Monday, July 28, 2008

"Barefoot Photographer" Donna Rosser To Teach at Veranda Inn in Senoia

Donna Rosser not only enjoys photography, she also loves writing about it and teaching it. She recently had an article on photography published in Southern Creativity's Moonshine magazine and she recently announced that she will be coming to the the Veranda Bed and Breakfast Inn in the City of Senoia in Coweta County, GA to teach a workshop on the restoration of photographs. Rosser is the President of the Fayette Photo Club and one of the leading photographers in the Southern Crescent. Information about her and her photography can be found on her website www.thebarefootphotographer.com. Information about the Veranda Inn can be found on their website www.verandabandbinn.com or by calling 770-599-3905 or 866-598-3905.

Rosser plans a series of photography events at the Veranda Inn. She says that:

"The first one will be on August 24 from 3 to 5pm. I will present a program on restoration, duplication, and preservation of photos with an emphasis on old family photos. The program will be followed by a short reception and a question and answer period. The cost is $45 per person. This program will be of great interest to anyone who is into genealogy or anyone who has old photos that need repair and preserving."

Rosser is impressed with the City of Senoia and with the Veranda Inn and is looking forward to conducting her workshops there. Several months ago the Citry of Senoia sponsored a big visual arts event called Art Senoia. Rosser's photography workshops will be the next big visual arts events for this Coweta city this year.

High Museum - Film Feature August 1st- Man on Wire

Man on Wire
August 1, 8 p.m.
Rich Theatre
$7 general admission; $6 students, seniors, and Museum members. Patron level members enter free.

Films at the High is pleased to present a special preview of Man on Wire, an extraordinary film about daredevil Philippe Petit, who amazed the world when he illegally danced across a high wire strung between the World Trade Center Towers in New York in 1974.

Winner of both the Audience and Jury Awards for Best Documentary at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, James Marsh's portrait of Petit, who also walked a wire across the towers of Notre Dame and the Sydney Bridge, has won unanimous praise from critics.

In Variety, Robert Koehler called the film "one of the most wildly entertaining documentaries of recent years... an adventure tale that astonishes in every respect." The film’s hypnotic, propulsive score was written by minimalist composer Michael Nyman, a frequent collaborator with British director Peter Greenaway.

(Britain, 2007, 102 minutes.) In English and French with subtitles.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Voyage to The Carter Center for ‘A View from the Periscope’

Dive into the underwater world of submariners at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
“A View from the Periscope,” now on display through Aug. 3, features paintings and drawings from the U.S. Naval Historic Center’s art collection.

The exhibition provides a look at the unique role of the U.S. Submarine Service and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the former president’s submarine service.

The exhibition includes a 1902 drawing of the Hunley, the first submarine, as well as 42 other historic paintings and drawings from the World War II-era to the 1980s. Artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Georges Schreiber and John Charles Roach capture the mystery of the submarine and the adventurous nature of submariners.

The Carter Presidential Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and $6 for military and students with IDs. Children 16 and under are free.

Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University Helps Bring King Tutankhamun to Atlanta

The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University brings Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs to Atlanta this fall in partnership with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and presenting sponsor Northern Trust.

Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will be exhibited in Atlanta's historic Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center from November 15 to May 25. The exhibition, spanning 2,000 years of history, will include more than 130 artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. This is the first time these treasures will be seen in the Southeast. To complement the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Civic Center, the Carlos Museum will showcase at its Emory campus location the photography of Harry Burton, the photographer who documented the Tutankhamun excavation when the tomb was discovered in 1922.

"The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University is honored to bring to Atlanta one of the greatest artistic and cultural legacies of the ancient world. The people of Georgia will be able to experience first-hand the impact and relevance of these extraordinary treasures and we look forward to offering an array of educational programs to further illuminate the life and times of King Tutankhamun and the great pharaohs of Egypt," said Bonnie Speed, Director of the Carlos Museum.

The Carlos Museum is home to one of the few Egyptian collections in the southeastern United States as well as the only institution in Georgia dedicated to the research and display of ancient Egyptian art and culture. King Tutankhamun, endearingly called the "boy king," will find a welcoming community in which to reside for a short while. Speaking of the Carlos Museum at the April 2 announcement, Mayor Shirley Franklin said, "Those of us who live in Atlanta have access to the wonders of the world's civilizations right in our backyard,"

The Carlos Museum, known for its act of cultural cooperation when it identified and later returned what was most likely the mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses I to his home in Egypt in 2003, is a unique host for the King Tutankhamun exhibition. With scholars, curators, and conservators providing the interdisciplinary research and conservation required to maintain and understand ancient art and artifacts, the King Tutankhamun exhibition will provide rich historic and cultural perspectives to university scholars, academicians, scientists, collectors, students, and exhibition-goers interested in ancient Egypt -- even as it applies to modern times.

The Carlos Museum will lead the development of educational materials in conjunction with the exhibition for elementary, middle and high school audiences. These supplemental materials will be downloadable for free to classrooms across the country and will address topics such as childhood in ancient Egypt and the journey to the afterlife. Peter Lacovara, curator of ancient Egyptian arts and artifacts, said, "As the Carlos Museum's collections grow, they become increasingly important as a teaching and research resource for faculty and students at Emory and other universities." The Carlos Museum along with the Emory community provides a meaningful context for this exhibition and will serve as a research, education, and reflective opportunity for many.

