Blog posts by Barbette Houser
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Leonard Piha’s Art Celebrates Family, Memory and More at Athens Academy
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Leonard Piha with his painting "My Dad."
Leonard Piha’s “Celebrating Painting and Sculpture," now on view at Athens Academy, is a celebration of many things: family, memory, Jewish life, the natural world and more. With its bold colors, recycled materials and often childlike simplicity, the show as a whole has a playful quality and is fun to view.
At the reception for the show on Sunday, the artist emphasized that he was not a trained painter, but was now feeling compelled to paint. He did say, rather modestly, that he had a lot of experience mixing colors. Piha has been the art teacher at Barnett Shoals Elementary School since 1998.
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Athens 'Feels the Vern' at Reception for Beloved Local Vernon Thornsberry
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Detail from "The Rumble", a large scale work in charcoal on canvas.
I have known artist and musician Vernon Thornsberry for many years now, mostly from late nights on the dance floor at the 40 Watt or the Go Bar. I know his gentle smile, his easy humor, his grace and his kindness.But on Saturday night, at the reception for “The Work of Vernon Thornsberry,” I realized that I don’t really know him at all.Walking into the Old Firehall on Prince Avenue, my jaw dropped when I saw the work on display. The impact of seeing a room full of Thornsberry’s paintings was overwhelming—because the beauty of each work is so very quiet. They whisper. But when 27 of them are shown at one time, their power is undeniable. They knock you over.You realize that this soft spoken man, this sweet guy on a scooter, this “Athens personality” is also an extraordinary painter. -
Artists Flock to Celebrate “Love in All Its Many Forms” at KA Artist Shop
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Kristin Ashley, owner of KA Artist Shop, ready for guests before the opening
From the Daler Rowney Artist Inks laid out in a neat and tidy spectrum of color to the origami-like modern chairs that beckon you to sit around a crafting table and create something with your hands, everything at the Kristin Ashley Artist Shop in downtown Athens speaks of seduction. Rows of colorful papers tempt and appeal. “Pump Action” fat paint markers entice with their girth. And on a recent Thursday night, many Athens area artists just couldn't get enough of the store’s latest exhibit: "Love in All Its Many Forms."
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Sculptor Alice Aycock Talks about Satellite Dishes and Other Art at GMOA
Blog: Culture Briefs
Internationally renowned sculptor Alice Aycock loves vortexes and movement, so it was appropriate that she made a whirlwind visit to Athens on Thursday to discuss her work, including “Waltzing Matilda” and “Twin Vortexes.” The two large sculptures are currently on view in the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden at the Georgia Museum of Art.
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Designer Natalie Chanin Speaks of Great Change with Simple Tools at UGA
Blog: Culture Briefs
The walk up the wide granite stairs between the elegant white columns of the UGA Chapel makes a visitor feel just as its architect no doubt originally intended: as if you have left the ordinary world and have arrived somewhere beyond. Approaching and entering it fills you with a sense of occasion. You are about to encounter something special.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the occasion was a visit to Athens by sustainable designer and fashion celebrity Natalie Chanin. The event was part of the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts’ Global Georgia Initiative.
Chanin has built an international following with her skirts, dresses and blouses that while exhibiting a high level of design and craftsmanship, celebrate the handmade and the imperfect with simple appliqués and large, playful stitching.
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'Chain Reaction' at Indigo Exhibits Playful Approach to Curation
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Logan Shirah and Abby Gregg in front of their work and a mixed-media piece by Jaime Bull.
With its pristine white walls, large windows inviting in natural light, polished concrete floors, and generous track lighting, the Gallery@Hotel Indigo is a standout among Athens’ art viewing spaces. Add to that the unique vision of curator Didi Dunphy, and you’ve got a must-visit gallery space.
The opening on Thursday for “Chain Reaction” testified to this. The space was crammed with young and old, artists and art appreciators alike. The adjacent lobby and nearby bar graciously accommodated the overflow. The music playing in the background went unheard until the end of the evening because of the din of conversation. Oh, did I mention the parties?
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Rick LaFleur and Avid Bookshop Celebrate Release of Latin Where the Wild Things Are
Blog: Culture Briefs
A large crowd squeezed into tiny Avid Bookshop on Wednesday night to celebrate the release of Rick LaFleur’s latest book, Ubi Fera Sunt. The retired head of the Classics Department at UGA has published numerous Latin textbooks, but his latest project is a little different. It is a translation of the Maurice Sendak children’s classic Where the Wild Things Are into Latin.
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'A Cloverhurst Christmas' Promotes Preservation
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
The Sewell Residence was on tour to benefit the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation.
Cloverhurst Avenue sparkled with holiday lights and beckoned with seductive swags of greenery on a recent Sunday evening. The Five Points street, known for its charming Craftsman style homes, was the site of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation’s annual holiday gala. While only a few homes were on the tour, the whole neighborhood was dressed for the occasion.
