the Collective would benefit to keep focusing on the unique collaboration of music and visual artists that consistently attracts the Arthouse crowd. Replacing the movie area or the skate area with more live music artists or food trucks could be more conducive to the atmosphere of uplifting art as a whole.
So, why is this up-and-coming community so important? Collective member, Jlenz, said it best when he stated, “because there’s really nobody else doing it”. In a modern art culture where younger artists are often lost, ignored, or unappreciated, Arthouse is celebrating and empowering young artists.
The verdict: if you’re an artist wondering if Arthouse is for you, my conclusion is that it might be dependent upon what you’re selling and what you’re looking to get out of the experience. At the very least, Arthouse provides a fun way to meet other artists in the community and promote your art in a very affordable way. If you’re looking for a fun place to spend a Saturday night, ArtHouse is a great way to support local artists and businesses.
Works Cited
Davis, E. "R. (2019, March 18). Arthouse, The Collective: A Kaleidoscope of Teen Culture in Atlanta. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://voxatl.org/arthouse-collective-atlanta-teens/.