Emory University President James Wagner, said, "Emory's dedication to courageous inquiry and the spirit of global partnerships are qualities we want to foster. The Carlos Museum of Emory University has helped to create a superb opportunity to reflect on and honor the ancient legacies of the world, their profound impact on our lives, and the importance of continued dialogue. We trust that King Tutankhamun's visit will open many doors."

The most recent U.S. tour of King Tut's treasures, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, drew nearly 4 million visitors from 2005-2007, setting records in each city it visited. The 2005 visit marked the first time in more than 25 years that treasures from King Tutankhamun's tomb were shown in the United States.

Tickets can be reserved for the Atlanta run at www.carlos.emory.edu or www.kingtut.org.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Driskell Prize Recipient: Xaviera Simmons Lectures at the High Museum of Art

July 25, 2008, 6-8 p.m.
Hill Auditorium

Brooklyn-based artist Xaviera Simmons is the 2008 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History. Simmons will discuss her work, which combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation.

This program is free and is offered in conjunction with the National Black Arts Festival.

Named after the renowned African American artist and art scholar, the Driskell Prize recognizes a scholar or artist in the beginning or middle of his or her career whose work makes an original and important contribution to the field of African American art or art history. Simmons’ work combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation.

“Innovation and exploration are key components of a Driskell Prize winner’s artistic practice,” said Michael E Shapiro, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Director of the High. “Xaviera Simmons’ work challenges existing ideas regarding history, community and art by allowing viewers and artists to participate in the environments she creates. We are pleased to honor Simmons’ fresh perspective in the field of African American art by awarding her this recognition.”

Xaviera Simmons thoroughly examines and engages a range of familiar topics, including landscape, history and community. In her newest photography series, titled “A New Era Americana,” she photographs passersby in front of pastoral backdrops on city streets, creating an uncertain and conflicted portrait. In works like these, Simmons uses visual cues to challenge the notion of a constructed identity.

Simmons’ most acclaimed work is an installation piece commissioned in 2006 by Art in General for its storefront in New York City. Originally titled “How to Break Your Own Heart: Visitors Welcome,” the piece transformed the gallery’s project space into a “jazz salon.” This area featured felted floors, seating, a DJ booth, impromptu performances and a 24-hour video presentation. Simmons treated the walls with vintage jazz LP covers and scheduled musical performances, including her own DJ sets. Since its initial installation, “How to Break Your Own Heart” has tripled in size and traveled to the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, Texas, and the Zacheta National Art Gallery in Warsaw, Poland.

Born in 1974, Xaviera Simmons became a Cave Canem Poets Fellow in 2002 and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from Bard College in 2004. She completed a two-year actor-training conservatory program with Maggie Flanagan in 2005, as well as a studio residency with the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program in New York City. In 2007 Simmons was awarded a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant and an “In the Public Realm” commission from The Public Art Fund. In 2008 Simmons will show works at March Gallery, New York City, and at the Bronx Museum of Art in “Street Art, Street Life.” She will also serve as an artist-in-residence at Platform Garanti in Istanbul, Turkey. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Coastal Georgia Photography Exhibit at Carrollton Welcome Center

The Carrollton Welcome Center at Lake Carroll is currently exhibiting a photographic trip to Coastal Georgia by Tina Clune July 15th through August 15th.

The photography exhibit includes scenes from Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Tybee Island and Savannah. Clune loves how magical the viewing of a sunrise is over the Atlantic Ocean; how blessed we are to awaken to one of God's dawnings. As you view her photographs, you can almost feel the breeze that bends the sea oats and the palm leaves.

Clune began her photography experience by photographing the St. Simons Lighthouse, built in 1871 on St. Simons Island, which is included in her exhibit. Her skills were enhanced through her work with both Case Studios and Studio West, encompassing convention and wedding photography and learning developing and printing skills.

Clune says, "Photography lets us make memories of family and friends, capture landmark scenes and assists us in documenting our joys". So, pick up a camera and have some fun and make lots of memories! For more information contact Tina Clune at 770-214-0018.

Note to our readers

If you like Arts Across Georgia you may be interested in our other blog, Backstage Fayette. We post news and events relating to theater. While a lot of the postings are Fayette County and the south side of Atlanta, we also include theater in Atlanta. www.backstagefayette.blogspot.com

The Musical That Made Carol Burnett a STAR... "Once Upon a Mattress"

Beginning this Thursday for two weekends, Main Street Players present “Once Upon a Mattress.”

“‘Once Upon a Mattress’ comes complete with an evil, possessive queen, a silent king, knights, a magician, a mama's-boy prince, and a weight-lifting princess who, together with this youthful student cast, is the perfect summer vehicle for Main Street Theatre’s annual Summer Program for Youth,” says director Nancy Gresham.

