In the first two installments of the trio of conversations with dynamic artist duo Grace Kisa and Maurice Evans, Layla Felder spoke to each artist alone to talk about their art journey and processes. Now, Layla speaks to the both of them to get more detail on their series ‘The Nu Africans’, understand what it […]
August
16
KAOP IN CONVERSATION: Wini McQueen
posted by Layla
Macon-based quilt and textile artist, Wini McQueen, takes Layla through her new exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, Georgia. It is her 50-year retrospective called ‘The Covering’, and Wini explains the inspiration, stories, and process behind her various quilts, books, and clothing pieces on display
March
22
KAOP IN CONVERSATION EPISODE 5: FAHAMU PECOU PART 2
posted by Layla
Dr. Fahamu Pecou is an Internationally exhibited, interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art and popular culture. Pecou’s paintings, performance art, and academic work addresses concerns around contemporary representations of Black men and how these images impact both the reading and performance of Black masculinity. Pecou’s work is featured in […]
March
15
KAOP IN CONVERSATION EPISODE 4: FAHAMU PECOU PART 1
posted by Layla
Dr. Fahamu Pecou is an Internationally exhibited, interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art and popular culture. Pecou’s paintings, performance art, and academic work addresses concerns around contemporary representations of Black men and how these images impact both the reading and performance of Black masculinity. Pecou’s work is featured in […]
March
08
KAOP IN CONVERSATION EPISODE 3: Michael Rooks ON Julie Mehretu
posted by Layla
Wieland Family Curator of Contemporary and Modern Art at The High Museum of Art, Michael Rooks takes Layla Felder through world-renowned artist, Julie Mehretu’s retrospective at the High Museum of Art. Julie Mehretu is an Ethiopian LGBT abstract artist whose work has been shown all over the world at world-famous museums. He takes Layla through […]
February
15
KAOP IN CONVERSATION EPISODE 2: Charly Palmer
posted by Layla
Renowned artist Charly Palmer opens the doors of his studio for an intimate, inter-generational art conversation. We talk about how he started out as an artist, his process, inspiration, technique and more. 2020 was a spectacular year for Charly. We uncover how his historic “Time” Magazine Cover of 2020 came to be, and how he […]
February
01
KAOP IN CONVERSATION EPISODE 1: Fabian Williams
posted by Layla
Join us as Fabian Williams @occasionalsuperstar and I visit his 130 ft.Morehouse College Black History and Morehouse College History Mural on campus that he has been working on for the past 2 years. We delve deep into his mural and talk content and artistic technique. We go through each section of his mural and discuss […]
July
16
8TH ANNUAL KAOP RING CYCLE ENDURANCE WALK TO BENEFIT: MET ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS
posted by Layla
I started my 8th Annual KAOP Ring Cycle Endurance Walk Fundraiser! Normally we raise money for The Met Opera HD Live in Schools Program, but now with COVID devastating the arts industry, I decided to focus on staff that has been laid off and do not have money coming in. I am doing 2 separate […]
July
16
8TH ANNUAL KAOP RING CYCLE ENDURANCE WALK TO BENEFIT: MET OPERA CHORUS ARTISTS INC.
posted by Layla
I started my 8th Annual KAOP Ring Cycle Endurance Walk Fundraiser! Normally we raise money for The Met Opera HD Live in Schools Program, but now with COVID devastating the arts industry, I decided to focus on staff that has been laid off and do not have money coming in. I am doing 2 separate […]
February
01
MET OPERA LIVE: PORGY & BESS
posted by Layla
One of America’s favorite operas returns to the Met for the first time in nearly 30 years. James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row on the Charleston waterfront, vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants. “If you’re going to stage Gershwin’s opera, this is how,” raved the Guardian when […]
February
01
KAOP PORGY & BESS GROUP DINNER
posted by Layla
To end the day of opera festivities after Porgy & Bess, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at The Smith in the private dining room. I made the chose the menu items, and did the graphic design for the menu so it looked identical to the regular The Smith Menu with a few special details. What […]
February
01
PORGY & BESS BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
After the incredible performance of Porgy & Bess, KAOP went backstage for a private Green Room with the artists. We also went upstairs to the lobby to meet privately with Eric Owens and Angel Joy Blue after their CD signing. What an incredible day! POSSE VIDEOS: POSSE PHOTOS:
February
01
THE GRAND TIER BRUNCH: PORGY & BESS
posted by Layla
An elegant meal for our 40 guests at The Grand Tier was wonderful. We enjoyed an appetizer, and a main course, then returned during intermission 95 minutes later for yummy dessert and drinks. POSSE VIDEOS: POSSE PHOTOS:
February
01
PORGY & BESS PRIVATE LECTURE BY WILL BERGER
posted by Layla
Will Berger, esteemed author, radio host, commentator and hosted a private lecture for KAOP on the history and significance of Porgy & Bess prior to the historic Met Opera Live in HD Worldwide Broadcast. Porgy & Bess has nor been performed at The Metropolitan Opera in 25 years. According to the Gershwin Estate, Porgy & […]
