Podcast: Shepard Fairey, Stay Productive, Potential Spam and more on ATL Arts Collective

Featured contributor Will Feagins Jr. discusses his documentary series Our Voices, Our Lives, and Shepard Fairey brings new art to Atlanta. Plus, a look inside Stay Productive, the annual gathering of Atlanta beatmakers, a behind-the-scenes conversation with Potential Spam Comedy and ArtsATL’s Best Bets for the week.

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Will Feagins Jr. tells Atlanta stories through film

Our featured contributor this week is award-winning filmmaker Will Feagins Jr., creator of the documentary series Our Voices, Our Lives, which spotlights Black and brown artists and creative voices in Atlanta. Will joins Kim to talk about the art of telling other people’s stories and his journey from DJing and producing beats to filmmaking. He also discusses City of Kings: Atlanta, his documentary exploring Atlanta graffiti history with graffiti historian Antar K. Fierce. For Beats, Bites & Sites, Will shares three Atlanta favorites: the Drunken Unicorn for intimate live independent music; Flying Biscuit for breakfast; and CBROOKS gallery, a neighborhood exhibition space created through a residency with artist and curator Courtney Brooks.

Shepard Fairey leaves his mark on Atlanta

Artist Shepard Fairey recently made his mark on Atlanta in three significant ways: a new mural on Auburn Avenue honoring Coretta Scott King; New Day Rising, his first solo exhibition in Atlanta, at ABV Gallery; and a collaborative mural with artist Greg Mike. Fairey discusses his personal connection to the South, public art’s ability to reach audiences beyond galleries and museums and the power of collaboration. The conversation also explores Fairey and Mike’s shared approach to building creative ecosystems, where fine art, murals, design and business support one another and where collaboration can be just as powerful as individual expression. Read more about New Day Rising.

Stay Productive 2026

Featured contributor Will Feagins Jr. takes us inside Stay Productive, an annual gathering of Atlanta beat makers founded by Day Tripper. Rather than a competition or beat battle, Stay Productive gives artists a space to share their work and support one another. As the event marks its 16th year, Day Tripper reflects on how it began and why camaraderie remains at its heart.

Potential Spam Comedy brings Atlanta sketch comedy to the stage

Atlanta has its own answer to Saturday Night Live: Potential Spam Comedy. ATL Arts Collective Editor-at-Large Katina Pappas-DeLuca talks with members of the sketch comedy troupe about writing, rehearsing and producing an entirely new show nearly every month. The group shares its creative process and the joy of making one another laugh. They also discuss Spam Jam, their monthly workshop inviting Atlanta writers to share sketches and receive feedback.

ArtsATL Best Bets

ArtsATL Executive Editor Shane Harrison highlights some of the week’s cultural happenings, including the Atlanta Opera’s opening production of Silent Night, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Brahms Revealed and the ATL StyleWriters Jam along the Beltline. Don’t miss Shane’s full list in this week’s 9 essentials. 

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.

Special thanks to this week’s sponsors:

Join us on social at @artsatlanta and @atlartscollective. 

Thank you to the CP Group and Downtown Atlanta Inc. for providing the ATL Arts Collective with a home at CTR Culture Studios.

Our theme music is K Michelle Dubois’ “Hit the Deck” from her album Astral Heart, courtesy of Wicked Superb Records. Jordan Owen composed all other original music in this episode. Set art by Gina Thompson.

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