In this hilarious tweaking of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea,” the crafty old Queen has ruled that her son, the Prince, can only marry a Princess of true blood i.e. one that can feel a pea underneath a pile of twenty mattresses. No one may marry until her son is married.

Twelve potential princesses have come and gone, but all have failed the scheming Queen's impossible tests. Enter the hopeful Princess Winnifred….

All hope now lies on Princess Winnifred ("Fred" to her friends), a charming, moat swimming, force-of-nature who will go to any length to pass the icy Queen’s impossible tests and win the Prince's hand.

With the whole kingdom rooting for her, “Fred” must swim moats, endure all-night dance-a-thons, and feel a pea through twenty mattresses in order to impress the cunning Queen and win the hand of her Prince.

Will “Fred” pass all the tests???

The Main Street Players’ Program for Youth, 115 North Hill Street, Griffin, brings “Once Upon a Mattress” to the stage for eight performances only; this weekend: Thursday, July 24th through Sunday, August 3rd, 2008.

All tickets are $10. For tickets and information, please call 770 229-9916.

Friday, July 18, 2008

George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center (Gwinnett) Hosts "China Through the Lens"

Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation is hosting an exhibition of photos titled “China Through The Lens,” by artist Frank Sharp. The exhibit will be held at the George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center at 55 Buford Highway in Suwanee through October 5, 2008. Exhibition hours are Mon. – Fri. from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sat. from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Admission is free.
The exhibition features a showcase of Sharp’s moving photographs of China. He has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia creating an essay, large photographic album and video show of each trip. “It’s amazing what a beautiful country China is in so many ways,” said Sharp.
For more information call 770-932-4441 or visit http://www.gwinnettparks.com/.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Atlanta Ballet to Unveil World Premiere at Fire Island Festival

Atlanta Ballet will showcase a world premiere piece at Dancers Responding to AIDS’ 14th Annual Fire Island Dance Festival on July 19th –20th, 2008.

Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA) is a charity organization that seeks to support people living with HIV/AIDS, social services for performing professionals, and women’s health programs. The Fire Island Dance Festival, DRA’s signature event, is hailed as “the charity event of the season” by The New York Times and “the most prestigious and important artistic event held each summer on Fire Island” by the Fire Island Tide.

The festival has thus far raised more than $1.3 million for DRA’s charity fund. Dance performances take place on the seaside stage of Fire Island, against the backdrop of the Great South Bay’s sunset.

Atlanta Ballet’s performance will showcase two female company members,
Peng-Yu Chen and Tara Lee. The two will be interpreting the colorful, unusual Spottiswoods & His Enemies’ song “That’s What I Like,” a devilish take on the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music.

“The piece is a work in alternatives and juxtapositions, nonverbal conversations, layers of emotion,” says John McFall, Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director. Ms. Lee and Ms. Chen dance as two wildly different painters of one masterpiece in this bold performance, one that McFall likens to “a teaser – delightful, entertaining, fun that exudes the Fire Island spirit of getting away and having fun with friends.” At the end of the powerful piece, however, the catharsis equals that of a full-length production: everything given, nothing reserved.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Reducing the Stigma Surrounding Epilepsy - Art Contest Announced

(ARA) - Some of history’s most creative minds, including Vincent van Gogh, Ludwig Beethoven, Leo Tolstoy and Lewis Carroll, are believed to have had epilepsy. Today, one in 10 adults will have a seizure at some point in his or her life and more than 3 million people in the United States have epilepsy.

Epilepsy produces seizures, which happen when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can appear as convulsions or loss of consciousness as well as blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs. Currently, there is no known cure for epilepsy; however, there are several treatment options, including antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), surgery, the ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

While treatments have evolved and today the majority of epilepsy patients can control their seizures with medication, art continues to be a valuable outlet for people with this common neurological condition.

Now in its sixth year, the “Expressions of Courage” national art contest provides people with epilepsy the opportunity to showcase their talents and their perspectives on living with epilepsy through art. In addition, the contest helps raise awareness of epilepsy and eliminate the stigma often associated with the condition.

ORTHO-McNEIL NEUROLOGICS, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, invites people of all ages with epilepsy to submit artwork for this year’s contest. The contest is open now through August 29, 2008. A panel of epilepsy advocates and art industry representatives serve as judges and will announce the winning artwork in September. Winning entries will be selected based on creativity and the ability to demonstrate feelings of living with epilepsy through art.

“By participating in the ‘Expressions of Courage’ art contest, Carly is able to pursue her love of arts and crafts while gaining a sense of satisfaction and pride that she doesn’t easily find in many activities,” explains Kelly Richards of Westmont, Ill., mother of a past contest winner. “The contest is a meaningful and positive experience for Carly, and she looks forward to creating her entry each year.”

