Thursday, February 24, 2011

Governor's Office Announces Departure of Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director

AAG Note: This is a story that personally saddens me. I have known Susan Weiner for many years and she is a strong advocate of the arts and has done, in my opinion, an outstanding job in her position as Executive Director of the Arts Council. She has always been responsive, been willing to go the extra mile for the arts and has initiated many fine programs that have helped artists across the region better artists, better able to support themselves in their chosen field. The state of Georgia has lost a superb, brilliant, and balanced voice. - Janet McGregor Dunn, Editor

As part of a reorganization of the Georgia Council for the Arts, Susan Weiner has departed her role as Executive Director of the Arts Council. The decision was made after an assessment of the goals and objectives of the agency, which is expected to become a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development for fiscal year 2012.

House Bill 264 proposes moving the state arts funding agency to the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The move, if approved by the state legislature, would provide greater leveraging of federal funding from sources such as the National Endowment for the Arts, and garner greater operational support for the daily functions of Georgia Council for the Arts. Thirty-eight states, including North Carolina and Florida, currently have arts councils that operate as a component of economic development or cultural agencies.

Although a current replacement for Ms. Weiner has not been named, Governor Deal is committed to appointing leadership for the Georgia Council for the Arts that is consistent with his vision of aligning the arts with the economic development of the state. Leadership for the agency, as required by the state, will be assessed by the Governor's office in the future.

Georgia Council for the Arts is a state agency that provides support for nonprofit arts organizations throughout the state. Established in 1965 as the Georgia Commission on the Arts, its mission is to encourage excellence in the arts, support the arts may forms of expressions and make the arts available to all Georgians by providing funding, leadership, programming and other services. Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly, the National Endowment for the Arts and other private and public sources.

Having Fun and Raising Funds: The Eighteenth Annual Morris Museum of Art Gala

The Eighteenth Annual Morris Museum of Art Gala takes place on Friday, March 4, 2011, beginning at 7:00 p.m. This year’s Gala honors one of America’s leading figures in contemporary art, abstract painter Brian Rutenberg, a resident of New York City and a native of South Carolina.

At 7:00 p.m., guests enter an elegantly transformed museum setting, where they will be greeted in the lobby with a glass of champagne and live music. After a photo-op, marking their arrival, they proceed to the galleries where the Morris’s featured exhibition, I Will Tell You a Place: Paintings by Brian Rutenberg is on display. Delicious fare by Dennis Dean Catering and an opportunity to mingle with friends, precede dancing under the stars to the sounds of Motown band Deas-Guyz, rounding out the perfect evening! Throughout the night, guests have an opportunity to purchase Gala Raffle tickets. This year’s fantastic prizes include original works of art, travel packages, jewelry, and much more. Guests depart the museum that night with a gift personally signed by Gala artist Brian Rutenberg.

Tickets—just $175 for museum members, $200 for nonmembers; $125 for guests, 35 and under—include all of the evening’s festivities.

Proceeds from the Gala support the rich array of exhibitions and public programs that the Morris Museum of Art provides the CSRA throughout the year. For tickets or additional information, call 706-828-3825, email janna.crane@themorris.org, or visit www.themorris.org/gala.html.

Morris Museum of Art

Founded in 1985, the Morris Museum of Art is the oldest museum in the country that is devoted to the art and artists of the American South. The museum’s permanent collection holds approximately five thousand works of art that date from the late-eighteenth century to the present. The Morris is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and on Sunday, noon–5:00 p.m. For more information about the Morris Museum of Art, visit www.themorris.org or call 706-724-7501.

Arts in the Heart of Augusta Receives Bronze Kaleidoscope Award for Best Website

Arts in the Heart of Augusta was among the best and brightest spotlighted at Southeast Festivals and Events Kaleidoscope Awards. Hosted at the Stone Mountain Inn, St. Mountain, Georgia, February 21-23, the ceremony was held in conjunction with the annual Southeast Festivals and Events (SFEA) conference. Top festivals and events throughout the southeast were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the events industry.

“The quality of submissions continues to go up each year making it more difficult to choose only one winner,” mentioned Carolyn Morris, executive director for SFEA. “It is a shame that only one can ‘win gold.’ It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your event or community and award those who have worked hard created the perfect event or festival. The recognition a festival gets for winning is priceless.”

Arts in the Heart of Augusta won a bronze kaleidoscope award for best website.

