Off the Wall

BUY ART! BUY NOW!

originally published October 17, 2001

off-dougmakemson.jpg Sculpture by Doug Makemson

PRINCE AVENUE ART ZONE: There are exciting things to see and do on lower Prince Avenue, where mixed-use development and area revitalization meet classic architecture and a quaint, quiet community. Check into the following art happenings in what is becoming Athens' most interesting near-downtown neighborhood:

THEY'RE EVERYWHERE! THEY'RE EVERYWHERE! In case you hadn't noticed, the BuyArt extravaganza kicked off October 12 at the recently completed Bottleworks (297 Prince Ave) with 63 Athens artists available to meet all your home- and art-improvement needs. This market runs through October 21, 2001, free and open to the public from 12 noon to 6 p.m. daily or by appointment. A portion of the proceeds for all sales will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Athens. Six-month, interest-free layaway plans are available, and you might be glad when you see some of the monumental works by Athens-area heavy-hitters. Sponsored by Arrow Gallery, Big City Bread, D.O.C., Candy, Red Electric, Bottleworks, Wimberly & Lawson PC. and the Go Bar, this is one of those quintessential Athens events for the townie in all of us. Featured event Friday, October 19: A reception sponsored by the Young at Art Committee of the GMOA at 5:30 p.m. with music by Max Fine. Cost is $10, reservations required, 542-4662. Featured event October 21: Poetry reading by Coleman Barks at 4 p.m. Mr. Barks will read from his recently published book of Rumi poetry translations, as well as from an as yet-unreleased collection of works including pieces dedicated to the life and memory of John Seawright.

BuyArt artists featured include: Rinne Allen, Matt Alston, Jeremy Ayers, Beverly Babb, June Ball, Jay Bauer, Greg Benson, Jim Barsness, Scott Belleville, Jill Baskin, Jill Carnes, Andy Cherewick, George Davidson, Jeanne Ann Davidson, Didi Dunphy, Henry Duvall, Mary Engel, Dennis Harper, Jennifer Hartley, Jim Herbert, Scott Hinson, Steve Hinton, Cindy Jerrell, Judy Jones, Margaret Katz Nodine, Lou Kregel, Michael Lachowski, Sally Landrum, David Levitt, Doug Makemson, Deonna Mann, Carl Martin, Ian McFarlane, Jackie Slayton Methe, Carol Mickett, Chatham Murray, Andy Nasisse, William D. Paul Jr., Edward Rice, Terry Rowlett, Sam Seawright, Sally Speed, Robert Stackhouse, Mark Steinmetz, John Thompson, Vernon Thornsberry, Jason Thrasher, Thomas Tulis, Joanna Vass, Lamar Wood and Rebecca Wood. Call (706) 461-3798 or visit buyartathens.com for a list of artists and more info.

off-vernthornsberry.jpg "Horse & Girl with Parasol" by Vernon Thornsberry

IN ADDITION: Currently showing at the Firehall No. 2 Gallery (Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation) are "Freudian Clips" by J. Phillip White, "a spectacular journey into the magical world of photomontage." Found image/found object artist White has a way with combined imagery, creating seamless photo-collage explorations of contemporary issues utilizing recycled icons, free of computer enhancement. 489 Prince Ave, call 353-1801 for hours and information.

Some fine work by Mike Landers is hanging at the Grit (199 Prince Ave) through Oct. 21, including oil on panel repros of vintage toy laser pistols. Next up: Painter Joanna Vass.

Finally, make a date to visit the Studio Group Show and Sale, November 16, 17 and 18 at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church (498 Prince Ave.) Sale begins at 5 p.m. that Friday evening. Ride your bike to at least one of these venues, since parking is often complicated; and if you must drive, look for the nice off-Prince lot behind the Bottleworks on Meigs Street.

NEW DIGS, OLD FAVORITES: The Loef Gallery, recently expelled from the building at 320 E. Clayton Street above Compadres, is now located in easier-to-spot storefront digs at 166 West Clayton. In fact, it is now known as The Gallery at 166. Fine arts and crafts from area artists include watercolors, prints, Polaroid transfers, turned wood and stained glass. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Athens culture is once again breathing renewed life into an under-appreciated part of town, as evidenced by recently added art, music and antiquities venues near Clayton and Pulaski. Take a walk down the hill on your next downtown wander.

off-deonnamann.jpg "Warm Rachel" by Deonna Mann

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Annual Athens Area Humane Society Benefit Yard Sale and CUPS Artist Market at the Green Acres Shopping Center on Barnett Shoals Rd. on November 3, 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Mercury Art Works Grand Opening Reception on November 3 at 8 p.m. Call 546-8559 for more info. Athens Fibercraft Guild presents jewelry and metalwork with Charles Pinckney, long-time Athens resident and former favorite docent at the Georgia Museum of Art at the Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt Street on November 6 at 7:30 p.m. Pinckney trained at Arrowmont, and his work includes jewelry for men and women, sculpture, tile work and much more. Call 548-4462 for info. Art Auction to benefit the soon-to-be-constructed Mercy Health Care Center on November 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Center will be a new clinic for Athens' needy and homeless, to be located at 165 Pulaski Street, in the old Firestone building, adjacent to Redeemer Presbyterian and the Athens Food Bank. Auction to be followed by a special dinner event. For auction and dinner reservations, please contact Carol Rymer at 425-9445.

WAS THAT YOU? Did anyone see an itinerate sidewalk spray-paint artist in front of Barnett's Newsstand, at maybe 8 p.m. about a month ago? He smelled like black Krylon and fit his whole studio of art-on-demand into a single battered backpack. Off the Wall is looking to contact fly-by-night, non-permitted street artists. Please send tips to athensart@aol.com.