Artwork may be created in ink, pencil, crayon, paint or a combination of these materials and must be on paper or board no larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Multiple submissions of artwork will be accepted. Send original artwork and a completed entry form to:

Expressions of Courage
c/o ORTHO-McNEIL NEUROLOGICS
389 Pittstown Road
Pittstown, NJ 08867

Winning artwork will be featured on the contest Web site, www.expressionsofcourage.com, and either in 2009 calendars or coffee table books available in local Epilepsy Foundation offices and select physician offices nationwide. Also, a few winning pieces may be chosen by curators from the Society for the Arts in Healthcare for display in a traveling art exhibition comprised of nearly 30 winning entries from the past five contests. The exhibition aims to enhance public awareness of epilepsy by traveling to medical centers across the nation. The artwork is accompanied by the artists’ stories of how epilepsy has impacted their lives in various ways. Visit the contest Web site to learn more about the exhibition and find an exhibition location near you.

“The people who participate in the ‘Expressions of Courage’ contest are advocates for increasing awareness about epilepsy in that they creatively use their talents and selflessly share their personal feelings for the benefit of educating others,” says Eric Hargis, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. “We recognize their bravery, appreciate their unique and beautiful artwork, and hope that other people are inspired to speak out about their own experiences of living with epilepsy.”

To learn more about “Expressions of Courage,” the traveling exhibition and to download entry forms, please visit www.expressionsofcourage.com, or call the Contest Help Line at (800) 224-4935.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Monday, July 14, 2008

Voices Announces Season

This week, Voices announced its plans through the end of 2009. Their season has been restructured and will be presenting four events in a two-year cycle. “Since our first concert in 2006, we have consistently been told that we should have more events through out the year. So we have gone ahead and planned our season to include more events in a season that will be spread through the end of 2009,” explained Ms. Ugarte.

Voices will be presenting a series of intimate events in September 2008, December 2008 and March 2009, preceding its full scale production in September of 2009, “Mist of Night and Moon.” “There is definitely something to be said about an intimate setting,” explained Ms. Ugarte. “It has a different feel to it. It is like getting submerged into what is going on on stage and somehow being a part it and the music.” Voices will continue to present an eclectic selection of music, covering varied genres and styles that will be incorporated in the different productions. As the title suggests, there is a flavor of mystery and haunt to the theme and Voices Artistic Director promises you are certain to hear “wonderfully haunting melodies.”

Zaphyra will be returning and The Southern Nights Chorale will be joining as well. “We are thrilled to have the Southern Nights Chorale as part of the upcoming productions. They will certainly add a wonderful dimension to the concerts.” Zaphyra has some surprises coming up that will soon be announced as well as other talent to be showcased. Carlos Salon will be designing the hair styles for Zaphyra and David's Bridal has joined as Sponsoring Partner with the dresses. “We are very excited about all these partnerships. This is what we are about; creating artistic synergy in the Southern Arc. We will be profiling our partners in the upcoming months, so keep an eye out to get to know them better!” Voices will also be returning to support PBA in their fall drive.

Performances are to take place in Fayette and Coweta counties. Details and specific dates are soon to be released. Please visit www.VoicesOnline.org for continued updates.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

FCFT Brings the Broadway Musical "Little Women" To Life Through Their New Student Director Program

Fayette Coweta Family Theatre, Inc. is proud to announce a new program that enables outstanding members of FCFT the ability to take the helm of a production. FCFT's "Student Director Program" was started to give those younger performers who exhibit amazing creative abilities and talents an opportunity to experience directing a major show under the watchful eye of FCFT Artistic Director, Tammy Barton.

"There are so many spectacular young people who work with FCFT, that it just made sense to begin this program and to challenge their talents in the director's arena," states Barton. All student directors are chosen by Barton and coached throughout their production on the proper way to put together a magnificent show! "I know that audiences will be very pleasantly suprised at the dedication, creativity and maturity of these young directors," says Barton.

The first Student Director, Amy Hebel, is hard at work putting together the program's first production, "Little Women, The Broadway Musical." Ms. Hebel is a 2008 graduate of Fayette County High School and is an outstanding talent who has been in FCFT productions as Belle in "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" and Sharpay in "Disney's High School Musical." She is the 2006 Fayette Idol Winner, is a multiple vocal award and scholarship winner who plans to attend Georgia Southern University in the fall to obtain a Vocal Performance degree. Ms. Hebel has assembled an astonishing cast for this heartfelt musical! Every cast member has credits galore and the vocal strengths in this production are mind blowing!

"Little Women, The Musical" enjoyed a moderate run on Broadway and is now enjoying a successful national tour. It tells the story of the March family, particularly Jo March, played perfectly by Amy Hebel and her sisters Amy (Lanie Thompson), Beth (Hannah Herndon) and Meg (Emily Sipe or Grace Hendly) and their suitors Professor Bhaer (Travis Martin), Laurie (Brent Davis) John Brooks (Andrew Miller) and Mr. Laurence (Josh Kennedy). Many adventures befall these ladies and their mother, Marmee (Melonie Thompson) as this beautiful story unfolds. Add the overbearing, but well-meaning Aunt March (Tammy Barton) and the outrageous stories and imagination of Jo March, acted out in dramatic musical numbers throughout the play, and you have the makings of a wonderful afternoon or evening at the theatre.

Performances are scheduled for August 9 and 10 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. each day and will be presented in the perfectly intimate setting of the Fayette Family Lodge House at 215 Huiet Road in Fayetteville. Presale tickets are only $8.00 with door prices being $10 general and $9 under 13 years and seniors 65+. Seating is limited, so making reservations is highly suggested! House opens 30-minutes prior to each performance.

