Art Smart

Atlanta has no shortage of sources for affordable, original art. Written by Carrie Whitney

Gallery hopping on a Friday night might be great fun, but if the pricey wall tags leave you thinking that a mass-produced print really would look fine over the sofa after all, don't give up just yet. With a little creativity, budding collectors will find Atlanta has no shortage of options when searching for affordable, original art.

At Left, In October, Atlanta Celebrates Photography takes the city by storm. David Burdeny’s Vanish, exhibited in last year’s event.

Consider Café Tu Tu Tango, the restaurant styled after an artist loft in Barcelona, Spain. Tango has promoted art within its walls in Buckhead since the early '90s and claims many success stories. Everyone's favorite wine painter, Thomas Arvid, actually started his career there, and his originals were available for mere hundreds of dollars then. Now, a signed Arvid giclee on eBay is a steal at $3,400-and his originals could be traded for a car. Every day and night, local artists drag their canvases and paints to Tango to entertain while creating. The works are all for sale, and the restaurant's walls are completely covered. Could the next Arvid be there right now? No doubt. (404) 841-6222, www.cafetututango.com

The restaurant-art connection does not stop there-it's a phenomenon that has spread to eateries all over town. Salsa Havana in Ormewood Park serves more than just great beans and rice. Also on the menu, art from diverse artists, including some three-dimensional works that look like dioramas set in paint cans-very funky. Yet on another wall are bold, graphic, framed pieces representing the opposite end of the artistic spectrum. Like the fare, the art is reasonably priced. (404) 624-3105.

 
From full restaurants to coffee houses, it may seem as if anyplace with a business license is peddling art these days. Check out the nearest Starbucks, and there is probably some original work for sale hanging on the corporate walls. Better yet, visit Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge in the Westside for art exhibits that change monthly. Octane also hosts openings, and the offerings can range from paintings to graffiti to video installations. You can find plenty of cutting-edge work for less than $1,000. www.starbucks.com; www.octanecoffee.com.

When searching for art on the cheap, don't forget auctions. We are not talking Christie's or Sotheby's here, but events like the annual Art Papers Art Auction. Held each February to benefit Art Papers magazine, the silent auction features works by hundreds of local, national and international artists, both up-and-coming and renowned. People-watching is as much fun as the art browsing, and you might even get a chance to start a bidding war. artpapers.org

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In the fall, Atlanta goes photography crazy. Galleries, salons, cafes, libraries and museums in every corner of the metro area take part in Atlanta Celebrates Photography (ACP). The month-long event kicks off with a fundraising photography auction-the tickets might be a little pricey, but it's a great way to see (and vie) for works from established and emerging artists. And throughout the year, ACP hosts The Collector's Series, a program designed to educate people about collecting photography-a good idea to check out before getting your feet wet with a major purchase. acpinfo.org.

No time to explore the cafes and auctions? No problem. You'll find that most artists make good use of the Internet, and you can contact them directly via their Web sites.

 
Once you are ready to take the plunge into collecting, you'll find that quality art does not necessarily have to be a huge investment. Check your local coffee house for flyers. Besides art fairs and flea markets, artists often sell directly from their studios. Just remember: Always buy something that you love-you'll have to look at it every day.

Picured at Right - Art Papers magazine's annual silent auction features works by hundreds of established and lesser known artists.