Spotlight on Studio Workshops: Q&A with Instructor Brian Hitselberger

This September, Athens-based artist and educator Brian Hitselberger will be leading "Studio Workshop: Drawing," a four-part studio-based course that introduces participants to contour, value, simplification and detail, drawing on-the-fly and more focused, detailed methods of mark-making. In advance of the course, Brian answered a few of our questions related to the workshop, art and artistic inspiration.

Artist and educator Brian Hitselberger.

1. What are some of your favorite works at the Georgia Museum of Art?

It's hard to choose. I have my old standbys – I always visit the Alice Neel portrait, the huge Joan Mitchell painting, and of course Radcliffe Bailey's exquisite assemblage, but the works-on-paper galleries generally have something exciting going on. On one of my most recent visits, I was totally mesmerized by the Michael Ellison show Urban Impressions. The density of his prints, the abstraction of every aspect of his complex compositions, and his incredible color sensibilities blew the top of my head off! I became an instant fan.

2. How does a visit to the museum inspire you as an artist?

Something that is so often glazed over in discussions about art or interviews with artists is the fact that a studio practice can be very isolating. I'm fortunate enough to live in a town full of committed makers and to work as a professor at a college teaching young artists. And yet, and yet....

… a visit to the Georgia Museum, or any museum for that matter, always reminds me that I am part of a lineage. That making things, thinking through ideas with material, or expressing oneself without words is a human endeavor: one that transcends not only identity, but time itself. It can help me return to my own studio with a greatly renewed sense of purpose. 

3. What are some of the pieces from the museum's collection that you have selected to use in the studio workshop "Abstraction", and why did you choose these?

Part of our workshop will focus on the series of studies that Elaine de Kooning made in her sketchbook of Greek and Roman statuary, which are held in the museum's archives. These small drawings lead up to the execution of her painting “Bacchus #81,” a painting which (in a sense) draws strength from these initial explorations in order to “play” on a larger scale. It's illuminating to see the drawings on which this painting was based, in that we are able to plot the workings of the artist’s mind directly. Additionally, I think seeing this series opens students to the notion that abstraction is a process, a way of thinking through a visual idea: it can be a tool. 

4. Is there something you are currently working on or are excited about starting that you can tell us about?

I'm working on show that will open this coming August at {Poem88} gallery in Atlanta. The show, titled “Counterspell,” brings together a group of my paintings with a large-format installation on one of the gallery's walls. The paintings are based off of textiles – quilts, specifically – and use collage as a way to “patch” other elements and meanings into their compositions. The wall piece will bring together drawings, found objects and ceramic sculpture with the work of seven other artists whose work I greatly admire. I'm using their small-scale pieces as elements in a large work of my own making. In this way, it's a kind of collaboration. The underlying theme of the show is a desire for safety and the various means we have available to us as artists to protect ourselves from fear. If you're interested in learning more, I actually put together a website for the project that can be seen here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/counterspell-poem88-painting/x/4191153.

5. What do you read, listen to, or look at to fuel your work?

This is always a challenging question to answer because the list could be so long and all over the place. I have a few "house gods," as I refer to them – artists whose work will always get my gears turning. Pierre Bonnard, James Whistler, Sheila Hicks and Felix Gonzales-Torres are some of my all-time favorites. But I also have rotating interests that become very important to me, depending on what kinds of projects I'm engaged in at the time. Right now I'm looking quite a bit at Gee's Bend quilts, Japanese Boro textiles, and a lot of found object sculpture. Later this summer, I hope to travel to Pasaquan, St. EOM's enormous outdoor installation in south Georgia, for some color inspiration. I also think I've played the new Slowdive and Perfume Genius records about ten thousand times in the studio this summer. 

6. What advice or words of wisdom have influenced you as an artist?

I think inspiration for new work comes most often out of the process of making itself. The last few years for me have been about allowing the unexpected events that happen in my studio to become the seedbeds for new projects. I also reflect a lot on the words of the great Patti Smith. To paraphrase: Don't worry about making things that are new. Focus on making things that are good.