Don't miss this magnificent Broadway gem. A story that the entire family will enjoy. For reservations or more information call 770-251-7611 or visit www.fcft.net/HomePage.

Friday, July 11, 2008

August Events at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center

Playground Art at Optimist Park for ages 5-12, July 28-August 1, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Free drop in art class. Parent assistance is appreciated. Melanie Drew, instructor. Classes move to the Cultural Arts Center if it rains. For more information call 770-838-1083.

Alicia Alsip and Patrick McGowan, “Complementary Acquaintances,” multi-media exhibit including portraits, August 1 –September 28 in the Roush Family Gallery. Opening Reception Friday, August 1 from 5-7 p.m. For more information call 770-838-1083.

Carrollton Artist Guild, Traditions of Talents II, a multi-media/family tree of artistic talent exhibit, August 1 – September 26 in the Galleria. Opening Reception Friday, August 1 from 5-7 p.m. For more information call 770-838-1083.

Carrollton Teen Theatre presents Once Upon a Mattress, Friday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Carrollton Cultural Arts Center Theatre. This program is funded in part by Target. Tickets $5. For more information call 770-838-1083.
Book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, Dean Fuller
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer

In this classic Broadway retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, Princess Winifred the Woebegone, with the whole kingdom rooting for her, must swim moats, endure all-night dance-a-thons, and feel a pea through 20 mattresses in order to impress the highly discriminating Queen and win the hand of her Prince Dauntless. Nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical in 1960 and Best Revival of a Musical in 1997, this musical delight features the songs “Shy,” “Happily Ever After,” “Many Moons Ago,” “In a Little While,” and “Yesterday I Loved You.” A show for the whole family! (Rogers and Hammerstein)

The Claddagh School of Irish Dance- “Take your first steps to River Dance for Ages 6 to adult. Barbara Joyce, Instructor. Classroom #3. Classes are every Monday beginning August 4. Class times vary according to age and ability. Numerous opportunities are provided for performance. $48 per month per child. A $15 late fee will be assessed on fees that are not paid by the first Monday of each month. This program follows the school schedule and does not meet in summer. Irish Dance rehearsal schedule: 3-4 p.m. for Homeschool (6 years and up) 4-5 p.m. for beginners, 5-6 p.m. for Advanced Novice, and 6-7 p.m. for Performance Groups. To contact instructor call 770-836-8757 or email at stepdancemom@bellsouth.net Register on line at www.cprcad.org or call 770-838-1083.

West African Drumming Class for ages 13-adult. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in Classroom #1 on Tuesdays, beginning August 5, in six week sessions. Instructor, Tom Harris will teach basic Dunun and Djembe Technique and Traditional Rhythms. Class focus will be to create an ensemble which can perform in the community. This class will accommodate beginning and intermediate drummers. Loaner drums will be provided. Fee: $60 per six week session. Sessions: August 5-September 9; September 23- October 28; November 11-December 16; January 6-February 10; February 24-March 31; April 14-May 19. Min. 6; Max 20. For more information call 770-838-1083.

The Cottages at Stillwood to host an Artist Showcase

Gloria Perkins, a local painter and art instructor, will be featured in the first of many artist exhibitions at the Cottages at Stillwood on Thursday, July 17th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Her gallery will be installed at 59 Stillwood Circle, Newnan, Georgia 30265.

“I have been teaching oil painting for over two decades and my painting has evolved over this time to reflect my own style that I call classical realism with an impressionistic flair,” said Perkins, when asked about her craft. “I am excited to have been invited to be featured in the inaugural showcase being held at The Cottages at Stillwood. Teaching and sharing my art knowledge is not only rewarding, but is very energizing.”

“We chose Gloria because we felt that her floral paintings would be right at home and perfectly compliment to the cottage-style homes here,” said Sherry Stone Blackmon, REALTOR and Associate Broker with The ESG Group, Keller Williams Realty Connections, and organizer of this event. “Art brings walls to life, and it encourages homebuyers to visualize how they could use their space.”

To visit the neighborhood, take I-85 South to exit 47 (Newnan). Turn left off the exit onto Bullsboro Road. Take the first right onto Newnan Crossing Boulevard, cross over Lower Fayetteville Road, then turn left onto Westhill Drive. At the first right, turn onto Seabreeze Way. At the dead end, turn left onto Stillwood Drive and stay straight to enter The Cottages at Stillwood. To visit the model, once you enter the neighborhood, turn right onto Southwind Circle.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

‘Picking Cotton’ Reveals Layers of History

For many people, the phrase “picking cotton” summons images of African slaves toiling against their will on the plantations of the American South. In the Visual Arts Gallery’s exhibition “Picking Cotton…Mississippi to Detroit,” that deeply rooted conjuring from our national psyche has been expertly woven by Nancy VanDevender into a multifarious installation of staged interiors that are at once beautiful and haunting, historical and fictional.

