Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency.
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Atlanta rapper, actor and businessman T.I. aka Clifford Harris recently put some Atlanta kids the opportunity to jam out with him for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.
The series, which showcases some of the emerging and top music acts in the United States, has soared in popularity thanks to some standout sets from the likes of The Roots, T.Pain and most recently Erykah Badu.
For T.I.’s set the rapper and Atlanta statesman had in his band local kids from the Atlanta Music Project.
T.I. has released nine studio albums, with seven of them reaching the top five of the US Billboard 200 chart. HIs various hits include such bangers as “Bring Em Out”, “Whatever You Like”, “Live Your Life” (featuring Rihanna) and “Dead and Gone” (featuring Justin Timberlake).
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Food & drink specials: How to eat for cheap in Atlanta EVERY DAY
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The 9th annual BronzeLens Film Festival ended triumphantly Sunday with screenings to the very end. Over the course of five days, movie fans, celebrities and personalities converged on the Marriott Marquis and other venues in Atlanta.Filmmakers far and wide came out to show support as well as have their productions screened to live audiences.The films featured a wide array of movies about different cultures, viewpoints and ethnicities, highlighting a widespread diaspora of global filmmakers.BronzeLens Film Festival opens in Atlanta
With hundreds of actors, producers and filmmakers in tow, the film festival’s big winner was “Jinn,” which won the Best Film Award at the event. “Jinn” is a Muslim-centered movie about a teen who rebels against her mother’s newfound faith of Islam.“This is a story that was many years in the making,” “Jinn” filmmaker Nijla Mu’min told the crowd. “I grew up in a very vibrant African-American Muslim community in Oakland. My father and my mother really helped to immerse me in that community and I never saw textured, complicated images of those people in media.”
On the festival’s final night, another film, “United Skates” made its Atlanta premiere to rousing applause and fanfare. The film was produced and directed by Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown. Winkler told the crowd that during the four+ years it took to produce the documentary, she learned the secret sauce of stopping some of the nation’s top roller rinks from closing: Zoning.Winkler said when she originally delved into doing interviews for the documentary she discovered that was culturally important to Americans, but especially to African-Americans. “When I saw what the narrative was, I didn’t want to do the film. I thought it was a great story, a story that needed to be told, but not by me, by an African-American.”She said the skating community pushed her to continue the project, which turned into a labor of love and enamored her to people all around the country.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ExXMi06coAnother fan favorite was “Canal Street,” which features an all-star cast including Mekhi Phifer, Mykelti Williamson, Lance Reddick and Jon Seda.The film is a modern-day thriller telling the story of a teen, Kholi Styles, trying to get by in an unwelcoming new world. After the mysterious death of a classmate, all eyes fall on Kholi, the new kid at his high school. It’s up to his father, Jackie Styles, an up-and-coming lawyer from the slums of Chicago, to defend his son in court and battle an outraged public before time runs out. Jackie fights to keep his faith and prove his son is not the monster the world has made him out to be.https://vimeo.com/223838829There were several top-notch black films screening at this year’s event.
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One of the most exciting films screening at this year’s BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta is “Jinn.” The film centers around a teenage girl who resists her mother’s newfound religion of Islam. Playing 17-year-old Summer is Zoe Renee, who starred in BET’s “The Quad.”
Summer tries to become a Muslim but is more drawn to what she learns about the “Jinn,” supernatural beings who occupy a parallel world and have free will, like humans.
Read more: Second full day of Bronzelens Film Festival salutes women
“This is a story that was many years in the making,” “Jinn” filmmaker Nijla Mu’min told the crowd. “I grew up in a very vibrant African-American Muslim community in Oakland. My father and my mother really helped to immerse me in that community and I never saw textured, complicated images of those people in media.”
See Bronzelens Film Festival 2018 full schedule of events
Mu’min said that she knew she wanted to do that with her first feature film. “To look at that realm through the lens of a black girl very much inspired by myself but also by a lot of the girls I know.”
She said she also drew inspiration from her time as a teacher.
“Jinn” will be distributed later this year: It will be released in select theaters on Nov. 15 and be available on numerous streaming platforms later that month as well.
There are several top-notch black films screening at this year’s event. But Atlanta is packed with activities and events this weekend. See some of our top picks here.
Read more: 5 metro Atlanta places to ride horses
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Join Grammy Award-inning Atlanta rapper, actor and producer Ludacris for LudaFamDay, a day filled with family friendly fun, live music, food, attractions, and more. LudaFamDay will take place Saturday, September 1, 2018 from 12 – 7 PM EDT at Friendship Field – North & King, 99 Northside Dr. SW Atlanta, GA 30314.
Now in its second year, LudaFamDay anticipates over 15000 people to bring their family, friends, and loved ones to a fun family friendly experience.
