The amazing Urban Nirvana was the studio, gallery, and gardens of artist Christine Sibley. This technicolor oasis was located at the corner of DeKalb Avenue and Waddell Street during the 1990s. Sibley was known primarily for her pottery and also designed the
decor for several Fellini's Pizza and La Fonda restaurants. These photos were taken in August 1992.
These first 8 photos were taken on the side of the building that faced DeKalb Avenue. Waddell Street is to the left.
The telephone pole in front of the building was decorated as a palm tree!
This fountain is below what must have originally been the front door of the building.
This is part of the garden behind the building. In the pens to the right were peacocks, goats and chickens.
Sunflowers were painted across the back side of the building.
Urban Nirvana was a magnet for artists and musicians and appeared on album covers and in several music videos. "Blue Garden Party" was a Super8 film that I shot there in 1992.
Atlanta band Ultrababyfat shot much of the video for their song "Twist" in the garden behind the building.
Urban Nirvana appears on the cover of Shawn's 1994 album Big Blue Sky.
All good things must come to an end. Miss Sibley was seriously injured in a near-fatal auto accident in 1998 and, after months of difficult recovery, sold the Urban Nirvana property in September 1999. Sadly, she passed away a few months later at age 51.
Urban Nirvana was my favorite place in Atlanta during the 1990s. Revisiting the site nearly two decades later was truly depressing. So what is there now? Altogether now: just what we need... MORE CONDOS! Here is the former site of the garden:
I try to keep an open mind when it comes to the recent rash of condominiums in Atlanta. After all, people have to live somewhere and this location is hard to beat. Maybe I'm too idealistic and critical when assessing current architectural trends, but in this case, even the owners seem to be sheepishly trying to hide this building from public view.
The telephone pole that had once been decorated as a palm tree is apparently all that remains.
The view on Waddell Street in January 2012:
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Wow. That's depressing!
ReplyDeleteWow -- I had totally forgotten about this space. Thanks for the memory! Beautiful pics. There was a somewhat similar space in the early 90s (though much smaller in scope and scale) behind what is now One Eared Stag at the corner of Edgewood and Elizabeth Streets, near the Reynoldstown/Inman Park MARTA station. It was an art/performance space called Sylvia's Art of This Century and she put together a really cool area in the alley behind the building for outdoor performances.
ReplyDeleteSylvia's was great! I saw many bizarre performances there.
ReplyDeleteIs that related to the same Sylvia's that was in Candler Park? It was a few doors down from the original Flying Biscuit if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was called Sylvia's Atomic Cafe.
ReplyDeleteI hate that Urban Nirvana is gone. Was just thinking about her place this weekend when I was lovin on my gargoyle from there.
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't even realize it WAS gone, or that Christine Sibley had died. I don't get out much, obviously. And how was she related to Celestine Sibley, exactly?
ReplyDeleteNo relation to Celestine Sibley.
DeleteFor all of the poorly designed condo buildings in Atlanta-- this is actually one of the better ones-- go no further that up th estreet (DeKalb) to the 'Pencil Factory' to find a true abomination--
ReplyDeleteAs a 6-year resident of this building, I can tell you that we are not sheepishly trying to hide it from public view. We are a vibrant and proud group of neighbors. I also grew up in Atlanta and remember Christine's building. I remember lots of things from my childhood that have changed. Inman Park is an evolving neighborhood that takes pride in its past while looking to the future. That is the meaning behind the neighborhood butterfly emblem: past, present, future. I appreciate the trip down memory lane but could do without the snarky remarks that insinuate our new community on this corner is less than what existed there before us.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly isn't as artistic on the outside, but then, gosh, WHAT IS?! Nothing. Things do give way to "progress," don't they?
DeleteThe author had it right.
Deletethat building is crap and defending gentrification on a page intended to honor her is just tacky....
Deleteenjoy your concrete jail
I am still so sad about Chris. We were good friends in the 70's. She was so tiny but did amazing works of art. I covet my all too few objects.
ReplyDeleteI too lived in Atlanta from 1989-1995 - surly these were the BEST years of Atlanta - the creativity was magnificent, and shared in the subtle Southern way. Viva Atlanta cir 1990's - I still have several pieces of Christine Sibley's Pottery. If you are a collector, you need to contact me, I need to give them a good home. I can't believe she is gone, I heard nothing of it...