Comprised of layer upon layer of furniture, photographs, videos, hand-drawn tattoos, intricately designed wallpaper, and a racially diverse cast of characters that includes the artist herself, VanDevender’s “parlours” offer a glimpse of her life journey from a pre-Civil Rights childhood in Meridian, Miss., through her recent completion of the MFA program at Cranbrook Academy of Art near Detroit.

“Having been reared in Mississippi I had been told in spoken and unspoken terms of the differences in people accentuated by class structures and appearances,” says VanDevender, who will present an artist’s talk on July 23. “Making assumptions through facades proved inaccurate. Years later, in Detroit, I found a shared history with African Americans whose roots were also in the South. These discovered qualities of sameness are what interest me.”

That shared history is enshrined within VanDevender’s interiors, which draw visitors into spaces filled with lush wallpaper and furnishings. Once inside, close examination of the wallpaper reveals an elaborate collage of fabric, photographs and hand-drawn tattoos primarily depicting elements of cotton picking and processing. Large, vivid photographs of the same tattoos, this time depicted as body ornamentation on models, adorn the walls alongside intimate prints of two women grooming themselves at a dressing table. Every detail carries its own history as well as the history of a specific time, and collectively they tell a story that becomes increasingly resonant for the viewer.

By Mary Catherine Johnson

The exhibit runs through July 31 at the Visual Arts Gallery (700 Peavine Creek Dr.). The artist will speak Wednesday, July 23, at 7 p.m. at the gallery. For more information, call 404-727-6315 or visit visualarts.emory.edu.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Upcoming High Museum Events

ART IN THE CITY
Thursday, July 24, 5 to 8 p.m.
On July 24, enjoy a Gallery Talk with “Young Americans” artist Sheila Pree Bright (details below).
The Museum offers extended hours every Thursday until 8 p.m. This is a great way to see special exhibitions and avoid the weekend crowds. Free with Museum admission and free to members.

GALLERY TALK: Sheila Pree Bright on “Young Americans”
July 24, 2008, 6:30 p.m.; Wieland Pavilion Lower Level Galleries
Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright will explore the collaborative process behind her “Young Americans” portraiture project. For more information on “Young Americans: Photographs by Sheila Pree Bright,” please click here. Free with Museum admission, free for members.

DRISKELL PRIZE LECTURE: Xaviera Simmons
July 25, 2008, 6-8 p.m.; Hill Auditorium
Brooklyn-based artist Xaviera Simmons is the 2008 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History. Simmons will discuss her work which combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation. For more information about the David C. Driskell Prize and Xaviera Simmons, please click here.
This program is free and is offered in conjunction with the National Black Arts Festival.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Ancient African Kingdom Captured in Emory Exhibit

The majesty and mystery of stone monuments from the ancient African kingdoms of Nubia have come to Emory University in an exhibition of photographs from famed New York Times photographer Chester Higgins.

"Nubian Dreams: Images of the Sudan," on view through Aug. 15 in the Schatten Gallery of Emory's Woodruff Library, documents the spiritual and architectural remains of the Nubian civilizations which rivaled those of the pharaohs for control of the Nile.

"In ancient times, Egypt ruled the world," Higgins says. "Then, Nubia ruled Egypt. Most people are pretty familiar with the monuments and personalities of ancient Egypt. What they don't know is that there are more than twice as many pyramids in Nubia as there are in Egypt.

"How those pyramids got there, and who and what history they represent, are details that only have begun to emerge during the last 50 years," Higgins says.

Higgins shot the photographs on several six-week field trips to ancient Nubia – today's southern Egypt and northern Sudan – between 2000 and 2006. A total of 45 images depict primarily pyramids, tombs and temples, most framed against the undulating warm, reddish-brown hues of African desert sands and clear, pale blue skies. A slide show of additional images, as well as a small number of Nubian artifacts such as baskets, beading and woodwork, are included in the exhibition.

"These images capture the spirit of place, concentrating on the remains of ancient sanctuaries dedicated to the belief in African Naturalism," Higgins says. "To me, these images capture the imagination of an ancient people. Here we see the human mind focused on issues of divinity and the sacred life. We see religious metaphors. We see what these ancient people constructed to their faith, believing in a God greater than themselves, with the power of life and death."

Nubian treasures also on display at Emory’s Carlos Museum

The Schatten Gallery showing of Higgins' photography compliments a nearby sister exhibition in Emory's Michael C. Carlos Museum. That exhibition, "Lost Kingdoms of the Nile: Nubian Treasures from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston," features some of the most significant archaeological treasures ever found in Africa. Visitors can gain insight into ancient Nubia by viewing more than 250 objects in gold, silver, bronze, ivory, stone and ceramic dating from 7000 B.C. to modern times.

Higgins will discuss his photography in a free workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10 in the Carlos Museum reception hall. For more information, contact Priyanka Sinha at 404-727-4291.

Higgins is one of the premier photographers of his generation. An Alabama native, he has been a staff photographer for the Times since 1975. His photographs have appeared in many publications and are featured in the PBS films "An American Photographer: Chester Higgins Jr." and "Brotherman."

