Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia to host decorative arts symposium

The Georgia Museum of Art (GMOA) at the University of Georgia will hold its sixth Henry D. Green Symposium of the Decorative Arts February 2–4, 2012.

“Homecoming” is the title and theme of the symposium, representing the museum’s expanded facility, the return of the Edwin Smith’s portraits of native Georgians Robert Ransome Billups and Elizabeth Ware Fullwood Billups to Clarke County and the return of the symposium to Georgia-related topics.

Georgia native and premier art dealer Deanne Deavours (Levison) will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education’s Mahler Auditorium, where all lectures will be held. She will discuss her career in the field of American decorative arts, in which she is acclaimed for her skill and expertise. Deavours is a nationally prominent antiques dealer and independent scholar who has also been central to much of the scholarship surrounding Georgia’s decorative arts traditions.

Dale Couch, adjunct curator of decorative arts at GMOA, describes Deavours as an “indispensable supporter of GMOA programs” and “an invaluable member of the Decorative Arts Advisory Committee.”

The keynote lecture is sponsored by the Georgia Humanities Council and is free and open to the public.

Thursday night will feature an opening reception at the museum from 7:30 to 9 p.m. organized by the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art to highlight the winter exhibitions.

Decorative arts exhibitions on view will include “Georgia Bellflowers: The Furniture of Henry Eugene Thomas,” for which Ashley Callahan serves as guest curator, and an exhibition of Lycett porcelain painting co-organized by Couch and Michelle Miller (a recent graduate of UGA). Both Callahan and Miller will speak at the symposium, as will Daniel Ackermann, associate curator at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

Other topics include pottery archeology in Washington County, Windsor chair construction, the African American presence in the decorative arts of the South, historic house restoration, southern needlework and southern clockmakers.

The publication of papers from the last symposium, “Neighboring Voices: The Decorative Culture of Our Southern Cousins,” will be available for purchase for $25 at the symposium and in the Museum Shop.

The symposium is held every other year and is the second largest event of its kind on the East Coast of the United States. Its publications received an award of merit from the American Association for State and Local History in 2008.

All evening events will be at GMOA, with shuttle bus service from the Georgia Center. The full symposium package, including Friday evening’s gourmet homecoming supper, is $250. Attendance at lectures only is $75. UGA students may attend for free but must register. The Georgia Center is handling all registrations and is offering a block of rooms at a discount for attendees. For more information about the symposium, contact the Georgia Museum of Art at 706.542.GMOA (4662).

Museum Information
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art is provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The council is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide additional museum support through their gifts to the University of Georgia Foundation. The Georgia Museum of Art is located in the Performing and Visual Arts Complex on the East Campus of the University of Georgia. The address is 90 Carlton Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602-6719. For more information, including hours, see www.georgiamuseum.org or call 706.542.GMOA (4662).

High Hosts 16th Annual High Arts Day

Exclusive Shopping, Luncheon and Home and Exhibition Tours; Special Guests Include Celebrity Fashion Designer Wes Gordon and Interior Designer Jackye Lanham

Monday, November 14, 2011

The High Museum of Art will host the 16th annual High Arts Day on Monday, November 14, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. High Arts Day is a fundraiser hosted by Art Partners, the High’s social and volunteer organization. The day’s events will include a reception and private shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, a luncheon at the High, two private Atlanta home tours, exhibition tours of “Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters,” a trunk show and a silent auction of original art. Tickets are $150 for Museum members and $200 for non-members (this includes a Family or Dual membership—a $90 value). All proceeds benefit the High Museum of Art. Tickets can be purchased online at www.high.org/highartsday or by calling 404-733-4429.

Schedule of Events:

· Opportunity to meet celebrity fashion designer Wes Gordon and featured designer Jackye Lanham
· Reception and private shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue
· Charter bus tour of two distinguished Atlanta homes
· Elegant seated luncheon in the Margaretta Taylor Lobby of the Wieland Pavilion at the High Museum of Art
· Informal modeling presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, featuring Wes Gordon’s spring 2012 collection
· Trunk show of exclusive merchandise
· Silent auction of original art
· Private tour of the exhibition “Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters”

On Sunday, October 23, the Gold Patron Evening will feature a private exhibition tour of “Picasso to Warhol” followed by an exclusive dinner reception at an historic Neel Reed home in Buckhead. Interior designer Jackye Lanham, whose exquisite interiors complement the original Neel Reed architecture of circa 1926, will be the special guest of the evening. Gold Patrons enjoy exclusive benefits at the $500, $1,000 and $2,500 levels in support of High Arts Day. Please visit www.high.org/highartsday for a full listing of exclusive Gold Patron benefits.

Organization and Support

The Platinum Sponsor for High Arts Day is Georgia Power and the Premier Event Partner is Saks Fifth Avenue. Additional support is provided by Gold Partner Max Media and High Arts Day Patrons Epting Events and Persimmon Creek Vineyards. Media sponsors are Flavors magazine and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. High Arts Day chairperson Rosalind Minkhorst leads the 38-member-strong volunteer committee of Art Partners. Honorary chair of the Gold Patron event is Jan Wallace, supported by Gold Patron committee members Patti Paddock, Hope Sheft and Ruth Schaefer. Valerie O’Neal is the 2011–2012 Art Partners president.

2011 ZAPP Conference Slated for Sept. 19-20 in Atlanta

Newsletter Editor Marc Duke to Speak 

The 2011 ZAPP® Conference will take place over two days in Atlanta, Georgia, at the W Atlanta Midtown Hotel, September 19-20, 2011. Among the featured speakers will be Marc Duke, editor of The Art Festival Newsletter and managing director of Art-Linx.com.

The conference joins artists, art fair directors and staff, promoters-and also the ZAPP® Team-at this professional development event for the art fair field. Other sessions will explore the visual arts and copyright law, what the art festival jury process means to you as an artist, opportunities for artists for free image portfolio review (both one-on-one and group options), and more. Also featured is a symposium about re-envisioning and strengthening the art fair business.

"It is a privilege to join the conference as a speaker," Duke said. "At The Art Festival Newsletter, we place great value on developing important information about the people, events and trends in our industry. The opportunity to share that information with festival staffers and artists from across the nation represents its best and most productive use.

"At this year's ZAPP conference, I'll be leading a session entitled 'The Power of Knowledge,' designed to help art festivals and artists work together to create a blueprint for the future. After sharing the data from past Newsletter surveys, this session will explore how to go beyond providing insight about the preferences and interests of art festival participants to discussing specific ideas festivals can use to improve, protect, and build their events. I sincerely hope you'll join me there."

