Arts Clayton Gallery - Past Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Below is a list of our past exhibitions. You can also view the current or future exhibitions at the Gallery.

2008

"In The Garden"

April 1 - May 30

In the Main Gallery, exhibiting artists of all mediums present their take on spring and the glory of the garden.

"The Last Harvest: Truck Farmers in the Deep South" - Perry Dilbeck

April 1 - 26

A culmination of more than ten years of work, "The Last Harvest" documents the disappearing livelihood of the southern truck farmer and pays tribute to the dignity of local ways in the face of globalism and urban expansion. Perry Dilbeck has been an instructor of photography at the Art Institute of Atlanta since 1998. His photographs have been published worldwide in leading journals of photography, and they have been collected and exhibited across the United States. In 2007, the Georgia Writers Association awarded him Georgia Author of the Year for The Last Harvest.

13th District Congressional Art Show

March 3 - 28

Hosted by Congressman David Scott, the 13th District Congressional Art Show showcases the artistic talent of the next generation of young artists as they vie for thousands of dollars in scholarships from the local art colleges. Best-of-Show winner will hang in the Capitol in Washington DC.

Best of Show: Rachel Ford, Hillgrove High School, Powder Springs, "Rachel."
First Place: Andrew Sparks, Alexander High School, Douglasville, "Old Downtown."
Second Place: Elisa Owens, Stockbridge High School, "Creative Tools."
Third Place: Philip Hoffman, Campbell High School, "Progression and Change."

2008 Juried Show & Competition

February 4 - 29

Every February, Arts Clayton hosts the Annual Juried Show and Competition. Now it its eighth year, Georgia artists submit their very best work to the annual competition.

Jury panelists had a difficult task selecting from the over 90 pieces submitted by 28 Georgia Artists. Every medium is represented in this competition, from painting to fiber art and sculpture. Award winners will be announced at the opening reception on Thursday, February 7, 2008. Best of Show winner receives purchase award and opportunity for solo show at the Arts Clayton Gallery in September 2008. Cash prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.

Artists participating in this show have the opportunity to also present their work in the Arte Gras Fine Art Sale held at the Annual Arte Gras gala, February 23, 2008 at Eagle's Landing Country Club.

Georgia Artists with Disabilities Traveling Show

January 3 - February 1

Arts Clayton Gallery presents the 23rd annual Georgia Artists with Disabilities group traveling show. This exhibition represents a wide range of mediums and artists from across the state of Georgia.

Several local Southern Crescent artists are among the award winners of this annual show. Karen Casciani won the Lynn Humar award for "Linda's Wildflowers", and Distinguished Merit for "Lone Iris". Photographer Stephen Shifflett won Best of Show for "The Dance" and Distinguished Merit for "Luminous Depths." Amy Allen received Honorable mention for "Freedom."

2007

2007 Juried Photography Show & Competition

October

Sponsored by Paragon Systems

Every October, Arts Clayton proudly participates in the Atlanta Celebrates Photography Festival and hosts the Annual Juried Photography Show and Competition. Now in its fourth year, photographers submit their very best work to the annual competition. Our jury panel, led by Jim Lewchuk, selected 56 photographs from over 125 entries to be a part of the show and final judging process. In addition to monetary awards for Best of Show, and first, second and third places, the Best of Show winner is purchased every year to be included in Arts Clayton's permanent collection. Prize winners will also be invited to participate in the Annual Arté Gras Show & Sale, held in conjunction with the Arté Gras Gala in February 2008.

This year's show featured the photography of:

Laura Ahr, Scott Ash, Joe Astacio, Anne Berry, Sarah Clay, Lowell Crawford, Ida Daniel, Lee Duncan, Marcia Fisher, Linda Foltz, Lance Foster, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Derek Jezcx, Gary Greaves, John Green, Cindy Keen, Tom Kettles, L Major, Larry McDonald, Lynn McMeans, Mike Middendorf, Lanny Milbrandt, Jason Morrison, Julie Nestor, John Nowak, Daniel Osborne, Sandra Salter, Ray Salvatore, Morisca Vanessa Valdez, Dave Wells

Our judges - Perry Dilbeck, Jennifer Julian, Gordon Kilgore performed the difficult task of choosing the winners of this year's show. Arts Clayton strives every year to assemble a group of judges with backgrounds and styles as varied as the artists and artwork we display. This year was no exception.

