Art, Music, and More

In volume six, critic and artist Ronald Jones, who had published his first article on Southeastern media artist Chris Robinson the previous year, contributed notes on recent European painting that, along with interviews with Marcia Tucker, Chuck Close (see photo), and Allen Ginsberg, made it clearer than ever that the magazine was interested in more than the Atlanta scene. On the other hand, a story on the importance of DB Records within alternative music also made it clear that nationally significant institutions in the magazine’s home town would not be ignored. Tom Patterson’s essay on Nexus (now the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center) inaugurated a six-part survey of Southeastern artist’s spaces, and a story on Alternate ROOTS (Regional Organization of Theatres South) reaffirmed regional connections. Features on “Dance in Atlanta” and an obituary of folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe reflected a continuing determination to cover all the art forms of the local scene. Anthony DeCurtis, who was already writing for Rolling Stone, reported on the first local fallout of the culture wars, the resignation of the Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs director in the wake of the “Art for the People’s Sake” film and performance festival.