“who decatur” writes in and notes that Glennwood student, Sydney Rhame, and “The Lock Outs” will perform today at noon on the eastern lawn of the Rec Center.  It’s 11:30a now, so I sure hope you’re reading this on a mobile device or you live within a quick walk of the Rec.

Watch Rhame perform a bunch of her songs here and then join my chorus of “Is she really only 10 years old?”

On the eve of the Decatur Arts Festival, and in the time-honored tradition of copping ideas from the New York Times, I thought it would be interesting to pose a question directly to our city’s artists.

The recent response to a question posed by the New York Times about how artists were responding to the recession peaked my locavore-ish interest.  While many artists relayed the expected stories of less work and funding, many also mentioned in the same virtual-breath that the slowdown was also in some ways “liberating.”   Singer/songwriters have found more time to write and play their own work – instead of an endless cycle of covers, while visual artists talked about time to focus on refining their skill set.

Obviously the economic slowdown is going to hit some people harder than they can take it.  What may seem liberating to one artist who brings in less work but can still pay the bills, can feel like the end of the world for one with no work or income.   However, the Times article talked a lot about how these “dispatches from the arts world were infused with fortitude and resolve, as well as a sense of release” and I was curious to see if Decatur/Atlanta/Georgia artists have had a similar reaction.

Art and economics have always been intricately connected, so there’s no doubt that this newly termed “Great” Recession will have a very real impact on the world’s art forms.  The physical results are yet unknown, but thanks to a little more time on our hands, it may just be an age of rediscovery.

I look forward to your responses.

Lauren sends along this great poster…

Click the poster for more details

Like a little rain in your martini?  Neither does the Oakhurst Community Garden. Threats of rain in the forecast have forced the org to move its Martinis in the Garden fundraiser to the Friends School this evening.

Also, Cheryl announces that tonight’s Concert on the Square with Roxie Watson has been cancelled.   The Rain Barrel Auction, already once moved, is being pushed back again to the Arts Festival next weekend, according to Beth.

Designed by Judy Lynn of Mirabelle Studios, this year’s Arts Festival poster will be unveiled this Thursday on the Square from 5p-7p.

Satisfy your curiosity and your appetite (free food and drinks.)

More details over at The Minute.

Don’t worry, I’m just talking about the Decatur Arts Festival. Geez…get your minds out of the gutter!

On both Saturday and Sunday, my wife and I left the confines of our cool, Decatur home to brave the Arts Festival crowds. And boy were there crowds! Now maybe they weren’t Inman Park Festival size mobs, but for what its worth it seemed a lot more crowded this year than last.

Let’s take the food area on Saturday for instance…

Mad house! You can see the untamable desire for gyros on every patron’s face here.

Crowds were also plentiful by the gazebo/stage, where audience members tried to escape the heat under trees and next to the stage itself.

Walking around the other side of the gazebo, we checked out a few of the “Doors of Decatur”, which there were surprisingly few of this year (though I heard one went for over $1k at the auction)

After surveying a wide array of art (some old and some new), we found ourselves back on the Square and perused Worthmore’s Grand Opening.

Free drinks, A/C and lots of cool/funky jewelry obviously drew a crowd!

Hope your day was also filled with lots of art and cool beverages!

If its Memorial Day Weekend, its also gotta be time for the Decatur Arts Festival! 2008 makes this the 20th year for the grand-daddy of all big Decatur festivals.

There’s lots going on this weekend beyond the artist’s market, so make sure to checkout the festival’s own webpage for complete details. Weather should be nice and warm. Or if you want work up your sweat from physical exertion instead of the heat, hike the 30-stop ArtsWalk on Friday night 5p-10p. (Actually you can take the FurBus for the ArtsWalk too, but then its really not a “walk” now, is it?)

Fellow Decatur-loving bloggers Catherine and Lauren are geared up and ready to go.

And so am I. In addition to visiting all the normal haunts, I might stop in to Eddie’s in the afternoon for a drink and a little entertainment before swinging by Worthmore for their “Grand Opening” weekend. Regardless, I’ll have camera in hand and will report back.

Any other non-obvious events going on this weekend that we should be aware of?

[this year's excellent poster is designed by Corey Barksdale]