Cover Story - What excites you most about Atlanta art?

A list of ‘Don’t Miss’ events and artists from local tastemakers

“That smart cookie Tom Key has programmed a fantastic piece of theater for Theatrical Outfit called Freud’s Last Session about a meeting between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis. It’s a powerhouse piece for two actors, and stars two of the best ones in town – David De Vries and Andrew Benator. It’s one of those plays that makes smart the new sexy and it shouldn’t be missed.”
— Susan V. Booth, Alliance Theatre artistic director


“I’m really excited to see what new collaborations WonderRoot will cook up for 2012. Anyone who knows the history of our organization should recognize our early days in WonderRoot. It’s kind of corny to say, but they are the leaders of the New School. And with their multi-discipline focus, it should make for some interesting ideas.”
— Charles Judson, Atlanta Film Festival programming, communications and industry outreach director


“My favorite thing is Laughing Skull Festival, which happens in the spring. It brings comics from all over the country to compete for a great prize: club work for the entire year. It’s a great festival because it brings out the best people in comedy from everywhere, but it also shows how strong and amazing Atlanta comics are. I know I am biased because I am one! Usually, I perform while the judges tabulate their scores. This year, it’s going to be bangin’.”
— Margaret Cho, comedian, actress, dancer with the stars


“Lately, the metro area has been cranking out publishing phenoms: Kathryn Stockett, Amanda Kyle Williams, James Dean and Eric Litwin, just to name a few. I loved seeing Pete the Cat owning the number one and number two spots on the New York Times list a couple weeks back. I’m looking forward to whatever surprises our fecund writing community has in store for us this year.”
— Daren Wang, co-founder of the Decatur Book Festival


“What am I excited about singularly? The growing trend that Atlanta’s artists and arts organizations are speaking to issues of social change. But there’s much, much more that I know will feed my soul this next year. Gyun Hur. The Ethics and the Arts Initiative at Emory University. Lauri Stallings and Lisa Cremin. Change of Address. The hope that Steph Dowda curates another show. The list grows a ton – but then I start listing off all the special things that my friends do. Atlanta is lucky right now.”
— Chris Appleton, Executive Director of WonderRoot


“I’m most excited about viewing the Global Africa Project, the extensive exhibition organized by the Museum of Arts and Design (New York) and curated by Leslie King-Hammond and Lowery Stokes Sims, which will be on view at the High Museum beginning in June 2012.”
— Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Director of Spelman College Museum of Fine Art


“Off the EDGE, contemporary dance at the Rialto (Jan 27th and 28th), curated by gloATL. This mix of cutting edge international choreographers and a wide selection of Atlanta-based dance troupes and performers should energize and inform Atlanta’s resurgent contemporary dance scene.”
— Louis Corrigan, founder Flux Projects and Atlanta Art Now publisher