Summer Exhibitions - June 9 - August 13
Opening Reception, Thursday, June 9, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Featuring The Southern Appalachian Artist Guild (SAAG), Artists Tonya Haswell, Alex Sridej, Mary Frances Hull, Clay Sayre & Denise Schnaubelt
“Bright Lights: A Celebration of Summer”
Features artwork of The Southern Appalachian Artist Guild. The guild is an organization of artisans and craftsmen from several states, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, brought together to promote the business and professional development of its member artists.
They are a part of the historic Art Center in Blue Ridge, GA which hold several members only shows each year (at least one is a traveling exhibition) and sponsor the National Juried Show for members and non-members. SAAG has monthly educational meetings, Show and Tell sessions, social events, access to master's level classes, and a credentialing program. Members also enjoy the camaraderie of meeting with fellow artists. Chartered in 2007 with only 25, they now consist of 160 members. Learn more:
http://www.southernappalachianartists.org/
They are a part of the historic Art Center in Blue Ridge, GA which hold several members only shows each year (at least one is a traveling exhibition) and sponsor the National Juried Show for members and non-members. SAAG has monthly educational meetings, Show and Tell sessions, social events, access to master's level classes, and a credentialing program. Members also enjoy the camaraderie of meeting with fellow artists. Chartered in 2007 with only 25, they now consist of 160 members. Learn more:
http://www.southernappalachianartists.org/
“Ipse Dixit Et Facta Sunt: For He Spoke and They Were Made”
An exhibition of works by Alex Sridej. The theme of the exhibition is the Creation Story from the book of Genesis from the Christian Bible. Each panel illustrates the days of creation in chronological order, with some days being expanded to show the full event in action. The title of the show came from an exhibit on display at the Carlos Museum at Emory University entitled God Spoke The Earth: Stories of Genesis in Prints and Drawings. It was here that I discovered an excerpt from the Nuremburg Chronicle (1493) that read "Ipse dixit et facta sunt: Ipse mandavit et creata sunt." This translates to "For He spoke and they were made: He commanded and they were created." I was so moved by the power of that quote that I used the first segment as the title of this show.
Originally from the small town of Dacula in northeast Georgia, Alex Sridej has always been captivated by the creative aspects of life. Even as a young boy, he found himself drawn to the visual arts through a love of drawing and painting. Once he began his studies at Piedmont College, Alex soon found himself with a new passion for the world of graphic design and visual communication. It was through his studies that he gained an even greater desire to fuse together both his art and design, allowing his work to better the communities in which he works and lives.
Alex graduated from Piedmont College in 2015 with a BFA in Studio Art/Graphic Design and is now in the early stages of his career as a graphic designer.
Alex currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, where he hopes to begin a long and fruitful life in the worlds of art and design.
Originally from the small town of Dacula in northeast Georgia, Alex Sridej has always been captivated by the creative aspects of life. Even as a young boy, he found himself drawn to the visual arts through a love of drawing and painting. Once he began his studies at Piedmont College, Alex soon found himself with a new passion for the world of graphic design and visual communication. It was through his studies that he gained an even greater desire to fuse together both his art and design, allowing his work to better the communities in which he works and lives.
Alex graduated from Piedmont College in 2015 with a BFA in Studio Art/Graphic Design and is now in the early stages of his career as a graphic designer.
Alex currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, where he hopes to begin a long and fruitful life in the worlds of art and design.
“Monsters, Madness and Mayhem”
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A collaborative featuring original artwork by local Gainesville artists Mary Frances Hull, Clay Sayre and Denise Schnaubelt.
