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Andy Warhol most likely would have approved of Eyedrum, a 7-year-old collective that puts on about 250 avant-garde art and performance events a year in a former warehouse in downtown Atlanta.
The late pop artist is no longer here to speak for himself, however, so his foundation is doing the talking.
The New York-based Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has granted Eyedrum $30,000, an amount equal to three-fourths of the tiny nonprofit group's annual budget, said Executive Director Robert Cheatham. It's the biggest grant ever for the all-volunteer collective, he said.
The money will go to artists and to help pay for administrative costs and installation of shows. Cheatham said he also plans to use the money to promote shows with posters, mailers and possibly catalogs of works for sale.
Eyedrum, at 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.E., is considered Atlanta's premier space for experimental art and live performances. It evolved from a downtown gallery and performance space called the Silver Ceiling (artists had covered the ceiling with aluminum foil).
The current space has three galleries and a stage for music and spoken-word events. In addition to showcasing local and regional artists, Eyedrum attracts touring musical performers from around the world.
Warhol died in 1987, and his will dictated that his entire estate, with the exception of a few small legacies to family members, be used to support the advancement of the visual arts. His foundation focuses on contemporary art, primarily work of a challenging and experimental nature, and has given out more than $45 million in cash grants to not-for-profit arts organizations.
Copyright 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