He authored the photo collections "Black Woman," "Drums of Life," "Some Time Ago," "Feeling the Spirit: Searching the World for the People of Africa," and "Elder Grace: The Nobility of Aging." His latest book is a 2005 memoir, "Echo of the Spirit: A Photographer's Journey."

Schatten Gallery is located on level three of Emory's Woodruff Library, 540 Asbury Circle, Emory. For more information, contact gallery director Julie Delliquanti at 404-727-0136. The exhibition runs through Aug. 15, and is free and open to the public.

The Carlos Museum exhibition "Lost Kingdoms of the Nile: Nubian Treasures from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston," is within walking distance of the Schatten exhibition at 571 South Kilgo Circle, Emory. For more information, contact Priyanka Sinha at 404-727-4291. The Carlos exhibition runs through Aug. 30. Admission is a $7 donation, free for museum members and Emory faculty, students and staff. Free docent-led tours of the museum depart from the rotunda on level one every Sunday at 2:30 p.m. during the Emory academic year. Call 404-727-4282 to confirm.

The University of Georgia and The Georgia Review Announce a Landmark Cultural Event: The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia

The Georgia Review, the award-winning literary quarterly published from the University of Georgia and distributed nationwide, announces “The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia” program—a four-day celebration of fine writing and writers hosted by the Jekyll Island Club from October 27-30. The event features four recent Pulitzer Prize winners, all of whom have an association with the state of Georgia, the University of Georgia, and/or The Georgia Review: poets Stephen Dunn and Natasha Trethewey, journalist and historian Hank Klibanoff, and historian Edward Larson.

Stephen Dunn’s Different Hours took home a Pulitzer in 2001, and he has been a frequent contributor to The Georgia Review for more than twenty-five years. Hank Klibanoff, former managing editor for news at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, won the 2007 Pulitzer in history for The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation, coauthored with Gene Roberts.

Edward Larson, winner of the 1998 history prize for Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion, is University Professor of history at Pepperdine University and former Herman E. Talmadge Chair of Law and Richard B. Russell Professor of American History at the University of Georgia.

Natasha Trethewey, a University of Georgia alumna, is the Phillis Wheatley Distinguished Chair in Poetry at Emory University and won the 2007 Pulitzer for Native Guard.

Each of these distinguished guests will participate in a variety of activities over the course of the week, including readings, panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and informal gatherings with attendees. “The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia” represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity for the public to mix and mingle with four of the finest talents in contemporary American arts and letters—and to do so in a beautiful oceanside setting. The schedule will leave participants free time in the afternoon for exploring the Jekyll Island area or just relaxing on the beach.

The world-famous Jekyll Island Club opened in 1888 as a private retreat for many of that era’s most prominent Americans, including Joseph Pulitzer and his family. The Jekyll Island Club—now a National Register of Historic Places site—was described in the February 1904 issue of Munsey’s Magazine as “the richest, the most exclusive, the most inaccessible club in the world.” No longer inaccessible, Jekyll Island is renowned for its beaches and pristine coastal ecosystem, and is a destination resort that offers fine modern amenities alongside a wealth of Georgia history.

Registration for the event is open now and continues through early October or until capacity is reached. For the best choice of discounted accommodations at the Jekyll Island Club, those interested should register early. A ticket for the entire week includes admission to all conference events, including author readings and book signings, question-and-answer sessions, most meals, Jekyll Island History tours, and tours of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Individual day tickets also are available.

“The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia” is a production of The Georgia Review and the University of Georgia. The presenting sponsor is the Jekyll Island Club, with additional support generously provided by the Jekyll Island Authority, the Jekyll Island Foundation, the Jekyll Island Museum, the University of Georgia Alumni Association, Rich Products Corporation, the UGA Odum School of Ecology, Ameris Bank, the Brunswick-Glynn County Public Library, the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, The Brunswick News, John Vance Hughes,and others to be announced.

For more information and to register for the program, contact the offices of The Georgia Review at 1-800-542-3481 or garev@uga.edu. Lodging reservations should be made through the Jekyll Island Club at 1-800- 535-9547. For more information, see www.thegeorgiareview.com and www.jekyllclub.com.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Bryant Lake LaGrange Sponsors Contemporary Korean Ceramics Exhibit on Display at the LaGrange Museum of Art

PEC Development Group’s Bryant Lake LaGrange community is a proud sponsor of the From the Fire: Contemporary Korean Ceramics exhibit now on display at the LaGrange Museum of Art. From the Fire is the largest collection of contemporary Korean ceramics to come to North America and marks the first time a Korean curator has selected contemporary ceramics from Korea to exhibit in the United States. The exhibit opened at the LaGrange Museum of Art on May 10, 2008 and ended July 5, 2008.

“From the Fire is truly an inspiring, one-of-a-kind collection and it has been amazing to host such a wonderful exhibit,” said Judy Wilson, Director of the LaGrange Museum of Art.

“Without the support of sponsors like Bryant Lake LaGrange, hosting an exhibit of this magnitude would have been nearly impossible. I am truly appreciative of the support that PEC Development Group and Bryant Lake LaGrange has given to the museum.”