“The Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival continues to find new and inventive ways to bring the festival to life via extensive marketing and promotion. In 2010 RedWolf, Inc. brought the festival website to new levels of new innovation by programming an interactive map of the Fine Arts and Crafts Area, allowing browsers to ‘meet’ each artist in advance of walking into the festival. We are proud to have won the SFEA Bronze award for our website. The Arts in the Heart committee will continue to look for ways to improve our festival at every level,” says Brenda Durant Executive Director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council when asked about the award.

The Greater Augusta Arts Council is located at 1301 Greene St. in Augusta, GA. Its mission is to advance the arts and thus, enrich the quality of life in Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area.

Monday, February 21, 2011

The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs Joins Americans for the Arts

Atlanta to participate in nationwide research studies, National Economic Impact and Local Arts Index

The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs has joined forces with Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, to conduct nationwide research studies, Arts and Economic Prosperity IVTM and the inaugural Local Arts Index.

The Arts and Economic Prosperity IV research study will evaluate the impact that spending by nonprofit arts organizations has on their local economies. As one of 200 study partners across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs will facilitate the gathering of detailed economic and event attendance data from nonprofit arts and culture organizations located throughout Atlanta.

“The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs is proud to have been selected to participate in these important research projects,” said Camille Russell Love, director of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. “The research findings will provide the data points for Atlanta’s selection as AmericanStyle magazine’s top ten Art Cities in America.”

In addition, the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs will also collaborate with the community’s arts organizations to collect surveys from at least 800 arts and culture attendees in the City of Atlanta during 2011. Customized findings for the City of Atlanta will demonstrate the impact of spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences on the economy.

In 2007, American for the Arts reported that the City of Atlanta’s nonprofit sector generated $274.8 million in local economic activity— a number that is comprised of $113.94 million in spending by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations—and $160.87 million in event-related spending by audiences, according to the Americans for the Arts nationwide study-Arts and Economic Prosperity III.

The Local Arts Index will be the first study designed to measure the health and vitality of the arts industries throughout the United States. The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs is one of 100 organizations that will participate in the inaugural Local Arts Index, which will use a single methodology utilizing information gathered from research produced by the federal government and private research organizations. The Index will also cover multiple industries, including nonprofit groups, for profit arts businesses, employment figures, and more. When these quantitative measures are taken together, the Local Arts Index will provide a year-by-year and community-by-community comparison of the nation’s arts sector. The findings from the Local Arts Index will be reported in fall 2011.

Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study is supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. In addition, Americans for the Arts’ local and statewide project partners are contributing both time and financial support for the study. The Kresge Foundation has awarded Americans for the Arts a $1.2 million grant to conduct the Local Arts Index, as well as the supporting workshops and materials necessary to assist communities in the effective application of the local data.

About City of Atlanta Office Cultural Affairs
The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), a division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, was established in 1974 to encourage and support Atlanta's cultural resources. In order to improve the social fabric and quality of life for Atlanta's citizens and visitors, the Office is committed to nurturing excellence and diversity in the city's artistic offerings. Acknowledging that the arts play an essential role in defining the cultural life of the city and contribute substantially to the city's economy, our organization strives to enhance Atlanta's reputation as a cultural destination. The Office seeks to support programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expression and aspires to make arts available to everyone.
---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter:
@artsacrossga
@softnblue (music & dance)
@RimbomboAAG (books, authors +)
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ArtsAcrossGA

Enchanted Creatures Art Show

Saturday, February 26 at 8:00pm - February 27 at 2:30am

Mark your calendars for a night of Magic, Whimsy and Folklore!

Neon Armour Body Art is throwing an enchanted Art Party you'll not soon forget!

Come join us to admire fully painted Sprites, Faery, Goblins and Elves as they mingle amongst the party.

Enjoy the works of some of Atlanta's most talented local artists as they present Art inspired by the magical creatures of our childhood and far away lands!

**********Silent Vote***** PRIZE for Best of Show!**************

$10 Donation
FREE Drinks
Party 8 to 2:30

The Enchanted Creatures Art Show will take place in the Historic Mattress Factory Lofts. Please Park in the Crossfit Parking Lot and follow the signs to the art show, Click the link for directions. http://bradenfellman.com/apartments/mattressfactory/

Artwork by Bill Sienkiewicz, Matthew Peak, Stephanie Anderson, Rod Montoya, Nikki Farrah, Jennifer Dungeon, Kris Pilcher, Jarrett Becke, Danny Simanjaya, Jinx Strange, Sarah Radtke, Meg Golding, Court Ney, Monet Fort, Monica Glover, Vemoe, Chuk Vinson, Thomas Norris, Amy Ashbaugh, Jenny Birdsong, Kathryn Lawson, David Lane, Flawlessly Imperfect, Alan Higgins, Lee David, Thomas Dodd, Kate Logan, Michael Maudlin, Richard Santiago and many more to be announced!

