Thursday, May 21, 2015

The Art of John Lennon...in nearby Roswell!

"Along with his guitar, pen and paper seemed to have served as ideal tools to express John's complex emotion". - Yoko Ono

The Art of John Lennon | Copyright: Yoko Ono
"On Cloud 9" | The Art of John Lennon | Copyright: Yoko Ono

While music is remembered as Lennon's most popular art form, he loved both literature and visual art, having studied a Liverpool Art Institute before The Beatles was formed. I never knew this, but he penned and illustrated three books, and he continued to draw throughout his life.


The Art of John Lennon is a fascinating exhibition coming to the venerable Anne Jackson Gallery in nearby Roswell, Georgia, Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31, and will include curator-led events.

The posthumous, limited edition prints in the exhibition are adapted from Lennon's original drawings. The art has been selected from rare archival sketches and is representative of his whimsical and thought-provoking imagery. Each print is reproduced utilizing the sophisticated and detailed standards typical for archival fine art printing processes, guided, approved and hand-signed by none other than Yoko Ono.
"John did his drawings with inspiration and speed, very much like how he created his songs. It was obvious that there was a strong innate need for John to keep creating these works". – Yoko Ono
I don't remember not being a fan of The Beatles. I remember like it was yesterday listening to my favorite Beatles song, Revolution, as loud as possible during my senior year in high school in Pinedale, Wyoming. That was long before iPods and even before I owned a Walkman!

In fact, I played the song on a record player in the school's Art Room, which was, in effect, a huge warehouse. The sound of the loud rock music was quite the contrast of the country music I was raised on. I'll always be a Beatles fan and now that I've learned that John Lennon was also a visual artist, I'm an even bigger fan!


The Art of John Lennon | Copyright: Yoko Ono
"The City in My Heart" | The Art of John Lennon | Copyright: Yoko Ono

Scheduled events during the exhibition will feature programming led by Collection Curator, Lynne Clifford, a noted authority on the works of John Lennon. All events are complimentary and open to the public!
"It is a rare opportunity to be able to view over 70 works by John Lennon in a gallery exhibit. The art on exhibition at the Ann Jackson Gallery comprise the years from 1964 through 1980," said Collection Curator Lynne Clifford.
It was years after high school, on a vacation to New York City, that I happened upon the black and white Greco-Roman mosaic bearing the word "Imagine", located in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. Yoko Ono says, speaking of John Lennon's song of the same title, "That song was John's plea for us all to envision a world without conflict or division, and imagine instead a world of peace." Perhaps one day the world will give peace a chance.

Fast-forward many years, after I'd moved to Atlanta, I was on a date at a Tex-Mex restaurant at the corner of Howell Mill Road and Collier Road where a mariachi band playing songs like Margharitaville and La Bamba. The band was taking requests. A table of four young ladies whispered their request to the band and without hesitation the band broke into "We all live in a yellow submarine..."! The restaurant has long since been torn down, but that Beatles memory endures!

I was too young to ever attend a Beatles concert, although I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Beatles tribute band RAIN perform at The Fox Theatre. That was an on-your-feet show! Forty-five years after the quartet disbanded and thirty-five years after John Lennon's murder, The Beatles and John Lennon continue to bring me and millions of others great joy.

The Art of John Lennon will be at the Anne Jackson Gallery in Roswell, May 29 through May 31, 2015. All events are complimentary and open to the public and all artwork in the exhibition is available for acquisition.

Whether John Lennon's messages resonate with you or you're a fan of all Beatles music or you're an enthusiast for unique art viewing opportunities, make your way to see The Art of John Lennon.

And imagine...

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Five Stories of Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales on IMAX is showing at Fernbank Museum of Natural History now through June 18, 2015. I treated myself to a double-feature not too long ago...and what a treat that was!

