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Blog posts by Barbette Houser

Elephant 6 Provides Perfect Backdrop for Halloween Hijinks at ATHICA

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Danielle Miller, artistic director of Rose of Athens, with her family.

Works on display by founding members of the Elephant 6 Recording Company added to the slightly madcap feel of the ATHICA event, “Shake Your Rumpus!” The evening added to the likelihood that Athens may be the center of the Halloween universe, while it also celebrated the new relationship between ATHICA and Rose of Athens Theatre as roommates.

By Barbette Houser | November 2, 2014
Lickskillet Market Lets Artists Shine

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Stained glass by Wendy Ortel shone on this sunny day.

The Lyndon House Arts Center hosted its fifth annual Lickskillet Artists Market and Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the joint was jumping inside and out with visitors and activities. The weather cooperated with sunny skies and mild temperatures, making it a perfect day to stroll the grounds, look at artists’ booths and enjoy the live music. Bands performing included Grassland String Band, Klezmer Local 42 and The Heap.

By Barbette Houser | October 28, 2014
Live Review: Bill Cosby at The Classic Center

Blog: Culture Briefs

Bill Cosby, 1969.

My memories of Bill Cosby are hazy and happy, consisting of pudding commercials and re-runs of the “Fat Albert” show I saw as a young child. Hearing “Hey, hey, hey” on Saturday morning announced the start of the weekend. And because I now like to bury my head in the journalistic sands of NPR and the New York Times, where celebrity dirty laundry is trumped by, oh, international news and whatnot, you can imagine my surprise when friends told me about the resurfacing allegations of rape against Cosby, brought to light again by another comedian.

Meanwhile at the Classic Center this past Sunday, nostalgia reigned supreme among audience members as Cosby stopped in for two shows on his current “Far From Finished” comedy tour. Applause filled the theater as Cosby revisited many of his favorite themes: religion, church, family, sibling rivalry, marriage and grand-parenting, among others.

By Barbette Houser | October 27, 2014
Author Julia Elliott Intrigues at The Globe

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

The Globe hosted a reading by Julia Elliott

Former Athenian and award-winning fiction writer Julia Elliott enchanted her audience on Friday, Oct. 24 at The Globe as she read from her new collection of short stories, The Wilds. The event was sponsored by The Georgia Review and the University of Georgia’s Creative Writing Program. L.S. McKee of Atlanta opened the evening by reading a selection of her poems. Stephen Corey, editor of The Georgia Review, introduced the writers. About Elliott, he admiringly noted that “She writes some crazy stuff.”

By Barbette Houser | October 27, 2014
A Visit to Artist Krysia Haag’s Home Benefits WUGA

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Joanne Kolbus and Heidi Davison in front of a painting of an Elvis impersonator by Krysia Haag.

Mosaic artist Krysia Haag opened her Athens home to visitors on Saturday, Oct. 18 to benefit WUGA. The event was part of the “Artists in Residence” series, an ongoing fundraiser for the station.

By Barbette Houser | October 20, 2014
Lamar Dodd School of Art Throws Lively Party to Open Four New Exhibits

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

"Touch: Art and Interaction" invited viewers to engage with the art.

The Lamar Dodd School of Art hosted a lively opening reception on Friday night to open four new exhibits: “do it UGA,” “Jiman Choi: Traces of Silence,” “Negritud in Latin American Art”and “Touch: Art and Interaction.”

It was especially raucous in the more open areas upstairs as art students and young families alike enjoyed the interactive nature of some of the shows. The “Touch” exhibit addressed the “physical desire to engage with the art object” and viewers were lined up all evening to interact with MFA student Aaron Obenza’s “Take a Cup.”

By Barbette Houser | October 19, 2014
Third Thursday Expands Thanks to Classic Center

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Valerie Aldridge views work by Janelle Young

This month’s Third Thursday event was enhanced by the addition of an opening at The Classic Center as well as a new shuttle service sponsored by The Classic Center Cultural Foundation. Vans circulated every 30 minutes, allowing attendees to visit the Lyndon House, Hotel Indigo, The Classic Center, the Georgia Museum of Art, the Lamar Dodd School of Art, Ciné, and Athica with relative ease.

By Barbette Houser | October 17, 2014
Art Rosenbaum Draws a Crowd for First Folk Festival Fundraiser

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Art Rosenbaum

Art Rosenbaum played two sets of lively old timey tunes at The World Famous on Sunday evening. Also on the bill were Hawk Proof Rooster. Rosenbaum’s wife, Margo, and son, Neil, joined him for a few songs, including “Old Bill Cheatham.”

The event was the first in a series of evenings sponsored by The World Famous to help raise funds for the upcoming North Georgia Folk Festival.