Hosted by The Ludacris Foundation, LudaFamDay presents a community festival where music meets social impact. Enjoy food from local culinary vendors and food trucks with a host of delicious flavors. Shop with local businesses in the vendor marketplace. Get a complimentary health screening in our health and wellness pavilion. Let the kids have fun at our Kids Zone and dance all day to live music and special guests on our Main Stage.
This experience will empower the community to make ambitious transformation in their lives and their community.
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Back to celebrate the final days of summer is Cuisine Noir Magazine with partners The Vine Wine Club and Wine Crawl. Join us for a special early evening social and wine tasting featuring Love Cork Screw wines.
Meet founder Chrishon Lampley who launched Love Cork Screw as a lifestyle wine brand with fun names such as “Good Times Good Friends,” (pinot grigio) and “We’re Movin On Up” (cabernet sauvignon) that are sure to become collection favorites, all paired with sweet and savory bites.
Enjoy a tasting of The Vine Wine Club’s Exclusive White selection and be the first to know about upcoming Wine Crawl events hosted by Glenn Murray. Before the event ends, enjoy a special cake in honor of Cuisine Noir’s 9th anniversary and hear about what the magazine is planning next.
Shayla Varnado of Black Girls Wine will also be there to share how to live your very best chic wine life through the world’s first wine accessory box she curates each month for subscribers.
The ATL Summer Wine Down and Anniversary Celebration is $30 and includes tastings, a delicious spread and a chance to win fun prizes including a wine and candle set from Love Cork Screw and a wine box by Black Girls Wine.
Tickets are limited and non-refundable.
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The newest edition of Art Over Dinner will bring together three multidisciplinary artists promoting social justice with their creative projects in the Southeast. Guests will enjoy a multi-course meal by Homespun and dig into the ways we can impact change in our communities utilizing the arts.
Sunday, August 19
Cocktails + Artist Talk, 6pm
Dinner, 7pm
Tickets, $85
ABOUT SHANEQUA
Shanequa Gay, an Atlanta native, has drawn praise and critical acclaim for her current work art as advocacy projects which challenge the unyielding violence and injustices committed in America and across the globe against the black body.
Gay has exhibited her work at prestigious venues and events including the Chattanooga African American Museum, the Hammonds House Museum, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, Emory University, Wofford College and the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. Her work is among public and private collections including actor Samuel L. Jackson and the permanent collection for SCAD Hong Kong.
Gay’s accomplishments outside the exhibition space includes features in the Lions Gate film Addicted, the BET television series Being Mary Jane and Zoe Ever After, and the OWN series Greenleaf. She was chosen by The Congressional Club to be the illustrator for the First Lady’s Luncheon hostess gift where First Lady Michelle Obama and more than 1,800 attendees received the gift.
She is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and currently an MFA candidate at Georgia State University.
ABOUT MEREDITH
Meredith Kooi (b. 1985, Chicago, IL USA) is an artist, curator, educator, critic, and researcher based in southwest ATL. Driven by curiosity and an eagerness to understand the places where she is, Meredith uses performance, radio, audio, installation, drawing, writing, and the web, among other mediums to dig into the materials of history to uncover narratives that may have been concealed and unseat histories that had been grand. Leaving no stone unturned, Meredith’s projects are not satisfied with the status quo. When working collaboratively, Meredith lets the thoughts, motivations, and desires of others upend her own. Working independently, Meredith critically examines her own history and body with the realization that they are not selfsame discrete entities. Whether solo or collaborative, Meredith’s projects produce space for a multiplicity of conversations that may contradict each other, but work together to create a shared world.
Meredith was a recipient of the 2014-2015 Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Emerging Artist Award and is currently a WonderRoot Walthall Fellow. Meredith received her MA in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she received a Trustee Scholarship and graduating Fellowship. She is currently finishing her PhD at Emory University in The Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts where she has taught undergraduate courses in contemporary art, feminist theory, performance studies, and Southern Studies.
ABOUT WILLIAM
William Massey is a freelance artist, sculptor, creative entrepreneur, and a co-leader of art programs within social organizations and health facilities throughout the city of Atlanta, Ga.
William initially found his voice through art during his time at Valdosta State University, receiving his BFA in 2012. William arrived to Atlanta in 2013 to begin his art career consisting of outlets such as glassblowing, teaching art to homeless youth, and public art installations. He has gradually evolved into a force of creative connection in Atlanta – utilizing the power of art to unify communities, uplift public spaces, pursue social and racial reconciliation, and creatively comfort those in hardship.
William has traveled throughout the globe with his artwork, serves on the boards and leads art programs with several local organizations, founded ColorATL, and has a number of works exhibiting publicly around Atlanta, Ga.