ReplyDeleteFYI - SocialSweetSpot is my business name, I am Karen Ellis socialsweetspot@gmail.com
DeleteUIf you want to donate your pieces to a wonderful non-profit auction for the 75th birthday celebration for Linda Fuller, founder with her late husband, Millard, of Habitat for Humanity and later, The Fuller Center for Housing, I'd love to talk with you! 404-966-9220
DeleteI lived near urban nirvana back in 92. At the time they had a 15 foot tall pink flamingo. My wife and I had discussed buying it when we were moving to a traditional Atlanta brick ranch out in Smyrna. It would have truly made our house stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. I'm sad to hear she died and that urban nirvana is no more. It was truly a special place.
ReplyDeleteWe happened on her funeral wake in Inman Park.... Kelly's Seed and Feed danced down the street. Tables of food in the street, her tiny residence too small to hold all those who came. I did PR for her. I treasure the pieces I have, too. And the tale of her chasing a new pee hen in a storm in S. Georgia.
DeleteChris was a wonderful artist. So sad she died so young. I have about 25 pieces of her handmade pottery from the early 70's...before Urban Nirvana...all one of a kind....bowls, candlesticks, wine goblets, mugs, wall decorations, etc. many with the angel faces from the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. I am interested in selling the collection if her family, friends or collectors are interested
ReplyDeleteHi, James. I am interested. Please email me at chadbcarlson101[at]gmail.com. Thanks.
DeleteHi, James. I am interested. Please email me at chadbcarlson101[at]gmail.com. Thanks.
DeleteHi, Chad. I just saw this today, 9/15/15. Will email you today. thanks.
DeleteHi, Chad. I just saw this today, 9/15/15. Will email you today. thanks.
DeleteHi, Chad. You did not answer our email. Still interested in Chris Sibley collection? thanks. Jim
DeleteHi, James. Sorry, for some reason I didn't get your email. Please try again at chadcarlson101@gmail.com and message me on FaceBook--Chad Carlson. Thanks!
DeleteChad...I just saw this note from you. 3/22/17....We still have the Sibley collection if you are interested, contact us at jgrif@ellijay.com It is a beautiful all one of a kind by Chris from the 70's. Faye Griffin
DeleteJoined the Atlanta Pond Society in early 90's, heck,it may have been 1990. Anyway, we frequently held our meetings at Urban Nirvana. That place changed a then 25 yr old girl's life and has become a way of life for me. Thank you for this, it brought back so many memories. Did anyone mention the insane skateboard area that was built for her son to keep him near and safe? It was a lot of fun watching those daring young men at play. On pond tour nights the place was even gussied up more. Oh, how I miss the inspiration Miss Sibley and her sanctuary use to bestow me with. Eternally thankful.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle Carlos worked there with here. He has a shop in fairburn near where you can still get her pieces. I loved that place as a kid. It was more magical than Disney land to me. We would would run around the garden and try to pet the animals but some of them were mean lol. Great memories!!
DeleteChris and I were best friends for over 30yrs.We met at Wesleyan College and moved to 10th St.with the Hippies and then into Inman Pak in 1975.Artists together that eventually led to Inman Park.Magic happened during that time.Her children are my godchildren and now have god grandchildren.Cherished memories.I am still in Inman Park,surrounded by her creations.
ReplyDeleteI was a young 20 something in ATL in the '90's but never met Christine. I've collected some of her pieces that Carlos Montano recreates in Fairburn. I sent one as a wedding gift to San Antonio. She liked it so much she is coming and we are going to visit his shop, Casa Montano next week. Her designs are so timeless, I'm glad I can still beautify my home with her faces.
ReplyDeleteI went to Casa Montano in Fairbirn today and met with Carlos Montano. My friend, her mother and I had a Wonderful morning visiting, hearing stories about Christine and the creation of her beautiful pieces. As of this afternoon, her sunflower bird bath is in my yard. Carlos Montano is doing a wonderful job of keeping her alive thru her art.
ReplyDeleteShe is missed. I picked through her 'discards pile' a few times and still have two of the treasures I found there. The slightest flaws and she wouldn't accept them. They're still beautiful today and I've dragged them around the country with my in my nomadic existence. Now that I'm settled in my home here in Atlanta, they hold a special place of honor.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story about Urban Nirvana is how the building had once been a cattle slaughter processing warehouse and late at night when it was quiet, you could still hear eerie, plaintive ghost moos. I was there late once and swore I heard them, too, but maybe it was just the wind and my imagination. I wish someone had preserved UN and her wonderful house a few blocks over that looked as if the Partridge Family bus had transformed into it. Rest in psychedelia, Chris 💜
ReplyDeleteGreat story! Thanks!
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