ATLANTA, Ga. – Atlanta has come to be known as the home of young professionals, performing arts professionals and indie artists. The city that was once a breeding ground for hip-hop trends has become a haven of the aesthetic arts and artists alike.   

Recently, while searching for this thriving indie artist scene in the city that is home to large-scale Tyler Perry Studios, I stumbled upon a “somewhat dormant” subculture lying low in the middle of town; it’s Atlanta’s Underground Art scene.

Just like movie buffs, members of world want to claim they were the first to see the most recent and popular cult indie films, films like “Reservoir Dogs” or “Requiem for a Dream”. Well, in Atlanta, artists can experience that excitement by visiting their local independent theatre. These theatres in most cases, have been around for 20 years, or more, are home to many of the most artistically gifted and innovative people in town.

CARROLLTON, Ga. -- A graphic design assignment at the University of West Georgia will also aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The final assignment in Graphic Design 2, taught by professor David Short, was to develop a social or political poster.

"With the timing of the disaster and it having such a profound effect on so many people, I thought, why not merge the two," Short said.

Kevin Shunn, chairman of the art department, gave the go-ahead for the fundraising effort. The seven students in Short's class developed and refined their designs; art professors then chose the top three pictures.

Those three will be reproduced and offered for sale starting Thursday, May 12 at the art department's offices in UWG's Humanities building. Only 25 prints of each design will be made.

Each of the limited, autographed editions will be $20.

WESTERN METRO AREA – There are tons of fun events going on this weekend, in your area. We’ve listed a few of them for you to check out with your family and friends.

Six Flags over Georgia is holding their Christian Music Weekend, starting on Friday, April 22. The park will hold a number of concerts on their main stage. Some of the acts included are Newsboys, Kutless, Revuve, Jeremy Camp, Matthew West, Phil Stacey and many more.

Celebrate Earth Day in Downtown Douglasville by participating in the Downtown Clean Up. This clean up presented by the Downtown Development Authority and is open to all who want to volunteer. For more information contact Stephanie Aylworth at (678) 715-6092.

If you’re looking for some fun this weekend, check out comedian Sinbad at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, April 23. Sinbad is ranked by Comedy Central as “one of the top 100 standup comedians of all time”.