Saturday, May 2, 2015
Who doesn’t love playing with fire? Not me. I love any chance I get to check out cool art featuring one of human kind’s first creations. That’s why I was super excited to cover the first annual Fire in the Fourth Festival.
Located in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, the festival featured music, beer, aerial and street performances by the Imperial Opa Circus, firefighter muster relays, and of course fire. Charlie Smith was the local featured artist with his sculpture Big Bully, that has been seen at Burning Man in 2013. Tim Mack, one of the founders of the Imperial Opa Circus, tried his hand at setting a new world record for consuming fire torches. The Atlanta and Dekalb County fire departments went toe-to-toe in a friendly competition of different relays.
With a little bit of organized chaos, the first festival went off without a hitch and I, for one, am definitely looking forward to seeing what Fire in the Fourth brings together next year!
Dekalb County firefighters Patrick Hogan (left) and Brad Lanoue compete in the firefighting muster relays during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Rachel Hinson (left) and Carlos Flores stick their heads through a wooden cutout during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Lea Herring (right) and Travis Murphy perform during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
West Evans (left) pulls a sword from Captain Stab Tuggo’s mouth during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Captain Stab Tuggo swallows a handful of swords during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Maybelle Steele swings a brick from a chain connected to her nose during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Nicolette Emanuelle performs on a set of silks during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Jake Guinn performs on a set of silks during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Nicolette Emanuelle performs on a set of silks during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Nicolette Emanuelle performs on a set of silks during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Jake Guinn and Nicolette Emanuelle perform on a set of silks during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Benjamin Stasko with Soul Food Cypher performs during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Sean Gordon, known as Sean G., with Soul Food Cypher performs during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Matthew Janke blows glass during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Matthew Janke blows glass during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Matthew Janke blows glass during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Vivian Kyle performs on the trapeze during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Tim Mack dances with Hannah Robinson during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Avery Aniskiewicz (left) and Joyelle Williams dance as David Williams from WERD Radio sings during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Casper Xan Smith-Ladet (left) operates the fire sculpture created by his father Charlie Smith during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Zac Ogilvie, known as Binx, spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Tim Mack consumes a fire torch during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Charlotte Dillard performs with fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Jake Guinn (right) and Justin Conley perform with fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Charlotte Dillard (left) and Cosmo Franz perform with fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Zac Ogilvie, known as Binx, breathes fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Cosmo Franz tosses a flaming torch in the air during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Charlotte Dillard balances on Zac Ogilvie’s feet as they perform with fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Cosmo Franz (right) and Charlotte Dillard perform with fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Marty Martin (center), Rocky Ball and L.A. Tuten of The Ruby Red’s Band perform during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Casper Xan Smith-Ladet (left) and Scott Dupree operate the fire sculpture created by Casper’s father Charlie Smith during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Ann Marie Spexet performs with a cyr wheel during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Mia McDonough (center) dances with Zoie Moss on her shoulders during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Charlie Smith (right) and his son Casper Xan Smith-Ladet operate the fire sculpture created by Smith during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Zac Ogilvie, known as Binx, breathes fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Justin Conley spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Tim Mack tries to beat the world record for consuming fire torches during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Fire pours out of the sculpture created by Charlie Smith during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Fire pours out of the sculpture created by Charlie Smith during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Fire pours out of the sculpture created by Charlie Smith during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Zac Ogilvie, known as Binx, spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Zac Ogilvie, known as Binx, spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Ann Marie Spexet spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Zac Ogilvie, known as Binx, spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Justin Conley spins fire during the Fire in the Fourth Festival in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta on Saturday, May 2, 2015.