If you’ve lived in Atlanta you’ve probably heard of the small food treasure just outside of the big city limits in Decatur, yes, that’s right – I’m talking about the DeKalb Farmer’s Market.  Before even starting to talk about all the food, let me first say, bring a sweater!  The DeKalb Farmer’s Market is a huge refrigeratedwarehouse filled with anything and everything you could want to cook a feast.  This market receives direct national and international shipments to provide the freshest and cheapest of food.  And by food I mean everything from produce to seafood, meats, baked goods, wine, cheese, and even caned and dried foods.

It’s open seven days a week from 9am to 9pm.  Going on a weekday is best, but if you have to go on the weekend, go at 9 to avoid the rush, because boy does this place get crowded!

The best part though?  I’ve never hit a long line trying to check out, even when the place is swamped.  And while you’re there, pick up the Amish butter, it’s to die for!

Flux Projects supports artists in creating innovative temporary public art throughout Atlanta.  I’ve heard all about the Flux Art Party taking place tonight – and it sounds like it’s going to be an event not to miss in Atlanta.
Flux is a one-night public art celebration in the streets and empty spaces of the Castleberry Hill Art District. The evening includes art and arm wrestling, performance, outdoor films, escaped zebras, parades, projects, and other forms of experimentation.

How to make the most of the night:
-Plan your method of transportation.
-If traveling by car, know where to park and consider reserving your parking in advance.
-Arrive early for drinks or dinner in one of Castleberry Hill’s many restaurants.
-Throughout the night refuel with one of the street vendors, including a special No Mas! Taco Stand, the Good Food Truck, and the Yumbii food truck.
-Take a sneak peek at the map of projects.
-Plan your evening so as not to miss any of the performances.
-Bring a friend or two…or more!
-When you arrive, go to one of the information stations to pick up a map of the event and your FLUX Favors!

Friday, October 1. 8 pm – 2 am
Castleberry Hill Art District. Free.

Hope to see you there!

Fuel to the Fire, The Poster Design by Methane Studios will be on display at SCAD Atlanta’s Gallery See through October the first!

Methane Studios, a screen printing and design house, has a show of their popular posters (for the likes of Dave Matthews and Jenny Lewis) at Gallery See located in SCAD Atlanta.

The press release: “The SCAD exhibitions department presents “Fuel to the Fire: The Poster Design of Methane Studios”, which showcases the recent, screen-printed posters by award-winning Methane partners Robert Lee and Mark McDevitt. Based in Atlanta since 1998, the duo’s client list includes a veritable who’s who of today’s bands—from the Dave Matthews Band to Vampire Weekend—and popular local concert venues. Methane’s practice seamlessly marries their distinctive, vintage aesthetic with each client’s needs and translates into unique art prints also on display.”

The posters are pretty neat, and the creators are really cool guys.  They’re friendly and more than welcome a visit to their studios for hopeful printmakers and lovers of art in general.  Check them out  at methanestudios.com.

If you live in Atlanta, and you’re a fan of art and design, a stop by Young Blood is a must. With everything from handmade wallets, T-shirts, note books and jewelry, it’s know wonder why they’re known as the foremost independent showcase in Atlanta for emerging artists and Do-It-Yourself Crafters.  I personally, always stop by there first when I’m looking for a gift.  Which usually means I end up buying a little jewelry for myself on top of something for the person I went out looking for, but I just can’t resist!

Their current show is that of a local artist named Sanithna Phansavanh, a mixture of tight, beautifully rendered drawings and loose expressive paintings that explores superstitions, charms, and talismans.

And coming in late October is Tweet Design’s Annual Day of the Dead Show, a group show in which local artists create mini coffins to be put on display.

They’re located at 636 N. Highland Ave. just off of Ponce de Leon Ave.   And if you’re not in Atlanta, but want to check out some of their cute stuff, they have an online store too!

Update:  Young Blood Gallery & Boutique was just awarded Creative Loafing’s Best Of 2010 reader picks for  Best Place to Score Affordable Art AND Best Local Place to Buy Indie Crafts!