All are welcome; this event is not just for ZAPP® users and features tracks for both artists and art fair administrators. You can register now at bit.ly/zapp2011.

BeltLine Arts Installation - Volunteers Needed

Artist Ashley Kyber has teamed with Park Pride to install an exciting new Art on the BeltLine piece. The site is near the intersection of Alleen Avenue and Catherine Street in the Adair Park neighborhood.

What could be more rewarding then helping out with an Arts Installation and working with a fellow artists, right here in your own community!

When:
This week: August 10th and 11th.

The team will be working all week, but is especially interested in hosting volunteers on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Shifts are in the morning (9 to noon) and in the evening (6 to dark). On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, our good friends with Park Pride and the Atlanta Belt need some great volunteers.

Where:
The site is near the intersection of Alleen Avenue and Catherine Street in the Adair Park neighborhood.

Call our good friend Walt Ray for more details: If you're interested in helping or if you'd like additional information, please call Walt Ray of Park Pride at 404.432.9320 or e-mail walt@parkpride.org.

What:
We'll be moving earth for the earthern serpentine mound and painting Native American symbols. So plan to get dirty!

Come Join us!
Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces
P.O. Box 422571
Atlanta, Georgia 30342

Access the Arts at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Your Day To Secure Your Best Deals and Your Best Seats For The Shows You Love!

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre will open its doors on Sunday, August 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Monday, August 22 from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to offer the performing arts lover the opportunity to obtain information and purchase subscriptions for the 2011/2012 season presented by the Centre’s three resident companies, Gas South Broadway Series, The Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Ballet. Each resident company will have special “Access the Arts” subscription offers available only at this two-day event. Additionally, the event offers arts patrons an opportunity to visit the venue and “test-drive your seats” in the theatre.

The special “Access the Arts” offers from the resident company are:

· Gas South Broadway Series will offer a complimentary ticket to the Neil Berg’s Broadway Holiday show for every subscription purchased at the event.

· The Atlanta Opera will waive the $15.00 handling fee when purchasing a series.

· Atlanta Ballet season subscribers will receive a limited edition Atlanta Ballet poster from the Charlie McCullers “Steel Toes” collection. Full premiere series package buyers will additionally receive 50% off all add-on performances, including Belk Presents Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker.

Attendees will enjoy a festive atmosphere, entertainment, giveaways, food and beverage sampling from the Centre’s own Executive Chef, M.G. Farris and the following local restaurants: Sunday – Cinco Restaurants, Copeland’s, Ted’s Montana Grill; Monday – Cinco Restaurants, Copeland’s, Ted’s Montana Grill, P. F. Chang’s, Crepe Revolution Restaurant, and Sip Wine at Riverside.

Sunday will also feature fun, family friendly activities including:

The Atlanta Opera will be presenting live stage combat demonstrations by stage combat expert, Marcus Durham. Guests will also have the opportunity to see how characters from our 2011-2012 season will be brought to life through stage-make-up demonstrations by make-up artist, Aida Scuffle.

Gas South Broadway Series will offer two fun opportunities, storytelling time with Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady, one of the four Broadway shows of the 2011 – 2012 season and a chance dress up in costumes from this season’s shows and have a complimentary photo taken.

ArtsBridge will feature Alice telling the beloved children’s story Alice in Wonderland, one of the offerings of the ArtsBridge education program for students.

Atlanta Ballet will provide a sampling of dance with a Hip Hop Class by Anwar Nasir and an introduction to ballet class taught by a member of the teaching staff of the Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education

Attendees will also be able to register for the Grand Prize drawing that includes tickets to opening night of each of the four shows of the Gas South Broadway Series, and a pair of tickets to one performance of the Atlanta Ballet, and one production of The Atlanta Opera at the Centre. Once attendees have registered, they need not be present at the time of the drawing to win.

Self -parking at the Centre for this event will be free. For the latest information please visit, www.cobbengerycentre.com or call 770.916.2800.

About Cobb Energy Centre
The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, a $145 million, state-of-the-art facility, is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in northwest Atlanta, inside the Perimeter. Cobb Energy Centre is a premier venue for opera, concerts, Broadway shows, ballet, educational performances, family shows and corporate meetings and events. The Centre hosts three resident companies, Gas South Broadway Series, The Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Ballet. The facility includes the 2,750-seat John A. Williams Theatre, 10,000-square-foot Kessel D. Stelling, Jr. Ballroom and other meeting spaces, 1,000 parking spaces including a 700-space parking deck, and full-service food and beverage capabilities. The Centre, part of the Cobb-Galleria complex, is governed by the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority. Additional information about the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is available at www.cobbenergycentre.com.

Upcoming Events at the Holly Theater

Play It Again, Sam will be performed live on stage by the Holly Theater Company on August 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday Matinee at 2:00 p.m. Allan Felix, a neurotic San Francisco movie critic has just broken up with his wife, Nancy. This devastating event has caused him to spiral into a deep depression and look for solace in the classic movies that he loves, particularly the romantic saga CASABLANCA. Allan begins to have conversations with the fantasy ghost of his film idol, Humphrey Bogart, who gives him advice on romance and masculinity. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the Holly Theater at 706-864-3759 or on-line at www.hollytheater.com

The von Grey Sisters Concert
von Grey is four classically trained sisters, exploring and creating music that transcends traditional genres, blending country, pop, rock and more to create a mesmerizing musical experience. Hear von Grey perform live at The Historic Holly Theater in Dahlonega, Georgia on Saturday, 27 August at 7.00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased on-line at www.hollytheater.com or by calling 706.864.3759. Visit www.vongrey.com to hear their music and download a free song from their new CD, Make Some Noise.

FRIGHT NIGHT MOVIES 
The Shining starring Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall will be shown at the Holly Theater on Tuesday, August 23 at 9:00 p.m. Scream starring Courtney Cox, Drew Barrymore and David Arquette will be shown on Tuesday, August 30th at 9:00 p.m. Suggested donation $5.00.

The Mountain Music and Medicine Show will be live on stage at the Holly Theater on Saturday, September 3. Pre-show begins at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the theater at 706-864-3759 or on-line at www.hollytheater.com .

