AthFest 2010

Mark your calendars for the 14th annual AthFest, June 23–27 in downtown Athens. The festival showcases Athens-based music and art.

AthFest always has one main stage for performances and is adding a second this year. The main-stage headliners have just been announced and include Bubba Sparxxx, Perpetual Groove, Modern Skirts and others. Click here to see the full performer list.

GMOA will have a lot going on at AthFest, so make plans to come and see us! We will have a table at KidsFest on Saturday, June 26, where you can design your own 2-D guitars. We’re also organizing a performance by Amelia Winger-Bearskin, an assistant professor of studio art at Vanderbilt University in the areas of video and performance art. Visit her website and click here to read an essay about her written by GMOA’s own Lynn Boland, Pierre Daura Curator of European Art.

In addition to GMOA’s presence, there will also be a lot of other cool things happening, such as an art market that is free and open to the public and includes ceramics, drawings, folk art, furniture, glasswork, jewelry and more. KidsFest features everything from interactive projects to a petting zoo and bungee jumping, and best of all, it’s also free!

Another exciting event at AthFest is the Flagpole Music Awards. This is the 12th year of the event, which incorporates awards chosen by Flagpole’s readers and musical performances. Film is also recognized at AthFest. TeenScreen shows films created by teenagers in Athens area schools. The cover charges for both the Flagpole Music Awards and TeenScreen have not yet been announced, but all cover charges are discounted with an AthFest wristband.

The actual festival takes place once a year, but AthFest has a constant presence in the community. AthFest, Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the mission to “educate citizens and visitors about music and arts in general, and about Athens music and arts in particular.” For example, AthFest InSchool and AthFest AfterSchool are two series that began last year and take local performers to middle schools and after-school centers. All proceeds from AthFest and other events support educational efforts in the Athens community.

For more information about scheduling, locations and prices, visit the AthFest website.

Giacometti's sculpture sells for a record-breaking $104.3 million

Last week’s record-breaking sale of Alberto Giacometti’s “L’Homme qui marche I” (Walking Man I) provoked many questions concerning the relationship between money and art and how it does or does not affect the perceived importance of artists in relation to one another.

On Wednesday, February 3, Giacometti’s sculpture was purchased for $104.3 million (with fees) by an anonymous bidder at Sotheby’s in London. Previously, Pablo Picasso’s "Garçon à la Pipe" (Boy with a Pipe), was the record holder, having been auctioned for $104.1 million in 2004.

When a work of art is purchased at such an astonishing price, it is understandable that there will be new considerations regarding the work’s and the artist’s importance to the development and theories of art. Many sources are discussing whether or not Giacometti has been elevated to the position of the most important artist of the 21st century or if, like the price of his work of art, he has at least surpassed Picasso in importance.

In response to these musings, the Telegraph reminds readers that it is important not to confuse monetary value with aesthetic worth.

Another interesting facet of this sale brought up in the Telegraph is the fact that “L’Homme qui marche I” is part of a series of six sculptures. One might expect that a collector willing to fork over $104.3 million for a work of art would prefer to purchase something unique rather than a sculpture with several very similar companions.

Overall, this record sale encourages members of the art community to take into consideration the power of the art market and its influence on shaping the discourse of and opinions on artistic merit and significance.

For more information about the sale of “L’Homme qui marche I” check out articles at CNN and the New York Times.

Madison County Artist Market

The fourth annual Madison County Artist Market will take place next Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic courthouse in downtown Danielsville, Ga., which is only 20 minutes from Athens. The market will feature handcrafted items from more than 30 local artists, including folk art, pottery, glass, jewelry, metal works and more. The event has a blog on which participating artists post pictures and information about their art.

Some of the county’s artists have been recognized regionally and nationally. Pat and Janice Shields were featured in Southern Living for their pottery, and Stephanie Astalos-Jones in the same magazine for her psysanky (Ukrainian eggs) and jewelry. Another artist’s work was in a recent Warner Brothers movie. Producers leased folk artist Peter Loose’s work for scenes in the movie. His art has also been in various exhibitions throughout the Southeast.

The Madison County Artist Market is sponsored by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. The event is free and open to the public.

Here are a few photos of some of the artists’ pieces. Check out the event’s blog for more.