Friday, February 18, 2011

PERCEPTIONS: Paintings by Christy Green at OCAF Feb. 22 – Mar. 25

The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) in Watkinsville, GA proudly presents in the Members’ Gallery and exhibit of work by Christy Green. Green is an accomplished artist featuring a portfolio of egg tempera portraits, commanding landscapes, and trompe l'oeil paintings. Her attention to detail, and the photo-realism of her subjects, entices the viewer to enter the scene in a spirit of memory that only exceptional art can inspire. You are invited to join us for a reception on Friday, Feb. 25, 6 - 8 PM. OCAF is located at 34 School Street, Watkinsville, GA. Gallery hours are 10 AM - 4 PM, Tues. - Sat. For more information please call (706) 769-4565, email: info@ocaf.com or visit our website at www.ocaf.com.

Museum of Design Atlanta and American Craft Council Team Up Again for the Annual Preview Party and Benefit

Preview Party Always the Best Way to See the Show and Experience First-Choice Shopping!

The 22nd annual American Craft Council Show heads to Atlanta this spring with an exciting selection of handmade creations from over 225 highly respected craft artists. Held the night before the show officially opens to the public, the Preview Party offers an exciting opportunity to peruse the booths without the crowds, while enjoying live entertainment, delicious cocktails, and tasty hors d’oeuvres!

Preview Party attendees get a sneak peek at the crafts and a chance to mingle with the artists. Even better, guests will have an exclusive chance to buy ahead of the crowds before the show opens. Renewing the successful partnership from last year, the 2011 Preview Party will jointly benefit Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) and the American Craft Council (ACC), a national, nonprofit public organization whose mission is to champion craft.

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its American Craft magazine, the Council has invited cake designers to create cakes and cupcakes inspired by ACC artists’ select works of jewelry, pottery, glass, fiber art, or multi-media masterpieces. These Craft-Inspired Cakes will be on display at the Preview Party and throughout the weekend at the craft show. The best way to see the cakes and cupcakes, of course, is to visit the show during the Preview Party on March 10.

Join MODA and the American Craft Council for the American Craft Council Show Preview Party. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, the opportunity to meet the 225 American Craft Council participating artists, and best of all – a chance to purchase their works ahead of the crowd.

Thursday, March 10, 2011
6 to 9 p.m.
Tickets: $75 in advance, $85 at the door: includes a ticket to return to the show on public days.

Cobb Galleria Centre
Two Galleria Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
www.cobbgalleria.com

Dress: Dressy casual

To purchase tickets, visit www.craftcouncil.org/atlanta or call Eleanor Simonsen at 404-525-7575.

SHOW The 22nd annual American Craft Council Show will take place at the Cobb Galleria Centre from March 11 to 13, 2011. The show will feature more than 225 of the nation’s most respected craft artists, who will exhibit and sell their latest high-quality, one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, home decor and more. At the southeast’s largest craft show, artists are selected through a rigorous jury process to ensure the admission of museum-quality work. Works presented at the American Craft Council Show in Atlanta begin at $25 and go into the thousands.

BENEFICIARIES

Moving to its new location in Midtown Atlanta in March, MODA is the only museum in the Southeast devoted exclusively to the study and celebration of all things design. MODA examines how design affects our daily lives through engaging exhibitions, K-12 educational outreach and exciting adult programming. MODA regularly features exhibitions of architecture, industrial and product design, interiors and furniture, graphics, fashion, and more. For more information, visit: www.museumofdesign.org.

The American Craft Council The American Craft Council's mission is to champion craft. As a national, nonprofit public educational organization founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb, the Council actively promotes the understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft through its bimonthly magazine American Craft, annual juried shows presenting artists and their work, leadership conferences, awards for excellence, research library, workshops and seminars. For morel information visit www.craftcouncil.org.

