Photo: Dylan Fagan

January 8th was the opening reception for M.F.A. printmaking student Shaun McCallum’s thesis show ‘Consuming Decay.’The works on display combine food, photography and various printmaking techniques. The exhibit is on display at the SCAD-Dewberry gallery until January 20th.

Photo: Dylan Fagan

Photo: Dylan Fagan

Entering an art space at the Edgewood Avenue Artwalk. Photo by Alexis Blaudeau.

Dashboard Co-op opened the Edgewood Avenue Artwalk on Saturday, Oct. 4. The show featured artists Henry Detweiler, Iman Person, P. Seth Thompson, Justin Raideau, Lee Deigaard, Nikita Gale, Aubrey Edwards and Nathan Sharratt who occupied five buildings along the avenue. The exhibition challenged the contributors to recreate the event space with art specific to each room.

The event spaces were confined to five separate buildings set between The Sound Table and the Music Room that spanned a distance of about three blocks. Maps in hand, viewers could navigate to each location with ease by following the glittering arrows pointing in the direction of the next spot, as well as shimmering stars that indicated the five destinations. However the sparkling substance was a bit unruly. Once disturbed, the adhesive would stick to people’s shoes scattering the luster ultimately making the street gleam.

Feet were stomping. Out of the mass of youths (ages 18-30) someone said,  “I think I’m drunk.” Young attendees sported brown-bagged drinks from site to site. Not the typical atmosphere. Instead of isolating viewers in one area Dashboard had observers on the move. This obviously changed the experience for those in attendance, however the concern was whether artists were receiving enough attention. Detweiler, a 22-year-old undergraduate student at Georgia State and one of the eight chosen artists was happy with the turnout. He said he was, “not sure if the crowd understood his work,” but he was pleased with the range of on-lookers.

Stephanie Pharr, a former SCAD student was “impressed” with Detweiler’s pieces. Over all she thought the artwalk allowed the public to interact and become better acquainted with the street. There was a great mix of people migrating in from an event nearby on Auburn Avenue. Men and women were walking over to see what was going on in the Edgewood neighborhood. The environment seemed to be an extension of the goings-on in bars and restaurants that night.

Dashboard provided a venue for people of all different types to come out and observe art. Whether the medium was photography or sculpture the experience was without question memorable. The glitter for sure made its way into the homes of all who were present as a small memento of the night.

Illustrator and writer Charlie Bates discusses his freelance work and marketing job at Cartoon Network. Photo by Caroline Huftalen.

Perseverance is one of the things that Bates believes allowed him to have such a long-lasting career as an artist. Before working at Cartoon Network, Bates worked in game development and drew comics. Although never straying too far from what he enjoyed most, he made it clear that he never feared trying something new.

“I think it can only help if you try different types of things. This is one of the benefits I found during my game development days,” Bates said.

“Having to write those rules systems, which is more technical writing, that helps to clarify your thoughts. Because you have to think if this situation happens, then what occurs? Which you can then use in writing creatively, because you can think about motivations and cause and effect.”

One of the hardest lessons to learn as an artist is how to hear the word no. Being able to take rejection well and listen to criticism is monumental in moving forward professionally.

“Get used to rejection but don’t let it defeat you. It is the nature of life that you are going to fail a bunch in different degrees,” Bates said. “To be able to not take it personally or at least not let it stay with you on a personal level is huge. Be able to take criticism, but stick to your guns if you feel strongly about it, hold on to your own integrity and ability, knowing what value you have.”

Bates is not only passionate about his art, writing fiction and illustrating, but he is excited about the the job that keeps his dog taken care of and food on the table: his job as a marketer.

“As long as what I’m doing is fulfilling and hopefully other people are getting something out of it in some degree, as much as I used to resist saying I’m a marketer, I enjoy it and I think I do well at it,” Bates said. “The key is to continue to do my first love which is why I continue to do my own creative projects.”

When talking to an artist, the idea of working a nine-to-five always seems like a last resort; they can’t wait till they “make it” so they can focus on their art and quit their job. But Bates’ day job inspires his creative side, and vice versa.

“The marketing side has helped me to express creative concepts and to drill down into what’s different. For instance, my comic, I have revamped over the past year about four different times,” Bates said. “I’d set it aside and come back to it with fresh eyes and I do this with marketing, too. I take a hard look at it and say okay, what doesn’t work? It has been really helpful in both cases. I’m able to bring creativity to the marketing side and the marketing side has helped me to refine and better express my ideas.”

Everyone strives to find a job that they actually want to wake up and peel themselves out of bed for everyday. Bates seems to have found it, but not without a little trial and error.

“If could talk to my younger self I would say, it’s okay to take chances, it’s okay to take risks, just be smart about it,” Bates said. “You should get a thrill out of what you are doing. If you’re not, then take a hard look at why. It’s too easy to be unhappy, but it’s also way too easy to be happy to let yourself get stuck.”

Students watch Qurious perform at last Saturday's Music in the Sky. Photo by Eric Beatty.

“A lot of students go to classes and go home without talking to other students,” said Mike Bedsole, fourth-year animation student and head of the SAC. “This event provides a great opportunity to enhance the college experience.”

