Athens, Georgia is a landmark of moral degeneracy and spiritual clarity from businessmen to homeless people and from political debate to civil discontent. A place where the free and the damned and the willing congregate to let loose and let live, his city offers a very clear life path for those who were born at the right starting point, at the right time. Point A leads to point B without any obstructions in between. While the city offers a structured life filled with predictability and an industrial safety net for those who choose it, there is a unique dichotomy in that chaos exists around these carefully placed societal structures. Chasing these two life philosophies in the same isolated location leads to a very direct line between the sacred and the profane. While some are rehearsing a future life in insurance sales, others are experimenting with art, music, drugs and life itself. These experiences exist in the crevices of what is commonplace. A sidewalk lined with bars and boutiques holds decades-old graffiti or a street performer with a story to tell. Searching for these hidden gems around Athens offers a means of
displaying our interconnectedness and our unique individuality at the same time. Art is deeply personal and individual, yet it holds value in a collective sense as it makes an impact on the community. A shining example of this phenomenon is Athens legend, Brett Hoop. A man with five fingers that play six strings, Hoop is a musician who can be found on any given night on one of the many busy street corners in Athens. He sings for the duration of his time, smiling and nodding knowingly at the people who call themselves his fans and welcoming strangers with a unique on-the-spot song about their lives. He found himself in Athens on a whim and has put down his roots here because of the flow of energy that exists below the surface. “You know, most people want something. A lot of people care about survival, but beyond that, human emotions flux so much throughout the day that no matter how steady or stable someone may seem, they’re not. It’s all an act to some degree…that’s why I don’t care if people love it or hate it when I play my music. I do it to be happy,” said Hoop.
Writing: Sophie McCleod Copy Editing: Anna Albright, Shelby Wingate Layout: Aidan Williams