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For more information, please email megan@serenbe.com
Art Over Dinner is a series of intimate gatherings with artists and the organizations that support their work. We collaborate with the chefs at HomespunATL and local farmers to bring a seasonal meal that showcases winemakers and brewers, and invite our guest artists to spark the conversation at one long farm table on the outdoor deck of The Art Farm at Serenbe.
Art Farm at Serenbe is a vibrant artist complex that provides a place for engagement and inspiration. It serves as Serenbe’s central place for artists, the arts and culture. This complex is deeply rooted in process, education and creating multiple platforms for creativity. Artists, practitioners and researchers come here to deepen their practice and broaden their creative connections.
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The Spelman College Museum of Art will present photographer and visual activist Zanele Muholi on Fri, September 14, 2018 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM EDT.
Muholi will be in conversation with Renée Mussai, the London-based curator behind Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness.
The event is being brought to Spelman as part of the ACP Lecture Series/Art Papers Live initiative.
Muholi, whose pronouns are they, them, and their, uses their body as a canvas to confront the politics of race and representation in the visual archive.
Muholi’s psychologically charged portraits are unapologetic in their directness as they explore different archetypes, personal and collective histories, contemporary politics, and global events. By increasing the contrast in the dark complexion of their skin, Muholi interrogates complex representations of beauty, pride, and desire. Gazing defiantly at the camera, Muholi challenges the viewer’s perceptions while firmly asserting their cultural identity on their own terms.
Partnerships: Mailchimp, Art Papers Live, Spelman College Museum of Art, Atlanta Celebrates Photography in conjunction with “Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness” on view at Spelman College Museum of Art Sept. 14 – December 8.
Getting There: Rideshare from West End MARTA station or Rideshare or drive to Spelman Lane from Westview Dr. SW or Lee St. (Lee St. intersects I-20). Use parking lot just past security gate or parking deck if lot is full.
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Producers are looking for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Atlanta area who are passionate about their business. The new TV show is called “The Bawse.”
Whatever your dream is, “The Bawse” wants to make it a reality. All you have to do is send a one minute video telling us why you love your idea and know if funded, could be worth tens if not millions of dollars! Take that passion and drive and tell us why YOU ARE READY TO BE A BAW$E. It could be worth mentoring from a multi-millionaire and $50,000.
Apply now. Send your quick one-minute smartphone intro video along with a current photo your name, city, contact number, Instagram and Facebook handle and SKYPE NAME and we will send you more info and set you up to get your shot to pitch your dream! You can also reach us and text the information. First 50 applicants get VIP access so hit us up before Friday, August, 10th.
Text: 424-209-8693
Email: THEBAWSECASTING@GMAIL.COM -
Singer Amel Larrieux is coming to Atlanta for an exclusive performance on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at City Winery Atlanta.
Larrieux, known for her popularity in the 1990s starting with Groove Theory and her subsequent solo career, has been a touring artist since that time.
Oct. 6: Amel Larrieux at City Winery Atlanta
The singer-songwriter and keyboardist has been busy raising a daughter, who has joined her occasionally on stage. In 2000, Larrieux shot to stardom with the release of her debut album “Infinite Possibilities.”
In 2004, she released “Bravebird” on her independent label.
In 2010, Larrieux and Groove Theory partner Bryce Wilson reunited to do a show in Japan with the intent to go back into the studio. They apparently had problems finding a label.
In 2009, Larrieux released two new songs on iTunes, “Orange Glow” and “Don’t Let Me Down.” In 2013, she release her fifth studio album “Ice Cream Every Day.”
Mezzanine $40.00
VIP $40.00
Front Premier $36.00
Premier $34.00
Reserved $30.00
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Atlanta hip-hop impresario Jermaine Dupri announced Monday that his record label, So So Def, will embark on a multi-state tour. The “Cultural Currency” tour comes to Atlanta’s Philips Arena on October 21.
Dupri headlines the tour with a stable of So So Def artists including Xscape, Anthony Hamilton, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, Dem Franchize Boyz, Bone Crusher, J-Kwon and Youngbloodz. Dupri in association with AEG Presents, will play 11 cities across the United States to mark 25 years of his iconic label, So So Def.
“Blessings are bigger when you share them. One of my biggest blessings is to be able to go tour with all my artists. I can’t wait,” Dupri said in a written statement.
SoSoDef 25th Anniversary CULTURAL CURREN$Y TOUR Schedule:
Date
City
Arena
October 14
Washington D.C.
Capital One Arena
October 18
Brooklyn, NY
Barclays Center
October 19
Baltimore, MD
Royal Farms Arena
October 20
Greensboro, NC
Coliseum
October 21
Atlanta, GA
Philips Arena
TBD
Chicago, IL
United Center
October 25
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena
October 26
Memphis, TN
FedExForum
October 28
Charlotte, NC
Spectrum Center
October 31
Detroit, MI
Little Caesars Arena
November 2
Los Angeles, CA
Staples Center