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POETS, ARTISTS & MADMEN While cash money’s in short supply these days, Atlanta’s rolling in cultural riches, lounging in the lap of luxury shaped by the city’s creative wealth. Magnates of poetic opulence, our Poets, Artists & Madmen have shown off their assets over the past year. Their bling? A glittering light show in Castleberry Hill’s gallery district. Their playthings? The bathtubs and silk screens of a modern dance performance. Their weekend getaway? How about a sprawling, 27-acre arts center mere minutes from downtown. Think of this year’s Filthy Rich edition of Best of Atlanta as a VIP pass to the fabulous lives of Atlanta’s creative upper crust. It’s a chance to become part of the entourage and see how the other, more artistic, half lives. — Debbie Michaud Critics Picks Filthy Pick: Best public art Art Signed the Beltline Rich Pick: Best theater company Georgia Shakespeare Best new trend in the arts Art collectives Best visual artist Danielle Roney Best artistic stimulus package Art Papers Live! lecture series Best gallery spotlighting local artists Spruill Gallery Best art event Le Flash Best orgiastic feast El Bicho: 2008/2009 Best peek into an art collector's vault Mergers & Acquisitions Best place to score affordable art Young Blood Gallery and Boutique Best local male actor Daniel Thomas May Best local female actor Kate Donadio Best comedic threesome Lala Cochran, Don Finney and Shelly McCook Best new theatrical venue Southwest Arts Center Best venue for stand-up comedy The Laughing Skull Lounge Best dance performance Dirty Pretty Best book event Decatur Book Festival Best reason to name-drop Salman Rushdie Best film event Atlanta Film Festival Best literary love for Atlanta Outcasts United Readers Picks Best new trend in the arts Dance Best neighborhood for the arts Castleberry Hill Best established visual artist R. Land Best emerging visual artist Josh D. Weiss Best advocate for the arts WonderRoot Community Arts Center Best public art Krog Street Tunnel Best museum High Museum of Art Best gallery Beep Beep Gallery Best gallery spotlighting local artists Beep Beep Gallery Best underground art space Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery Best opening The Mad Generation at East Atlanta Tattoo Best art event Gather Atlanta Best neighborhood art walk Castleberry Hill Art Stroll Best art exhibit in a gallery Extraordinary Machine at Wm Turner Gallery Best art exhibit in a museum The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army at the High Museum of Art Best place to score affordable art Young Blood Gallery Best local male actor Tom Key Best local female actor Allison Hastings Best stage director Freddie Ashley Best local playwright Gabriel Jason Dean Best play The Wild Party at Onstage Atlanta Best touring play Wicked at Fox Theatre Best theater company Horizon Theatre Best improv group Dad's Garage Theatre Best venue for stand-up comedy The Punchline Best dance company Atlanta Ballet Best dance performance Crux by brooks & company dance Best local poet: Tie Theresa Davis Best local poet: Tie Kodak Harrison Best local spoken word artist The Subliminator Best place to hear spoken word Java Monkey Best place for author reading/signing A Cappella Books Best book event Decatur Book Festival Best local author Hollis Gillespie Best book by a local author Bound South by Susan Rebecca White Best place to see a movie Landmark Midtown Art Cinema Best film series Silver Scream Spook Show Best film festival Atlanta Film Festival Best showbiz shout-out to Atlanta Adult Swim Best local arts website Atlanta Performs Best local arts blog BurnAway.org |
 Photo by Joeff Davis |