---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter:
@artsacrossga
@softnblue (music & dance)
@RimbomboAAG (books, authors +)
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ArtsAcrossGA

Atlanta Dogwood Festival Seeks Volunteers for its 75th Anniversary, Apr 15 - 17

The 75th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is currently seeking volunteers for this April’s event. Each year, the city’s largest outdoor fine arts festival depends on the help of more than 400 volunteers who put in over 30,000 hours of service. Since the festival is a free event that draws thousands of visitors to Atlanta to celebrate the beautiful spring weather in Piedmont Park, volunteers are critical to this long-term success. Individuals and groups are welcome. Volunteers can sign up at www.dogwood.org and look forward to a fun and memorable weekend!

Volunteers help out in areas like handling merchandise sales; welcoming patrons at the gates; staffing information booths; selling dogwood tree saplings; assisting with the Artist Market, Friends of Dogwood Area and Kid’s Village and working with event operations.

In addition to having a great time, volunteers receive a collectible festival t-shirt, refreshments during their volunteer shift, discounts to Atlanta Dogwood Festival ticketed events and other incentives.

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is interested in developing year-round volunteer operational committees, including Fundraising, Merchandise, Festival Development and more. These committees are comprised of volunteers with an interest in a more-active "behind the scenes" involvement in the festival.

About the Atlanta Dogwood Festival

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is one of the largest and most diverse free juried arts festivals in the country. More than 250 artists from around the country exhibit in 12 categories, including painting, glass, clay, wood and mixed media. Some of the country’s top painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craftsmen, glass blowers and more will be participating in the 2011 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Artist Market. In 2006, the Artist Market was ranked #16 out of the Top 200 Shows in the Country by Sunshine Artist's Magazine.

In addition to fine art from professionals across the country, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival features a High School Art Exhibition showcasing talent from students from various high schools around the state of Georgia. The festival also includes the incredible International Village, which showcases talent from over 20 countries. Moreover, the Friends of Dogwood Pavilion, a ticketed event within the festival features great food from outstanding Atlanta area restaurants, tasting of international wines and a silent auction.

The city’s longest-running festival, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing the annual springtime celebration of arts and entertainment. The 75th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival will take place April 15 – 17, 2011. The festival offices are located at 887 West Marietta Street, Studio S-105, Atlanta, Georgia 30318. The Atlanta Dogwood Festival can be reached at 404-817-6642 or visited online at www.dogwood.org.

Like the Atlanta Dogwood Festival on Facebook - www.facebook.com/atlantadogwoodfestival and follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/dogwoodfestival.

---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter:
@artsacrossga
@softnblue (music & dance)
@RimbomboAAG (books, authors +)
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ArtsAcrossGA

Thursday, February 17, 2011

USC Annenberg Announces Seventh NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater

The University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced today that applications are now being accepted for the seventh annual Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater.

The Institute, which will be held June 14-24, 2011, is an 11-day intensive theater and musical theater fellowship program for critics, reporters, editors and broadcast and online producers from the United States. Staff journalists and freelancers who work in print, radio, TV or online media – and whose main subject is the arts, culture or entertainment – are welcome to apply.

Institute applications are due March 29, 2011. To apply, visit: http://annenberg.usc.edu/nea.

The NEA fellowship will coincide with the 2011 Theatre Communications Group (TCG) National Conference, hosted by the LA STAGE Alliance, which will bring more than 1,000 influential theater organizers, producers, artists and journalists to Los Angeles on the occasion of TCG’s 50th anniversary. In addition, the RADAR L.A. Festival, Hollywood Fringe Festival 2011 and National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival will be taking place concurrently in L.A. The opportunity to see world premieres from across the globe, as well as new works by resident companies and artists, and to interact with frontline theater people from all over the country will shape the NEA Institute’s programming.

Sasha Anawalt, founding director of USC Annenberg’s nine-month graduate degree program in Specialized Journalism (The Arts), will for the seventh year direct the NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater. Joining her as associate directors are Douglas McLennan, editor and founder of Artsjournal.com, and Jeff Weinstein, editor and critic formerly with the Village Voice, Philadelphia Inquirer and Bloomberg News.

“This fellowship will take the pulse of what’s going on in theater right now, because we will not only avail ourselves of the stunning confluence of artists, resources, ideas and performances, but we will report on them, “ said Anawalt. “We will use the stuff of the conferences and festivals as the raw material for this fellowship that is about advancing the understanding and practice of arts journalism in the digital age.”

Most costs are covered by the Institute, including air travel, hotel, transportation within the city and most meals. Registration to the TCG conference and tickets to all theater performances are also covered by the NEA fellowship.