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ACHF Walking Tour of Pulaski Heights Leads to New Mural by Art Rosenbaum
Blog: Culture Briefs
The home of David and Tracy Stroud was once again full of friends, family and visitors on a recent evening, but this time the focus wasn’t the modern architecture of their newly built and much admired house. People were there for a special unveiling of a new work by Art Rosenbaum.
Two years ago their house was in the framing stages when the Strouds decided to take an Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation walking tour of their new neighborhood. Led by neighbor David Bryant, the tour deeply inspired the couple. According to David Stroud, “We were really taken with the whole story of how everything came to pass here.”
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Thought-Provoking Photographs by Five-Eight’s Sean Dunn at UNG
Blog: Culture Briefs
Visual artists have it tough in this town. Musicians get all the glory (not to mention the girls, drinks and swag). So some might be inclined to have doubts when a member of one of the most esteemed bands in Athens starts acting like he’s an artist, too. Oh, really?
Ditch the doubts, forgive him for being doubly talented and go see guitarist Sean Dunn’s show at the University of North Georgia’s Watkinsville campus before it closes on Thursday, Nov. 5. His photographs are pretty—and powerful.
When You Cut Into the Present (the future pours out), Dunn’s first solo show, is a group of large-scale photographs, most of which were taken by the artist while on the road with his band Five-Eight.
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OCAF Hosts Large Opening for Georgia Small Works Show
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Jane Shenk, Bonnie Murphy and Anne Shenk at the Small Works reception.
Over 120 works of art by Georgia artists are on display at the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF). In spite of that, there is still plenty of empty wall space.
The red brick school house opened its doors Friday night for a reception to celebrate the opening of the Sixth Annual Georgia Small Works Exhibit. The paintings, photographs, ceramics and mixed media pieces in the show share one thing in common: They all measure 14-inches-by-14-inches or less.
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Athens Artist Noah Saunders to Have Retrospective in South Carolina
Blog: Culture Briefs
Noah Saunders finished packing up a U-Haul yesterday to brave the roads to South Carolina. In spite of the recent flooding in Columbia, his upcoming opening at the HoFP Gallery is still scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9. “Noah Saunders’ SCOPE, Looking Forward, Looking Back” will be a 25-year retrospective of the artist’s signature three-dimensional portraits in wire.
The show will include 15 new works and several older pieces, including some on loan from the artist’s first show at the same space which took place 20 years ago when Saunders was only 16.
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Athens Modern Homes Tour Was a Success for AIDS Athens
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
The many balconies at the Glenwood home of Airee and Russell Edwards made it a tour favorite.
Another must-mark-your-calendar event has been born in our little town: The Athens Modern Homes Tour. Attendees flocked to Hotel Indigo on Saturday afternoon to pick up their maps and head out on Athens’ latest voyeuristic opportunity to peek inside the lives of others while supporting a worthy local organization: AIDS Athens.
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'I'll Be Your Mirror' Reflects on the Art and Music Scenes of 1975-'85
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Musician Eddie Glikin in front of a portrait of Michael Stipe taken by Jeremy Ayers.
“I’ll Be Your Mirror” captures a magical moment when youthful beauty, quirky personalities, creative energy, a flair for thrifting, a penchant for dress-up and musical innovation all collided right here in our dusty little town and forever changed it—and the world.
The Art Rocks Athens Foundation, whose mission is to document and promote Athens' deeply connected art and music scenes' heyday, popped open its offerings for 2015 with a photo exhibit and reception on Friday night.
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Ciné Showcases James Barsness' Bizarre Paintings, Amy Winehouse's Troubled Life
Blog: Culture Briefs
Fantastical creatures populate the canvases of Athens artist James Barsness. His current exhibit at Ciné, which consists of three large-scale, mixed media paintings, opened on Friday, Aug. 21 with a reception. This was well-timed, as viewing his work proved to be the perfect prelude to watching Amy, the documentary directed by Asif Kapidia about singer Amy Winehouse, which is now showing at the independent movie theater.
Viewing Barsness’ painted demons set the stage for watching Winehouse’s inner ones on screen.
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Bob and Claire Clements, Beloved Athens Artists, Share Their Home for WUGA
Blog: Culture Briefs
The warmth felt in Bob and Claire Clements’ home this past Saturday afternoon was both literal and metaphorical. The high temperatures inside that day were due in part to the overwhelming turnout of people for the event the couple hosted, an Artists in Residence fundraiser for public radio station WUGA-FM. And that large crowd was due to the overwhelming love the local community has for the two artists.