Humpback Whales | Image: MacGillivray Freeman Films and Pacific Life
Humpback Whales | Image: MacGillivray Freeman Films and Pacific Life

I think everyone will enjoy this film, for many reasons. To have a little fun, here are a few geeky connections that contributed to my personally enjoying it:

  • In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Remember, I'm a huge Star Trek fan!), the crew returns to 1986 (also the year the film was released) to save planet Earth by bringing a pair of Humpback Whales back to the 23rd Century when they're extinct. Whale song plays a role in the saving of Earth.
  • Whale song also plays a surprising role in the movie The Core, starring Aaron Eckhart and Oscar-winner Hilary Swank.
  • Humpback Whales is narrated by Ewan McGregor, who portrays Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
  • Having served in the U.S. Navy, it was fascinating to learn the Navy's role in the plight to save the Humpback Whale from extinction--which was a real threat. It had to do with whale song.
While my references are sci-fi related, this film is not at all fiction...it's a most sobering film, although beautiful and entertaining, about what we know and don't yet know about Humpback Whales...and how horribly close they came to total annihilation, by humans. There are still serious threats to Humpback Whales.

Watch the movie trailer below for a snippet of how magnificent and majestic these creatures are and what a great treat you're in store for, especially when you see it on an IMAX screen!



Humpback Whales is playing on Fernbank Museum of Natural History's 5-story IMAX screen now through Thursday, June 18, 2015. Treat yourself!

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Stealth Field Trip

Installation is underway for an amazing new monolithic sculpture—towering 32-feet—in Midtown in front of the Promenade building, appropriately named Stealth. Its creator is acclaimed and brilliant artist Tristan Al-Haddad of Formations Studio. I had the pleasure of meeting Tristan and seeing Stealth mid-construction, in his studio.

How'd I get such an awesome opportunity? It was another fantastic Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) Field Trip! 

Before I share a little about that Field Trip, be sure to watch the video at the end of this post for a glimpse into just how magnificent Stealth is going to be!


Tristan Al-Haddad | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Tristan Al-Haddad | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

MODA Field Trips truly are awesome. You get to meet fascinating people like Tristan and at this one I got to catch up with some of my MODA friends, including Terry Kearns, author of Architecture Tourist. The Field Trips are as much about discovery, learning and fun as they are about building community, which MODA does well. 


Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

The above photo is of a 3D printed model of Stealth, only inches high. The finished sculpture, 32 feet high, will be fabricated of reinforced concrete, and to prevent "bug holes" (air bubbles) they will be pumping the concrete into the sculpture forms from the bottom up. 


Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

As it turns out, this wasn't the first time I'd see Tristan's work. In researching this writing, I saw photos that nostalgically took me back to an installation at MODA during its January 2012 Emerging Voices exhibition. Tristan exhibited at MODA then and he's exhibiting in their current exhibition, Design for Healthy Living, which is on view through August 9, 2015.


Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

You never know what kind of fantastic photo-ops you're going to get when you're on a MODA Field Trip! 

A few other MODA Field Trips I've written about include:




Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

Tristan very generously gave us free rein in the studio, so we not only got to see Stealth mid-build, we got to see elements of other projects—which really made part of his earlier presentation come to life—as well as design sketches, tools of the trade, and we had the grand opportunity to speak with him and members of the Formations Studio team one on one.


Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

Tristan hadn't been primed to expect the level of questions he would receive from MODA field trippers. Among the group were designers, architects, professors, as well as engineers from MIT, all with fascinating queries.

Tristan, having earned his Master of Architecture, as well as a B.S. in Architecture, from Georgia Tech, was more than armed with the knowledge and expertise to answer all questions, and he did so with enthusiasm and a bit of humor. The audience appreciated both.


Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

Tristan also studied at the University of Paris - La Villette and the Daniels Center for Building Technology and Urban Design in Genoa Italy. He's won awards and has exhibited around the world. His love for design, architecture, science, materials and art, to name only a few of his interests, are self evident in the extensive litany of his accomplishments. I find him impressive and fascinating! And humble. An admirable combination.


Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip
Stealth | Formations Studio | MODA Field Trip

We were all incredibly grateful to Tristan and his team for hosting the MODA Field Trip to Formations Studio and for making the time to create a riveting presentation about some of his works, as well as offering insight into the processes they go through when developing new projects,

Perhaps most of all we were grateful for them letting their working studio be our playground for a while. When Stealth is fully installed, it'll be super cool to say, "I saw it when it was being manufactured...in the studio!"



I'm not sure when the installation of Stealth will be complete or what the unveiling plans are, but keep an eye on the project and treat yourself to an on-foot exploration once it's on display. And please check out the Formations Studio website!