Professional sessions addressing changes in the media industry will be offered and special attention will be paid to multimedia storytelling skills. Participants will also meet theater professionals ranging from directors and administrators of L.A.’s primary theater companies to critics of national stature, who will work with them individually and in small workshops. Faculty in the past has included Hilton Als, Susan Brenneman, Robert Brustein, Robert Christgau, Sylvie Drake, John Lahr, Charles McNulty, Dominic Papatola, Michael Phillips, Ann Powers, Steven Leigh Morris, Laurie Ochoa and Jack Viertel.

About the NEA Arts Journalism Institutes
The Theater and Musical Theater Institute at USC Annenberg is one of three NEA Arts Journalism Institutes, along with the Institute in Classical Music and Opera at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York and the Institute for Dance Criticism at the American Dance Festival in Durham, N.C. In 2009, an International Institute in the Visual Arts at American University in Washington, D.C., also was created. Funded by a multimilliondollar NEA initiative, these institutes offer intensive training for arts reporters and their editors. The four Institutes also partnered in October 2009 to produce the first-ever National Summit on Arts Journalism http://annenberg.usc.edu/nea.


About the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.

About the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism
Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism is a national leader in education and scholarship in the fields of communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations. With an enrollment of more than 2,200 students, USC Annenberg offers doctoral, graduate and undergraduate degree programs, as well as continuing development programs for working professionals across a broad scope of academic inquiry. The school’s comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the core skills of leadership, innovation, service and entrepreneurship and draws upon the resources of a networked university located in the media capital of the world.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival Celebrates Local History Circa 1936

Cultural Alliance Partnership With Margaret Mitchell House and Atlanta History Center Celebrates 75th Anniversaries for two of City’s Most Recognized Events

Festival Attendees Get Free Admission at Margaret Mitchell House During Festival Weekend

History comes alive in Atlanta this year as the Atlanta Dogwood Festival and the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Gone With the Wind both celebrate 75th anniversaries. The city’s longest-running fine arts festival kicked off in 1936, the same year that Margaret Mitchell’s book was published. In the decades since, Gone With the Wind remains one of the best selling novels of all time, and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival still remains Atlanta’s best loved festival that draws thousands of visitors to Piedmont Park each spring.

On April 19, 1936, Atlanta Dogwood Festival founder Walter Rich of Rich’s department store invited Atlantans and the world to celebrate the blooming of the dogwood trees during a weeklong event. In honor of the first festival, trees were planted throughout the city under the sponsorship of garden clubs and citizens interested in the beautification of the city. The festival included pageants, parades and carnivals sponsored by the Junior League as well as performances by the Metropolitan Opera, the Philadelphia Symphony and choruses from local colleges. Seventy-five years later, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a three-day event featuring a large juried fine arts market, continuous live music and entertainment, the International Stage, a Kid’s Village, a much-loved disc dog competition, the Friends of Dogwood tasting pavilion and the High School Art Exhibition. In keeping with tradition with the original tradition of beautifying the city, the festival still sells dogwood tree saplings onsite. The 75th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place April 15 through 17.

Just a couple of months after the festival launched, Mitchell’s acclaimed novel was published and within six months broke publishing records by selling one million copies. For the Margaret Mitchell House, the residents of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and the Southeast, Gone With the Wind, is especially valued as it tells a story of war and survival highlighting a shared history, the misery of the effects of civil war and its aftermath, and love for one's land as a place of identity and endurance. Worldwide, Mitchell's novel has touched readers and captured imaginations, setting many individuals on a journey to visit Atlanta to walk in Mitchell’s footsteps and experience Scarlett's South.

In joint celebration of their diamond anniversaries, the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House unite with the Atlanta Dogwood Festival as the lead Cultural Alliance Partner. During the festival, attendees can stop by the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House booth for a variety of engaging history and literary activities, such as historical Travel Trunk displays, photo opportunities, a never-ending story game, enriching demonstrations, Poetry Out Loud performances, and craft-making activities for all ages. Festival goers can also visit the Margaret Mitchell House and receive free museum admission on April 16 and 17, 2011.


