3-02-09, 9:20 am

Original source: The Atlanta Progressive News

(APN) ATLANTA -- WonderRoot Community Arts Center is a fairly new resource for artists and activists in Atlanta, located on Memorial Drive near Moreland Avenue, between East Atlanta and Little Five Points. The organization's stated mission is to bridge the gap between art and social change.

Opened to the public in May 2008, it currently has about 200 members.

Founded by Chris Appleton, Witt Wisebram, and Alex West, each in their mid twenties, the Center provides access for $10 a month to a range of artistic facilities including kilns, gallery space, a darkroom, a theatre, a recording studio, and a digital media lab, on a first-come basis.

They also provide art education, several classes per week in anything from music to art critique.

According to a schedule for February 2009 obtained by APN, WonderRoot has offered classes this month including Pro Skillz, Adobe Photoshop, New Roots, Adobe Illustrator II, Critique Group, Introduction to Flash, Darkroom Basics, Recording Studio Techniques, Photography Mentoring, and An Artist Roundtable.

Finally, WonderRoot gives free space to community advocacy groups of many types.

'The reason I got involved was they have a recording studio over there,' Judy Conder, a progressive documentary-maker, also known as Artemis, told Atlanta Progressive News. 'I always need audio for my video, and I was hoping I could bring some local musicians in. So far that hasn't happened,' due to time conflicts, she said.

'They have a computer, all of the video software... For $60 for a year, to get a recording studio and a computer room, they also have a kiln if you're into pottery. And then they've got that space down in the basement, performance space, I've been to several concerts down there,' Conder said.

'Particularly, a lot of younger people go. They can kind of cram and sit down on the floor,' Conder said.

Some recent groups who have utilized the new space include 50 Artists for a program on No Child Left Behind; the American Friends Service Committee Atlanta discussing Gaza; the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition Atlanta in a fundraiser for their new vegetable fueled bus; We are All One; and recently, the Poor People's Day Campaign in a fundraiser.

There really is no hard and fast process for deciding if an organization can use the space, Appleton told Atlanta Progressive News. If a group needs space they share responsibility for maintaining and paying for it with all the other groups.

'This gives a place for people who care about the same issues and share concerns to share resources and produce results. Everyone is in the same house,' Camron Wiltshire, founder of We Are All One, said.

At present the facility is booked through April.

The three founders knew one another when they were in high school at Pace Academy where they planned to establish the community art and activism center.

Witt Wisebram went on to major in nonprofit business development at Hampshire College and is presently getting his Masters Degree at Goddard College in Vermont. He is a musician doing Alternative rock.

'Witt is the one who is idealistic. He goes out for 2 to 3 weeks at a time living in an intense environment and then comes back to Atlanta. He has a job in maintenance for the city. He always has about 10 books he is reading for his Masters Degree and I think WonderRoot is part of his thesis,' Wiltshire said.

Chris Appleton handles the administrative side and works at the organization all the time.

Alex West now serves on the Board of Directors and is involved with media and film.

Many consider WonderRoot a model for making the arts accessible to low-income areas.

It a good interface with poor communities, offering access to a non-profit music studio when regular studios charge from $50 an hour and up. The technical school across the street uses the music studio.

'Musicians in their 40s and 50s play with kids, bridging the generation gap,' Wiltshire said.

WonderRoot was created to encourage social change through art. They do this in many ways. They helped victims of Hurricane Katrina express their suffering and gain a sense of power after being displaced, through art.

'Artists can express without distraction from the media that you are not alone, there are other people who believe there can be another way,' Wiltshire said.

Appleton is not specific about the kind of change he would like to see. It is unique to each community.

'We want whatever kind of social change people want to see in the world. Each month we have a volunteer and service roundtable. This gives our members and community a chance to come in and say here is the kind of programming I would like to participate in,' Appleton said.

Others regard WonderRoot as a place to communicate higher ideals of working together and achieving a sense of community.

'I am a proud example of what WonderRoot has done. I am 30 and taught martial arts but I wanted to do community organizing and graphic design. I did not have access to a computer or the programs I needed. It is very hard to make it in this world and hold on to your dreams. It is an inspirational place. This is a place that gives a sense of support,' Wiltshire said.

WonderRoot seems to be organized and doing well financially. 'They give benefits and performances. A lot of times the artists give all the proceeds to WonderRoot. Also they are good at finding donors,' Wiltshire said.

'The organization is funded through private donations,' according to a volunteer.

WonderRoot has a great deal of community support. 'We are lucky we have had a ton of community support. I think people are excited to be part of something,' Appleton said.

--Alice Gordon for The Atlanta Progressive News and is reachable at alice@atlantaprogressivenews.com.