THE WILD WILD WEST END
This project was originally developed from the fall of 1999 to the spring of 2000. Tenants of four warehouses in the West End of Atlanta, GA -- punks, artists, dreamers -- agreed to be photographed. In addition, I requested a quote to accompany their photograph. Their likeness, their musings, and the warehouse itself were the subject of a handmade book. It is coptic bond and filled with screenprinted collages from photographs of their living environs and silver gelatin prints of the tenants. All text was letter pressed with hand set type.
The current video oral histories offer a new perspective and documentation of this unique living experience. Whereas the book offers an artifact of Atlanta's DIY scene at the turn of the century, the oral histories offer the memory of a place and time in a subculture. If the book is the facts, the videos are the feeling. Former tenants tell stories, speak to the freedom felt, the friendships and bonds created, and share the grief of the tragic events that ultimately occurred there.
The concept of this project, the book, and all videos were created by Ivette Spradlin.
All camerawork, audio, lighting, and editing were done by Ivette Spradlin.
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I am grateful for those who volunteered to help throughout this project and give a full hearted thanks to:
JJ Rogue for assisting on many interviews below.
Adrien Herrera for culling through a majority of the interviews as the first step in the editing process.
Colin Clark for correcting the transcription on Part 1: The Biggest Dreams.
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*Visit the Shop to buy a copy of the recreation of the original artist book.
Interviewees
1. Tom Cheshire
2. John Magee
3. Brian Kincheloe
4. Tim Haught
5. Sean McClellan
6. Ervin Lockett
7. Chuck Petrakopoulos
8. Sean Charles
9. Jason Revell
10. Naomi Mercier
11. Marlow Sanchez
12. Gavin Frederick
13. Matt Miller
14. Brooks Meeks
15. Dave Schnapper
16. Tony Price
17. Matt "Northpoint"
18. Tony "513" Chackal
19. "Park-it" Paul Tilghmon
20. Priya Ray
21. Daniel McIntyre
22. Russ Jackson
23. Leslie Grace
24. Shawn Beeks
25. Joseph Plunket
26. Jesse Lipper
27. Rob Kincheloe
28. Jeph Burgoon
29. Ezra Morris
30. Chuck Porterfield
31. Ian Deaton
32. Meschiya Lake
33. Jen O'Neill
34. Brent Hinds
35. Gregory Spencer ("Flag")
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