MINT GALLERY VERY HIP (2/9/15)

      If you remember a hallway packed with patrons and artists in varying degrees of hip, you might have been to the MINT Gallery, located by the Highland Inn.  Since the gallery is in the back, it is easy to miss.

     That is unless you are covering one of their show openings, which tend to be so crowded, there's a line out the door for admittance.  The recent show 'HERE WE GO', a contest of 57 works of art, was a huge draw to the Atlanta Arts scene.

     In the call for entries MINT included a quote from Picasso which reads"“Good taste is the chief enemy of creativity”.  This could only mean the winning entries were of high design and questionable tastes, right? 

     "It's very eclectic a lot of different styles going on," said Attendee Danielle Maskery "...funkiness---of which I'm always drawn..."

     In one corner, two performance artists wearing white seemed to reach for each other with knitting needles, sewing themselves together as the thread eventually gathers into what looks like blood. 

     On the opposite end of the show, women gather to primp in a mirror when it suddenly begins to vibrate, changing their images into chaos.  

 

     "A lot of my work has a lot to do with catching people off guard and try and make people take a moment and have a conscious sense of self-awareness," said Artist Dana Haugaard.   "They're forced to re-evaluate and re-asses themselves in a set space and given environment."

     On the vetting of artists, the two Georgia State curators had a real challenge, going through more than 1,000 images during the holidays.   "It's like sifting for gold," said Professor Craig Dongoski.  "You find the good artist, but then you have the space to consider and whether it will work in the exhibition area."

     Scott Richter of Gallery 874 was at the show to locate fresh talent for West Midtown's Gallery 874.  "You have to find stuff to show that moves you---as a curator," said Scott. " I want to learn more about the different artists, what motivated them."

All art instructors love to talk about the need for art in society, but it was clear from the turnout that art also needs a Facebook™ page.  "Social Media got me here," said Lindsey, an attending art student.  "Digital...it's a good thing for artists."

     "Something else," said Professor Craig, "...art brings together people in an area outside their culture, and outside of their bank account.  What a great thing."

     To see the great shows offered at MINT visit http://mintatl.org/about/

-----Ray Macon