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Rabbit Box Lets Artists Speak
Blog: Culture Briefs
Paul Cezanne, arguably the most important artist of the past 200 years or, perhaps, of all time, once stated that “the painter must enclose himself within his work; he must respond not with words, but with paintings.” The artists who lined up on Thursday night at the Foundry to participate in the latest Rabbit Box event, “For Art’s Sake: Celebrating 40 Years of the Lyndon House Arts Center,” clearly felt differently.
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MA Tour Highlights Contemporary Architecture by Lori Bork Newcomer
Blog: Culture Briefs
The doors to three contemporary houses designed by local architect Lori Bork Newcomer were wide open on Saturday, May 30. Their owners were generous participants in a tour of homes put on by a group of design savvy and urbane Atlantans.
Tours like these appeal to voyeuristic needs. We get to see how other people live. In this case, we also get to see how people can possibly survive without ornate molding, generous amounts of trim, separate dining rooms, white columns and formal entryways.
The event, a satellite tour, was part of the larger MA Architecture Tour and International Design Expo. With the theme of “Design is Human,” the goal of MA is to promote contemporary design in the Atlanta area and beyond. Satellite tours were held in several southern cities, including Athens and Asheville, NC.
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World Tea Society Event Blends Fashion, Food and Friendship
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Dressing up is an important part of the World Tea Society's gatherings.
Pulling up to the location for the World Tea Society’s social gathering on Saturday was a real Jane Austen moment. Specifically, the one where Jennifer Ehle, playing Elizabeth Bennett in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, sucks in her breath when confronted with the splendor of Colin Firth’s—I mean Mr. Darcy’s—palatial home. The setting for the first public tea held by this recently created society was designed to impress: a very large house in an elite Athens neighborhood, complete with a large lake and picture perfect geese wandering the grounds.
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Boulevard Gardeners take the Roving Garden Party to Cobbham
Blog: Culture Briefs
Photo Credit: Barbette Houser
Marianne Happek with a rose given to her by Jeremy Ayers from his garden.
The tour started at the historic T.R.R. Cobb House. With its neatly trimmed boxwood hedges, tidy red brick garden paths, and genteel iron garden furniture with a rusty veneer whispering of tradition, it was an elegant beginning to the Boulevard Gardening Club’s Roving Garden Party. But this wasn’t your average garden tour.
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latest stories
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Culture Briefs | February 24, 2016 10:32am
Leonard Piha’s Art Celebrates Family, Memory and More at Athens Academy
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Culture Briefs | February 22, 2016 12:18pm
Athens 'Feels the Vern' at Reception for Beloved Local Vernon Thornsberry
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Culture Briefs | February 19, 2016 4:45pm
Artists Flock to Celebrate “Love in All Its Many Forms” at KA Artist Shop
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Culture Briefs | February 12, 2016 3:35pm
Sculptor Alice Aycock Talks about Satellite Dishes and Other Art at GMOA
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Culture Briefs | February 1, 2016 4:02pm
Designer Natalie Chanin Speaks of Great Change with Simple Tools at UGA
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Culture Briefs | January 23, 2016 5:00pm
'Chain Reaction' at Indigo Exhibits Playful Approach to Curation
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Culture Briefs | December 18, 2015 12:06pm
Rick LaFleur and Avid Bookshop Celebrate Release of Latin Where the Wild Things Are
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Culture Briefs | December 8, 2015 2:51pm
'A Cloverhurst Christmas' Promotes Preservation
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Culture Briefs | November 23, 2015 4:07pm
ACHF Walking Tour of Pulaski Heights Leads to New Mural by Art Rosenbaum
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Culture Briefs | October 30, 2015 6:45pm
Thought-Provoking Photographs by Five-Eight’s Sean Dunn at UNG
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Culture Briefs | October 12, 2015 10:38am
OCAF Hosts Large Opening for Georgia Small Works Show
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Culture Briefs | October 7, 2015 12:35pm
Athens Artist Noah Saunders to Have Retrospective in South Carolina
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Culture Briefs | September 14, 2015 3:13pm
Athens Modern Homes Tour Was a Success for AIDS Athens
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Culture Briefs | August 31, 2015 3:18pm
'I'll Be Your Mirror' Reflects on the Art and Music Scenes of 1975-'85
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Culture Briefs | August 24, 2015 1:50pm
Ciné Showcases James Barsness' Bizarre Paintings, Amy Winehouse's Troubled Life
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Culture Briefs | August 17, 2015 5:00pm
Bob and Claire Clements, Beloved Athens Artists, Share Their Home for WUGA
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Culture Briefs | July 10, 2015 7:00pm
Rabbit Box Lets Artists Speak
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Culture Briefs | June 2, 2015 10:20am
MA Tour Highlights Contemporary Architecture by Lori Bork Newcomer
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Culture Briefs | May 3, 2015 4:10pm
World Tea Society Event Blends Fashion, Food and Friendship
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Culture Briefs | April 27, 2015 5:40pm
Boulevard Gardeners take the Roving Garden Party to Cobbham