In the meantime, be sure to check out the benefits of Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) membership (and sign up for the next MODA Field Trip) and you might want to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to stay abreast of announcements for fantastic events like a MODA Field Trip!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

85th Year of Innovative, Sublime Dance

Atlanta Ballet's Modern Choreographic Voices was a program of previously performed ballets, but none that I had ever seen. I was poised for an exceptional evening and Atlanta Ballet delivered!

This was the first time these particular three performances—Seven Sonatas, Quietly Walking and Minus 16had been performed in a single event. To the audience's delight, the three performances worked in chorus for an exceptional evening of performing arts, each ballet unique and special in its own right and collectively spectacular.

Be sure to read the "finale" of this post for information about Atlanta Ballet's 2014-2105 season finale, MAYhem...it sounds like it's going to be magnificent! And it starts this Friday!


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

Seven Sonatas

I've mentioned before that I love classic ballet, as much as modern and experiential ballet. I was excited to see Seven Sonatas, knowing it was of the classic variety...and it was beautiful. The on-stage pianist was a pleasant surprise, adding to an already engaging experience.


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers


As described by Atlanta Ballet, Seven Sonatas is "an exquisitely challenging classical work with Seven Sonatas from American Ballet Theatre artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky. Breathtakingly impeccable and performed with live piano accompaniment, Seven Sonatas focuses on the playful relationships of three couples."


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

Let me say it now instead of waiting until the end of this writing. If you're not attending Atlanta Ballet performances, you're missing out on one of the most incredible gifts Atlanta has to offer. 

You don't have to be classically trained in ballet to enjoy it. You don't have to be widely experienced in the performing arts to enjoy it. If you're even mildly interested in learning about the edge-of-your-seat mastery of one of our local treasures, invite someone you like, someone you're comfortable with, and someone you think might also enjoy the experience...and come see a show! 

If you're not sure you're ready for a full performance—which I highly recommend you do anyway—check out what's coming up on the company's Wabi Sabi schedule.


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

Quietly Walking

I found everything about Quietly Walking unabashedly sublime, but what struck me most was the ever-present, yet somehow subtle trio in the "background"—a challenge to be subtle when wearing bright green dresses of a color somewhere between radioactive green and that gorgeous springtime new-growth green.

Not familiar with the piece, it seemed to be a telling of the (not often enough told) struggle between humankind and all-too-delicate nature. This ballet may not offer answers for our challenges in this matter, not in the form of an epiphany, but it does make one ponder.


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

During intermission, the friend I was with that evening told me that Quietly Walking brought him to tears, that he found it incredibly moving. And it was. The performing arts have pulled more than a few emotion-wrought tears from me over the years. I suppose I've had the pleasure of seeing some remarkable performances. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to, and that those opportunities continue with such talent-rich organizations like Atlanta Ballet.

As I write this, I realize that of the last four Atlanta Ballet performances I've seen, since December, I've been with someone different, which is exciting to me because that means I've had the pleasure of sharing our magnificent local ballet company with multiple people. Clarification...the December performance was a gift to me from my best friend, and it was the catalyst of my desire to share Atlanta Ballet with so many others since. Again, I'm grateful.


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers


Creative Loafing , in its review of Modern Choreographic Voices, says exactly what I've been trying to share with you about writing about ballet—and they've written a brilliant review of Modern Choreographic Voices. I've been a fan of ballet, and most dance genres, most of my life, but it's an art form that I'm still learning to write about with the finesse it deserves. Here’s how Creative Loafing said it:
"It's always an interesting decision when trying to introduce a ballet virgin to the art, whether it's a more classic narrative or a program with modern works. The first path provides more comfort for some viewers as they should be familiar with the general plot, and there are guaranteed to be quite a few dazzling moments that are undeniably impressive even to a first-timer. But more contemporary pieces, like those presented in Atlanta Ballet's The Best of Modern Choreographic Voices program this past weekend, have the advantage of being less predictable and often more interesting for someone who might find an entire evening of classical ballet intimidating." (full review)

Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

Minus 16

Of the three performances that evening, the one I was most looking forward to was Minus 16. I was excited to see the entire show, but Minus 16 called to me for some reason. The previews I'd seen foretold a rather unique expression of improv, precision and the unexpected. 