January
30
ART OPENING: FABIAN WILLIAMS @OCCASIONAL SUPERSTAR
posted by Layla
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January
29
MET OPERA LIVE: LA DAMNATION DE FAUST
posted by Layla
Berlioz’s compelling take on the Faust legend returns for the first time in a decade, with an ideal lineup of stars. High-flying tenors Bryan Hymel and Michael Spyres sing the doomed and besotted Faust, opposite dazzling mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča as the forsaken Marguerite and bass Ildar Abdrazakov as the malevolent Méphistophélès. Edward Gardner conducts. Please […]
January
28
TENTH GRADE PERSONAL PROJECT: BEHIND THE CURTAIN WEB SERIES
posted by Layla
At my school all 10th Grade students have to do a project called the Personal Project where we are able to explore a topic of interest for a school year and make a product based off that topic. I chose opera, specifically the process of making a opera, so for my product I decided to […]
January
09
THE HIGH: VIRGIL ABLOH: “FIGURES OF SPEECH”
posted by Layla
This fall, the High presents the first museum exhibition devoted to the work of Virgil Abloh, the modern, genre-bending artist and designer who became creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear in 2018. Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” offers an unprecedented survey of Abloh’s creative work over nearly two decades and pulls back the curtain on […]
December
12
THE HIGH: SALLY MANN: A THOUSAND CROSSINGS
posted by Layla
For more than forty years, Sally Mann (American, born 1951) has made experimental and haunting photographs that explore the overarching themes of existence: memory, desire, death, the bonds of family, and nature’s indifference to human endeavor. What unites this broad body of work is that it is all bred of a place, the American South. […]
November
23
MET OPERA LIVE IN HD: AKHNATEN
posted by Layla
Director Phelim McDermott tackles another one of Philip Glass’s masterpieces, following the now-legendary Met staging of Satyagraha. Star countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo is the title pharaoh, the revolutionary ruler who transformed ancient Egypt, with the striking mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges in her Met debut as his wife, Nefertiti. To match the opera’s hypnotic, ritualistic music, McDermott […]
October
16
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT: THE NEW BAUHAUS
posted by Layla
The Architecture & Design Film Festival, celebrates the unique creative spirit that drives architecture and design. With a curated selection of films, events and panel discussions, ADFF creates an opportunity to entertain, engage and educate all types of people who are excited about architecture and design. With well-attended screenings, legendary panelists, vibrant discussions and events […]
September
22
FUNDRAISER: 7TH ANNUAL KAOP RING CYCLE ENDURANCE WALK
posted by Layla
The 7th Annual KAOP Ring Cycle Endurance Walk to raise money for The Met Opera HD Live in Schools Program was great. This year was extremely hot in Atlanta the day of the walk- so we started the walk this year at Superica and powered up with food before, walked to the park and did […]
September
20
MAIRA KALMAN STUDIO VISIT
posted by Layla
I have loved Maira Kalman’s books since I was a baby. I have read almost all of her children’s books. Meeting her in Atlanta was a dream come true. Being invited to her home and studio was beyond words. Most of the work that is normally on the walls was out on loan to “The […]
September
12
THE HIGH: OF ORIGINS & BELONGING, DRAWN FROM ATLANTA
posted by Layla
Of Origins and Belonging, Drawn from Atlanta is the third in a series of exhibitions at the High focused on work by Atlanta-based artists. The exhibition features six artists who address issues related to place, belonging, and heritage in their work: Jessica Caldas, Yehimi Cambrón, Xie Caomin, Wihro Kim, Dianna Settles, and Cosmo Whyte. Compelled […]
September
12
THE HIGH: THE PURSUIT OF EVERYTHING: MAIRA KALMAN’S BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
posted by Layla
The High Museum of Art will premiere this colorful exhibition exploring the extensive catalog of Maira Kalman’s imaginative stories and illustrations, which have delighted readers of all ages for more than 30 years. Perhaps best known for her quirky New Yorker magazine covers and brilliant pictorial essays, Kalman (American, born 1949) has published more than […]
September
05
AYANA V. JACKSON ARTIST IN RESIDENCE STUDIO VISIT
posted by Layla
Ayana invited me to visit her Artist-in-Residence Studio in upstate New York. I got to see some previous work, as well as preview her new work having to do with Drexciya for her exhibition at the Mariane Ibrahim Gallery in Chicago in Fall 2019. A description of the exhibition Ayana was working on is below: […]
July
09
THE PURSUIT OF EVERYTHING: MAIRA KALMAN’S BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
posted by Layla
The High Museum of Art will premiere this colorful exhibition exploring the extensive catalog of Maira Kalman’s imaginative stories and illustrations, which have delighted readers of all ages for more than 30 years. Perhaps best known for her quirky New Yorker magazine covers and brilliant pictorial essays, Kalman (American, born 1949) has published more than […]