Qurious opened the show, which featured fourth-year illustration student Mike Netland, and some atmospheric, electronic sounds. They were followed by Jon Drake & The Shakes, a Chicago-based band of eight on the rise. Their folksy, alternative country tunes closed the night out to a crowd of students dancing, jumping and doing the wave.

As the bands played, students also got a chance to find out more about student media, which includes SCAD Atlanta Radio, and publications “SCAN Magazine” and “The Connector.”

“I see student media being the voice of the students, reflecting what our interests are and what we find important,” said Dylan Fagan, third-year motion media student and general manager for SCAD Atlanta Radio.

SCAD Atlanta Radio and the SAC want to offer Music in the Sky every year. This provides students with a chance to gain interest in different media outlets, showcase some great talent and have fun. SCAD student bands also have the opportunity to play as opening acts for the concert.

For more information on SCAD Atlanta Radio and upcoming events, email gm@scadatlantaradio.org.

For more information on student media, students can attend an interest meeting this Friday at 2 p.m. in room 259 in the main building.

“The Connector” and “SCAN” have staff meetings every Friday at 10 a.m. in their office at Spring House. All current students are welcome.

Display of Manolo Blahnik shoes at Trois Gallery, SCAD Atlanta. By Caroline Huftalen.

By Caroline Huftalen

SCAD Atlanta’s Trois Gallery has made every shoe lover’s dream come true with the current exhibition “Manolo Blahnik…the shoe,” on display until Sept. 23. The exhibition is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The collection was first displayed in Savannah after Blahnik was presented with the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award at the SCAD fashion show last May, said Melissa Messina, senior curator of SCAD exhibitions.

“SCAD has a rich tradition of spotlighting this special awardee in a dynamic, focused, survey exhibition,” Messina said. “Mr. Blahnik and his staff was pleased with the success of the show in Savannah and impressed with the city’s and SCAD community’s reception of his work. He agreed to allow SCAD to [send] it to Atlanta for the benefit of the students and broader community.”

The exhibition will entice students from majors outside of traditional art forms. Fashion and accessory design, advertising and photography students will have a rare opportunity to see a showcase of one of the world’s most influential footwear designers, according to Messina.

“André Leon Talley, Mr. Blahnik and his staff were very involved in making the selections for the exhibition. Mr. Blahnik’s direct input was invaluable, as he is solely responsible for the design and prototype of every shoe and oversees every aspect of their production and marketing,” Messina said.

There are over 60 pairs of shoes represented, and they are divided into menswear, aggressive, graphic and botanical categories. According to Messina, each selection highlights Blahnik’s ideas, process and innovations in style and design.

“Some of the stand outs in the exhibition include three iconic shoes that were featured in the “Sex and the City” series as well as a selection of shoes worn by actresses in Sofia Coppola’s film “Marie Antoinette” which won an Academy Award for Best Costume,” Messina said. “Also presented are images from the Manolo Blahnik archive that showcase various ad campaigns, and several video clips from select interviews with Mr. Blahnik speaking firsthand about his work.”

Trois Gallery will be holding a reception for the exhibition, also free and open to the public, on Sept. 22, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information click here.

Amy Jade Winehouse was born Sept. 14, 1983 in the Southgate area of North London. It was not known then, but we would all fall deeply in love with her music, and be saddened at the news of her death last month on July 23.

In 2003, Winehouse released her debut album “Frank.” It was received positively by most music critics. Many people were stunned by the strong, soulful voice that Winehouse projected. Who would think that such a small young woman could belt out tunes comparable to all-time jazz greats like Etta James and Billie Holiday?

Winehouse wrote the song lyrics on “Frank” after a break-up. Like many great songwriters, Winehouse was able to take her personal pain and struggles and pour them into her music. Songs like “Stronger Than Me” and “You Sent Me Flying” reveal a deep honesty and a refusal to shy away from her feelings.

In 2006, Winehouse released her second studio album “Back To Black.” In this album, she once again sang about her relationships as well as her experiences with drinking and drugs. This album produced one of her most famous hits “Rehab,” as well as “Back to Black,” and “You Know I’m No Good.” Winehouse was nominated for six Grammy Awards for this album and won five, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Rehab.”

Winehouse’s infectious tunes and soulful voice swept many people away. She was brought her own style to the classic genres of soul and R&B, and her music inspired many fans to discover other artists like Adele, Duffy and Jessie J. Unfortunately, as talented as Winehouse was she was also a troubled soul. She battled drug and alcohol addiction for years and wandered in and out of rehab. Before her death, it was reported that she made a decision to stop drinking, having previously given up drugs.

It is speculated that she went against her doctor’s advice to wean herself off alcohol slowly instead of quitting cold turkey. Although toxicology reports have not been released to date, news reports state that her death might have been a reaction to her immediate withdrawal. She was said to be sober for three weeks prior to her passing. She was just 27 years old.

This sweet dream started in founder Gina “Gigi” Butler’s kitchen. At first she faced several financial problems, but with help from her parents and brother Steve, she opened the first Gigi’s Cupcakes in 2008 with great success. Three years later, Gigi’s Cupcakes has grown into a franchise with 36 locations in 16 states.