The Packway Handle Band will be live in concert on Friday, September 9th at 8:00 p.m. Packway Handle Band is one of the bright lights of bluegrass, taking everything you know about the genre and turning it on its head. The Athens-based band is already lauded for their tightly spun harmonies and extremely well-written songs. Reserved VIP: $22.50 General Reserved: $15. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.hollytheater.com or by calling 706-864-3759. Check out their music website at www.packwayhandle.com.ll

FAACE and The Veranda Promote Art in the Southern Crescent

The Summer heat rolls on, but you can enjoy a cool evening reception and enjoy beautiful art at the same time. The Veranda Historic B and B Inn opens it doors on Tuesday, July 26th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for a reception honoring local artists who are members of Fine Arts and Crafts Entrepreneurs (FAACE).

Members displaying their art for the month of August are Katherine Cody Kicklighter, Debbie Frost and Victor Dallas. Katherine Kicklighter is a professional artist who has taught art for 12 years. She works predominantly in oils and currently has two art series on display, “Documentations of Clarity” and “Painting Senoia,” a charming, romantic view of the historic town. She is also co-owner of The Art Escape in Senoia, offering classes in painting.

Debbie Frost, owner of Wynsong Art and Design, uses oil paints to create beautiful, realistic portraits of dogs, horses and of wildlife in their natural settings. Frost’s love for her subjects shines through in her work, and her paintings have been honored in national and international art shows.

Victor Dallas is a professional artist who specializes in both painting and sculpture. His carved wooden sculptures function as furniture as well as art, and his expressive paintings have been featured in many local and regional art shows.

The reception at The Veranda is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. The gallery also contains a shop, Verbena, displaying the work of many FAACE members. At the FAACE receptions, voluntary donations are accepted for Our Father’s House, an after-school mentoring program for at-risk youth.

Artists and art supporters are also invited to attend the next meeting of FAACE on Tuesday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at Towne Club Center on Crosstown Drive in Peachtree City. The speaker will be Fayette CPA Paul Oddo, Jr., who will present a program specifically geared toward tax concerns for Georgia artists. Mr. Oddo brings more than thirty years experience with his own accounting firm and a background of volunteerism in the community. A current Fayetteville City Councilman, Mr. Oddo is also an experienced speaker who can make even taxes entertaining.

For questions or more information, go to FAACE.org or contact Janet McGregor Dunn at 404-290-3638 or Claudia Wood at 770-599-0047.

Nationally Recognized Atlanta Arts Festival Returns this Autumn

Fifth Annual Art Show Paints Piedmont Park with Fine Art, Live Music, Demonstrations, Crafts and More!

Sketch it on the sidewalk, paint it in a planner or carve it in stone; no matter how art lovers and festival-goers choose to mark their calendar this year, everyone will want to save the date for the 5th Annual Atlanta Arts Festival this September 17-18 in picturesque Piedmont Park. Ranked among the top 200 art festivals in the country in sales for both fine art and fine craft by The Art Fair Sourcebook, the festival features 200 artists from 12 different mediums, artist demonstrations, live music, crafts for the kids, festival food and more!

Free to the public*, the Atlanta Arts Festival is a professionally-juried fine arts event featuring skilled artists from across the country who are carefully selected in mediums including jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture, leather and metal, glassblowing and more. With a palette of artwork as diverse as the cultural city the festival calls home, Atlanta’s large art buying community will find unique pieces to add to their collection, shop for distinctive décor to complete any room in their home or office and discover one-of-a-kind jewelry to accentuate their individual style. Price ranges vary, so every patron can expect to find something special that fits their taste and budget.

“The number of artist applications we receive has continued to increase every year, which makes the selection process more competitive and results in a festival that continues to outdo itself. Set to showcase some of the best artists from coast to coast, we could not be more ecstatic to share our passion for fine art and culture through the Atlanta Arts Festival for the fifth year in a row,” says Tracy Tepp, Atlanta Arts Festival Co-Founder.

More than just a haven for art connoisseurs, casual festival-goers and entertainment seekers alike can enjoy an autumn weekend in the park with friends and relax with a glass of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly while perusing the artist market and taking in the musical sounds of Atlanta’s best talent at the Acoustic Café tent. Parents will find fun for the whole family with mouth-watering festival food favorites, art demonstrations, Canvas by U classes and crafts for the kids at Lil’ Artist Ally.

Share your opinions, join the conversation and stay up-to-date with the Atlanta Arts Festival by following @AtlantaArtsFest on Twitter and becoming a “fan” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlantaartsfestival. Get all the details by visiting www.AtlantaArtsFestival.com or calling 770-941-9660.

*Admission to the festival is free to the public for all events except for some Lil’ Artist Ally activities and Canvas by U classes.

Special thanks to our sponsors who help make the festival possible: Coca-Cola, Subaru, Greyhound, Kroger, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Dixie Home Crafters, Cascadian Farm, Larabar, The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Encore Atlanta, News Talk 1160 AM, Atlanta INtown, AM1690 The Voice of the Arts, Where Atlanta, WSB Radio.

Georgia-Pacific Professional, CDC Foundation Select Artists for Upcoming Handwashing Exhibition

PRNewswire/ -- Georgia-Pacific Professional, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's David J. Sencer Museum and the CDC Foundation, has selected six diversely talented artists to be featured in the upcoming exhibition, Watching Hands: Artists Respond to Keeping Well. Opening Sept. 24, 2011, at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum (formerly the Global Health Odyssey Museum) at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, the exhibition will explore the importance of proper handwashing through a variety of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design, video projection and vinyl installation.

"Handwashing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of disease," said Bill Sleeper, president - Georgia-Pacific Professional. "We want to bolster awareness of the health benefits of hand hygiene. With the help of these artists, we believe this nontraditional and innovative approach to handwashing education will generate greater awareness, reach new audiences and help prevent the spread of infection."

The exhibition will feature all new works, ranging from humorous to spiritual themes, by the following six renowned artists:

• John Bankston – The San Francisco-based artist uses drawing and painting to create imaginary narratives that link subjective memories of childhood to a broader American popular culture.
• Didi Dunphy – Inspired by the intersection of art, performance and design, the Athens, Ga.-based artist engages audiences through fabricating objects and installations to facilitate playful, interactive experiences.
• Joe Peragine – The Atlanta-based artist works in a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, animation and filmmaking. In addition to the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, where his award-winning public art installation of ants hangs over the baggage claim areas, Peragine's work has been featured through solo exhibitions around the country.
• Katherine Ross – Currently serving as chair of the Ceramics Department at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Ross' expertise is in porcelain production for large installations that addresses biological technology, disease and prophylaxis, genetic engineering, hybridization and cloning.
• Laura Splan – A New York-based mixed-media artist, Splan uses microbiological, anatomical and medical images to emphasize the connections between art and science. Splan recently taught two courses addressing the links between art and biology at Stanford University in California.
• James Victore – Considered a cultural and political activist, Victore is one of the leading graphic designers in the United States. Utilizing deceptively simple and witty designs, Victore works in the realms of business, culture, education, editorial and politics, with clients ranging from TIME Magazine to Aveda to Moët & Chandon.