ABOUT THE ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER
Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center is an all-inclusive, thirty-three-acre destination featuring the Atlanta History Museum, one of the Southeast’s largest history museums; two historic houses, the 1928 Swan House and the 1860 Smith Family Farm; the Centennial Olympic Games Museum; the Kenan Research Center; the Grand Overlook event space; Chick-Fil-A at the Coca-Cola CafĂ©, a museum shop, and acres of Historic Gardens with paths and a kid-friendly discovery trail.

In addition, the History Center operates the Margaret Mitchell House. Located in Midtown Atlanta, the two-acre campus features tours of the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone With the Wind, an exhibition highlighting the life of Margaret Mitchell, a Gone With the Wind movie exhibition, and a museum shop. For information on Atlanta History Center offerings, hours of operation, and admission, call 404.814.4000 or visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

ABOUT THE ATLANTA DOGWOOD FESTIVAL
The city’s longest-running festival, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing the annual springtime celebration of arts and entertainment. The 75th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival will take place April 15 – 17, 2011. The festival offices are located at 887 West Marietta Street, Studio S-105, Atlanta, Georgia 30318. The Atlanta Dogwood Festival can be reached at 404-817-6642 or visited online at www.dogwood.org.


Like the Atlanta Dogwood Festival on Facebook - www.facebook.com/atlantadogwoodfestival and follow on Twitter – www.twitter.com/dogwoodfestival.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Actor's Express Celebrates Carnivale at its Annual Fundraiser

Friday, February 18, 2011 at The Gallery at King Plow Arts Center

This year, the annual fundraising gala for Actor’s Express takes the form of Carnivale on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 8 p.m. at the Gallery at King Plow Arts Center. Attendees will be transported to Rio de Janeiro as they are greeted by dynamic street performers and slip into a vibrant world filled with dancers, live music, interactive gaming booths including palm readers, tarot cards readers, a photo booth and more. A decadent VIP area will raise the temperature to sultry South American heights with burlesque performances by Minette Magnifique. The evening will also include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a raffle and a silent auction. Funds raised at Carnivale will directly support Actor’s Express.

Offering different pricing options for all budgets, Samba will be $60 and includes Carnivale entry for one, two drinks and two booth tickets. Next, is Ipanema for $90 that grants Canivale entry for one, unlimited drinks, entry to VIP area and five booth tickets. Last, is Bossa Nova for $150, which gives patrons Carnivale entry for one, unlimited drinks, unlimited booth tickets, entry to VIP area, one raffle ticket and one ticket to an Actor’s Express production. Tickets are available online at www.actors-express.com, by phone at 404.607.SHOW.

Actor’s Express is a twenty-three year-old theatre located in the West Midtown district of Atlanta that offers original voices and new perspectives that reflect Atlanta’s diverse and evolving community. At the center of AE’s mission is a commitment to new work and emerging artists. To that end, nearly every production on the mainstage is either a regional or world premiere. This commitment is realized through an active new play development program and an internship program that provides some of the most rigorous post-undergraduate theatre training in the state. AE is committed to setting and adhering to the highest possible artistic standards, as well as engaging, educating and entertaining the community its serves. To learn more about Actor’s Express, visit www.actors-express.com or call 404-875-1606.

Major funding for Actor's Express is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Actor's Express programming is also supported in part by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.

To learn more about Actor’s Express, visit www.actors-express.com or call 404-875-1606.

New Exhibit: Partners In Crime at MudFire Clayworks and Gallery

Opening Saturday, February 12, 5:00-9:00 PM
Show Continues Through March 5, 2011

Partners in Crime features new work by MudFire founders Luba Sharapan & Erik Haagensen. Together we are partners in a web of clay, work, and life. . . and having a criminally good time. We hope you can join us for the party.

Luba Sharapan creates handmade porcelain vessels that speak of ancient cities, industrial revolutions, rusty water towers, peeling walls, dangerously decrepit rooftops, and lonely vampires. The richly layered, encaustic-like, visually indulgent surface of her work creeps across virgin porcelain and Victorian roses slowly and wickledly obscuring their perfection.

Erik Haagensen's functional pottery combines the speckly goodness of reduction fired stoneware, a tight-crazing shino glaze, hand-inked illustrations of odd little beasties, and bits of poetic quippery. His intent (who's kidding, my intent) is to celebrate well-crafted slowness while offering a lighthearted laugh.

Follow this rabbit to see more images and enjoy a bit longer description.

MudFire Clayworks Location and Hours
175 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Regular Gallery Hours
Open Noon to 8:00 pm
Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday
maps and directions
404-377-8033.
Loads of information and images available at www.mudfire.com