"Studio Workshop: Drawing" will run Thursdays, September 7 through 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Artists from all backgrounds are encouraged to attend, as these museum sessions are designed to be equally engaging for enthusiastic beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. All sessions will use the museum’s collection as source material, including works not regularly on display. Participants will be introduced to brush and ink washes, ink pen, colored pencil and hard and soft graphite. The cost of the course is a $15 materials fee, which will cover all necessary supplies for the four sessions. Space is limited; call 706.542.8863 or email callan@uga.edu to register.

Spotlight on Studio Workshops: Q&A with Instructor Erin McIntosh

Open to artists of all levels of experience, including beginners, "Studio Workshop: Biomorphic Acrylics" starts January 5. Led by Athens-based artist and educator Erin McIntosh, the workshop is held on four Thursdays throughout the month and focuses on biomorphic abstraction as expressed through various techniques and acrylic mediums, including applications for both abstract and representational works. The sessions will draw inspiration from the museum's collection, including works from the archives and many not currently on display. 

In anticipation of the program, Erin answered some of our questions related to the workshop, art and her sources of inspiration.

Erin at Vermont Studio Center. Image: Howard Romero

What are some of your favorite works at the Georgia Museum of Art?

I absolutely love the Joan Mitchell painting ["Close," 1973] and visit it every time I visit the museum.  Also, the Radcliffe Bailey painting ["7 Steps," 1994] is a favorite, I had the opportunity to study with him in both undergrad and graduate school and find his work to be alluring because of its tactile nature and its relationship to improvisational process yet, his work is highly researched and is executed with great precision.

How does a visit to the museum inspire you as an artist?

Seeing works of art in person is one of the most informative activities to learn about ways of making paintings and making art in general. To experience the physicality of an object is to fully experience it and as someone who works with a physical medium, the tactile qualities of the surface of a painting are so important to the overall experience of it. This aspect gets completely lost in digital form when viewed on a screen — viewing in person is so much better!

Erin McIntosh, Color Chord 1, 2016

Is there something you are currently working on or are excited about starting that you can tell us about?

I am currently working on a series of biomorphic abstract paintings for a solo exhibition at the University of West Georgia which will take place in the spring. I am using the techniques and processes which we will be exploring in the studio workshop to make these paintings, so it is all fresh on my brain.

What do you read, listen to, or look at to fuel your work?

I tend to read more nonfiction than fiction and gravitate towards books on creativity, teaching, and entrepreneurship. I've also picked up books more recently on science and art.  I spend a fair amount of time in the car commuting so I have been listening to podcasts; one recent favorite is The Art of Authenticity by Laura Coe. In addition, I enjoy learning about science and Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk Radio is another show I enjoy because he makes science digestible to the non-scientist. I listen to a wide variety of music but always enjoying Olafur Arnalds, Yann Tiersen and Hauschka while working in the studio. But other days, you will find me listening to singer-songwriter folk, soul, or rock.

What advice or words of wisdom have influenced you as an artist? 

Radcliffe Bailey once told me to "work as three versions of yourself" and this has greatly influenced the ways in which I work. I tend to have multiple bodies of work going simultaneously and move through these, shifting from one to the other every month or two. Working with different entry points and process helps me to keep what I am working on fresh, for example, one process relies heavily on spontaneity and improvisation while another is highly calculated and methodical. Everything ends up informing everything else and I often find myself circling back to earlier ideas.

"Studio Workshop: Biomorphic Acrylics" runs Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19 and 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost of the course is a $15 materials fee, which will cover all necessary supplies for the four sessions. Space is limited; please call 706.542.8863 or email callan@uga.edu to reserve a spot.