"The CDC Foundation often builds partnerships that bring CDC's health messages to new communities through innovative channels. This partnership with Georgia-Pacific Professional, and the contributions of these six talented artists, present a unique and exciting opportunity to help CDC educate new audiences about the importance of handwashing through art," said Charles Stokes, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation.

Watching Hands: Artists Respond to Keeping Well will be on display through January 13, 2012. The exhibition is curated by Louise E. Shaw, David J. Sencer CDC Museum.

Lagrange Art Museum Invites You to Family Super Saturday

Saturday May 21th, 1:00PM- 4:00 PM

Come join us for a FREE afternoon at the LaGrange Art Museum filled with excitement and hands on projects designed for families and small groups. Start your afternoon by getting inspired by our current exhibitions with a tour. Then enjoy creating your own works of art inspired by photography.

Super Saturdays are sponsored by the LaGrange Junior Service League and Emory Clark-Holder Clinic.

Known as one of Georgia's best regional museums, the LaGrange Art Museum collects and presents contemporary art by emerging and established artists. Housed in a former jail dating to 1892, the Museum is committed to connecting community with creativity and the role that the arts can play in our wider society. The LAM Education program develops the creativity of thousands of people each year from all backgrounds and ages. We are committed to fostering professional development with local artists as well as playing a leading role in cultural tourism and economic development. We are a Museum that thinks globally and engages locally.

(Sorry -- they didn't include a link to their website. You may want to do a search to find out more info, location, etc.)

Gray's Reef Fantastic Fishes Award

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) held its 30th Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Forsyth Park. Visitors viewed temporary chalk masterpieces created by SCAD students, alumni and prospective students on the walkways of the historic park in Savannah, GA.

For the seventh year, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary sponsored a separate category in the festival. The Gray's Reef Fantastic Fishes Award seeks to encourage student artists to find inspiration in the marine environment. With an emphasis on whimsy and biologically accuracy, Gray's Reef promotes art as another way to engage the public on marine issues through non-traditional educational means.

The 2011 award was won by Adela Kang, an illustration major from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Judges thought her image of a little girl listening to the ocean in a shell captures the spirit of love and stewardship for the ocean.

The image will be used by Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary to represent the 2011 Ocean Film Festival.

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Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
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Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP

Life in the Park- World Premiere in Atlanta

June 3– June 26, 2011
Wednesday‐Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday‐Sunday at 2:30 p.m.


$42-$56

Making
 its
 world
 premiere
 in
 Atlanta
 this
 June,
 Life
 in
 the
 Park
 is
 a
 new
 work
 of
 genius
 in
 the
 genre
 of
 musical
 plays.
 It’s
 the
 timely
 story
 of
 Humphrey
 and
 Constance
 (a
 homeless
 man
 and
 woman)
 and
 the
 people
 they
 encounter
 in
 their
 lives
 as
 they
 endure
 another
 winter
 in
 a
 city
 park.


Audiences
 will
 experience
 an
 emotion‐filled
 journey
 from
 laughter
 to
 heartfelt
 moments,
 the
 experience
 of
 life
 in
 the
 park.
 Opening
 June
 3
 at
 the
 14th
 Street
 Playhouse,
 Life
 in
 the
 Park
 runs
 through
 June
 26
 with
 a
 possible
 extension
 until
 July17.


Written
 by
 Gary
 W.
 Heath
 and
 directed
 by
 Atlanta
 native
 Allen
 Worthy,
 Life
 in
 the
 Park
 offers
 audiences
 an
 up‐close
 personal
 look
 into
 homelessness
 not
 seen
 in
 the
 typical
 representation
 of
 this
 all‐too‐possible
 condition.
 Heath
 has
 taken
 the
 situation
 of
 the
 two
 main
 characters
 and
 mixed
 it
 with
 music
 to
 expose
 the
 inner
 emotions 
of 
Humphrey,
 Constance 
and
 their 
acquaintances.


Taking 
place 
during 
one
 day,
 this
 story
 is
 of
 every
 man
 in
 any
 unexpected
 or
 unavoidable
 condition
 that
 could
 affect
 any
 individual
 in
 his
 or
 her
 lifetime.
 The
 show
 is
 highly
 theatrical
 even
 as
 it 
entertains
 with
remarkable 
musical 
numbers.

 


Life
 in
 the
 Park
 was
 showcased
 to
 the
 public
 in
 a
 professional
 staged
 reading
 under
 the
 Actors
 Equity
 Backers
 Audition
 Code
 at
 the
 famed
 Stella
 Adler
 Theatre
 in
 Hollywood, 
California 
with 
extremely
 positive
response 
from
 the
 audience.
 Director
 Worthy
 is
 thrilled
 to
 debut
 the
 production
 in
 front
 of
 an
 Atlanta
 audience.
 He
 graduated 
from 
North
 Atlanta 
High 
School 
Center 
for 
the 
Arts 
before 
moving 
to 
New
 York
 City
 to
 attend
 the
 American
 Academy
 of
 Dramatic
 Arts
 and
 pursue
 a
 career
 in
 theatre.
 Heath
 and
 Worthy
 previously
 partnered
 on
 Ginger
 and
 ME
 and
 Speakeasy.


Following 
its
 Atlanta
 run, 
Life 
in
 the
 Park 
will
 head
 to
 San 
Diego
 in 
August.


14th Street Playhouse

173 14th Street

Atlanta, GA 30309

404‐733‐5000

Source:  www.14thstplayhouse.org


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Community News You Can Use
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GSU Film Festival to showcase student work

Georgia State's 3rd annual Film Festival will kick off at 5 p.m. April 25 at the Cinefest Film Theatre.

The three day festival will feature nearly 90 films from students enrolled in narrative, documentary, experimental and new media courses in the Department of Communication during the 2010-11 academic year.