Dale Clifford, a relief printer, is a part of a collaborative show called Zenith at Kin Lin Art in Midtown Atlanta.  Joining him is Wallace DuVall, Rich Stephens, John Tindel, Adam Wellborn and Jon Arge.  “ZENITH is an organic and seasonal show with nature-inspired imagery, cosmos worlds, and all that brings in the Fall.”  Opening reception September 17, 7-ten.  More information can be found at kailinart.com.

The show will be up for the next month, so stop on by and take a look!

The Georgia Organics Food Guide for 2009 – 2010 is here!

The guide breaks down the state of Georgia into 5 regions with listings of farms, farmer’s markets, restaurants and grocers/specialty retailers that are certified organic, naturally grown, or sustainable.

Inside you can also find an annual harvest calendar of when things are in season, information on growing, and the benefits that come out of these local farms.

The guide can be found online over at http://www.GeorgiaOrganics.org

Letterpress Victoria Blue on white, with red stock duplex

This letterpress wedding invitation design is one of my all time favorites.  Designed by Aviva Stanoff, it combines her appreciation of sometimes unassuming gifts of nature with her unerring sense of design.  Letterpress printed in chocolate brown with a blind deboss, the set was  wrapped up in chocolate brown envelopes.

The simplicity of this botanical, a sprig of baby’s breath from Aviva’s collection, works beautifully here as a blind deboss.

Aviva’s sense of inspired beauty be seen in her collection of signature pillows, bedding and glass at Aviva Stanoff Design.   Each piece is made by hand, to order in their Brooklyn studio.   Real objects are pressed by hand into fabrics such as velvet, silk organza and charmeuse.  Dyes are mixed by hand, and each blossom, coral and feather are chosen one by one.  No two pieces are alike – each one is a tangible and luxurious piece of art.

Left:  Snowflake on Truffle, Eucalyptus on Truffle, & Pinstripe Eucalyptus on Truffle

Right:  Clockwise from Left: Twilight Eucalyptus on Twilight, Navy Layer Pillow, Baby’s Breath on Twilight, Shade on Dark Twilight, Twilight Eucalyptus on Glaze, Twilight Eucalyptus on Glaze, Twilight Baby’s Breath on Glaze, & Eucalyptus on Twilight

Left:  From left to right: Ostrich on Kohl, Ostrich on Fuji, and Ostrich on Truffle

Right:  From Top Left on Bench. Baby’s Breath on Fuji, Kohl Eucalyptus on Kohl, & Chocolate Layer Pillow. Eucalyptus on Kohl, Chocolate Layer Pillow, and Palm on Kohl. On Floor from Left: Palm on Kohl, Baby’s Breath with Gold, and Elephant Ear on Kohl

See more at avivastanoff.com

AND, we are very excited to let you know we are working on a letterpress series inspired by on Aviva’s wedding invitation.  Available soon!  at Bumblebeepress.com

Friday, October 9, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta. Cooper Sanchez will present his fifth body of artwork since 2004 in the ruins of Atlanta’s first public greenhouse from 7-10 p.m.  This one night only event and showing of Sanchez’s work, along with live music, food and wine will benefit restoration efforts of Oakland Cemetery, one of Atlanta’s enduring gems.

After working in the cemetery over the past year as part of the tornado recovery and restoration gardening installation, Sanchez developed this body of work not only from an interest specifically in Oakland Cemetery but also from a general interest in things forgotten, past, and in a state of ruin.

“I’d like to help generate interest in this beautiful Atlanta space and all the history surrounding it.  The tornado of 2008 took down over 95 oak trees.  Those cannot be replaced in our lifetime, but I’d like to help continue  the garden tradition of the cemetery and make investments that our descendants can enjoy as we have.”

Cooper Sanchez is a native Georgian currently living in Clarkston, an old farming community outside Decatur. Born in Rome, Georgia, he has also lived in Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; and New York, NY. He moved to the Atlanta area after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 1999. He began his career as a collage artist and has since developed a painting style based on classical aesthetics with a raw/gut approach inspired by sentimental and nature themes.  Over the past 5 years, and with the help of honey bees, he has cultivated a drought tolerant meadow and a small edible garden in his own yard.