National Geographic exhibit puts focus on 11 female photojournalists

One highlight of Atlanta Celebrates Photography, the festival of exhibits, lectures, commissions, collaborations and more at various venues across the metro area that fills October, opens Sept. 26 at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

"Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment" is a touring exhibition of nearly 100 photographs by 11 leading female photojournalists. The images include telling depictions of far-flung cultures, illustrations of conceptual topics such as memory and teenage brain chemistry and documents of social issues such as child marriage and 21st-century slavery.

Exhibit visitors will view video vignettes revealing the photographers’ individual styles, passions and approaches to their work.

One of the most compelling back stories is that of Lynsey Addario. A MacArthur “genius grant” and Pulitzer Prize winner, Addario is known for her unflinching photographs from conflict zones in Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Lebanon, Congo and, most recently, Syria.

Earlier this year, a team led by Steven Spielberg secured rights to tell Addario's story, based on her memoir "It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War," with Jennifer Lawrence to portray the photojournalist.

Addario calls herself “a messenger of experiences,” and has documented the horrors that befall women in war-torn cultures where their lives aren’t greatly valued.

She has had her own harrowing encounters, such as when in 2011, while covering Moammar Kaddafi’s waning rein in Libya, she was one of four New York Times journalists taken hostage for nearly a week.

Addario will recount her experiences during an Atlanta Celebrates Photography talk at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Fernbank.

In addition to Addario, the photographers represented in “Women of Vision,” continuing through Jan. 3, include Erika Larsen, Kitra Cahana, Jodi Cobb, Amy Toensing, Carolyn Drake, Beverly Joubert, Stephanie Sinclair, Diane Cook, Lynn Johnson and Maggie Steber.

Also opening Sept. 26 at Fernbank is "Searching for the Queen of Sheba," an exhibit exploring one of history's most elusive female figures through a collection of artifacts, artwork, archaeological reconstructions and media displays.

Both shows are included in museum admission: $18, $17 seniors, $16 ages 3-12. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 767 Clifton Road, Atlanta. 404-929-6300, fernbankmuseum.org.

MUSIC

Free Atlanta Opera program introduces season

While Atlanta Opera readies for its 2015-16 mainstage productions, music lovers (and the merely curious) can get tuned up as well with the free season preview "Opera With an Edge" at 3 p.m. Sept. 27 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Atlanta attorney and opera aficionado Bob Edge and Atlanta Opera General and Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun will host the free preview concert featuring performances from “La Bohème” (Oct. 3-11) “The Pirates of Penzance” (March 5-13) and “Romeo and Juliet” (May 7-15).

Each piece will be performed on the set of "La Bohème" in its original language with English supertitles during the 75-minute program. 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. No ticket required for the general admission seating but reservations requested: 404-881-8885, www.atlantaopera.org.

FILM

Documentary examines plight of ‘working poor’

On Sept. 21, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and the law firm Taylor English Duma LLP will host an "AVLF at the Movies" screening of the documentary "Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert."

The second annual free screening is intended to spark a dialogue about the daily challenges faced by millions of working-poor women in America, and the children who depend on them, living in or on the brink of poverty.

“As the income disparity gap in America becomes more noticeable, it is important for us to take a step back and understand why this is happening and how it is impacting American families,” Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Deputy Director Michael Lucas said.

Following the 6:30 p.m. screening, Gilbert, a working single mother of three who lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., will join a panel of local leaders for an audience Q&A. Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive N.E., Atlanta. Free but pre-registration required via www.avlfatthemovies.org.

VISUAL ART

MODA takes in-depth look at 3D printing

Exploring a still-raging trend, the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) has organized the exhibition “Designers, Makers, Users: 3D Printing the Future,” opening Sept. 19.

Through images, video, objects and interactive elements, the show explores projects, large and small, in which 3D printing technology is being used in innovative ways, including in space exploration, creation of architectural forms, even in prosthetic design. The exhibit, in which displays will include a Zero-G Printer that traveled to the International Space Station in 2014, addresses questions being raised by these technological advances.

Through Jan. 10. Noon-6 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays-Fridays (until 8 p.m. Thursdays), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays. $10; $8 seniors, military and educators; $5 ages 6-17 and college students. 1315 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-979-6455, www.museumofdesign.org.