Original Watercolors
by Jane Springfield
July 1, 2008 - August 31, 2008

Jane wants her landscapes and still-life watercolors to capture the essence of special places. She is especially drawn to the spontaneous nature of watercolor that allows quick interpretation and unexpected results in my work. Her use of clear, subtle color emphasizes the transparent quality of the medium. She paints on location and in her studio. Also working in oils and pencil, she creates picture memories inspired by what she sees on travels, local scenes, and hiking or backpacking.

Jane is a native of Atlanta residing in Marietta, Georgia. In other lives she worked as agency art director, catalog producer and high technology marketing director. A past or present board member of Atlanta Artists Center and Georgia Watercolor Society, she exhibits locally and nationally and is in many private and corporate collections.

Education: BFA with major in graphic design, University of Georgia. Classes and workshops with Clint Carter, Dolores Kennedy, Joan Stone, Charles Reid, Jack Shields and Alex Powers in watercolor; Dolores Kennedy, Debra Nadelhoffer and Bill Davidson in oils; Elsie Dresch in pastels; David Diener, Marie Matthews and Ben Smith in figure drawing and painting.

 

Through the Eyes of a Child:
Romanian Children Artists
July 1, 2008 - August 31, 2008

In 1994 Romania chose a few children artists and their acclaimed teacher to be a cultural component of the World Cup soccer play in Los Angeles. The children, winners of many international art medals and honors, became the catalyst for an international educational program.

Each summer, Professor Stoica and her students have traveled to the U.S. to share their painting techniques with American children. The children visited Santa Fe and painted at the Museum of International Folk Art in the summer of 1998, and in 1999 and 2000 the children painted at the Woodruff Art Center in Atlanta. The following two summers they painted and taught at St. Matthew's Episcopal Parish Center in Pacific Palisades California. In 2003 and 2004 the Romanian Children Artists were hosted at Bethany Church in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area. In the summers of 2005 and 2006 the program was hosted by the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston, IL. They have been enthusiastically received each place they have visited. The program visited Atlanta for 3 weeks from June 29 through July 21, 2007 and will return in July of 2008.

The Romanian Children artists range in age from 9 to 18. While in Atlanta, the Romanian children will mentor American students in a two-week session honing their creative skills and building a bond of friendship through the international language of art.
The program, sponsored by Through the Eyes of a Child, Inc. promotes international understanding, builds friendships, and develops cultural sensitivity among children of different backgrounds and cultures.

For more information and to view paintings please visit www.romanianchildrenartists.org

Paintings, Sketches & Collages
by Joy Patty
September 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008

Joy Patty's paintings and mixed media collages reflect inspiration from man-made environments and nature. Observation of movement and changing colors in sky and water is exhilarating, as is finding unusual compositions on urban sidewalks and walls. Particularly drawn to experimentation with materials, Patty enjoys the spontaneity of paint combined with drawing materials while her collage process involves creating a palette of colorful papers to cut, tear, and arrange. Her artistic influences range from 19th century landscape painters, to abstract expressionists, modernist collage artists, and folk art.

Originally from Kingsport, Tennessee, Patty has been an art and museum educator in Atlanta for 20 years. She studied art at Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina and holds a Masters degree in art education from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Patty currently teaches young children at The Lovett School and coordinates exhibitions for the Lovett Gallery. She is an instructor for ACA Community Education, part of Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta.
  

Smyrna Area Artist Showcase
by SABA
September 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008

The Smyrna Artists' Business Association (SABA) will be exhibiting a collection of locally produced art from its members in the upstairs display cases. SABA supports Smyrna's thriving local artist community and strengthens Smyrna's identity as an artist's city and a city of art. The organization provides a forum that enables artists to share ideas, socialize, receive exposure & recognition and obtain assistance with opening new markets and connecting with new collectors.

Its local membership is comprised of a diverse and talented group whose artistic disciplines include: painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, graphic design, fashion design, music, dance, theater and more.

Membership is open to all local area artists. Monthly meetings at 6:30 PM are held on the second Tuesday of each month. See the website link below for details.

Learn more about SABA.
   

Original Paintings
by Martha Bator
November 1, 2008 - January 2, 2009

Like the Impressionists, whose work she admires, Martha Bator celebrates the images of everyday life and reminds us of the beauty that surrounds us. A visual diary of sorts, Martha Bator's paintings provide a glimpse into her many years of world travel.

Martha Bator, who describes herself as having dabbled in many mediums, first began using pastel as a means for creating sketches for her watercolors. She soon found, however, that they were to become her medium of choice.

Years later, in 1987, Martha Bator helped found the Southeastern Pastel Society, which includes members from all over the country, and has been the Vice President ever since. She is also a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and Knickerbocker Artists of USA. She has conducted numerous workshops, exhibited across the country, and had her work published in several publications.

Her work has also brought her national honors and, recently, recognition by the Secretary of State for Achievement by Georgia Women in the Visual Arts.

Lear more about Martha Bator from her website.
   

The Many Faces of Santa Claus
by Assorted Collectors
November 1, 2008 - January 2, 2009

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Old St. Nick, Kris Kringle or just Santa is one of the most popular non-religious symbols of the holiday season.

However, Santa's origins are religious in nature and actually lay with a real St. Nicholas, a 4th century Greek Bishop from what is now Myra, Turkey.

Over the past 17 centuries Santa Claus and St. Nicholas have become intertwined and now symbolize a mythic folklore figure who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve around the world.

The modern depiction of Santa as a jolly fat man with white hair and a red suit is much younger than you may think. It only became popular in the 1880s as a result of Thomas Nast's widely published cartoons.

Join us and enjoy a variety of Santas from several private collections in many shapes, poses and activities that will brighten your holiday spirits in November and December.

The Many Faces of Santa Claus exhibit will feature over 30 Santas in free standing groupings, ornaments and hand carved originals including one with 4 faces!