The April 25-26 screenings will start at 5 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

"There's such a diverse population of students at GSU, in terms of ethnicity, culture and taste. The films are not only very eclectic in terms of experimental, documentary, narrative and new media, but the voices are also very unique and distinct," said Daniel Robin, an assistant professor of film and video and the festival creator.

This year's festival judges are Robin and other film faculty members Alessandra Raengo, Jennifer Barker and Jim Roberts.

Among the jury award categories are best experimental film, best documentary, best narrative and best new media.

For the first time, films of the jury selected finalists will be screened off campus at 7 p.m. April 28 the Plaza Theater, located at 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. The event is free for GSU students with Student ID. All other attendees can purchase tickets at the door for $3.

"This event has grown over the last three years and I wanted to open up what we are doing with our film students at GSU to the Atlanta film going community," Robin said. "I also want the students to get a taste of what it's like to get their films shown off campus."

-----

Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP

Second Annual Plein Air Paint Out Set for May 28

Generations Gallery hosts The Second Annual PLEIN AIR Memorial Day PAINT OUT on SATURDAY, MAY 28th in The Village at Indian Springs in Flovilla, GA - just south of Atlanta.

Preston King, an art instructor at the gallery, invites plein air artists everywhere, and those artists who may be new to this type of event, to come and paint. Spring is at its peak - the gardens, the lake, everything about this place is awesome! The one-day competition event includes an ART SHOW & SALE that will be open to the public immediately following the Awards Reception at 5:00 PM in Pinky's Parlour & Cafe'.

The painters will be focused on the natural beauty that abounds within Indian Springs State Park, outside The Indian Spring Hotel & Garden Museum, and around the many gardens and historic ante bellum buildings within The Village at Indian Springs.

What is PLEIN AIR? Several times a year, artists gather to paint outdoors, selecting scenes where the subject and the light is natural and the moment often fleeting. All work submitted for the afternoon show and sale must be done that day - without the aid of photography. A Plein Air event is a great opportunity to meet your favorite artist as they work; it provides collecters an opportunity to purchase work that has never been seen before; and, artists, who usually work alone in their studios, relish the opportunity to socialize with other artists. It is a tradition that painters have enjoyed for generations.

CASH AWARDS FIRST Place $ 500.00 Second Place 300.00 Third Place 200.00

TO REGISTER:  Contact us at 800-352-7212. Most credit cards accepted. Checks may be sent to the gallery's office location at Gallery 282 Fox Road, Griffin GA 30224.

Link to Registration Form:  http://www.gallerygenerations.com/id5.html

ENTRY FEE: $20.00 if paid by May 15th at 4:00 PM; $ 25 after this date.

CHECK-IN: Check-in starts at 8:00 AM on the portico at Generations Gallery, 1825 Hwy 42 South, Flovilla GA 30216. Canvases and Papers will be stamped and artists will be given a map of The Village and a one day courtesy parking pass for the state park.

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SCAD Announces 30th Sidewalk Arts Festival

Popular annual festival to be preceded by Films in Forsyth

The Savannah College of Art and Design announces its annual crowd-pleasing Sidewalk Arts Festival, set for Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Savannah’s historic Forsyth Park. The festival will be preceded by Films in Forsyth featuring family friendly films on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29 on the big screen at Forsyth Park’s band shell. All events are free and open to the public.

The Sidewalk Arts Festival will draw thousands of visitors to view temporary chalk masterpieces created by SCAD students, alumni and prospective students on the sidewalks of Savannah’s historic park. The Sidewalk Arts Festival has been a cornerstone of SCAD Savannah’s spring activities and marks its 30th anniversary this year. Its participants represent SCAD’s many areas of study, from animation to architecture. First, second- and third-place monetary prizes are awarded in three categories: students, alumni and prospective students.

Judges for the 2011 Sidewalk Arts Festival include Ed Murrieta , senior creative director of character art for Cartoon Network; Dan Weiss, senior creative recruiter at American Greetings; and Rachael Cole, art director for Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books. Sponsors of the festival are Wells Fargo, American Greetings, Seacrest Partners, Allied Barton, Bahama Joe’s, Coca-Cola and Grays Reef.

The Sidewalk Arts festivities are kicked off by Films in Forsyth, SCAD’s outdoor film series for the SCAD and Savannah communities. “Goonies” will be screened on Thursday, April 28, and “Toy Story 3” will be shown on Friday, April 29. Both movies will begin at dusk, around 8 p.m.

Returning for the second year is the Cyberwalk Arts contest for SCAD students, alumni and prospective students worldwide who are not able to attend the festival in person. The Cyberwalk Arts contest is open for entries until April 28 and can be viewed at scad.edu/sidewalkarts.

The Sidewalk Arts Festival also includes a children’s activity area. Food from local vendors and Coca-Cola products will be available for sale during the event.

Visit scad.edu/sidewalkarts for more information. Media may contact Emily Belford at 912.525.5210 or ebelford@scad.edu for interview and image requests.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor’s and master’s degrees to prepare talented students for professional careers. As the most comprehensive art and design university in the world, SCAD offers more than 40 majors and more than 50 minors at distinctive locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; in Hong Kong; in Lacoste, France; and online through SCAD eLearning.

SCAD has more than 20,000 alumni and offers an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation. The diverse student body, consisting of more than 10,000 students, comes from all 50 United States and nearly 100 countries worldwide. Each student is nurtured and motivated by a faculty of more than 700 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience. These professors emphasize learning through individual attention in an inspiring university environment. SCAD’s innovative curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources and has garnered acclaim from respected organizations and publications, including 3D World, American Institute of Architects, BusinessWeek, DesignIntelligence, U.S. News & World Report and the Los Angeles Times.

Crim Center hosts event to commemorate 50th anniversary of Freedom Rides

In 1961, hundreds of black and white Americans traveled together on buses and trains from Washington, D.C. to several major southern cities, testing the end of Jim Crow laws in public transportation and demonstrating that they were willing to fight the injustices of segregation.

Fifty years later, the message this mass transit movement made still resonates and will be commemorated this month at “The Power of Students: Freedom Riders,” an event hosted by the College of Education’s Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence.

At this event, scheduled for 5 p.m. March 17 in the Georgia State University Speakers Auditorium, attendees will be able to see an advanced screening of the Public Broadcasting Service’s film entitled, “Freedom Riders,” which highlights the history of the Freedom Rides through the eyes of those who participated and the government officials and journalists who witnessed it firsthand.

