Atlanta Celebrates Photography Turns City Into Giant Gallery

WABE

September 30th, 2016

Fall brings Atlantans a photo feast as Atlanta Celebrates Photography kicks off its 18th annual festival with a smorgasbord of exhibits, gallery receptions, artist talks, lectures and special events throughout the state.

The festival has more than 100 participating venues. Most events take place in metro Atlanta, although participating locations extend from Newnan to Alpharetta and even north to Cartersville.

The festival officially runs the entire month of October, but many exhibits are already underway and extend after the festival, giving photography enthusiasts time to sample the entire buffet of lens-based media.

Here are some highlights of the Atlanta Celebrates Photography Festival:

ACP Photography Auction and Gala (Oct. 1)

Mason Fine Art hosts this annual photography gala, which includes a seated dinner as well as silent and live auctions of photography, experiences and ephemera. If you haven’t nabbed your ticket yet, plan early to attend next year’s fête because this year’s auction is sold out.

My Atlanta Exhibit (through Oct. 20)

With the rise of smart phones, almost anyone can be a photographer.

This exhibit at Spencer Sloan Studio in TULA Art Center features art by photographers of all ages and experience levels who answered an open call to pin up a favorite photo and compete for prizes. Come by to view the art, and see if someone you know has a hidden talent behind the lens.

ACP Lecture Series (Oct. 6 through 27)

The ACP Lecture Series presents opportunities to learn more about the art of photography and hear directly from some highly respected artists and curators in the field.

In addition to artist talks, there are discussions about topics such as “Instagram as Atelier and Salon” and “It All Started with Thomas Askew” presented at a handful of venues across the city.

ACP Portfolio View and Walk (Oct. 8)

Visit the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center to see portfolios by 84 photographers from across the U.S. who are in town to participate in the ACP Portfolio Review. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the panel of reviewers while you’re there.

Art Book Fair (Oct. 29 and 30)

This event showcases photobook publishers, art and photography zines and published photographers along with a curated selection of photobook vendors. This two-day fair takes place at Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

ACP Public Art: THE FENCE (through Oct. 31)

Visit the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail to see more than 700 feet of photography displayed outdoors. The works reach across cultural boundaries and geographic lines with images by 40 photographers from across the globe. The exhibit is part of a larger initiative, and there are simultaneous exhibits happening in Brooklyn, New York; Boston; Houston; and Santa Fe, New Mexico. There is also a separate 250-foot-long Georgia version of THE FENCE that features works by 10 Georgia-based photographers. This exhibit travels across the state through December with stops in Savannah, Gainesville, Columbus and Thomasville.

For more information about the Atlanta Celebrates Photography Festival, check out its listing on Atlanta PlanIt. For a full list of events, view the interactive ACP Festival Guide.

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