Spotlight on Studio Workshops: Q&A with Instructor Hope Hilton

This spring, Athens-based artist and educator Hope Hilton will be leading "Studio Workshop: Realism and Representational Art,” a four-part studio-based course that introduces participants to effective techniques for achieving realistic and representational outcomes in works of art. In advance of the course, Hope answered a few of our questions related to the workshop, art and artistic inspiration.

Photo: Sarah Baugh, EarlyGirl Photography

1. What are some of your favorite works at the Georgia Museum of Art?

I absolutely love the Radcliffe Bailey piece! I graduated from Atlanta College of Art and so did he, so beyond the medium and the narrative I'm also really proud. My favorite pieces, though, are in the handcrafted area — the wooden chair made by hand and the quilts, among others. I like to see how people make things with no formal or academic training. It often is more interesting for me to view a work that's intention was to not be shown in a museum. It has something to do with the necessity of a chair or a quilt and then the maker really making it their own that strikes me. That natural impulse to create and adding individuality is something I admire deeply.

2. How does a visit to the museum inspire you as an artist?

It reminds me that there is always the human impulse to create, and it inspires me to try new ways of working and new mediums.

3. What are some of the pieces from the museum's collection that you have selected to use in "Studio Workshop: Realism and Representational Art", and why did you choose these?

I selected a Chuck Close piece because the guy could really, really draw. I mean, holy cow! I especially like how representational he makes his portraits knowing that he does not have natural recognition of people's faces. Peggy Bacon is another artist I chose because her mark is confident and strong. Art museums can also be very heavy in their collected work created by men so I made selections to promote the diversity within the collection. I couldn't resist including an Art Rosenbaum because he's local and has done so much work documenting Southern culture. I also love that he creates environments within his drawings and tells a story with loose marks.

4. Is there something you are currently working on or are excited about starting that you can tell us about?

I've been completely invested the past several years in learning about the plants that enslaved Africans and their descendants used in this area. Because I'm not a horticulturalist I've had a lot of fun learning about medicinal plants and their uses, especially the plants that I always learned were weeds. The history of this area is so rich and complicated. Drawing and painting these plants has been a way for me to recognize this past and tell a story, while also enriching my own learning.

5. What do you read, listen to, or look at to fuel your work?

Oh, wow. Anything and everything. I read a lot of slave narratives as well as interviews from the past. I'm currently listening to Rihanna's new album on repeat in my studio. It's really powerful and motivating, but also vulnerable. I appreciate that mix, because it's human. I also read a ton of poetry for this reason. When I need to tune out I watch British detective shows. I also teach kids of all ages and their work inspires me so much. They're really brave when encountering new ideas. I just watch them go and their fearlessness reminds me to persevere.

6. What advice or words of wisdom have influenced you as an artist?

My high school counselor told me pursuing art was a waste of time. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, though it was painful. I really wanted to prove her wrong. Over twenty years later I certainly have, haha. Also, the poet Rilke said this and it has been with me since college: 

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” 

And gosh do I ever love that. 

I've heard this, love it and shared it over the years — don't stop. It's that simple. 

"Studio Workshop: Realism and Representational Art" runs Thursdays, May 5 through 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Artists from all backgrounds are encouraged to attend, as these museum sessions are designed to be equally engaging for enthusiastic beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. The sessions draws inspiration from the museum’s collection, including works from the archives not currently on display. The cost of the course is a $15 materials fee, which covers all necessary supplies for the four sessions. Call 706.542.8863 or email callan@uga.edu to register.

The Power of Preservation

Mary Franklin, an Athens native, was born on February 25, 1842. Throughout her lengthy career as an artist, Franklin trained all over the United States and in Paris. After decades of being a student, Ms. Franklin She eventually returned to her roots and taught with the Athens Art Association in Peabody Hall. She loved the University of Georgia so much that, upon her death, in 1928, she donated her entire estate to the school.  Part of this donation included a series of paintings that were hung throughout campus.

Some of Franklin’s works were hung in Soule Hall, where they were respected and admired for many years. During World War II, Soule Hall changed from a women’s dorm to a school for the navy, and the paintings were put into storage.

