Blog Topic: In the Community

In the Loop: CCSD Sets Forum on School Discipline

By Blake Aued | March 21, 2016 6:54pm

The Clarke County Board of Education will host a public forum at 6 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 7 in the H.T. Edwards building on discipline and attendance issues raised by teachers and parents in the wake of the district’s mishandling of an alleged sexual assault at Cedar Shoals High School.

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Culture Briefs: The Colorful Home of Athens Textile Artist Susan Hable Smith

By Barbette Houser | February 28, 2016 2:40pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Susan Hable Smith in her art lined entry; the sofa is upholstered in Hable Construction fabric.

The brass fox knocker on the azure blue door hints at the surprises that lie within the Cobbham home of designer Susan Hable Smith. Inside, Moroccan textiles, bold wallpapers, pairs of diminutive chairs, assorted opera props, funky photographs and quirky ceramic eyes are arranged artfully in a visual feast.

On one of those sunny, warm surprise Saturdays in February, the artist was sharing her home with supporters of WUGA. The back door was wide open, welcoming the breeze and revealing camellias in full bloom and tea olives beginning to flower. The large kitchen table offered up heaps of pimiento cheese and other specialties by Marti’s at Midday.

It was plain to see that this Texas to New York City to Athens transplant has mastered the Southern hospitality thing.

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Culture Briefs: Artists Flock to Celebrate “Love in All Its Many Forms” at KA Artist Shop

By Barbette Houser | February 19, 2016 4:45pm

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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Culture Briefs: Sculptor Alice Aycock Talks about Satellite Dishes and Other Art at GMOA

By Barbette Houser | February 12, 2016 3:35pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Alice Aycock's "Twin Vortexes" at GMOA.

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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In the Loop: State Agents Swarmed Downtown Last Weekend

By Blake Aued | February 8, 2016 5:12pm

Reports swirled over the weekend that police and state agents were “raiding” student bars in downtown Athens looking for underage drinkers.

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In the Loop: South Kitchen + Bar Is Restoring The Georgian Ballroom

By Kat Khoury | February 3, 2016 4:25pm

Photo Credit: Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library / University of Georgia Libraries

The new owners of the once-famed “Pride of Athens,” the ballroom at The Georgian, showed off their plans to restore it at an Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation event on Monday.

South Kitchen + Bar owners Kirby and Stephanie Sims, who also own Trappeze Pub and Highwire, are buying the ballroom from Chris Blackmon, owner of Rent Athens, another business in the building.

Several hundred Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation members filled the ballroom Monday, the more curious wandering through the halls and unused rooms of the former Palm Room, which has been sectioned off from the ballroom.

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In the Loop: Solarize Athens Installs Panels on Its First House

By Blake Aued | February 1, 2016 4:37pm

Photo Credit: courtesy of Environment Georgia

From left, Montana Busch, Jim Pinneau, Mayor Nancy Denson and Colleen McLoughlin.

Jim Pinneau of Winterville is the first local homeowner to add solar panels to his roof through Solarize Athens, a program that gets home- and business owners bulk rates on solar-panel installation.

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Culture Briefs: Designer Natalie Chanin Speaks of Great Change with Simple Tools at UGA

By Barbette Houser | February 1, 2016 4:02pm

Photo Credit: Barbette Houser

Chanin and Winnie Smith at the reception at the Wilsson Center.

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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Culture Briefs: Photo Gallery: AthCon 2016

By Joshua L. Jones | January 20, 2016 1:10pm

Celebrating the best in anime, sci-fi, comics and gaming, AthCon is an annual convention featuring vendors, guest appearances, panel discussions and plenty of costumes. Held this past three-day weekend at The Graduate, AthCon included appearances by the 501st Legion and "Walking Dead" actors, panels on "Dr. Who" and sci-fi writing, burlesque performances and a dance party with DJ Stormtrooper. Check out Flagpole photographer Joshua L. Jones' photos below.

Captain Canada in the search for that one comic book.

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In the Loop: Hundreds March Against Downtown Discrimination

By Blake Aued | January 19, 2016 11:23am

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Hip hop promoter Mokah Johnson, rapper Versatyle tha Wildchylde and activist Tim Denson.

Chanting slogans like “shut them down!” several hundred marchers braved freezing weather on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday to protest discriminatory practices at student bars downtown, as well as what they see as a more generally unwelcoming attitude toward African Americans downtown.

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