The 108 contemporary Korean ceramics date from the early 1990s to 2003 and feature 54 Korean ceramic artists ranging in age from 30 to 80 years old. Pieces incorporate traditional techniques with new influences that reveal the adventurous spirit of Korea’s ceramic tradition. The exhibition takes the viewer on a journey through the past to the present and is presented in three categories: Tradition Transformed, Ceramic Sculpture, and Individual Directions.

“Bryant Lake LaGrange is very proud to be a sponsor of From the Fire,” said Paul Corley, Chief Executive Officer of PEC Development. “The collection is beautiful and brings a great piece of culture to the community. We are excited that we have the opportunity to sponsor such an amazing exhibit and we look forward to working with the LaGrange Museum of Art in the future.”

The LaGrange Art Museum is located at 112 Lafayette Parkway. Exhibit hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Reservations can be made for group tours by calling 706-882-3267. Admission to the From the Fire: Contemporary Korean Ceramics exhibit is free.

Georgia State Educator’s Photos Exhibited at High Museum

At the height of the civil rights movement, photographic images of the struggle for equality alerted the nation to injustices waged against African-Americans. Years later, these images are still part of our collective memory.

Doris Derby, director of African-American Student Services and Programs at Georgia State, is one of nearly 50 photographers whose work is included in “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968,” an exhibit on display through Oct. 5 at the High Museum of Art. The exhibit features approximately 200 photographs that helped shape public opinion on the civil rights movement.

“A lot of people were immune to what was going on,” Derby said. “A lot of people had blinders on. It had been tradition, the way things were, and so the photographs really acted to vividly depict the struggle for equality, the individual acts of the struggle, and the reaction of the segregationists who did not want to change the status quo.”

Derby, who began documenting her subjects through painting, drawing and photography as a child, has previously exhibited her work at Georgia State as well as other venues.

“I was doing what had always been one of my goals – to see African-Americans make headway in the arts, in education and employment, and they all tied together in photographs,” she said of her work.

“Road to Freedom,” which also includes a collection of historical documents, will travel throughout the U.S. after it leaves the High. Derby is also preparing for an upcoming exhibit at Georgia State titled “Disappearing Black Neighborhoods.” These images capture the everyday life of those growing up in the segregated South of the 1960s.

“I was always interested in the depiction of African-American people in positive light, in full light,” Derby said. “This has been one of the things that I’ve done all my life, getting images of African-American people out for other people to see.”

Senior's Art Featured in Gallery at University of West Georgia


Rockmart resident and UWG senior Buffy Head will graduate this summer with a degree in art education. She opened her Senior Show this week in the second floor gallery of the Humanities Building. A reception is scheduled on Thursday, July 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. and the community is invited to attend.

The UWG Senior Show will run through Friday, July 11, and the community is invited to attend this free event. Head’s extensive collection of work includes watercolors and mixed media. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The university offers several undergraduate and graduate degrees in the arts including studio art, art history and art education. Head will graduate in the summer commencement ceremony on August 2.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Georgia Southern University’s Performing Arts Center Announces 2008-2009 Lineup

The Georgia Southern University Performing Arts Center (PAC) will open its 2008-09 season at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with a performance by Capitol Steps, the hilarious group that puts the “mock” in democracy.

Seven more exceptional performances are planned throughout the season. Renewal sales of season tickets will begin on July 8 and end on July 25. Sale of new season tickets will begin on August 5, and sales of single performance tickets will begin on August 26.

This season’s performance schedule features eight acts. In addition to Capitol Steps, Columbia Artists Theatricals will present two much-loved musical theatre productions:‘Wizard of Oz’ is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5; and ‘Oliver!’ is set for Friday, Feb. 6, 2009.

The PAC will welcome the Grammy Award-winning Pointer Sisters on Friday, Oct. 17. From pop sounds to rhythm and blues, this group has performed with the Boston Pops, in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, at the closing of the Atlanta Olympics, and in “A Capitol Fourth” in Washington, D.C. The Pointer Sisters’ performance will be open to season ticket holders only; no single tickets will be available for this performance.

The world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir will return on Friday, Dec. 5, for a holiday concert, followed in January by the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a group of young African-American stringband musicians. With the banjo as lead instrument, this group takes an old-school approach that draws praise from around the world.

Adding to this array of talent is pianist, George Winston will visit the PAC on Friday, Feb. 20. Best known for his melodic rural folk piano style, Winston has made no secret of the debt his playing owes to the musicians of New Orleans. His style includes the stride piano sound reminiscent of Thomas “Fats” Waller and the late Teddy Wilson, and his own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano.

Finally, PAC welcomes the artists of the North Carolina Dance Theatre Saturday, April 4. Known for their high energy, precision and speed, this troup’s breathtaking beauty, boundless energy, and amazing athleticism have dazzled audiences and critics the world over.

Season subscriptions are available for the 2008-09 year for $230. Patrons who purchase season subscriptions will realize a 15 percent savings over the cost of individual tickets. Existing PAC season subscribers receive priority for renewals, which will be on sale Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 25. New season subscription sales will begin Tuesday, Aug. 5. Individual ticket sales will begin Tuesday, Aug. 26.