Each one of Gigi’s cupcakes is adorably topped with treats corresponding to their name. Atop the Key Lime Pie cupcake, you’ll find crushed vanilla wafers and a key lime slice gummy. The Peanut Butter Cup cupcake is drizzled with chocolate and adorned with honey roasted peanuts. Then there is the banana split cupcake — it’s especially adorable and delicious. The cake base is strawberry-flavored and incredibly moist. Plus there’s a marshmallow filling that will leave you wanting more. The banana frosting is divine and the chocolate ganache is perfection. Then you get a crunch from chopped nuts on top and the best part, the banana chip. Finish it all off with the customary maraschino cherry.

If you’re not thrilled about the massive heap of frosting, give the S’mores cupcake a try. Instead of the saccharine confectioner’s sugar frosting, you’ll be greeted with vanilla fluff, which isn’t as sweet but just as tasty. The milk chocolate base has tiny chocolate chips baked in, giving the cupcake an added bonus. Graham cracker crumbs rim the edge of the vanilla fluff, and toasted (yes, toasted!) marshmallows make the perfect bed for a Hershey’s chocolate square.

Whether you opt for the classic Carrot Cake cupcake or take a dive into the Hunka Chunka Banana Love cupcake (a banana nut cake with banana frosting), you’ll find that you’ll be coming back for more of Gigi’s fun and scrumptious sweetness.

For more information on Gigi’s Cupcakes, click here.

Gigi’s Cupcakes
3655 Roswell Road Suite 218
Buckhead

Two years have passed since moviegoers have seen a Michael Bay explosion on the screen, but this summer blockbuster fans have been blessed with “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” The third entry in the franchise runs at a staggering 155 minutes filled with a hodgepodge of political intrigue, frenetic robotic violence and teen comedy.

The movie opens with the notion that an ancient vessel has crashed on the moon and the Apollo crew at NASA must investigate it. Once there, the team finds the remains of the first Autobot leader: Sentinel Prime. The ship is The Ark, an Autobot vessel from Cybertron that can open a space bridge to summon the vast planet anywhere in the galaxy. The Decepticons wish to use it to bring Cybertron itself into Earth’s atmosphere and enslave humanity.

The biggest flaw of the “Transformers” trilogy is the lack of character development of both the human and digital variety, as well as the erratic tone. Sam Whitwicky, played by Shia LaBeouf, is the snarky yet nerdy protagonist who somehow manages to score a supermodel-esque girlfriend (Rosie Huntington-Whitley) while saving the planet with the Autobots in awesome adventures.

Most of the Autobots and Decepticons are presented with annoying one-liners and nothing more. Leonard Nemoy makes a welcome appearance as Sentinel Prime and Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime is the perfect fit. It’s frustrating to hear Hugo Weaving voice Megatron when Frank Welker, who played Megatron in the original cartoon, was included to voice various Decepticons. Weaving is a fine actor, but he does not fit as Megatron — his voice is too gruff, too predictable for an evil robotic villain with red eyes.

As a high budget summer blockbuster, the film proudly employs Dolby 7.1 sound and is presented in 2D, RealD 3D and IMAX 3D. As expected, the special effects are astounding, complete with buildings ripped to shreds and the usual explosions. What really sets this movie apart from its earlier counterparts is the brutality of the Decepticons. They vaporize humans into charred skeletons by their superior technology. It’s surprising to see this much violence in a summer PG-13 movie based on a children’s cartoon.

To truly get the most out of this movie — or anything directed by Michael Bay – is to turn your brain off, laugh at the silly humor, cheer as the bad guys get taken out and enjoy the ride.

Six Flags logo.

So you and your friends are heading to Six Flags this summer. They’re all talking about riding the new Dare Devil roller coaster and taking a spin on the Ninja.

On the other hand, you’re just hoping to survive the kiddie roller coaster, Dahlonega Mine Train. Here are some rides that will give you thrills without all the chills.

Thunder River. This ride sits you in a circular water tube that goes down a bumpy river. Laugh with friends, or strangers, as the tube spins down the water. Who will get splashed when bumped against the waves? Who will land directly under the waterfall?

Dodge City Bumper Cars. Who can forget this classic? Yes, you’ll probably get stuck for a minute behind someone who doesn’t understand how to reverse, but it’s still fun to go around running into all of your friends. Plus, the abundance of cars makes for a fast moving line.

Lickskillet Sky Buckets. See Six Flags with brand new eyes as the ride lifts you way up above the theme park. Sit comfortably in the bucket as you travel all across the park and see how the guests have turned into ants and the roller coasters into toys.

Splash Water Falls. It’s about 101 degrees outside, and you’re looking for any possible way to cool down. Turn to Splash Water Falls, where you’re guaranteed to be drenched in water. The drop may be a little scary, but cooling off in the heat will be well worth it.

Sky Coaster. It’s not quite a roller coaster, but it’s certainly not a children’s ride. You’re put into a harness, then lifted ten stories into the air. At the count of three, you’re dropped and sent flying. Unfortunately, these thrills come at a price: $35 for one person, $40 if you can convince a friend to accompany you.