Tag Archive for: Atlanta bookstore

A Sunday afternoon in Atlanta’s A Capella Books

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For one lovely Sunday afternoon recently, A Capella Books in Atlanta’s historic Inman Park neighborhood hosted an Author Event for Frank and Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See.

Owned by Frank Reiss and managed by Chris Fanning, A Capella Books was a delightful venue for Frank (Harmon!) as he shared his love of hand-sketching and how that passion — along with the brief essays —  inspired ORO Editions to publish his book, which is now in its second printing.

Following are photos from the event provided by photographer John E. Ramspott. We are very grateful to John for letting us share his images here.

We are also grateful to Frank R. and Chris for being such gracious hosts, to architect Bill Carpenter for helping to make this event possible, and to the enthusiastic gathering of folks who came to hear Frank H. read excerpts from Native Places then get his signature on their brand-new copies.

Thank you, one and all, for an afternoon to remember.

 

Frank greets the crowd, flanked by his book and hat.

Bill Carpenter (left) after his introduction.

 

Frank and Chris

Bill Carpenter

Bill’s Brazilian girlfriend, Celma Rosa.

Frank’s miniature watercolor set rests on the counter with “The Lawn” sketch in ‘Native Places’

 

Frank shares a new sketch.

The author’s hat waits nearby…

‘Native Places’ in Atlanta: A Capella Books Will Host Celebrated Architect/Author Frank Harmon, FAIA

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Architect/author Frank Harmon wants to change the way we see the world around us. That’s why he wrote his new, critically acclaimed book Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See. On Sunday, June 2, Frank Reiss, the proprietor of A Capella Books in Atlanta, will host a book-signing event for Harmon beginning at 2 p.m. The event free and open to the public.

Published by ORO Editions and now in its second printing, Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See is a collection of 64 of Harmon’s watercolor sketches paired with brief essays he’s written about architecture, nature, everyday objects, and ordinary places.

The book’s purpose, Harmon says, is “to transform the way we see” and to disseminate his belief that hand drawing is not obsolete. According to this multi-award-winning architect who is also a professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Design, drawing give us “an opportunity to develop a natural grace in the way we view the world and take part in it.”

The sketch-essay pairings in the book first appeared in Harmon’s popular online journal NativePlaces.org. Culled from myriad sketchbooks he’s filled over the decades, convey the delight he finds in familiar objects and “native” places. The short essays, inspired by the sketches, offer his interpretations of what most of us overlook or take for granted.

“Like a child picking up fistfuls of seemingly commonplace stones, Harmon gathers places in all their forms and meanings and thoughtfully lays them in his book where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and everyday life takes on a new texture and meaning,” wrote Eleanor Spicer Rice, PhD, in her review of Native Places – one of many positive comments from critics, colleagues, and readers that are included on the book’s website www.nativeplacesthebook.com.

Fellow architect William Carpenter, FAIA, will introduce Harmon at the A Capella Books event. Carpenter is the founder and president of Lightroom Studio with offices in Decatur, GA, and Sao Luis, Maranhao, Brazil. Along with receiving national architecture and education awards, Carpenter once worked with the late Sam Mockbee, FAIA, founder of Auburn University’s iconoclastic Rural Studio in New Bern, Alabama, where Harmon lectures and leads Drawing Workshop for students.

After the introduction, Harmon will give a 20-minute presentation then take questions from the audience before signing copies of Native Places, which will be available at the store.

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, A Capella Books is located at 208 Haralson Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (404.681.5128). For more information, visit www.acapellabooks.com.

For more information on Frank Harmon and Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See, visit the book’s website (nativeplacesthebook.com) and Facebook page.