Art Around Athens (and Beyond)

The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) annual thrift sale begins tonight (Friday, March 12), with a preview night from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5, and prices are double what they will be tomorrow (Saturday, March 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.), but you get first crack at all the good stuff folks have donated to benefit OCAF, an opportunity to bid in the silent auction and wine and appetizers. More than 10,000 items will be available, meaning this is no mere church yard sale, and the cause is a great one.

Also Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Blue Tin Art Studio is teaching a class in encaustic painting with beeswax for $40 (that cost includes materials). "Learn how to melt and mix colors, create a variety of surface techniques and incorporate collage and more." You can find a registration form on Blue Tin's site here.

Saturday and Sunday (March 13 and 14), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Carlton Art Group will hold a free open house at 65 Lexington Rd., in Carlton. Stone and wood sculpture, monoprints, Ukrainian eggs, hand-made furniture, fused glass, metal sculpture and jewelry constitute some of the media of the many works on display. A portion of proceeds will benefit Georgia for Haiti.



Finally, Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., renowned local artist Lou Kregel is having an open house and rummage sale at 95 Carter St., here in Athens. She lists an astonishing amount of stuff on the Facebook page she's created for the event, as well as directions, and her latest update suggests there will be cupcakes in addition.

Encaustic Painting Class at Blue Tin Studio

This Saturday, December 5, Blue Tin Studio is offering an encaustic painting class. Encaustic painting uses heated beeswax with colored pigments applied to a surface (usually wood or canvas). The class at Blue Tin Studio will incorporate melting and mixing colors, creating surface techniques and using collage. All skill levels are welcome!

The class is from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $65 and requires advance registration. Click here to download the forms.

Blue Tin moves in!

Blue Tin Studio, located in the Big City Bread 393 N. Finley St. is having its grand opening celebration September 13 on the patio of Big City Bread. You’ll be able to take a look at Blue Tin’s beautiful new studio space and sign up for fall art classes. Classes for adults include painting, charcoal drawing and back-to-basics drawing. Children’s classes (from ages 2 to 18) include portfolio building, cartoon drawing, and even private tutoring for young aspiring artists. Even if you decide not to sign up for classes, you can browse the local art for sale and chat with the studio’s passionate founders (Erin Macintosh and Sarah Seabolt) while munching on some treats brought to you by Big City. Erin Macintosh specializes in mixed media and acrylic and has an MFA in painting and drawing from the University of Georgia. She has worked as an art instructor for Gwinnett County Public Schools, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ Summer Murals Program, Camp Gwynn Valley in Brevard, N.C., the Georgia Museum of Art and the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art. Sarah Seabolt has organized and directed various art programs around the country. She has a BFA in art education from UGA and has taught kids from the ages of 5 to 18. Mark September 13 in your calendars, fellow art lovers, and see the fresh, new art space in town.

Check out Blue Tin's Web site for information on classes and location: http://www.bluetinstudio.com/Home.html

Art Around Athens

It's another busy summer weekend in Athens and the surrounding areas.

Tonight (Fri., Jul. 17) at Aurum Studios on E. Clayton Street down, from 6–9 p.m., is a free opening reception for an exhibition featuring work by local potter Maria Dondero (work pictured above, from her Web site), painter Joy Stanley from Macon and fiber artist Margaret Hunt from Clarks Hill, S.C.

Also tonight, at the Monroe Art Guild from 6 to 8 p.m., is another free opening reception, for the guild's Summer Members' Show.

On Saturday, Jul. 18, at Blue Tin Studio from 1 to 4 p.m., is a free open studio, where you can see what artists Erin McIntosh and Sarah Seabolt are making in the studio and consume refreshments.

Sunday, Jul. 19, from 3 to 6 p.m. at ATHICA is the closing reception for Emerges III: Journeys, which will feature a presentation by Nicholas Holt on virtual worlds, a travel photo retrospective by Robyn Waserman and a panel discussion with exhibit artists moderated by curator Mary C. Wilson, followed by light refreshments.