Mary Frances Hull is a resident artist at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville GA. She is experience taught and has developed her skill set by partnering with other commercial artists in the areas of stained glass, mosaic, painting and sculpting. Her art has taken her from the mountains of Appalachia to the deserts of New Mexico, to the beaches of Pawleys Island, South Carolina and currently in the cozy hills of Flowery Branch Georgia. She has multiple commercial projects installed throughout the United States. Mary is a Certified Art Material Professional (CAMP tested) and owns Pen Dragon Fine Arts Supply store located in the Quinlan Visual Arts Center catering to the local fine arts community and schools. Mary states “Monsters, Madness and Mayhem exhibition embodies the idea of childhood memories, the madness they create in life and the acceptance of mayhem as a daily occurrence.” Clay Sayre is a teacher, artist, sometimes-actor, collector, and whatever else he gets his hands into. He graduated from Old Dominion University and has been teaching high school Visual Arts for 15 years. Before that he worked professionally as a makeup effects artist as well as a graphic artist. He spends his spare time doing sketch cards for companies such as Leaf, Cryptozoic, Unstoppable and Cult-Stuff, as well as acting in genre fan films. And somewhere in there he is a father to 3 teenage boys! Clay’s take on Monsters, Madness and Mayhem, “Monsters. How can you not love monsters? Not the real monsters of our actual world, but the monsters of our childhood. At least from my childhood. I love my classic monster movies from the 30's and 40's, I love the goofy Ed Roth hot rod-inspired creations of the 60's, and I love the monsters from the mind of Jim Henson. These are not the slashers and psychos of today, but rather those wonderful frights teetering on the edge of innocence. They are an escape from the real horrors of the world. And they are always nearby....albeit under my bed, in my closet or moving through the deepest recesses of my mind. What can I say...I love Monsters.” Denise Schnaubelt artist statement, “I have been a doodler all my life. I enjoy making things, drawing, painting, sewing and cobbling things together with power tools. Growing up surrounded by arts & crafts was the norm for me. My urge to create has always found a way to be expressed, whether as a hairdresser, a mom with little hands to guide or now with my partner, a high school art teacher. So this is me – enjoying life.” “When I first met the man who has become my fiancé, I realized there is another whole world around me that I had been ignoring and wasn’t trying to understand. He opened a door and I stepped through. As I learned about this place where the monsters live, I had a realization: the monsters of yesteryear are simply misunderstood. I believe it is that thought that encourages me to participate in this show. Monsters and Mayhem has challenged me; stretched me. It has taken me on a journey of learning and educated me about myself. At first I thought my style wouldn’t work with this subject. Thankfully, I was wrong. As with most things, it’s really interpretation. The hum of life, of darkness, or whatever you hear. What really makes that noise?” |
“HOME GROWN”
Featuring mixed media artwork by artist Tonya Haswell.
Tonya grew up in and around small town Georgia. As a transplant to rural life, early childhood years were spent in South Georgia learning to fish, garden, ride horses, sew, and just "fit in". Not until recently have these memories begun to surface in her artwork. "I always felt like an outsider looking in... not completely comfortable in my skin”, Tonya reminisces. Always observant and just diving in, Tonya has a wide range of creative expression. In order to visually render fond memories, she incorporates found objects, vintage print pieces, and textiles into her pieces. Each piece is an abstract collection of memories connected to a carefree time with faith, family and friends. “Memories come in randomly organized yet experimentally related fragments. My most recent work explores the visual narrative of a rural upbringing.”
Tonya graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. Her area of concentration was in Graphic Design. This training is evident in her artwork. "I love to experiment with motion, texture and composition. My work has a strong graphic quality allowing me to focus on the main inspiration."
Tonya grew up in and around small town Georgia. As a transplant to rural life, early childhood years were spent in South Georgia learning to fish, garden, ride horses, sew, and just "fit in". Not until recently have these memories begun to surface in her artwork. "I always felt like an outsider looking in... not completely comfortable in my skin”, Tonya reminisces. Always observant and just diving in, Tonya has a wide range of creative expression. In order to visually render fond memories, she incorporates found objects, vintage print pieces, and textiles into her pieces. Each piece is an abstract collection of memories connected to a carefree time with faith, family and friends. “Memories come in randomly organized yet experimentally related fragments. My most recent work explores the visual narrative of a rural upbringing.”
Tonya graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. Her area of concentration was in Graphic Design. This training is evident in her artwork. "I love to experiment with motion, texture and composition. My work has a strong graphic quality allowing me to focus on the main inspiration."