Boom City: Exposing Real Art

Photo: ©2013 David Batterman

Boom City was unlike any art show I’ve ever been to. Most people would be reserved and docile at an event like this one. Boom City was the opposite, loud, live, and outrageous. To be honest, it was one of the most entertaining art shows I’ve ever attended. There were live bands, a full bar, and hordes of people crowding into several different rooms filled with some of the most unique show cases I’ve ever seen.
A particular favorite display of mine was the butterfly room. Although, I didn’t know that I was afraid of butterflies until one landed on me. Talk about an experience. The show was created by photographer  Charlie Watts, she used the butterflies as a way to unify the pieces of art that were in the room. People were absolutely amazed, it is rare to see a butterfly but to actually be able to hold one was a new experience for most.

“I’ve been to all the rooms, but this is my second time in here. There’s something about holding a butterfly that’s sort of magical,” said Heather Watson, a 26 year old art show junkie, “I love going to art shows in Atlanta, there’s so much talent here.”

Aside from the butterfly room, there were many other rooms with various types of art. In some rooms there was photography, and others held drawings. One that certainly caught my attention was a PVC pipe design. It extended from the hallway, into two different rooms. At first, I thought it was a part of a construction site taking place in the building but to my surprise it was a piece of art by Mike Black.

Photo: ©2013 David Batterman

“The materials I tend to use are things that already have their own visual language.  The commonly used, mundane, or often overlooked have been the bulk of my collection,” he told Dashboard Co-Op. His work was quite amazing, it extended into two rooms but it looked as if the piece itself was going through the walls. There is so much to say about Dashboard Co-Op and their great selection of artists but it was a rigorous process. “Artists are expected to apply and have to be selected in order to have their work exhibited at Dashboard Co. events. This gives new artists the opportunity to broadcast their innovative and creative art pieces to the public,” said Jessica Gains, chair member of  Dashboard Co-Op. Out of several applicants, only 12 are selected to be showcased at the Boom City event.

One of those artists was Luke Haynes, I was in awe while looking at the artists’ work. Everyone has a quilt or has seen a quilt that their mother, grandmother, or even great grandmother made. For some, it holds memories that are dear to us. Each piece of thread has its own story. Haynes took this idea of quilting to a new level. Through his quilt work, he tells a story visually. But this is no ordinary quilt with a picture on it. It’s as if the figures on the blanket come to life as you look at it.

Photo: ©2013 David Batterman

Each face is detailed, the expressions are easy to recognize. “Quilts are made for warmth. Quilts are made for survival. There is something visceral about constructing a covering out of pieces of fabric, quilted together to hold in the batting which is the source of the insulating qualities of a quilt,” Haynes told Dashboard Co-Op. He views the cloth of the quilt as a way to embody both the world we create for ourselves and the world we inhabit. Taking the familiarity of the quilt and adding external environmental factors, Haynes has created more than just a blanket but he’s told many stories.

Boom City is certainly an event I would attend on a regular basis. Being exposed to art and seeing the vivacity of the city is something unique. In a city where people believe all rap artists live and dance and night clubs run the town, art is the one thing that can set us apart. Taking the time to appreciate real art is something we take for granted too often. Boom City is just the perfect example of what art is, and what art can be.

-Stormm Van Rooi & Sequenza Howes-Williams

All Photos:©2013 David Batterman