In the 1970s, these paintings reappeared at the Georgia Museum of Art, with little paperwork. While they had been cared for at one time, they did not arrive unblemished. The paintings suffered from surface loss, cracks, stains and unstable frames with gaping holes. Fortunately, they were about to have a change in luck.

This good fortune came in the form of Hildegard Timberlake, 92, and her son, Tom, 52. Ms. Timberlake had been both the editor and president of the Art Association over the years, and Tom shared her love of the arts. The pair wanted to do something about the condition of Franklin’s prized paintings and decided to make the admirable commitment to restore them to their former glory. They hoped to have the rest of the world enjoy the paintings as they had and found a way to sponsor the conservation.

“My favorite painting is ‘Nomad,’” said Hildegard. “‘Nomad’ is compelling because she acts as a caretaker. But a caretaker of what? Is it nature, is it history, is it political, or is it bonds to the family? The purpose of the caretaker is suggested but not imposing. Mary Franklin's composition of the painting is well done. The color theory is well applied, even outstanding, with its blending method. The expression of the caretaker is sincere with some pride looking down on the observer. Shadows reflect the observance of nature, climate and sunshine. Her body structure shows that she is carrying a burden, but is ready to carry it with pride and strength. A great painting!”

Susan Jones, a conservator from Atlanta, restored the paintings. Jones has a range of experience working with older paintings, including one by Klaus Molenear, a 17th-century Dutch artist. She explained both the challenges and rewards of conserving the Mary Franklin paintings: “Outside of getting the paintings stabilized, I would say that the texture of the canvas was the most difficult part. [Franklin] used a very heavy linen, and although she did not mind putting paint on the canvas, it still left a very rough texture and was a challenge to clean. Aside from that, I loved finally getting down to the original vibrant colors that she used and seeing the paintings come to life.”

“Nomad,” the largest of the paintings, was the first to be restored. The Timberlakes provided funding, and the museum sent the framed painting to Jones in Atlanta. “Nomad” came back in incredible form, and the Timberlakes decided to fund the conservation of another painting from the series, “Tunisian Perfume Market.” The two restored paintings were publicly unveiled and put on temporary display for others to enjoy for the first time in more than 40 years.

Visitors, students and scholars at the Georgia Museum of Art are now able to enjoy the work of Mary Franklin due to the contributions and dedication of the Timberlake family. Franklin gave the University of Georgia the gift of her works, and the Timberlake family gave the gift of preservation, a gift that will last for years.

Hildegard Timberlake's deep affection for the paintings of Mary Franklin caused her to donate funds for the conservation of two paintings in the permanent collection. At this event, the results were shared with the Timberlakes, museum supporters and staff. May 21, 2015.

Art Around Athens (and Beyond)

There are plenty of different art related events going on in and around Athens this weekend. It’s a great time to get some holiday shopping done!

Friday:
Friday, December 4, from 2 to 9 p.m., the Chase Street Warehouses will host the First Friday Celebration and Holiday Market. Different shops and studios in the Railroad Arts District open their doors for the holiday market. You can expect unique handmade works, live music, coffee and cider and a wealth of holiday cheer! Visit www.railroadartdistrict.blogspot.com for more information.

As part of the sale, Trace Studio is hosting its own Holiday Show and Sale in the Railroad Arts District. The sale offers affordable, usable ceramic art by the Trace Studio Collective. You can find work from Annette Gates, Lauren Gallaspy, Jorire Berman, Rob Jackson, Mark Jordan and Andy Nasisse. The sale opens at 2 p.m. and will continue until 7 p.m. from December 4 to December 6. Call 706.549.6877 for more information.

The DeWitt Pottery Studio in Watkinsville is having a sale from December 4 to December 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The sale features functional stoneware and porcelain pottery. Call 706.769.5361 or visit www.dewittpottery.com for more information.

