What is Eyedrum ART and MUSIC Gallery?

Eyedrum is centrally located downtown at 290 M.L.K Jr. Drive SE, walking distance from the hottest new loft districts in Atlanta and historic Oakland cemetary. Founded in 1998, this unique gallery continues to intrigue the community here and abroad, remaining critics' choice for the best venue for emerging artists in town. Jerry Cullum, Senior Editor of Art Papers notes, "Eyedrum has consolidated its position as Atlanta's premiere alternative art spaces; this artist-run venture has featured everyone from emerging artists to some of the city's most distinguished experimentalists."

EYEDRUM is a collective organization whose mission is to provide a forum which supports and encourages the development, exchange, and presentation of creative ideas. The goal of Eyedrum is to create a forum that serves and nourishes the multifaceted outgrowth in the contemporary cultural arts.

EYEDRUM offers a diverse program:

Visual Art: 3 galleries with major art exhibitions every 5 weeks, with opening receptions on Saturday evenings. Most exhibition openings are accompanied by live music/ sound performances.
Music / Sound: Live music of all genres 2-3 times a week from local, national and international musicians. Every "First Thursday" of the month is "Improvisation Night" dedicated to the ongoing exploration/ experimentation of music and sound and is open to all.
Lectures: Discussions intended to challenge, inform, and question ideas and theories of art, music, and technology in contemporary contexts.
Video/Film: Rare, underground and never before seen videos and films sponsored by local video artist/ production groups.
WWW Presence: www.eyedrum.org. Stay up to date with our diverse schedule, gallery page, podcast, pictures, history and soon video streams and live broadcasts.

Support: Eyedrum's programming is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs and by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council.

Eyedrum History

1997 Silver Ceiling opens in the 2nd floor apartment of Woody Cornwell and Marshall Avett at 249F Trinity on the west side of downtown at the edge of the Castleberry Hill district

1998 Renamed as "Eyedrum", the operation moves downstairs to a street level space at 253 Trinity

1999 basement space expanded to provide for a better performance stage and more display space

Sep 2001 completes move to new 3,000 sq ft space at 290 MLK Drive on the other side of downtown

Jan 2005 expands lease of 290 MLK to 6,000 sq ft total; Shelter show inaugurates the rough space

Mar 2005 proper build out of new space starts; Bill Nixon show inaugurates new back gallery
Sep 2005 construction of new stage completed, performances move to new back stage, opening up front gallery for larger shows

Eyedrum's Board of Directors

Nisa Asokan
Jessica Blankenship
Sean Borja
Nathan Brown
Scott Burland
Chris Campbell
Randy Castello
Robert Cheatham
Susan Cipcic
Woody Cornwell
Meredith Gertz
John Hannah
Karl Kendrick
Robert Kee
Omar Khalid
Chante LaGon
Merica Jensen
Hormuz Minina
Deisha Oliver
Dana Petersen Young
Priscilla Smith
Karen Tauches
Justin Waters
Allen Welty-Green

back row: Randy Castello, Nisa Asokan, Chante LaGon, John Hannah, Jessica Blankenship, Allen Welty-Green, Robert Cheatham, Meredith Gertz
front row: Chris Campbell, Deisha Oliver, Nathan Brown, Susan Cipcic, Merica Jensen, Priscilla Smith
not shown: Sean Borja, Scott Burland, Woody Cornwell, Karl Kendrick, Robert Kee, Omar Khalid, Hormuz Minina, Dana Young, Karen Tauches, Justin Waters