Art Around Athens (and Beyond)

If you haven't had a chance yet to see "Tutorial," the exhibition at the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) consisting of works by its instructors, today (Friday, January 22) is a perfect opportunity, as there's a free reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Visual artists showcased are Maria Dondero, Monica Jones, Leah Mantini, Walker Montogomery, Peggy Pitts and Dave Smiley, and the exhibition is up until the following week (it closes January 28).



At the very same time and place, OCAF is celebrating the opening of "Heart & Soul,” an exhibition that showcases the work of eight black artists: Gwen Patterson, Harold Rittenberry, John Ahee, Margo Candelario, Margaret Warfield, Sammie Nicely, Warren Fletcher and Yvonne Studevan.



Tomorrow (Saturday, January 23), the Lamar Dodd School of Art will hold a closing reception at 3 p.m. for its exhibition of work created as part of the UGA Studies Abroad, Cortona, Italy, program in 2008. The exhibition is on the third floor of the building, and a a reunion of students and faculty who participated in the programs will take place at the same time on the ground floor of the building. The work covers the studio areas of painting, drawing, watercolor, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry/metals, book arts, graphic design, interior design and landscape architecture. Art history, art education, Italian language and creative writing students are also involved in the programs.



Sunday, January 24, from 2 to 4 p.m., as mentioned earlier here, Ciné will hold a free reception for the silent auction of works donated by local artists for the annual Mental Health Benefit. The actual auction takes place next week, Sunday, January 31, from 6 to 9 p.m., also at Ciné, but this is a chance to browse and think about what might look good on your walls. The images of art donated this year are posted online as well.

Finally, note that the undergraduate Art History Society at UGA has started a Tumblr, which you might want to follow.

Art Around Athens (and Beyond)

Athens Academy has an exhibition up in its Myers Gallery of work by more than 20 local teachers, through February 12.

If you happen to be in Atlanta this weekend, or any time after that, check out the "Professori di Cortona Exhibition" at the Gallery at Chastain Arts Center, a Facility of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (135 W. Wieuca Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30342). The exhibition consists of selected works from the Lamar Dodd School of Art faculty in the Cortona Studies Abroad Program, 1970–2009. Its opening reception (free and open to the public) is this Saturday, January 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., and the exhibition runs through February 27. The exhibition will include works by Jim Barness, Scott Belville, Kinzey Branham, R.G. Brown, Jim Buonaccorsi, Didi Dunphy, Mary Engle, Tad Gloeckler, Ian Hagarty, Melissa Harshman, Carole Henry, Christopher Hocking, Thom Houser, Rob Jackson, Rick Johnson, Jack Kehoe, Mary Ruth Moore, Margaret Morrison, Alex Murawski, Mary Hallam Pearse, Ben Reynolds, Chris Robinson, Frank Saggus, Zuzka Vaclavik, Eileen Wallace, Lanny Webb, Jeffrey Whittle, Gene Wright and Sunkoo Yuh.


This Sunday, January 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., the State Botanical Garden of Georgia will hold an opening reception and a gallery talk by the artist (at 3 p.m.) for an exhibition of works of silk batik fabric art by Jamie Kirkell. Kirkell will discuss his work, the history of batik and more. The exhibition will be on view through February 28.

Correspondence from Cortona

Our deputy director, Annelies Mondi, is currently abroad in Italy, and while we didn't get her set up blogging before she left, she did send us the following email about the 40th anniversary celebration of the program held there:

The internet at the hotel is down and so I am using a student's computer here at the school. The celebration went well. Rick Johnson and President Michael Adams presented Mrs. Willson with a beautiful ceramic hand-painted plaque honoring her for her contribution to the Cortona program. It will hang in the Kehoe center. The mayor of Cortona was there, the consul general of Florence and representatives of the major banks who have provided funding. Mrs. Willson also got to meet the recipient of the Willson scholarship. She is a student of ceramics, Krisha (sp?). We then went down the hill and had a lovely dinner (many, many courses) at Tonino's and sat on the porch overlooking the valley. The dinner was hosted by President Adams and the Kehoes. Frances Mayes and her husband were there. Sandra Menendez was at my table and we had a very nice visit.

The weather has been much cooler here and I am glad to escape the heat (and crowds) in Milan and Venice. Today we go to Gubbio, tommorow Orvieto and then I hope we can see Beverly Pepper in Todi. Then we will be off to Rome.

Ciao!