Marmalade Pottery (585 Barber Street, in the D.O.C. building) is also hosting a sale this weekend. The sale opens December 4 at 5 p.m. and will continue until 9 p.m., and December 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features work by Maria Dondero and Tiffany Whitfield. Call 706.248.6899 for more information.

160 Tracy Street will host the closing reception for the exhibition "Six Hundred Seventy-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred Twenty Minutes” Friday as well, from 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibit features new work from UGA MFA sculpture candidates Doug Barton and Steven Abadie and is free. Visit www.abadieart.com for more information.

Flicker Theatre & Bar will host a free opening reception at 6:30 p.m. on Friday for an exhibition of shadowbox photographic collages by Alexei Gural. Visit www.myspace.com/flickerbar for more information.

The Lamar Dodd School of Art will hosts a free opening reception for “Exit Strategies,” an exhibition featuring the thesis work of BFA candidates in jewelry and metalworking, fabric design, ceramics, photography and sculpture. This reception begins at 7 p.m. and will end at 9 p.m. Visit www.art.uga.edu for more information.

White Tiger Gourmet Food & Chocolates will host a free reception Friday at 6 p.m. for an exhibition featuring paintings and sculpture by local arts and art educator Leonard Piha. Call 706.353.6847 for more information.
Bendzunas Studio and Gallery will host an open house glass-blowing demonstration and holiday sale. The sale opens December 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. and continues Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 706.783.5869 or visit www.benzunasglass.com for more information.

Saturday:
December 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winterhawk Pottery (1101 Salem Road) is having an art sale featuring southeastern Native American art. Call 706.310.1893 or visit www.winterhawkpottery.com for more information.
At 1171 Freeman Creek Road, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be an art sale featuring stoneware and porcelain pottery, dinnerware, kitchen and tableware, garden pots and more from local artists. Call 706.769.8100 or visit www.pickettpottery.com for more information.

283 Bar in downtown Athens will host a holiday artists’ market Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring an assemblage of handmade works by local artists alongside your favorite holiday cocktails. The sale features jewelry, paintings, ceramics, paper crafts, wooden toys, ornaments and handmade bags. Call 706.208.1283 for more information.

Blue Bell Gallery hosts the Blue Bell Open House and holiday celebration featuring over 40 local artists' work. There will be clay, glass, stone and steel from Tina McCullough, Barbara Bendzunas, Tammy Nance, Duane Paxson, Michael Shetterly, Beverly Babb and more. Call 706.783.4665 or visit www.bluebellgallery.net for more information.

Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, noon to 5 p.m., downtown Athens hosts the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa. Pledge to stay out of the malls this holiday season and support your local businesses and artists! Quirky, raw and innovative arts from local and regional artists and crafters will be on sale and display in the parking lot that adjoins Agora at the corner of Clayton and Pulaski streets. Visit www.athensindiecraftstravaganzaa.com for more information.

Saturday, December 5 through Sunday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farmington Pottery (1790 Salem Road) is hosting a pottery and art show and sale. You can expect beautiful and unique art by potter Jeff Bishoff and various local artists.

Also Saturday from, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Morgan Pottery in Danielsville is hosting a pottery sale. Potter David Morgan will be showing and selling his own salt-glazed and gas-fired pottery. Call 706.540.3295 for more information.

Flinn Family Pottery (on Hull Rd.) will have a free studio open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call 706.207.5923 for more information.

The same day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., R. Wood Pottery will hold its annual holiday studio sale featuring ceramic dinnerware and unique collectables. Call 706.613.8525 for more info.

Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation is hosting its 15th Annual Holiday Market. The market features 70 of the region's top artists and includes pottery, paintings, fiber art, stained and fused glass, jewelry, sculpture, photography, woodwork and more. A $3 donation is requested. Visit www.ocaf.com for more information.

Also Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Farmington Pottery will have a free pottery and art show and sale at 1790 Salem Road, featuring beautiful and unique work by potter Jeff Bishoff and various local artists.