“This student-planned event was developed out of a deep desire to showcase the collective power of students, unity through diversity, and success in the face of adversity,” said Bryan Murray, business affairs coordinator for the Crim Center. “In the 1960s, young college students took the initiative to become catalysts for national change. It is not only an awe-inspiring feat, but serves as an inspiration for students of all ages that they are capable of achieving and affecting change at any level.”

Following the film, Atlanta Journal-Constitution assignments editor Angela Tuck will moderate a discussion about the rides and the film with two Freedom Riders: Bernard Lafayette and William Harbour. Lafayette, who hails from Tampa, Fla., was part of the Nashville Student Movement Ride on May 17, 1961 and was arrested in Birmingham for his participation. Following the Freedom Rides, he worked on voting rights and serves as a Distinguished Senior Scholar-in-Residence at Emory University. Harbour, a native of Piedmont, Ala., was one of 14 Freedom Riders expelled from Tennessee State University. He later became a teacher and then worked as a civilian federal employee specializing in U.S. Army base closings, according to the film’s website.

This event, which was planned by GSU students Danyelle Thomas and Tierra Benton, is designed to show that students can make a difference even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds.

“College students, just like me, risked their education and lives to evoke change,” Thomas said. “To have an opportunity to listen to key activists like Bernard Lafayette and William Harbour tell these stories in their voice and perspective really brings things to life. It is my hope that this event awakens a spirit of activism in each of us and helps us recognize that it only takes one choice and one action to bring about incredible change.”

This event is free and open to the public.

By Claire Miller

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Great discounts to upcoming Atlanta Symphony Hall concerts!

Joan Rivers
Enjoy 10% Off!
March 25, 2011 8pm

“Can we talk?” Don't dare miss the iconic Joan Rivers in an audacious one-woman show. America's original comic queen of mean is hotter than ever with the hit documentary, “A Piece of Work,” and sold-out shows across the country.

Patti LuPone
Enjoy $5 Off!
May 27/28, 2011 8pm

A major coup! A rare Atlanta date by superstar Patti LuPone (Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Evita), hailed as “a musical cult goddess” (Ben Brantley, NY Times). The Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winner will perform her showstopping revue, Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda.

Call or email ASO Group Sales at (404) 733-4958 or asogroups@woodruffcenter.org for prices and purchase information. Offer not valid at Box Office or online. Office hours M-F, 9-5.

Pottery and Pickles at Mudfire: Shadow May, Megan Daloz, Dilly Beans

Shadow May 2011

Opening Saturday, March 12, 5:00-9:00 PM
Show Continues Through May 14, 2011

Shadow May has been working in clay for almost 20 years. He began studying and making functional pottery in high school in Alaska and earned a Bachelors in English and Art History at University of Alaska. Shadow went on to apprentice with a series of production potters before furthering his studies at the Penland School of Craft and Haywood Community College as Ceramics major. In 2000, he established his own studio practice. Solidly grounded in the functional, he has trended towards increasingly larger and more sculptural clay works.

His work balances soft earthy finishes with rugged monumental forms. The show is alive with gesture and motion, and gives the feeling of freshly hewn rock. Shadow continues to extend his personal vocabulary with characteristic cuts, ridges, gouges, glass runs, and the use of fired shells. The exhibit includes new sculptural vessels with serious heft and big-time presence.

Click the little blue words to see more images and enjoy a bit longer description.

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Megan Daloz Solo Show
"Field Studies"

Opening Saturday, February 19, 5:00-9:00 PM
Show Continues Through April 16, 2011

Megan Daloz studied glassmaking and ceramics at Alfred University, and is currently a studio potter and a full-time commercial illustrator. She lives in Atlanta and is a resident artist and instructor at MudFire Clayworks.

Daloz's clay work is painstakingly decorated with images of bees, weeds, mopeds, minotaurs and other creatures one frequently encounters in an urban setting. Recorded and rendered with the practiced eye of a naturalist, the images together produce a curious and splendidly illustrated collage of modern life. Individually, her pieces capture the un-affected essence of free-range dinosaurs, cage-free weasels, and a profusion of botanicals. To say nothing of the mycological fascinations!
Witness these wonders and read more at MudFire's little corner of the web.

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Pickle of the Month
DILLY BEANS

MudFire Gallery is now the world's first and only Pottery and Pickles Gallery. Well, as far as we know. The important thing is we've got 12 different varieties of gourmet Southern pickles and will feature a new pickle in this newsletter each month. Holy excitement Batman!

February's Pickle of the Month is Dilly Beans by Hillside Orchard of North Georgia. These crunchy full length green beans are tart and zesty with dill, garlic, and jalepeno peppers providing a rich layered flavor. The beans themselves are simply awesome - but we have to admit we're particularly fond of the big crunchy garlic cloves at the bottom of the jar.

Pottery and Pickles!

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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

High Names Scholar Valerie Cassel Oliver as 2011 Recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize

Honoring Excellence in African American Art and Scholarship,The Driskell Prize will be Awarded on April 16, 2011, in Atlanta

The High Museum of Art has named scholar Valerie Cassel Oliver as the 2011 recipient of The David C. Driskell Prize. Named for the renowned African American artist and art scholar, the Driskell Prize is an annual award that 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. As the seventh Driskell Prize recipient, Cassel Oliver will be honored at the Driskell Prize Dinner in Atlanta on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

“Valerie Cassel Oliver represents the new generation of innovation and influence in the field of African Diaspora and African American art,” said Michael E. Shapiro, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Director of the High. “Her work as a curator, writer and lecturer qualifies her as an important voice in this group and makes her an exemplary recipient of the 2011 Driskell Prize. Now in its seventh year, this award continues to reflect the High’s commitment to supporting scholarship and creativity in this field.”

In her role as senior curator at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), Cassel Oliver has organized numerous group and solo exhibitions. Her debut exhibition “Splat Boom Pow! The Influence of Cartoons in Contemporary Art” (2003) toured both nationally and internationally, “Double Consciousness: Black Conceptual Art Since the 1970s” (2005) was received with critical acclaim and “Black Light/White Noise” (2007), which featured light and sound works created by two generations of African American artists was groundbreaking. Her 2008 exhibition “Cinema Remixed and Reloaded: Black Women Artists and the Moving Image Since 1970” was nominated by the United States section of the International Art Critics Association (AICA/USA) in the “digital media, video or film” category. Co-organized by Dr. Andrea Barnwell-Brownlee, director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, the exhibition highlighted the contributions of African American female artists to the cinematic and visual arts arenas, and was presented in Atlanta in two parts (2007/2008) and at CAMH (2009). Cassel Oliver’s most recent exhibitions include “Hand+Made: The Performative Impulse in Art and Craft” (2010), “Benjamin Patterson: Born in the State of FLUX/us” (2010) and “Perspectives 173: Clifford Owens,” which is currently on view at CAMH through April 3. Forthcoming exhibitions by Cassel Oliver include “Donald Moffett: The Extravagant Vein” (2011), a 20-year survey of work by painter Donald Moffett, and “Perspectives 177: MacArthur Binion” (2012).

