THE ART
Ben and Henry gutted the Jukebox and reprogrammed it with new songs created by splicing together sounds from the Galaga machine. At the opening people could choose a song and Ben and Henry would perform something specifically responding to that track. It was bizarre and exceptional.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
No Vacancy was on view for three weeks, and during that time we were approached by Chris Yonkers and Brian Eagan who wanted to know what was going to happen to the building when it was over. We didn’t know but introduced them to the property owner.
They ended up leasing it and turned it into Mammal Gallery. Mammal supports emerging artists and musicians and has brought economic viability, foot traffic, and national attention to Downtown Atlanta. And over the past year two other creative organizations have moved to the street, making it a true arts hub.
And all this started because Ben and Henry spent three weeks making art in a nightclub together.
Pretty cool, right?
Art interventions, like Ben and Henry’s, have the ability to ignite our vacant spaces and inspire budding entrepreneurs to take action. This is a very real and measurable ripple effect that art can have.