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Jim Gaffigan | GULCH visual art calendar | Glimmer and Gaze | Jane Austen 250

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Comedian Jim Gaffigan brings his “Everything Is Wonderful” tour to Atlanta Symphony Hall

For decades, comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan has entertained audiences nationwide with his observational humor, personable stage presence, and a variety of film and television projects ranging from “Unfrosted” to his own self-titled comedy series.

The eight-time Grammy nominee will be performing at the Atlanta Symphony Hall Sept. 11-13 as part of his “Everything Is Wonderful Tour.” He recently caught up with WABE reporter Kenny Murry to discuss the projects that shaped his career and how he really feels about his notable reputation as “America’s Everyman.”

GULCH contributors spotlight Atlanta art events, including “Xernona Clayton: Legacy in Bloom” exhibition

City Lights Collective members Jasmine Hentschel and EC Flamming, the creatives behind Atlanta’s visual art print magazine, “GULCH”, want you to get out and engage with the city’s visual art scene.

Each week, they spotlight several standout happenings, and today, they’ll cover: Atlanta Downtown & Dashboard’s exhibition celebrating civil rights icon Xernona Clayton, Ayana Ross’s Working Artist Project exhibition at MOCA GA and more.

Atlanta art events this week:

“Xernona Clayton: Legacy in Bloom” exhibition is opening on Aug. 28 at Hardy Ivy Park. This all-woman art show celebrates the Atlanta Civil Rights icon, Xernona Clayton.

College Coffe Night at Atlanta City Studio is a celebratory “back-to-school” college mixer on Aug. 28.

MOCA GA presents two exhibition openings, “Ayana Ross: Saving our Sacred Selves” and “Studio Apprentices: From the 2023/2024 Working Artist Project,” on Aug. 29.

“Contemporary Kids” with Makiko Maekawa is a kid-friendly program that introduces children to contemporary art with hands-on activities. That event is Aug. 31 from 12-2 pm at Atlanta Contemporary.

Luca Fine Art gallery showcases international artists in exhibition ‘Glimmer and Gaze’

A new gallery has opened in the Star Metals District, which showcases international artists. Rodney Kazemi founded Luca Fine Art gallery. He has 30 years of global experience, curating artists from New York to Art Basel in Miami.

The gallery’s exhibition, “Glimmer and Gaze,” is currently on view through Sept. 28. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Kazemi about the new space.

Jane Austen’s 250th birthday celebrations take over metro Atlanta

“It is a truth universally acknowledged” that one of the year’s most anticipated birthday anniversaries belongs to Jane Austen. The literary icon behind classics such as “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma” was born on December 16, 1775.

Now, 250 years later, devoted fans, scholars and critics are marking this milestone year with celebrations all over the world, including a series of events locally throughout the Gwinnett Public Library system, and a celebration at Emory University’s Rose Library. Our “Bookmarked” contributor Alison Law takes a look at the impact that Austen’s work has had on metro Atlanta residents.

Renata Dennis, a retired nurse living in DeKalb County, is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and the regional coordinator for Georgia.

“1995 was a good year for Jane Austen. There were several adaptations that came out that year. The big ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle,” Dennis said. “And then I think the ‘Sense and Sensibility’ with Emma Thompson was either that year or the year before. And my favorite, the 1995 adaptation with ‘Persuasion’, all came out, and I remember watching those and just thinking it was wonderful.”

Devoney Looser, an Arizona State professor and a renowned Austen scholar, has been planning special events to mark Austen’s 250th birthday alongside Dennis.

“In 2017, which was the 200th anniversary of her death, I think there were a number of us who were trying to calculate, when is the next big number, and realized that it would be 2025, her sestercentennial, as the 250th is known,” said Looser. “But then, [I] further realized that this was probably the last big one of these in our lifetimes. That really gave me pause and made me think about what I wanted to do and what I wanted to write to be part of the 250th.”

You can find more information about Georgia’s Jane Austen 250 celebrations on the Jane Austen Society of North America website.

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