Especially unexpected was the bringing up to the stage a guest per performer for the chance of a lifetime...to dance one-on-one with a member of Atlanta Ballet. Minus 16 is pure delight, filled with amusement, and an unbridled passion for dance.


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

"Not your mother's ballet," was shared by 365 Atlanta Family about Camino Real. Minus 16 falls in the same category. When you hear that, please hear only that it's something magnificently new and unexpected. I love classic ballet, and always will, but I'm excited to see something totally different exquisitely executed.


The dance blog 4Dancers had this to say about Minus 16:
Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16 begins with the house lights up as the audience wanders in from intermission to discover a man in a suit alone onstage “dancing like no one is watching”. He [danseur Heath Gill] shows off his best moves, and inspires applause from the crowd, all while remaining absorbed in his own world. Eventually, the lights dim and he is joined by a corps of similarly-attired dancers who likewise enjoy exuberant, unhindered movement; and a party-like atmosphere prevails. Techno music, audience participation dances, and a spoof of a classical ballet class add to the fun.” – 4Dancers (full review)

Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

The sequence depicted in the photo below I don't think could have been performed with any more precision. Perhaps that's one of the (many) things that I enjoy about ballet...the precision. When I was in the Navy, I always enjoyed the pace, rhythm and cadence of our marching exercises. When the entire company was in sync, you understood, with swollen pride, just how teamwork can also be something quite elegant. Well performed ballet certainly is.  


Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers
Atlanta Ballet | Modern Choreographic Voices | Photo: Charlie McCullers

MAYhem - Friday, May 15 - Sunday, May 17, 2015



Atlanta Ballet wraps up its 2014-2015 season, their 85th season, with three premieres in MAYhem, opening this Friday, May 15 and running through Sunday, May 17, 2015, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

There are numerous MAYhem special events, including Night Out with MAYhem on Friday evening; a post-performance Choreographer Talkback on Friday; and Sunday Jazz with Atlanta Ballet immediately prior to the Sunday matinee performance.

See you at the ballet!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Party With the Past for "Free History & Cold Beer"

The Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" events consistently are fun! And they continue to draw large crowds of Atlanta's young professionals, they continue to take place at revealing and interesting venues, and everyone gets to learn about some Atlanta history in a unique and festive way. Oh...and there's cold beer.


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

Party With the Past occurs approximately every two months. The most recent event, held on Thursday, April 30, 2015, was hosted by the Dekalb History Center in the Historic Dekalb Courthouse, which sits front and center in downtown Decatur.

Decatur is a hotbed for restaurants and mixology! When you visit the Dekalb History Center, be sure to stick around and check out the amazing restaurant scene. There's lots to experience!


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

The Dekalb History Center's museum was open throughout the evening. The main program took place in a space now used as a special events facility, the Old Superior Courtroom. One of the Dekalb History Center's representatives shared with us that she couldn't remember so many people being in that room when it wasn't a wedding! We were glad and grateful to see such a spectacular historic building.

Part of the history presentation was an illuminating trivia contest about...you guessed it, Dekalb County and Decatur history! I'm still amazed at how much I learned—about the county in which I reside—in the span of only a few minutes. 


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

There were three teams competing in the trivia contest. Picture above is the winning team of Marilyn, Manan and Memo (I hope I got your names right!). They breezed through the questions as if they've lived in Dekalb County since its founding in 1822. Obviously that's not the case...they're just that brilliant!


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

I'm not covert when photographing an event or attraction, but I do try to blend in and not at all be obtrusive. There are the humorous times when I get the "I see you" eyes (black and white dress) or looks. I'm sure I blush a little, nod and sometimes say hello, offer a card, or—depending on what else the look might be saying—I might move on to the next shutterbug opportunity. This one was a fun one.


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

Have you ever been in a museum or an antique shop and see something that made you think, "Seriously? Am I that old?!" I remember the first time I saw in an antique shop the round, penguin-adorned aluminum biscuit covered bowl that was always on the dinner table. Turns out, I was that old AND that it wasn't a biscuit container...it was a post-war (post-WWII) art deco ice bucket! I laughed so hard when I finally learned that!