Winners:

Best of Show - "Arkansas Cattle" by Lanny Milbrandt
First Place - "The Coast" by John Nowak
Second Place - "Handmade Dwelling" by Daniel Osborne
Third Place - "Reflection" by Derek Jezxc
Honorable Mention - "Free" by Jason Morrison

The Art of Kathy Poucher

September

Best of Show artist from our 2007 Juried Art Competition, Kathy Poucher expresses beauty, peace, contentment and thanksgiving through her works in oil. Through these works she hopes to inspire the viewer to consider and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us; the One responsible for it all and the gratitude she feel for being a part of His grand plan.

Winds of Change

August/September

Creative plays on the concepts of change, Fall, wind, and even some wind instruments comprise the new exhibit in the main gallery.

Wanderlust - the Photography of Scott Ash

August

Wanderlust is the strong urge or irresistible impulse to travel. The feature exhibit this month will allow the community to travel the globe through the lens of Scott Ash, Arts Clayton's 2006 Juried Photography show winner, as he presents his very best work featuring exotic locations around the world.

In his other life, Scott Ash is a commercial airline pilot. Combining his passions of travel, hiking and photography resulted in Wanderlust Photography. Scott describes his work as "...opportune photography - photographing the things that make each particular place unique, beautiful and memorable. I do this by capturing images of sweeping landscapes, people, details of nature or man-made architecture."

Futurist - the Art of Shannon Lake

July

Shannon Lake's latest collection captures the essence of early 20th century Futurism.

A movement in the arts, originated by Italian artists shortly before WWI, Futurism opposed traditionalism and sought to depict dynamic movement by eliminating conventional form and stressing the speed, flux, and violence of the machine age. This body of work rejects the current norms and explores the vitality and restlessness of modern life in the 21st century.

In addition to studio work, Mr. Lake is well-known for his commissioned outdoor murals, which grace the exterior walls of Barnesville, McDonough, Griffin, and now the city of Jonesboro. Mr. Lake is the artist for the Arts Clayton Mural Project, located at 136 S. Main Street (Corner of Main & Church).

WaterWorks!

June/July

Arts Clayton Gallery exhibiting artists interpret the theme "WaterWorks!" in many different ways, using a variety of media. Creative plays on both "water" and "work" are well-represented in this tribute to summer.

Cathy Ehrler - Environmental Reverberations

June

Environmental Reverberations is a series of 20 paintings that illustrate patterns of repetition in the natural and manmade environments. Ehrler says, "The paintings are designed to reflect the ecological issues we face, both in the natural environment and the manmade one."

Ehrler didn't have to go far to find the subjects. "I found each one outside my door or not far from it," she states. "I continually find new subject matter around me, both in our beautiful natural world and in the abundance of our waste. And since I am a devoted recycler I think about the relationship of what we use against what we have."

She continues - "As part of nature we want to see nature in all its beauty. We also want to see it in our products, giving them natural names, scents and logos. As artists we edit out the things that don't belong when we paint a landscape - the cigarette butts, the Styrofoam packaging, trash on the side of the road. But the reality is both worlds are mixed together. We take one from the other and we put one back into the other. The Styrofoam cups are in the grass, trees become newspapers." Ehrler poses some interesting questions with these works and the viewer may ask: What is recycling? Where is the beauty? Can we see beauty in the trash? You can decide when you visit the exhibit.

Ehrler, who lives in Dawsonville, is the current president of the Georgia Watercolor Society and has been honored as a Member of Excellence in the Atlanta Artists Center. She is also a Signature Member of the Georgia Watercolor Society and the San Diego Watercolor Society. Ehrler has won more than 75 awards in National and International competitions and has her work in private collections around the world. You can see more of her work at Studio Z in Atlanta, at the Grandview Gallery in Buckhead or by appointment in her Dawsonville studio. You can also view her work at her web site.