By Barbette Houser | October 7, 2014
What Doesn't Kill Me... The Life and Music of Vic Chesnutt Premieres at Ciné

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Bob Sleppy, director of Nuci's Space, and Patterson Hood

What Doesn’t Kill Me…The Life and Music of Vic Chesnutt, a film by Scott Stuckey, had its rough-cut premiere on Wednesday evening, Oct. 1 at Ciné, benefitting Nuçi’s Space. Attendees included a large number of luminaries from the Athens music scene, many of whom had worked with Chesnutt through the years, including Michael Stipe, members of Elf Power and producer John Keane. Stuckey and John “JoJo” Hermann, producer of the film and keyboardist of Widespread Panic, were on hand after the screening to answer questions and reminisce about their friend and beloved Athens musician, Vic Chesnutt. Stuckey and Hermann have been working on the project together since 2005, when Hermann was researching Chesnutt for his masters thesis.

By Barbette Houser | October 3, 2014
Environmental Artist Patricia Leighton Speaks at GMOA; "Equations" Opens at Hotel Indigo

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Patricia Leighton with her sculpture, "Terra Verte."

Art lovers in Athens were amply spoiled Thursday, Sept. 25 with two very different but engaging events.

By Barbette Houser | September 30, 2014
Artist Rebecca Wood Welcomes Visitors to her Colorful Home for WUGA

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Rebecca Wood

Beloved local artist Rebecca Wood opened up her home to the public on Saturday, Sept. 20 for the “Artists in Residence” series, an ongoing fundraiser for WUGA.

Wood is the creator and owner of R. Wood Studio, a successful pottery here in Athens which creates colorful earthenware serving pieces with a playful and organic quality. R. Wood pottery is carried in stores and catalogs across the U.S, including Sundance.

By Barbette Houser | September 26, 2014
Terry Kay Spoke About His Newest Book at the ACC Library

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Terry Kay

Noted local author Terry Kay spoke about his new book, Song of the Vagabond Bird, at the ACC Library on Thursday night, Sept. 11. A large crowd, mostly greying and older, gathered at the Appleton Auditorium for the Café Libris event. Kay’s audience was engaged and enthusiastic as he read from his latest work.

By Barbette Houser | September 19, 2014
Tales of Pylon and Other Treasures Pulled Out of the Rabbit Box

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Judy McWillie shares her story at Rabbit box.

Rabbit Box and Art Rocks Athens jointly hosted the lively “Stories from the Athens Arts & Music Scene 1975 to 1985” at the Melting Point on June 11.

By Barbette Houser | June 14, 2014
Workshop Offers Tips on Being a Movie Extra

Blog: Culture Briefs

Lois and Ted Brown.

“I Want to Be in Pictures”, a workshop offered at the ACC Library on Thursday, May 29, offered a glimpse into life on the film set and provided tips on how to become and succeed as a movie extra.

By Barbette Houser | June 1, 2014
'Paper Covers Rock' Covers Graphic Arts of Athens Bands from '75–'85

Blog: Culture Briefs

Atlanta artist Sean Bourne, who graduated from the Lamar Dodd School of Art in 1980, is the mastermind behind the Art Rocks Athens show “Paper Covers Rock,” which opened at the Lyndon House on Sunday, May 25. The craftily titled exhibit documents the graphic art used to promote Athens bands from 1975-1985.

By Barbette Houser | May 27, 2014
'Between Rock and an Art Place' is a Reunion and a Must-See Show

Blog: Culture Briefs

Frequent squeals of recognition, as old friends saw each other for the first time in many years, were a big part of the well attended opening for “Between Rock and an Art Place” at the Lamar Dodd School of Art on Friday night, May 23. The exhibit, part of the ongoing work of the Art Rocks Athens Foundation, documents the art created by artists working and studying at UGA between 1975 and 1985, many of whom were also actively involved in the well-known music scene of the same era.

By Barbette Houser | May 25, 2014
Artist Aaron Fu Stitches Up a Lively Evening at Artini’s with the Darnell Boys and More

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Masks by Aaron Fu.

The Eclectic Works of Aaron Fu is an apt description of the artworks currently on offer at Artini’s in downtown Athens. “Eclectic” also describes the show’s engaging opening held there on May 22. In addition to the variety of works by Fu on display, attendees were treated to spoken word performances by Athens Writers Association members Rob White and Elsa Russo and a set by the Americana band the Darnell Boys.

By Barbette Houser | May 23, 2014
Otis Redding III Sighted at Studio 1093

Blog: Culture Briefs

Otis Redding III, guitarist, vocalist and son of Otis Redding, stopped by Athens last week to lay down a track at Studio 1093.

By Barbette Houser | May 21, 2014
ATHICA Mystery Triennial Serves Up Surprises

Blog: Culture Briefs

The opening of the 2^nd ATHICA Mystery Triennial took place on the evening of Saturday, May 17. The event was a fundraiser for ATHICA, the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art, and featured 5” X 7” works by about 100 local artists. All of these small artworks were displayed anonymously and were priced at $60 apiece, or two for $100. The identities of their creators were revealed only after the works were purchased.

By Barbette Houser | May 19, 2014
Elders Share Stories of Race at the Melting Point

Blog: Culture Briefs

On a recent evening, a large crowd gathered at the Melting Point to hear older Athenians share stories about pivotal moments in their lives where racism was front and center.

The event, “Silver Box—My Life in Black and White,” was put on by Rabbit Box. Rabbit Box is a monthly storytelling series where people in the Athens area share their real life tales related to the month’s theme.

By Barbette Houser | May 16, 2014