Sunday:
Aurum Studio is hosting a free opening reception this Sunday, December 6 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for an exhibit featuring paintings by Christine Shockley-Gholson and John Gholson. Call 706.546.8826 for more information.

Also Sunday, Wolf Creek Pottery in Danielsville will host the opening reception for their Visionary Growth Gallery for "Our Way or No Way," an exhibit featuring new works by UGA Sculpture Professor Jim Buonaccorsi and painter David Barron. The reception is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is free. Call 706.363.0393 or visit www.visgrow.com for more information.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will have a holiday open house on Sunday, from 2 to 5 p.m., which is free and open to the public. This year’s decorations celebrate birds in the garden with An Audubon Christmas. Musical entertainment includes performances by the Georgia Children’s Chorus, the Solstice Sisters and the Classic City Band, and there will be puppet shows in the children’s classroom at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30. Mark Parsons Photography will be on hand to take photos of children (and adults) with Santa and Mrs. Claus for $10 each, payable to the photographer. The Garden Gift Shop will be open for your shopping pleasure, and you can purchase holiday treats in the newly renovated Gardenside Café.

Flagpole also has a great rundown of arts and crafts sales in the area, so check there too!

Georgia Theatre Quilt

On June 19, 2009, fire destroyed Athens’ beloved Georgia Theatre, the historic and popular music venue at which many famous bands and artists have performed—including the B-52s, John Mayer and R.E.M. The Georgia Theatre opened as a music venue in 1978, and 30 years later, the fire caused much sadness in the Athens area and beyond.

Photograph of the Georgia Theatre, 1953

The Georgia Theatre is now working on a new project to raise money. Not only does Athens have a well-known music scene, but it also has a great art scene. Local artist Jennifer Schildknecht “hopes to unite the music and art communities in order to generate more love and support” for the Georgia Theatre. She has called upon artists, musicians, businesses and anyone else to participate in creating an art quilt. The quilt will be a “non-traditional wall-hanging.” The goal is for two quilts to be made—one quilt will be auctioned off to raise money for rebuilding and the other will be given to the Georgia Theatre as a gift. If you’re interested in participating, all quilt blocks must be turned in by November 30. Click here for more information about guidelines and submission.

The Georgia Theatre, in an ongoing effort to raise funds to rebuild, is hoping to have its doors open again by New Year’s Eve 2011. The Theatre has partnered with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and has also established a fund to accept tax-deductible donations. 

Rendering of the future theatre interior

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.

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

Mark your calendars

Dr. Robert Nix taught for many years at the Lamar Dodd School of Art, instructing students in photography and pursuing it on his own time as well. The University of Georgia Libraries and the art school will have a program and reception tomorrow (Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m., in the Hargrett, on the 3rd floor of the Main Library) recognizing Nix's life’s work as the Library celebrates the donation of his outstanding collection. This program is in conjunction with an exhibit in the Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library featuring a selection of Nix’s favorite pieces.



Also, local artist Chatham Murray, who will be having an open house Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to dark, is the subject of an Athens Banner-Herald article today.



We haven't really talked much about the Crafting Romance exhibition at ATHICA, which is co-curated by one of our former interns, Rebecca Brantley, who worked with ex-curator of decorative arts Ashley Callahan in the CURO (Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities) program, but the exhibition is interesting stuff and has a number of associated events, including "Showing the Seams," from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. tonight (April 30). "Showing the Seams" consists of three new performance art pieces: "Stitches," in which artists Brian Hitselberger and Jessi Wohl will be sewn into bed together for the evening; "Imaginatively Conceived," by Andrea Trombetta, which will focus on garment construction; and "Loveseat," by Kate Schoenke, which will feature modern dance. Admission is a suggested donation of $3.



This weekend, May 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation's artist's market as part of Southworks.

And don't forget about the Indie Craftstravaganzaa in downtown Athens, also this weekend. Whew.