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To my fellow artists 




Photo by Beverly Crawford

There is always going to be someone somewhere who doesn't like your art. There's always going to be some asshole who says that all of your songs sound the same and they're bored out of their mind when listening to them. There's always going to be the poetry editor who calls your poems "trite" and "cliche" and "amateur." There's always going to be the film festival who doesn't accept your film. There's always going to be the director who doesn't want to cast you in the play because they don't like the way you performed that one scene. There's always going to be the people who scoff at your paintings and turn up their noses. For every single piece of art that you put out there, whether your a singer/songwriter playing a show for five people at a coffee shop or Steven Spielberg releasing a new blockbuster film, someone somewhere is going to think that it's shit. (I have even been this person before! I've definitely been harshly honest about art I haven't liked before. But I said those things only after giving a disclaimer that the artists should take my opinion with a grain of salt.) That's because all art is completely subjective.

And for those of us who haven't had a "breakthrough" yet, for those of us who are unknown by most people, there are going to be way more rejections and criticisms than there are selections and praise. The trick is getting rejected over and over and over again and not caring. The trick is to keep going, to keep creating art, to stay true to yourself and your vision, no matter what anyone might say. And at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you're famous. It doesn't matter if that breakthrough moment ever comes. You do it because it's who you are. It's what you love to do. I can't say I've gotten there completely. Every now and then I'll get a criticism or rejection that still stings. But I could never, ever stop writing or playing music or creating, no matter what anyone thinks.

There are moments, though, that make it all worth it. Standing ovations, getting an acceptance letter for once, when one person tells you that your song helped them in a way that so many songs have helped you. And I just wanted to say that even if no one reads this silly little blog of mine, I think it's important. Because there are so many artists that have helped me and inspired me over the years. And not just big artists like Radiohead and Neil Labute and Morrissey and Stephen Chbosky, but local playwrights and actors and theatre groups, local bands and musicians, local painters and photographers. There have been many moments, here in Atlanta, sitting at open mic nights at coffee shops and bars, watching bands at The Earl or The Star Bar or the Red Light Cafe, looking at art on the walls in Octane, sitting in the audience at Actor's Express or the Horizon Theatre, moments when art has inspired, touched, moved me, changed my perspective. Many local, independent, and unknown artists have caused these moments for me--too many to even name.

And I just wanted to say that. If you are an artist of any kind, and you're reading this, and you ever have those bad days filled with rejection letters and criticisms just keep in mind that probably somewhere someone had one of those life-changing moment with your work. And don't stop making your art. Don't get discouraged. Because there is a place for it. And you are someone's Morrissey, whether or not you know it.

Just because summer is winding down doesn't mean there aren't cool things to do! 

Well, summer is winding down, students are all going back to school, and I'm taking advantage of the fact that I deferred my graduate school admission until next year and using the time to work on my various artistic projects! (Oh, and to save money. Which is sort of essential to the whole grad school plan anyway.) I have a lot going on right now! First of all, I have another solo/acoustic show at Smith's Olde Bar in the Atlanta Room on Thursday, September 24th at 10:00 pm. (Special thanks to everyone who came out to my last show!) Also, I'm hard at work on my acoustic/solo album, which I'm hoping to release in mid-November. In other news, I'm still singing with Novo Luna, and we're hoping to play live in the next month or so and release our EP. Stay tuned for info on that! And, Michael Tillman and I have started a new musical project. We're in the process of recording our songs before we start the search for a bass player and a drummer, so be on the look out for a lot of new music, new projects, and shows coming up!

