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Indian culture takes center stage Sales tax revenues post healthy gains
Alpharetta Arts Center hosts vibrant exhibition By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Since the early ’90s, artist Malika Garrett has wanted something like “Colors of India” for herself and her colleagues. She wanted a space where artists of Indian origin could come together to showcase their work, to express Indian culture, tradition and history, and for that to help eliminate some of the rigid stereotypes that Indians are often confined by. “There’s a whole lot more to India than IT,” Garrett said. Born in Kolkata, India, Garrett traveled to the United States in 1985 to attend Wesleyan College in Macon, where she earned her bachelor’s in visual arts. She uses oil to paint everyday people with the bright, bold colors that speak to Indian fashion and atmosphere. “I have devoted a lot of my work to women,” Garrett said. “Most of my work is about women. Indian women are extremely strong. They run the show – and surprise, surprise, but most women do.” The India American Cultural Association (IACA), which is celebrating its 51st year in community service, and Alpharetta Arts Center partnered to organize the “Colors of India” exhibition. Those interested can visit and see its artworks at the center through Sept. 23. Garrett, who played a key role in organizing, called the exhibition the first of its kind. While the IACA has hosted other showcases in the past, “Colors of India” is the first external exhibition, IACA President Chand Akkineni said.
By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Artist Malika Garrett stands with her oil painting “Bishnoi Women,” which was used as the exhibition’s cover art. Garrett photographs everyday people and situations to use as a reference for her paintings. The gallery’s 15 artists, all women IACA members, presented and talked about their work at an Aug. 6 reception. The reception buzzed with conversation among its 260 attendees, the artists and center staff. Many held plates filled
with a variety of Indian dishes, like chicken and aloo Kati rolls from Cal Kati’s and idli, samosas and chicken tikka from Nalan.
See RECEPTION, Page 4
ATLANTA – State tax collections have begun the new fiscal year on a strong note. The Georgia Department of Revenue brought in nearly $2.21 billion in taxes last month – the start of fiscal 2023. That’s $54.2 million, or 2.5 percent, above July of last year. The three major tax categories all showed increases. Individual income taxes in July were up 10.7 percent over the same period last year, thanks largely to a 90.5 percent jump in tax return payments. Net sales tax receipts rose 10.1 percent last month compared to July of last year. Corporate income tax collections were up 62.3 percent, mostly the result of a 71.3 percent drop in refunds issued by the revenue agency. Motor fuels tax revenues were virtually non-existent, as has been the case since Gov. Brian Kemp and the General Assembly temporarily suspended the state sales tax on gasoline in March as prices at the pump soared. Motor fuels taxes dropped 97.8
See REVENUES, Page 19