In 2009 Cassel Oliver was one of ten curators in the U.S. chosen to participate in the fellowship program of the Center for Curatorial Leadership (CCL), a distinguished organization that trains curators for leadership positions. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Curatorial Fellowship Award from the Getty Foundation, which funded the initial research for “Benjamin Patterson: Born in the State of FLUX/us.”

Prior to her tenure at CAMH, Cassel Oliver was director of the Visiting Artists Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1995–2000) and program specialist at the National Endowment for the Arts (1988–1995). In 2000 she was selected as one of a team of curators to organize the Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Cassel Oliver received her certificate of executive management from Columbia University in 2009. She also holds a master’s degree in art history from Howard University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from The University of Texas at Austin.

Artists Announced for Second Annual Plein Air Paint Out, Art Show and Sale at Callaway Gardens®

Celebrate the arts this Spring at Callaway Gardens Plein Air Paint Out, Art Show and Sale. Of 49 artists who applied to participate in the 2011 Plein Air, 33 artists from around the United States have been selected for the juried event by William U. Eiland, entry jurist for this event and director of the Georgia Museum of Art. The selected artists include:

Austin, Perry Goodwater, AL

Brown, Anne Blair Nashville, TN
Brown, Roger Dale Franklin, TN

Caggiano, John S. Rockport, MA
Cheek, Durinda Ringgold, GA

Davis, Barbara B. Montgomery, AL
Debner, Claudia Sharpsburg, GA
deLeiris, Lucia Watertown, MA
Dillon, Mikki Root Lilburn, GA

Erickson, Mary Marshville, NC
Evans, Beverly Ford Franklin, TN

Gosch, Millie Roswell, GA
Griffin, Carol Macon, GA

Hahn, Elaine Holiday, FL
Hou, Hai-Ou Stevensville, MD

Johnson, L. Diane Cary, NC

Lammers, Renee Bucksport, ME
LaRock, Greg Newport, CA
Lasater IV, John Siloam Springs, AR
Lewis, Robert Pacific Grove, CA

Mani, Gloria Columbus, GA
Meek, Helena Buena Vista, GA

Nadelhoffer, Debra Dawsonville, GA

Philips, Jill Columbus, GA
Putnam, Lori Franklin, TN

Roberts, Robin Ashland, OH
Rothwell, Junko Ono Atlanta, GA

Simmons, Cheri Mooresville, NC
Smith, F. Daly Macon, GA
Southerland, James D. Black Mtn, NC
Stewart, Karen Columbus, GA
Stokley, Judy Navarre, FL

Treverton, Antonia Lakeland, FL

During the week of April 10, 2011, these the artists will spend time painting the beauty they see at Callaway Gardens as well as other public and private gardens in the region, including Columbus, LaGrange, Newnan, and Atlanta. Their works of art will be submitted on Friday and judged by Awards Judge Jean Stern, executive director of The Irvine Museum of Irvine California. That evening the pieces will be featured at a Collectors Preview Reception at the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center. Cocktail attire is appropriate. Tickets and can be purchased by calling 706-663-5096. For each ticket purchased, a one-time credit of the face value can be applied to the purchase of one piece of artwork the evening of April 15th.

The public is invited to participate in a fun and exciting Quick Draw event in downtown Pine Mountain the morning of Saturday, April 16, 2011. During the Quick Draw event, participants pay a small registration fee. Artists have only two hours to create a painting in a specified setting. At the end of two hours, the pieces are submitted, judged for cash awards, and immediately go on sale to the public. Details are available at www.callawaygardens.com/pleinair.

The art will be on display in the Callaway Discovery Center for Gardens visitors to view and purchase Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April is a beautiful time to visit Callaway Gardens and enjoy the color of Spring throughout the Gardens. Celebrate Spring! admission is $25 per adult and $12.50 per child age six to 12. Children five and younger are admitted to the Gardens for free.

For those who want to become a Plein Air artist or to simply improve their skills, renowned artist Greg LaRock will offer a three-day class, April 18-20, 2011, perfect for anyone who has a basic understanding of how to set up their easel, working with materials perspective and some drawing ability. LaRock’s classes will include location demonstrations; individual instruction at each student’s easel; plenty of painting time for students; group critiques at the end of each day; personal critiques of student’s work brought from home; and take away items. Registration is $425 per student. Lodging at Callaway Gardens is available. To registration for the workshop, contact the Callaway Gardens’ Education department at education@callawaygardens.com, 706-663-5153 or visit www.callawaygardens.com/workshops.

The second annual Plein Air Paint Out, Art Show and Sale, continues Callaway Gardens’ tradition of supporting the fine arts. For more detailed information or to view samples of the artists’ work, please visit www.callawaygardens.com/pleinair.

Callaway Gardens®, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus. For additional information, visit www.callawaygardens.com or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).

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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.

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.
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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!

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.

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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.

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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 Café, 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.

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

Second Annual Collectors Evening Secures Six New Acquisitions for the High

The High Museum of Art hosted its second annual Collectors Evening on Friday, January 28. Participants voted to secure four new acquisitions for the Museum: Vik Muniz’s “Leda and the Swan, after Leonardo da Vinci” (2009); an African “Elephant Headress” (19th century); Spencer Finch’s “Bright Star (Sirius)” (2010); and Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Vinchon’s “Portrait of Nency Destouches” (1829). Additionally, after the formal voting, an attendee offered up four Delta Air Lines worldwide business-class tickets for bidding. The money raised through this impromptu auction allowed for the acquisition of the fifth piece, the limestone sculpture “Lamentation” (1946), by American artist Robert Laurent. An anonymous donor purchased the sixth and final piece for the folk art collection, Minnie Evans's untitled painting on paperboard (1968).

This event, established in 2010 to build and improve the Museum’s permanent collection, invites guests to take an active role in choosing the next work of art to join the permanent collection. During the evening, each of the High’s curators presents a work of art as a potential new acquisition for their collection. Guests then cast their votes and the High purchases the works of art that received the most votes.