Quilts: A Common Thread

May 2007

Arts Clayton Gallery presents its first fiber art exhibit this month with "Quilts: A Common Thread." Showcasing fiber artists and quilters from the Southern Crescent, this exhibit features quilts from traditional folk works to contemporary fiber art.

Quilts, and quilt-making, provide us with a common thread of American experience. It is an artistic tradition passed down from daughter, to daughter, to daughter for over two centuries. While the earliest examples of quilt making date back to the Egyptians in 900 B.C., it was the European settlers who brought the rich tradition to the United States during the colonial period. From them, it spread to became a uniquely American folk art tradition, practiced by all groups of people, in many traditional forms and continually evolving forms.

Quilts have not only kept us warm, but they have also provided countless hours of fellowship and sharing. Each quilt shares with us a unique story,through stitch-and-pattern, of events and of the quilters themselves. Some stories chronicle the rite-of-passage like the joy of a wedding or the birth of a child. Others have communicated the path to safety and freedom, like those used by the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.

Arts Clayton Gallery would like to extend a very special thanks to our fiber artists participating in this incredible feature: Arlene Bellamy, Rasheeda Burston, Myla Chapman, Nancy DeCreny Franklin, Lynette Jackson, Beverly Lewis, Aisha Lumunba, Tonia Mitchell, Debra Svitil, Terumi Todd and Claudia Wood.

Spring Cleaning: Art Cleanses the Soul

April/May

"Spring Cleaning" showcased art from local Georgia artists and their impressions of our April/May theme: "Spring Cleaning: Art Cleanses the Soul."

The Art of Donna Parker

April

Portraits are snapshots of life. Experience an intimate and endearing look into these moments in time as captured by one of our curators, Donna Parker. Ms. Parker has been passionate about the arts her entire life: early dance lessons led to professional dance performances in Pittsburgh, New York City, and a tour with the New York Ballet. She obtained a BA in Drama from the University of Pittsburgh and took naturally to drawing and painting classes she took as a young mother. Further development of Donna's painting talent was made to wait until 1998, after retiring from a 14-year career as a telecom executive for R.H.Macy & Co. in New York City, moving to Georgia to be near family, and opening a private telecommunications consulting practice. In 1998, Donna enrolled in an evening drawing class offered by the Peachtree City Recreation Department. She enjoyed the class so much that she began taking classes in other media: pastels, watercolor, and oils. In 2000, Donna discovered portrait art and for the past few years has focused primarily on commissioned oil portraiture. Donna has taken classes and workshops locally with Helen Hayes, Pam Hardin, and Lydia Ellis, and in California and France with Howard Reece.

Donna is an active participant and strong supporter of the fine arts in the south-metro Atlanta area. Five years ago, impressed with the programs and progress of Arts Clayton, Donna began offering her volunteer support of the Arts Clayton Gallery and, for the past four years, Donna has served as a curator for the monthly art exhibits of the Arts Clayton Gallery. Donna is a member of the Fayette Society of Fine Art, having served as president in 2005-2006 and is also a member of the Newnan-Coweta Art Association.

Barnesville Woodturners

April

In the age of mass production, the lathe can produce thousands of identical items. However, in the hands of local artisans, the wood lathe can create intricate one of a kind works of art in all shapes, sizes and functions. Join us a local woodturning guild fills the feature gallery - from lamps and clocks to bowls and vessels to pens and bottle stoppers.

Congressional Student Art Competition

March

The 13th District Congressional Student Art Competition showcases talent of the next generation of young artists as they vie for THOUSANDS of dollars in scholarships from the local art colleges. The Best of Show winner will hang in the Capitol for the next year! The Savannah College of Art and Design awarded a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000/year) to the first place winner. The Art Institute of Atlanta also presented the first place winner with a $10,000 scholarship. The second place winner received a $5,000 scholarship and the third place winner received a $2,000 scholarship.

