Dashboard Co-op opened the Edgewood Avenue Artwalk on Saturday, Oct. 4. The show featured artists Henry Detweiler, Iman Person, P. Seth Thompson, Justin Raideau, Lee Deigaard, Nikita Gale, Aubrey Edwards and Nathan Sharratt who occupied five buildings along the avenue. The exhibition challenged the contributors to recreate the event space with art specific to each room.
The event spaces were confined to five separate buildings set between The Sound Table and the Music Room that spanned a distance of about three blocks. Maps in hand, viewers could navigate to each location with ease by following the glittering arrows pointing in the direction of the next spot, as well as shimmering stars that indicated the five destinations. However the sparkling substance was a bit unruly. Once disturbed, the adhesive would stick to people’s shoes scattering the luster ultimately making the street gleam.
Feet were stomping. Out of the mass of youths (ages 18-30) someone said, “I think I’m drunk.” Young attendees sported brown-bagged drinks from site to site. Not the typical atmosphere. Instead of isolating viewers in one area Dashboard had observers on the move. This obviously changed the experience for those in attendance, however the concern was whether artists were receiving enough attention. Detweiler, a 22-year-old undergraduate student at Georgia State and one of the eight chosen artists was happy with the turnout. He said he was, “not sure if the crowd understood his work,” but he was pleased with the range of on-lookers.
Stephanie Pharr, a former SCAD student was “impressed” with Detweiler’s pieces. Over all she thought the artwalk allowed the public to interact and become better acquainted with the street. There was a great mix of people migrating in from an event nearby on Auburn Avenue. Men and women were walking over to see what was going on in the Edgewood neighborhood. The environment seemed to be an extension of the goings-on in bars and restaurants that night.
Dashboard provided a venue for people of all different types to come out and observe art. Whether the medium was photography or sculpture the experience was without question memorable. The glitter for sure made its way into the homes of all who were present as a small memento of the night.