Red Bull Curates Selects Atlanta Artists Sarah Emerson and Sam Parker for Art Basel

If you were not able to attend the Red Bull Crates party on Thursday night at Westside Cultural Arts Center, you surely missed one of the most eclectic gatherings of this Fall.  An at-capacity crowd of art-loving Atlantans flocked to the Center to attend Red Bull Curates: The Canvas Cooler Project Atlanta.

The project challenged 20 handpicked local artists to transform a blank canvas-wrapped Red Bull cooler into an inspired work of functional art.  The artists were paired with venue owners from some of the hottest local bars, lounges and restaurants in the city, and the custom pieces will now live in their chosen venues.  

The artists’ work was voted on by a luminary panel of judges, including:  Fay Gold, renowned Executive Director of the Fay Gold Gallery, Susannah Darrow, Executive Director and Co-founder of BURNAWAY, and Neda Abghari, Executive Director and Founder of The Creatives Project. 

OK, OK...Who Won, You Ask....

The judges selected artists Sarah Emerson and Sam Parker to show and sell their artwork at SCOPE Art Show in Miami during Art Basel week in December 2013.   Sarah Emerson shared, “I cannot imagine how the judges went around and scored everything. I am used to working really big and was very nervous about working on something so small, but it was good for me to get out of my element and do something that was a little bit of a challenge and different.  I feel good and I’m excited to go to (Art) Basel.”  

Sarah's artwork was paired with local Midtown establishment,  Burkhart's Pub, and will be displayed behind the bar and used as their Red Bull cooler.  Sam Parker was paired with one of Old 4th Ward's newest bars, Sister Louisa's Church.

The two of them will soon be on their way to Miami for the famous Art Basel celebration.

The other 16 artists that created artwork for Red Bull Curates: The Canvas Cooler Project Atlanta included:  InKyoung Chun, Patrick Davis, Allen Taylor, Catlanta, ericmack, Brandon Sadler, Joe Tsambiras, Michi Meko, olive47, Alvaro Alvillar, Sanithna Phansavanh, Emer, Spencer Murrill, Mike Germon, Jesse Jaeger, and Matt Relkin. 

In addition, at each Red Bull Curates: The Canvas Cooler Project show, two artists are entered into a pool of contestants to win the People’s Choice Award—an opportunity to also exhibit and sell their artwork at SCOPE Miami.  The Atlanta artists entered into the pool were Lela Brunet and Peter Ferrari are advancing to the social media pool.

Congrats to all of the winners and all that took time to participate!