Criminal Records, Terri J. Vaughn, The Foundry & Kenny Murry | The ATL Arts Collective

Featured contributor Kenny Murry joins us as we discover the new workspace helping former South River Studios artists rebuild, celebrate 35 years of Criminal Records, talk to actress and producer Terri J. Vaughn, and share ArtsATL’s Best Bets for the week ahead.

Kenny Murry: Journalism, Comedy & Asking the Right Questions

Our featured contributor is Kenny Murry, WABE digital reporter, comedian, and host of The Creative Eccentric podcast. He and Kim talk about finding creative freedom in comedy, the responsibility of telling other people’s stories as a journalist, and Kenny’s lifelong fascination with the people who build the worlds we see on screen. He also shares his favorite local discoveries for our series Beats, Bites and Sites.

Beats

Catching comedy at The Punchline

Bites 

Grabbing a cafeteria meal at Piccadilly

Sites 

Marveling at the CNN Center / the CTR

The Foundry Gives Atlanta Artists Room to Build

After a devastating fire displaced dozens of artists from South River Art Studios, a new creative workspace is giving Atlanta artists a place to rebuild. Jasmine Hentschel of GULCH Magazine takes us inside Creative Foundry Studios, a 23,000-square-foot space on Bronner Brothers Way in Southwest Atlanta founded by artist, fabricator, and entrepreneur Adam Bostic, who runs ARC Design. The Foundry offers affordable private studios alongside areas for welding, woodworking, painting, consulting, and mentorship. Atlanta Style Writers Association is among the artists and organizations already using the space, helping bring large-scale projects to life. The Foundry’s Hard Opening party takes place Saturday, August 15, featuring a paper show, live music, mural painting, and a best trick skate competition.

Criminal Records Celebrates 35 Years in Little Five Points

ATL Arts Collective contributor Chad Radford visits Criminal Records as the iconic Little Five Points record store celebrates its 35th anniversary. Owner Eric Levin opened the store in 1991, and three decades later, Criminal Records remains a gathering place for Atlanta’s music community. The anniversary celebration brings nearly 30 acts to three stages throughout the neighborhood, including MUELAS, Puddles Pity Party and Buddy Red, the eldest son of Atlanta rapper T.I. Also featured is Lux Travails, a new collaboration bringing together Atlanta favorites Fran Capitanelli, Darren Dodd, and Philip Frobos.

Kenny Murray Talks with Terri J. Vaughn

Kenny’s featured interview is with actress, producer, and director Terri J. Vaughn, best known for her work on The Steve Harvey Show and her longtime career in television and film.

Vaughn talks about Winifred Hervey, the creator and showrunner of The Steve Harvey Show, and the lessons she learned from watching a Black woman lead a television production in the 1990s. She also discusses working with Keisha Lance Bottoms and Tyler Perry on Miss Governor, and watching Georgia’s film and television industry transform since she moved to Atlanta in 2009. Vaughn also reflects on The Green Room Actor’s Lounge, the Atlanta creative space she founded to support actors and artists early in her Georgia career, and why she believes comedy can be healing.

ArtsATL Best Bets

ArtsATL Executive Editor Shane Harrison rounds out the episode with recommendations for Atlanta arts and culture, including the Piedmont Park Arts Festival, outdoor screenings of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and Riverbend, Wet Hot American Summer at the Plaza Theatre, All Shook Up at Marietta Theatre Company, and stand-up comedy with Australian comic Jenny Tian (Taskmaster Australia) at Helium Comedy Club.

 

Looking to stay connected to the people, performances, exhibitions, and ideas shaping Atlanta’s creative community? The ATL Arts Collective brings you the stories behind the city’s culture every Wednesday.

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Big thanks go to the CP Group and Downtown Atlanta Inc for their support and to K Michelle Dubois’ for providing our theme music.

 

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00:00:00 music

00:00:08 Intro & Show Title

00:00:25 Guest Kenny Murry — Intro & Podcast Launch

00:02:52 Feature: The Foundry — New Artist Studio (Jasmine Henschel)

00:11:25 Back to the Studio — Kenny on Comedy & Podcasting

00:15:13 Beats, Bites, and Sites — Atlanta Picks

00:21:56 Interview: Terri J. Vaughn — Career, Producing & Miss Governor

00:40:41 Arts ATL Best Bets (Shane Harrison)