And just because summer is coming to a close does not mean that there aren't a lot of awesome things going on! Did you miss out on those summer music festivals? If so, don't worry. There are lots of cool music festivals/events coming up in Atlanta that you can check out! I'm definitely going to try to get out to most of these shows. And they're all free or at least pretty cheap!
  • NOPHEST Summer Music Festival - August 28-30 at Wonderroot - 982 Memorial Drive - Atlanta, GA - featuring 20+ Atlanta bands! - Tickets are $5 per day or $10 for a weekend pass. For more info, visit http://nophest.blogspot.com/
  • Grant Park Summer Shade Festival - August 29-30 in Grant Park - For the performance schedule, go here
  • Little Five Points Other Sound Festival - September 19th in Little Five Points - Featuring multiple bands on multiple stages, at the Star Bar, an outdoors Little Five Points stage, and Criminal Records - For performance schedule, go here
  • And, this one's not exactly a festival, but it's still kickass and FREE - Atlanta Guardian Showcase Night at the Star Bar - August 27th - Featuring Abby GoGo, Ghostfinger, Cockfight, and Small Reactions - For more, info visit Atlanta Guardian
But don't think I forgot about you theatre folks. Here are some really cool plays that I'm excited to check out in the upcoming months:
  • Grey Gardens - Actor's Express - 8/27 through 10/10 - Actor's Express is pleased to bring you the Atlanta Premiere of Grey Gardens, the hit Broadway musical based on the acclaimed film that documents the lives of Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis’ flamboyantly eccentric aunt Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter “Little Edie.” Mother and daughter cling to each other through hysteria, happiness and heartbreak as the beautiful home around them falls into ruin. Indulge in the lush music, mysterious glamour and “The Revolutionary Costume for Today” inside the dilapidated, 28-room mansion called Grey Gardens. For more information, visit Actor's Express.
  • Hair - 7 Stages - 9/11 - 10/10 - The American Tribal Love Rock Musical - Because who really doesn't love hippies dancing and singing? For more information, visit 7 Stages.
  • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) - The New American Shakespeare Tavern - 8/8 - 9/6 - I saw this last year, and it's absolutley hillarious, especially for us Shakespeare geeks. For more information, visit The New American Shakespeare Tavern.
  • Pippin - Cobb Children's Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center - August 21 - 23 - I had to throw this one in because when I was in high school, I did quite a few shows with CCT, and I don't think my life would be the same now if I hadn't. CCT is really a great organization, and they do so much good for the community. I really believe that putting high school kids in a theatrical production like this is a great thing to do for society. It gave us a sense of community, family, and taught us an incredible amount about theatre, art, and life, and CCT continues to do that for teenagers today. Pippin is their Summer Stock production, featuring high school and college students. (And for those of you OTPers who don't like to drive ITP, you can still see theatre!) For more information, visit CCT.
  • Third by Wendy Wasserstein - Horizon Theatre - 9/11 through 10/11 - The final play of Horizon's 25th Season from celebrated, award-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein (The Heidi Chronicles). A liberal college professor and an articulate and conservative student jock nick-named Third face off over politics, ethics, and values. A bold accusation and mid-life changes unexpectedly throw Laurie Jameson�s well-ordered world into disarray. With her trademark smart dialogue, crackling wit, and intelligence, Wasserstein looks at the challenge of re-imagining ourselves in the third act of life. For more information, visit Horizon Theatre.
And here are a couple of other cool events coming up:
  • MIXT - Mint Gallery - 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave, Unit B - Atlanta, GA - August 22 - 8:00 - 11:00 - The 3rd annual mixtape exhibit featuring work from numerous Atlanta artists including Bean Summer, Jason Kofke, Kelly McKernan, Chris Hamer, GutterPOP, Jason Travis, Sergio Garzon, Travis Thatcher, and more. Each artist will create a mixtape to be played alongside their artwork. Come and enjoy the music and have a drink. Visit MINT gallery.
  • Atlanta Underground Film Festival - Various venues around town - August 26 - 30 - For schedule and more information, visit Atlanta Underground Film Festival
So, there you go. Lots of cool things coming up! Music events, theatre events, various artistic events. Free things, cheap things, even an OTP event. So stop being lame, and get out and support some local artists! We always appreciate it.

Do you have any events you'd like me to check out? Calls for submissions? Anything? Send me an e-mail at events@saracrawford.net

July events: Theatre, music, and more! 

There are a lot of awesome things happening in July, and I wanted to share them with you!

First of all, I have a couple of events going on. On Wednesday, July 29th, I will be playing an acoustic set at Smith's Olde Bar (1578 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA) in the Atlanta Room (downstairs) at 8:00 pm. This is part of the Songsmith’s Songwriter Showcase, and it's a 21+ show. The cover is only five dollars. This is my first acoustic show in over a year so come out to hear the old songs, some new songs, and a wacky cover or two.

Also, I will be participating in the 24-hour Plays which will be showing on Sunday, July 26th at 8:00 pm at The Academy Theatre (21 N Avondale Plz, Avondale Estates, GA). On Saturday, July 25, 2009, 16 writers will meet at 10pm at The Academy Theatre. Paired randomly, they will have until dawn to come up with eight 12-minute scripts. Eight directors come in at 9am and cast their plays from sixty headshots submitted by our brave thespians. Then it’s a marathon day of rehearsing, staging, costuming, and setting tech for an 8:00 p.m. curtain on Sunday, July 26th. The show ends at 10pm, exactly 24 hours after the writers first convened! This is a fundraiser for the Working Title Playwrights, and I will be one of the writers in this madness so come out and see!