More information about this year’s chosen works is below. African Art
The proposed work from the African art department is “Elephant Headress.” During the 19th century when this work was made, elephant masks were among the most prestigious of all the masquerades performed by groups of wealthy, titled men in the small Bamileke kingdoms of the Cameroon Grassfields. The elephant, like the leopard, was a royal symbol, though both elephants and leopards have long since become extinct in Cameroon. These two animals were also considered the alter egos of Bamileke kings, who were described as having the ability to transform into either creature at will. Elephant masks were referred to as “things of money” because they were profusely ornamented with glass beads made in Venice or Czechoslovakia. The acquisition of this work would strengthen the High’s holdings of African masks and the art of Cameroon as well as diversify the materials represented in our collection.

American Art
Robert Laurent’s limestone sculpture “Lamentation” (1946) is the proposed acquisition for the American art collection. Laurent was at the forefront of new trends and is often considered a link between the classicism of Beaux Arts sculptors and the abstractionists. His work is relatively rare, with much of it existing either in monumental size as public art or scattered among public and private collections. “Lamentation” was inspired by a dance of the same title choreographed by Martha Graham in 1930, in which the dancer is dressed in a sheath that at times covers and absorbs her entire body. For Laurent, as for Graham, the expression of “Lamentation” was intended to cross cultural boundaries and probe at the universal experience of grief. It would join the High as the first work by Robert Laurent and will complement the elegant, stylized forms of John Flannigan, William Zorach and Paul Manship; the cubist composition of Berta Margoulies; and the abstract work by Theodore Roszak already in the collection.

European Art
Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Vinchon’s “Portrait of Nency Destouches” (1829) is the proposed acquisition for the High’s European art collection. A mentee of Jacques-Louis David, Vinchon (1789–1855) maintained a level of success during his lifetime that rivaled his contemporaries Eugène Delacroix and Théodore Géricault. Landscape paintings dominate his early career, and in 1819 he expanded his subject matter to include portraiture and historical scenes. “Portrait of Nency Destouches” most likely depicts the daughter of architect Louis Nicholas-Marie Destouches. Vinchon’s skill is evident in the way he uses light to illuminate Nency’s angelic cheeks, rosy lips and glowing skin. This portrait would be the first work by Vinchon to be acquired by the High and will expand the Museum’s collection to fuller illuminate the era of French Romanticism. Other examples of Vinchon’s works are in the collections of the Musée du Louvre and the Château de Versailles.

Folk Art
Minnie Evans is among the most highly regarded self-taught artists. Her elaborate painting on paperboard finished in 1968 is the proposed acquisition for the folk art collection. Evans’s drawings were inspired by the dreams and visions that came to her night and day. She layered nature and spirit, plant and animal, human and divine in symmetrical compositions of swirling intricacy. The proposed painting, an untitled work, is a collage comprising at least two earlier works: a drawing from 1946 and a mid-career drawing from 1951. This painting is larger and more elaborate than any of the five Evans works already in the High’s collection. It would also be the first example of Evans’s most fully realized creations, in which she completely covered the surface with the arabesques, plant forms and mask-like faces typical of her designs. Evans’s work is featured in many museum collections including The Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the American Folk Art Museum, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Collection de l’Art Brut in Lausanne and the Newark Museum.

Modern and Contemporary Art
The proposed work from the modern and contemporary art department is Spencer Finch’s “Bright Star (Sirius)” (2010). Finch, a New York-based artist, recently completed this work, which brilliantly illustrates what he has described as art’s ability to “ignite our capacity for wonder.” It is based on the star Sirius, otherwise known as the “Dog Star” because of its prominence in the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog). Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky due to its intrinsic luminosity and its proximity to earth, and is probably the inspiration for the nursery rhyme “Star Light, Star Bright.” Finch’s light sculpture replicates the bluish cast of Sirius as seen with the naked eye and measured by astronomical research by attaching colored gels of specific widths on fluorescent tubes at prescribed intervals. With this acquisition, the High would further its commitment to this increasingly important young artist and complement its core areas of Color Field and hard-edged abstraction holdings by extending those traditions to the present day with Finch’s light works, which are neurologically hardwired into our visual perception. In addition to the High, Finch’s work has been acquired by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.; Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, among others.

Photography
The photography department has proposed an acquisition of Vik Muniz’s “Leda and the Swan, after Leonardo da Vinci” (2009). Born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1961, Muniz works with unconventional materials—including sugar, tomato sauce, chocolate syrup, dust and garbage—to craft narrative subjects before recording them with his camera. To create “Leda and the Swan, after Leonardo da Vinci,” part of the artist’s “Pictures of Junk” series, Muniz placed his camera on a platform elevated by a crane high above a warehouse floor. Using the open space as a canvas, he employed impoverished art students from the outskirts of São Paulo to help him collect detritus from the city’s dumps and arrange it into the shape of a recognizable painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Seen from more than 40 feet above the floor, objects such as discarded hub caps, pipes, appliances and tires become the building blocks for an imaginative but ephemeral recreation of the celebrated Renaissance painting “Leda and the Swan.” Measuring approximately 7½ feet high, the photograph Muniz made of the sculptural arrangement remains the only permanent record of this amazing deed. Muniz’s work is included in the collections of leading national and international museums and was the subject of the award-winning documentary film “Wasteland” (2010). This would be the second photograph from the artist’s “Pictures of Junk” series to enter the High’s collection.

High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art, founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, is the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States. With more than 12,000 works of art in its permanent collection, the High Museum has an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American and decorative art; significant holdings of European paintings; a growing collection of African American art; and burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, photography and African art. The High Museum of Art is also dedicated to supporting and collecting works by Southern artists and is distinguished as the only major museum in North America to have a curatorial department specifically devoted to the field of folk and self-taught art. The High’s media arts department produces acclaimed annual film series and festivals of foreign, independent and classic cinema. In November 2005 the High opened three new buildings by architect Renzo Piano that more than doubled the Museum’s size, creating a vibrant “village for the arts” at the Woodruff Arts Center in midtown Atlanta. For more information about the High, please visit www.high.org.

The Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center is ranked among the top four arts centers in the nation. The Woodruff is unique in that it combines four visual and performing arts divisions on one campus as one not-for-profit organization. Opened in 1968, the Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art and Young Audiences. To learn more about the Woodruff Arts Center, please visit www.woodruffcenter.org.