June
21
FAY GOLD GALLERY: MAIRA KALMAN- MY FAVORITE THINGS: GOUACHE PAINTINGS & PRINTS
posted by Layla
Maira Kalman is known as the beloved author of many books for children, but her art and projects extend in numerous directions. In recent years, she has choreographed, created an installation with her son Alex Kalman called Sara Berman’s Closet that was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and adult books of all descriptions including Strunk and […]
June
12
ANDREW FREEDMAN HOME: RE-WRITING HISTORY EXHIBITION BY FABIOLA JEAN-LOUIS
posted by Layla
Re-Writing History is an evolving series of photographs and sculptural paper constructions by Fabiola Jean-Louis that re-envisions the past in light of the racial strife of the present, and alludes to the absence of black women in historical narratives. By situating women of color in unexpected period settings, Jean-Louis questions their absence and reflects on how […]
June
12
ANDREW FREEDMAN HOME: VISUAL ACTIVISM & WOMEN IN THE ARTS- ARTIST TALK
posted by Layla
Artists Fabiola Jean-Louis, Vanessa German, and Ayana V. Jacksondiscuss visual activism, and the role of history and identity in their work. Moderated by Elia Alba. Join us as these three artists discuss the common themes and overlapping narratives in their work. Through photography, multi-media installations, sculpture, and film, they explore historical and contemporary social issues: […]
June
02
CHARLY PALMER STUDIO VISIT
posted by Layla
Charly graciously opened his studio to my friends and I on a Sunday. We had the best time. We were able to see his studio space, check out his new studio space, listen to him speak about his work and process, look at his work at our leisure, meet his kids, and just chill in […]
May
23
THE HIGH: THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION: EUROPEAN MASTERWORKS
posted by Layla
European Masterworks: The Phillips Collection presents the pioneering collecting approach of Duncan Phillips (1886–1966). As the founding director of The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, Phillips opened the first museum of modern art in the United States in 1921. In a gallery added to his family’s Georgian Revival home, he began his mission to define […]
May
17
THE HIGH: THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION: EUROPEAN MASTERWORKS
posted by Layla
European Masterworks: The Phillips Collection presents the pioneering collecting approach of Duncan Phillips (1886–1966). As the founding director of The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, Phillips opened the first museum of modern art in the United States in 1921. In a gallery added to his family’s Georgian Revival home, he began his mission to define […]
May
01
ALEX HARRIS: OUR STRANGE NEW LAND: Independent Narrative Movie Sets Across the South
posted by Layla
In 2016 I received a commission from the High Museum in Atlanta to photograph in the South. Nearly a decade earlier, having published The Idea of Cuba, I was asked to photograph on the set of Steven Soderbergh’s film CHE. At the time, I imagined that photographing on Soderbergh’s movie set would be fundamentally different […]
March
30
SPELMAN MUSEUM: ART PAPERS LIVE- AMY SHERALD
posted by Layla
Amy Sherald immediately rose to international prominence when the National Portrait Gallery unveiled her portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama in February 2018 to critical acclaim. Amy Sherald, the artist’s first major solo exhibition, features a selection of portraits that exemplify her signature style: sitters with fantastical greyscale skin who are painted against a monochromatic […]
March
28
THE HIGH: HAND TO HAND: SOUTHERN CRAFT OF THE 19TH CENTURY
posted by Layla
This exhibition focuses on a selection of masterworks from the High’s holdings of 19th century Southern decorative arts, examining the great achievements in traditional, rural forms of quilts, ceramics, basketry and furniture. The style, techniques and materials of each work reveal not only the talents of their makers, but also the legacy of learned traditions […]
March
28
THE HIGH: WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY: TIME & TEXTURE
posted by Layla
A pioneer of color photography, William Christenberry dedicated his career to articulating the unique character of his native Hale County, Alabama. For four decades beginning in the 1960s, Christenberry photographed the vernacular architecture and rural landscape of central Alabama on an annual basis, creating a prolonged study of place and the passing of time. This exhibition […]
February
28
THE HIGH: LOOK AGAIN: 45 YEARS OF COLLECTING PHOTOGRAPHY
posted by Layla
Photography is a uniquely elastic medium. It can fulfill numerous utilitarian purposes—recording personal memories, chronicling collective histories, or furnishing documentary evidence—yet it also offers dynamic potential for creative expression. The High Museum of Art began collecting photographs in the early 1970s, and the collection now includes more than 7,000 photographs from around the world made […]
February
25
KAOP: BLACKKKLANSMAN MOVIE
posted by Layla
Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events. TEXT: Courtesy of http://www.imdb.com VIDEOS: Club Movie debrief POSSE PHOTOS:
KIDS OPERA & ART POSSE 
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