Blog Topic: Art Around Town

Culture Briefs: Bulldog Inn 'Annual Bi-annual' Postponed Until Fall

By Jessica Smith | April 25, 2016 12:45pm

Will Eskridge's "Wolf City"

The 2016 Bulldog Inn Annual Bi-annual has been postponed until later this fall. Launched in 2010 as a venue for experimentation and alternative art, the one-night event transforms ordinary bedrooms into multi-faceted installations dreamed up by local artists.

Originally scheduled for Friday, Apr. 22, the event was later moved to Wednesday, May 11 in hopes of accommodating more artists. Due to growing construction in Athens, however, the iconic motel on Commerce Road is currently occupied by long-term residents, making it impossible to reserve enough rooms.

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Culture Briefs: Community Unites for Celebration of Artist Harold Rittenberry

By Barbette Houser | April 4, 2016 12:37pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Harold Rittenberry in front of his work commissioned for the Cobbham neighborhood.

One of the first things you notice at the Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church is the deference with which people treat each other. Titles are used and strangers are welcomed.

On a recent Saturday, its congregants opened their doors wide to welcome the larger community as people came from the far reaches of the Athens area to pay their respect to one man: folk artist Harold Rittenberry. Or Mr. Rittenberry, as he is always referred to in the modest but powerful church on Rose Street.

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Culture Briefs: AthFest Educates Selects Lou Kregel as its 2016 Theme Artist

By Jessica Smith | March 22, 2016 12:38pm

Local colorist and pattern designer Lou Kregel has been officially named as the theme artist of the 2016 AthFest Music & Arts Festival and AthHalf Half Marathon. Her artwork will be used on the event websites, merchandise, signage and as cover art of the 20th anniversary AthFest 2-CD set.

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Culture Briefs: Leonard Piha’s Art Celebrates Family, Memory and More at Athens Academy

By Barbette Houser | February 24, 2016 10:32am

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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Culture Briefs: Athens 'Feels the Vern' at Reception for Beloved Local Vernon Thornsberry

By Barbette Houser | February 22, 2016 12:18pm

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.

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Culture Briefs: AthFest Educates Announces David Hale as Mural Artist

By Jessica Smith | February 11, 2016 5:20pm

"Bow and Bend Web" by David Hale

Back in October, AthFest Educates announced its plan to commission a large-scale public mural to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the AthFest Music and Arts Festival. Proposals were sought from three separate collaborators: a youth-serving organization interested in producing the mural as part of a multi-month arts program, a professional artist to create a design and oversee the youth as they participate in painting the mural, and a local business property owner willing to donate a highly visible outdoor wall as the site of the mural.

This afternoon, the non-profit announced that artist David Hale has been selected to partner with the Lyndon House Arts Center staff, who will facilitate the youth art program. Fashion boutique Philanthropy has offered their wall as the mural's site.

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Culture Briefs: 'Chain Reaction' at Indigo Exhibits Playful Approach to Curation

By Barbette Houser | January 23, 2016 5:00pm

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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Culture Briefs: ACHF Walking Tour of Pulaski Heights Leads to New Mural by Art Rosenbaum

By Barbette Houser | November 23, 2015 4:07pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Detail from Pulaski Heights Triptych by Art Rosenbaum

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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Culture Briefs: OCAF Hosts Large Opening for Georgia Small Works Show

By Barbette Houser | October 12, 2015 10:38am

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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Culture Briefs: Canopy Fundraiser Gala Features Installation and Aerial Artists Saturday

By Madeline Bates | September 22, 2015 1:41pm

Kevin Bates' home, located next door to Georgia Power, was presented with a 2015 Historic Preservation Award from the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation.

This Saturday, Canopy Studio will hold its annual fundraiser gala at the historic Normaltown home of Kevin Bates. Admission includes food provided by chef Peter Dale of The National and local craft beer from the Southern Brewing Company. There will be trapeze performances by company members in the backyard, a DJ providing tunes for an inevitable dance party, and plenty of surprises throughout the night.

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