The first time I saw the above pictured knotty pine paneled living room (a year or two ago), flashbacks from the 70s bombarded me! Even if vaguely, I remember rooms like this...that people lived in, including my family. 

Those were the days! I wonder what kids being born today will think of 2015 interior design. I guess I wasn't brave enough to ask the millennial attendees what they thought of this room.

If you're a fan of the FX show American Horror Story, you may be familiar with perhaps the funniest knotty pine line is all of history. Jessica Lange is amazing! If you're not a fan of the show, forget I said anything about it.


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

I wonder who is teaching who history in the above photo! Every Party With the Past event I've attended has been populated with super nice people and great conversation! 

If you've never been to a Party With the Past event, check them out. They've been great fun over the years. A couple in particular that I really enjoyed were hosted at the Swan House (Gatsby-style!) and at Zoo Atlanta. Their increasingly long list of participating venues is quite impressive, and some have taken even me to places I'd not yet visited!

Watch for announcements for future Party With the Past events! 


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

Having been though "Turning Point: The American Civil War" museum at the Atlanta History Center more times than I can count, I want to invite you to explore the Dekalb History Center's "Tears and Curses: A Human Focus on the Civil War".

The exhibit presents a small portion of their Civil War collection focused on a local scale and from the point of view of an individual. The title is from a letter in their collection written by Private Dewitt C. Morgan to a woman who may have been a sweetheart. 

Even viewing such solemn topic matter, I find it heartwarming to see young people connecting with history, especially local history. I'm grateful to Dekalb History Center and Atlanta History Center for presenting such opportunities. 


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

"Dairies in Dekalb" is a one-room exhibit focusing on the history of dairy farming in Dekalb County in the 20th Century. Why do I note it here? This exhibit was provided in part by proceeds from the 2009 Great Decatur Craft BeerFestival (Saturday, October 17 in 2015)…and we were drinking beer! AND they have a life-sized replica of Rosebud, the famous cow mascot for Mathis Dairy.

If you're visiting Atlanta, you've probably already seen quite a few cows. Not far outside of downtown Atlanta you can find cow pastures. Swimming in our ocean of road and highway-side billboards are tons of cows, advertising for Chick-fil-A, headquartered right here in Atlanta. And there's always the two-headed cow in the Georgia State Capitol Building's fourth floor museum. Cows are everywhere!


Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

I should have already mentioned the beer sponsors! There were four...
I'm embarrassed to say, that of the four I've only been to Red Brick, even though I live in Dekalb County! For a tourist like me, that's just wrong! A wrong that I fully intend to make right. Especially now that I know they all make great beer! I still love me some Red Brick! 



Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center
Atlanta History Center's "Party With the Past" | Dekalb History Center

I don't know if this is new, but this was the first time I'd seen the Party With the Past pint glasses. I like them so much I bought two! Do you recognize the symbol in the center of the event's tagline? Go on a tour of the Swan House and you'll find out exactly what it is!

The next Party With the Past is scheduled for June 18, 2015, at The Wren's Nest, historic home of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus tales.

You've all heard of the theory of "six degrees of separation", right? Well, when I visited The Wren's Nest, my tour guide was the then Executive Director who is also the great, great, great grandson of Harris. To tie the upcoming event to Party With the Past, one of the recent Party With the Past events was held at Westview Cemetery, which is where Joel Chandler Harris' corporeal remains are at rest. 

Enough of that from me. Courtesy of the Atlanta History Center, you'll learn some fascinating history at the next Party With the Past at The Wren's Nest in June...and the'll have cold beer!

(I was a paying attendee at this event and I'm an Atlanta History Center member of many years. All opinions and writings are my own.)

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Unwired Magic Formula...LEGOs & Local Beer!

I'd been at Museum of Design Atlanta's "Drink in Design" event for about 20-25 minutes before it struck me...people were not on their phones! And the crowd was mostly young professionals who many would expect to be furiously pounding their phones and relentlessly making selfies. That was not the case during this event!

So, what's the magic formula to get people off their phones, to have fun, and talk face-to-face with each other? Evidently, it's LEGOs and Local Beer, the theme of the evening's gathering. Who knew unwired could be so much fun!


