Shared Ground

Nov. 19 โ€”Creative communities arenโ€™t defined only by the work they produce. Atlantaโ€™s art scene offers daily reminders of that truth. Our museums, galleries, and studios are gathering points; group shows weave together work and perspectives; openings stitch new connections into place.

In this weekโ€™s Sketchbook, we look at how those communal threads run through Atlanta.

Spalding Nix Fine Art’s โ€œENSEMBLEโ€ group show returns this Friday, featuring the work of more than 60 artists whose practices map the Southeastโ€™s creative pulse. Curator Spalding Nix promises a showcase of how the perspectives of others can sharpen our own.

The story of the โ€œEn Masseโ€ group exhibit is a story of resilience and regrouping. When the South River Art Studios fire broke out on Nov. 12, it also consumed the 21-artist printmaking exhibition installed only days before. We have information on how you can help. 

In moments of uplift or recovery, the same truth emerges: Atlantaโ€™s creative ecosystem endures because its people do. 

Come together. 
โ€”Sherri Daye Scott



Courtesy of Spalding Nix Fine Art

A Regional Portrait in 60+ Voices

Spalding Nix Fine Art opens โ€œENSEMBLE 2025,โ€ its largest holiday group show to date, featuring new work from more than 60 Southeastern artists. Owner Spalding Nix calls the exhibition a chance to โ€œtrain the eye,โ€ inviting visitors to discover contrasts, shifts in style, and the cultural โ€œred threadโ€ that links artists across the region.

โžก๏ธ Preview “ENSEMBLE 2025 with Nix.


New discovery awaits in Chamblee

SPONSORED BY DISCOVER DEKALB

โœจ Discover Chamblee where creativity meets community at every turn.

The city’s growing public art scene transforms streets, walkways, and gathering spaces into colorful expressions of culture and imagination.

๐Ÿ“ธ Wander through murals and sculptures that invite exploration, reflection, and unforgettable photo moments.


Courtesy of Maurice Evans

Printmakersโ€™ Losses After South River Fire

More than 50 works in โ€œEn Masse,โ€ a printmaking exhibition featuring 21 regional artists, were destroyed or damaged in the South River Art Studios fire, revealing a deeper layer of the fireโ€™s impact on Atlantaโ€™s arts community.

โžก๏ธ Hear from “En Masse” artists & its curator.


Courtesy of ABV

Art Happenings

๐Ÿค– OUTTA THE BOX Group Show | Nov. 19 | Alpharetta Arts Center.

๐ŸŒ€ “let the circle be unbroken” Group Exhibition Opening | 7 p.m., Nov. 20 | Haugabrooks Gallery.

๐ŸŽฎ Neo-Arcade Group Show | 7โ€“9 p.m., Nov. 20 | The Goat Farm. 

๐Ÿ˜ The Bright Side Group Show: Opening Reception | 6โ€“10 p.m., Nov. 22 | ABV Gallery.

๐Ÿ“š Art Papers + Reading as Resistance: Fall of Freedom National Day of Action | 1 p.m., Nov. 22 | Little Five Points Community Center.


Art Happenings

๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Third Thursday | 6-9 p.m., May 15 | Georgia Museum of Art.

๐Ÿ’ Birds, Bees, Flowers, Trees: Opening Reception | 6-8:30 p.m., May 16 | Dunwoody Farmhouse.  

๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™€๏ธ Oasis | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., May 17 | High Museum of Art. 

๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿพโ€๐ŸŽจ Marietta Square Artisan Market | 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 17 | Mill Street, Marietta.

๐ŸŒฟ ArtsXchange Permaculture Volunteer Day | 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 28 | ArtsXchange.



Post of the Week

๐Ÿ–ค The work endures.

This week, many took to social media to honor the life and legacy of Corey Davis, the visionary Atlanta artist, filmmaker, and City of Ink co-owner whose influence runs deep. Corey didnโ€™t just create โ€“ he built worlds.

@whoiscoreydavis forever.

๐ŸŽ—๏ธ See the full post here.



๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ Today’s Sketchbook was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.


Sherri Daye Scott is a freelance writer and producer based in Atlanta. She edits the Sketchbook newsletter for Rough Draft.