Here are some other great events coming up that you should check out:

Music
  • Benefit for PASTE Magazine, Friday, July 10, 8:00 pm at The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave, East Atlanta, GA featuring A Fight to the Death, Nicholas (from YOU), Attractive Eighties Women, Richard Parsons
  • Atlanta Guardian Showcase at the Star Bar (FREE SHOW) Thursday, July 23rd 8:00 pm. Featuring Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun, The Middle Men, Brain Box, and Tasty Beverage. These shows are always a lot of fun, and the bands are really great. Plus, it's FREE.
  • GoGirls Showcase at Uptown Loft 9700 Medlock Bridge Road John's Creek (Duluth area) Friday July 10th. 8pm - featuring Cornerstone, Green bracelet, Electricsoul, and Cell Fehrenbach!
Music/Film
  • Tripple Indie Night: Two bands and a film! Wednesday, July 8th 7:30 pm at The Strand, 117 North Park Square, Marietta, GA. Triple Feature Indie Night: Misfortune 500 (Band) @ 7:30 PM; Nowhere In Africa (Oscar-Winning Flick: A German Jewish refugee family moves to and adjusts to a farm life in 1930’s Kenya) @ 8 PM; Thy Mighty Contract (Headlining Band). Doors open at 7 PM. Ages 18+. Tickets are $8 in advance. $10 at the door. Strand Box Office: 770.293.0080 or www.EarlSmithStrand.org.
  • Tripple Indie Night: Two bands and a film! Wednesday, July 22nd 7:30 pm at The Strand, 117 North Park Square, Marietta, GA. Triple Feature Indie Night: Tealights (Band) @ 7:30 PM; Food, Inc. (film) @ 8 PM; A Fight to the Death (Headlining Band). Doors open at 7 PM. Ages 18+. Tickets are $8 in advance. $10 at the door. Strand Box Office: 770.293.0080 or www.EarlSmithStrand.org

Theatre
  • The Essential Theatre Power Plays: Food for Fish, a play by Adam Szymkowic; Jim Crow and the Rhythm Darlings, a play by Vynnie Mel; and Ice Glen, a play by Joan Ackermann. Check out these great new works at Actor's Express. For more information please visit http://www.essentialtheatre.com
  • Measure for Measure (FREE PLAY!) July 10th and 11th at 8:00 PM Seney Stovall Chapel, 201 North Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA. Classic City Arts brings you a FREE production of Measure for Measure. Check it out!
  • A Cool Drink of Water, a play by Thomas W. Jones II, July 10 - August 23 at Horizon Theatre. Hopes and dreams brew as a family searches for their “cool drink a water” in this provocative and contemporary twist on A Raisin in the Sun. Newly “retired” from his good job, Walt is dreaming new schemes. Wife Ruthie’s nest is almost empty, but wannabe rapper son Trane won’t move out and get a job. And Benita and Asa move back from Africa with baggage and secrets. Is that Mama Lee haunting the house? A powerful and funny update to a classic story. For ticket information, see Horizon Theatre.
Visual Arts
  • Big Tuna at Alcove Arts Gallery - July 10th - 7:00 pm at Alcove Arts Gallery, 2852 East College Avenue, Decatur, GA. A tribute to the genius of DAVID LYNCH. Featuring new work from nearly 30 nationally reknown & emerging artists under the influence of this artist's work: Chet Zar, Amy Botello, Dan May, Leslie Ditto, Danni Shinya Luo, Aaron Nather, Silvia Ortiz, Aunia Kahn, Aeron Alfrey, Brian Colin, Bryan Cunningham, Patrick “Star 27” Deignan, Dave MacDowell, Ashley Surber, Apricot Mantle, Mark Henderson, Cory Benhatzel, Joe Peery, Justin Kauffmann, James Burns, Macsorro, Matt Sesow, Kelly McKernan, Shaun Thurston, Brent Houzenga, and H.C. Warner ...to name a few.
A Call to Artists
  • Our House in a non-profit agency that helps women find childcare and support as they try to work their way off from Welfare. They are looking for some Atlanta artists to donate some artwork (such as paintings, sculpture, handmade jewelry) that they can use to sell in our Silent Auction called Fall Fantasy. Fall Fantasy will be held at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center on October 24, 2009, this year. The event will feature a silent and live auction along with dinner and dancing. As in the past, all proceeds will be used to support Our House programming.

    If you're interested in submitting art for this, please contact Marie McMenamin at mccannon17@yahoo.com.

That's it for July. If you are interested in these events, you can find more information and helpful links on my Calendar page. Again, if you have any recommendations or announcements you'd like me to post on here (or in the Atlanta Bohemians group on Facebook).

I'm really looking forward to all of the great artistic events going on in the Atlanta area in July!