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

These two (pictured above) were having gobs of fun! As was everyone else in the museum, but the fun these two were having fun of the monumental sort. And at least one of them, if not both, must have a design or art background...don't you love their one-eyed creature!

It was shocking to me that at this event, where everyone was engaged with the LEGOs and EACH OTHER, I found myself embarrassed to bring out my phone, even to check the time. I was attending a play across the street at the Alliance Theatre that evening, so I had to check the time, but I felt compelled to do so discretely. How funny is that!  


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

MODA owns approximately a bazillion sets of LEGOs, so they were set for that portion of their "LEGOs & Local Beer" event. For the beer portion, Hop City Craft Beer & Wine , its newest location at Krog Street Market, was pouring four different Monday Night Brewing beers. Monday Night Brewing is a personal favorite for its Tour & Tasting events, and they have an awesome huge patio!


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

MODA has awesome volunteers! I've had the pleasure of meeting many of them over the years and I applaud their contributions to the museum, to the museum's events, and for furthering their personal passion for design..."Thank you, Volunteers!"

If you'd like to volunteer for MODA, please call the museum and ask to speak with the Volunteer Coordinator, or email them via their website. Of course you can ask when visiting, too.


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

This was the second "LEGOs & Local Beer" event hosted by MODA. The first one drew in a lot of groups. This one drew in groups, but more individuals than before. So, MODA demonstrating its design brilliance and flare for creating community, presented a contest...a team contest. 

The object of the game was to form teams and then build any of three proposed objects: a mythological creature, a tiny house, or a spaceship. I was of course rooting for the spaceship builders! Keep an eye out for MODA to publish a entries Social Media album for voting...the winners receive MODA membership!

The guys in the photo above, in addition to being nice people, are obviously over-achievers. They built one of each! And the night was still young, so they had time to build a whole fleet of spaceships! 


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

The layout for their current exhibition, Design for Healthy Living, happens to be highly conducive for hosting "LEGOs & Local Beer"...there's plenty of room to stretch out, to spread out your LEGOs! While at the same time, providing opportunities to converse and interact with your neighbors.


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

I just loved that the young lady pictured above was wearing pearls to a LEGOs & Local Beer event. Perhaps I've watched Julie & Julia one time too many (but probably not, given my uber-foodie status), but I've always admired those who have fun with fashion...those who do the unexpected fashion-wise. Having been a punk rocker in the 80s, I've donned my share of unexpected fashion...and had a blast doing it! 


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

Tristan Al-Haddad of Formations Studio is back at MODA! The steel and flourescent green installation that spans the height and width of Gallery 3 is his creation. It's magnificent and it's interactive!

Tristan has designed a new approximately 35' tall sculpture named "Stealth", which at the time of this writing is being installed across the street at Peachtree and 15th Streets in front of the Promenade building. It's going to be spectacular! More about that in another post...


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

I was pleasantly surprised to see LEGOs & Local Beer draw such a diverse group. Participants ranged from family to date night, from singles to work groups...and EVERYONE had a great time from what I observed.

Although I wasn't there for the entire event (had to get to the theatre), I don't think there was a speaking program, just the fun of LEGOs, local beer, designing and laughing...and that's pretty awesome in my book! 

I did have the opportunity to chat with some of the MODA staff, who are always helpful and convivial. "Thank youClare, Neil and Alice...you're awesome and you know how to throw a great event! 


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

Does that look like the face of someone having fun or what! Actually, I think it looks like a national ad for LEGO, but it's a photo I made of Blake just having a good time at MODA. There was lots of that throughout the two-hour event.


LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA
LEGOs & Local Beer | MODA

Museum of Design Atlanta's (MODA) "Drink in Design: LEGOs & Local Beer" events have sold out both times. The good news is that I'm told there will be another! So keep your eyes and ears open for an announcement for the next LEGOs & Local Beer event. And feel free to leave your phone in your purse, in your pocket or at home...you're going to have plenty of fun without it! But...

If you do bring your phone, remember to tag your posts and photos @modatl or #modatl and share away! And also remember that this is a 21+ event. But, there is ample programming for kids and families...check out MODA's website for more info on those!

Until next the next LEGOs & Local Beer...

(I have been a paying MODA member since January 2011. All opinions and writings are my own.)