Hello, students. You missed a hot, hot summer full of late-night swimming, dogs in the front yard and parking wherever your heart desired. We’re glad to have you back! And for those of you who are new in town, welcome to your new home for the next several years—you’re going to love it here. Athens has much to offer by way of live music, great food, stellar company. What you may quickly discover is that almost everyone in town has a side project that he/she is plugging away on; Athens is home to writers, musicians, filmmakers, dancers, poets and more artists than you can shake a stick at. Likewise, art itself can be seen just about everywhere. What follows is a brief rundown of my five favorite places around the Classic City to catch art around town, as well as a couple noteworthy shows from the past calendar year and some exhibitions to watch out for. Keep your eyes on this column and the Art Around Town section of Bulletin Board to keep up with the action.

ATHICA (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art): Ten years in the running and a consistently solid bet for contemporary art, ATHICA's exhibitions often combine the works of international artists with our own ever-growing pool of local talent. Recent exhibitions include "Upcycle," in which waste and refuse were creatively re-purposed to form surprising and elegant sculpture, and the formidable "Southern," which took on the (seemingly impossible) task of looking at the South as a whole through a fresh lens. ATHICA is also home to experimental music performances, readings by poets and writers and off-the-wall family events relating to the current exhibition themes. This should be a particularly interesting year for the local nonprofit, as long-term Creative Director Lizzie Zucker Saltz has stepped down from her post and local artist/writer/superhero Hope Hilton is stepping up to the plate. Keep your eyes peeled for what promises to be a particularly interesting year of programming. For more information, visit www.athica.org.

The Georgia Museum of Art: Recently the recipient of a much-needed and exquisite makeover, the Georgia Museum of Art is now a force to be reckoned with. Located on South Campus catty-corner from the School of Art, the expanded museum now boasts multiple levels, ongoing works on paper exhibitions, a beautifully designed outdoor sculpture garden and an Ike and Jane café. Large enough now to display its permanent collection continuously, the museum has also played host to some exciting traveling shows. One of the most exquisite was "American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print," a Smithsonian exhibition featuring years of printed matter by the famous Nashville print shop, which the show itself was named for. Currently on view is the jaw-dropping "Dürer and His Legacy," which features numerous jewels from the Northern Renaissance master’s career, as well as showcasing his considerable influence on his contemporaries. Coming Aug. 18 is the entirety of Francisco de Goya’s print series "Disasters of War," one of my picks for exhibition of the year. Seriously, you need to keep this on your radar. For details, scheduling, museum hours, visit www.georgiamuseum.org.

The Lamar Dodd School of Art: Boasting a national reputation and a formidable list of alumni, the University of Georgia’s art school is always an excellent place to check out some exciting work. Two spacious galleries on the upper and lower levels of the building host an ongoing series of well curated exhibitions (courtesy of Gallery Director and local artist Jeffrey Whittle), bringing artists and art from all over the globe, ranging from traditional to experimental media. But don’t stop there: students are quick to organize their own guerilla exhibitions throughout the three-story complex. A stroll through the space any time of the year is sure to guarantee some surprising, delightful jewels. For a complete list of the many arts-related events and lectures, visit the school’s website at www.art.uga.edu.

Ciné: I’ve got a soft spot for Athens’ own arthouse theater, which rests in a handsomely restored building on West Hancock, next door to the National and across the street from Little Kings. The good people of Ciné also host a lively exhibition schedule, with rotating shows on display in their elegant entryway. Jeremy Ayers’ recent exhibition of documentary photographs capturing the initial six weeks of the Occupy Wall Street movement was one of the more humane depictions of the demonstration that I’ve seen in any media, anywhere. Also thrilling: Ciné is home to a multi-purpose project space (CinéLab) often utilized by UGA’s VOX Reading Series, and just as often employed for "6x6," an ongoing media arts show that shifts form and focus while remaining consistently interesting. For all the deets, see www.athenscine.com.

The Gallery @ Hotel Indigo: Boldly redefining the genre of "hotel art," Didi Dunphy’s expertly curated exhibitions in the 24-hour gallery on the first floor of the College Avenue hotel consistently deliver the goods. “Drawn from Athens,” a recent exhibition of drawing-based works featured a gorgeous array of pieces from the likes of Lauren Gallaspy, Jim Barsness, Art Rosenbaum, Kathryn Refi and Jeff Owens. The handsome space currently hosts “The Board Room,” a sprawling exhibition of skate decks painted, etched, printed, crafted and de-constructed by an impressive roster of regional artists. Looking to familiarize yourself with the local scene? Look no further than this inventive show. And good news for you: each of the decks will be auctioned off to benefit the Skate Park of Athens on Sept. 9. Why not start your collection now? For more information, visit www.indigoathens.com/artgallery.html.