This story was originally published by ArtsATL.
Artist Kareem Thompson — better known to the world as “Petie Parker” — was not always a painter but has always been around the arts. Parker started out in artist management and transitioned to making art when some pandemic-era free time prompted him to experiment with his own creative process.
His 2024 opening of The Narrative Showroom, an art, fashion and design retail space with an industrial pop aesthetic co-founded with designer Kieta Rose, was followed by notable exhibitions at Old Rabbit Gallery and Echo Contemporary later in the year.
A fixture of the Castleberry Hill art scene, Petie Parker’s latest gambit is a mysterious project called Heroes Only. Enter at your own risk!
As part of an effort to help readers get to know members of Atlanta’s arts community better, we asked Parker to share 11 good things on his mind. Here, in no particular order, is his list of 11:
1. The Narrative Showroom. Visited N.Y., hit up a few showrooms. We left so inspired that we created our own here in Atlanta. It’s pretty cool.
2. Bamboo. Stronger than steel; fire resistant; a natural air purifier; sustainable; you can make flutes with it, etc. …
3. YouTube University. If you like to learn, especially for free, choose YouTube University. … That rhymed.
4. Charcuterie boards. Not just snacks; it’s a vibe — perfectly curated, visually appealing, always a conversation starter. They have cheese.
5. Nostalgic convos with my father. Talks with my dad just hit different nowadays. Maybe because I’m a parent now as well.
6. Football. Man! Both college football and the NFL have been very entertaining this year. Plus, YouTube TV allows you to watch four games at once.
7. Comfy swag. You should always look and feel comfortable in what you wear. But for me, I mean that literally: sweatpants and hoodies with paint all over them. I can go from painting right into a party and back to painting without having to change!
8. Editing. Whether it be in Photoshop or video editing, I love the entire process.
9. Cinematography. I get damn near emotional when a shot is well thought out and strategically placed in a sequence. (Guess it touches on my love of editing.) When the camera movement, framing, lighting, color grading and angle are all on point … chef’s kiss.
10. Sam Flax. They deserve their flowers. We make family trips there regularly.
11. AI. 🤷🏾♂️
Credit: ArtsATL
Credit: ArtsATL
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ArtsATL (artsatl.org) is a nonprofit organization that plays a critical role in educating and informing audiences about metro Atlanta’s arts and culture. ArtsATL, founded in 2009, helps build a sustainable arts community contributing to the economic and cultural health of the city.
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