Wow, I’m 40. Chased a few dreams, found one or two. But nothing compares to my wife and two boys. Houston will soon be 6, and Heyward is approaching 6 months. They all recently joined me on the trail for a great 10 mile hike. My birthday wish is for more time by the fire as we share a common respect for the world around us and plans for the next adventure.
Forged from Steel
Recently attended the grand opening of the new Mando facility in Hogansville, Georgia. The run of show started with paying respect to several Korean War veterans, and led all the way up to the raising of flags and cutting the ribbon. I was fortunate to get a tour of the foundry and casting facility. There is something about the melting of metal that gets at the root of human ingenuity and progress. I am continuously fascinated by the sheer amount of products that are manufactured in the southeast, and the innovation and technology that helps get it done.
A Day at the Beach
The Encinitas and San Diego surf culture is a menagerie of style and circumstance. Wade through the tattoos, tans and thongs, and you ultimately find a flow that is a little funky, fun and free. Whatever your role is it will never be as big as the Pacific Ocean’s command of the scene.
San Diego
Just wrapped up the BIO International Convention in San Diego. From the Welcome Reception on the USS Midway, to the incredible life science companies that are changing the face of healthcare, it was well worth the time. Seeing Richard Branson speak was interesting as well. Here are a few pics:
Georgia’s Creative Economy
It is nearly impossible to move about Atlanta, or the majority of the state for that matter, without bumping into some aspect of Georgia’s creative economy. I’m not just talking about the High Museum, or the lesser known Michael C Carlos Museum on Emory’s campus, but everything from film to animation to street art and beyond.
This creative industry generates more than $29 billion of annual business revenue according to a 2012 study by South Arts, and it does not appear to be slowing down.
“From cutting-edge street art to community-inspired and public-transport projects, the arts scene in Atlanta is thriving.”
The Guardian: “Top 10 galleries, art attractions and events in Atlanta”
“Home to a number of significant cultural venues, Atlanta is a hotspot for contemporary art of all mediums and a fascinating destination in the heart of Georgia.”
The Culture Trip: “Atlanta’s 10 Best Contemporary Art Galleries: Profiling Georgia’s Culture”
“Where one might expect to see San Francisco or New York City at the top of this list, Atlanta was a little surprising; but when considering it ranked in the top 15 in all five of our categories, it was certainly deserved.”
MyLife.com: “The 10 Best Cities to be an Artist”
To make matters better, the USA Today ranked Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill as one of the top 10 city art districts.
Take a gander at the above links and them come have a look around. If you want to know more about the economic impact of art in Georgia visit the Georgia Council for the Arts website.