This year's winners include:

First Place - "Melting Pot" by Allison Jarek, Alexander High School
Second Place - "Untitled" by Nuri Durr, Mt. Zion High School
Third Place - "Protested" by Jasmine Simmons, Lovejoy High School
Honorable Mention - "Broken Wings" by Daisy Johnson, Mt. Zion High School

Arté Gras Juried Show

February 23

Held over from our widely successful inaugural Arté Gras event, the Arté Gras Juried Show brought together some of the finest pieces from adult artists celebrating the joy of life. Even if you attended the Arté Gras gala, you will need to stop by, see, and purchase your favorite piece before the month's end. All net proceeds from this exhibit will benefit the Arts in Education and scholarship programs of Arts Clayton.

2007 Annual Juried Art Show & Competition

February

Every February, Arts Clayton hosts the Annual Juried Show and Competition. Now in its seventh year, artists from Georgia submit their very best work to the annual competition. Our jury panel, led by Dr. David Ludley from Clayton State University, selected 56 pieces of work from the over 100 submitted by local artists.

Our judges, Cathy Ehrler, Angela Hawkins and Pandra Williams, performed the difficult task of choosing the winners of this year's show. Arts Clayton strives every year to assemble a group of judges with backgrounds as varied as the artists and artwork we display. This year is no exception.

In addition to the best technically representation, the judges looked for winning pieces which were "fresh," and that provided the audience a new and different look at a medium or subject matter. The winners, as chosen by our judges, were:

Winners:

Best of Show - "Joy Comes in the Morning" by Kathy Poucher
First Place - "Nocturne I" by Scott Silcox
Second Place - "Sandra Kadas, Formal" by Keith Barnette
Third Place - "Lloyd's Fish Market" by David Jones
Honorable Mention - "Simply Timeless" by Kristina Adams
Honorable Mention - "Three's A Crowd" by Julie Nestor
Honorable Mention - "Turtles, Wakulla Springs" by David Jones
Honorable Mention - "The River" by Robin Liles
Honorable Mention - "Ripples & Stripes" by Kay Ridge

The Best of Show Winner, Kathy Poucher, will be offered both the opportunity for a feature exhibit at the Arts Clayton Gallery in 2007, and for her winning entry to be purchased by Arts Clayton for its permanent collection. Winners of First, Second and Third places also receive cash prizes.

The Private Collections of Virginia Bonyton and Arthur & Lucy Huie

January

Mrs. Virginia Boynton was raised near Annapolis, MD. While she's held a lifelong passion for painting and drawing, it was not until the military career of her husband brought them to Panama that she decided to pick up a paint brush again. In Panama, she studied under Jane Davies, the first North American Artist, male or female, to have a gallery show in the Republic of Panama. After the military, Mrs. Boynton and her husband settled in Clayton County, where he served the community for many years as the City Manager of Riverdale and Morrow. While in Clayton County, she continues study under renowned wildlife painter, John Johnson. Mrs. Boynton has served the Clayton County community for the last 20 years working with the Clayton County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In addition to being an artist, the late Arthur Huie was a cattle farmer and business man. Together with his wife, Mrs. Lucy Huie, their involvement in and dedication to the Clayton County Community is well known. Art was also a lifelong passion for Mr. Huie, beginning in school, continuing through his military service, and beyond. While he served in the South Pacific during World War II, he took along his watercolors and painted the local scenes in New Guinea and New Caledonia. Upon his return, he continued his art education. As he studied art with Ouida Kennedy, his fellow art student was Mrs. Betty Sanders, wife of former governor Carl Sanders. Insisting that all of his work was for sale, Mr. Huie set up what can be considered Jonesboro's first retail art gallery, out of the Huie family home. A sign on Tara Blvd directed art collectors up to the house.

Artist Choice

January 2007

Local Georgia Artists chose their favorite work to display in this open exhibit. Something for everyone as art of all types is exhibited - from traditional to modern, photography to folk art.

2006

Mistletoe Market

November/December

Good Tidings, Great Joy

November/December

3rd Annual Juried Photography Show

October 2006

Presented in conjunction with Atlanta Celebrates Photography Festival.

Winners:

Best of Show - "Fairytale Castle, Segovia, Spain" by Scott Ash
First Place - "With Me" by Jason Morrison
Second Place - "Apalachicola Past" by Thomas Wolfe
Third Place - "Windows" by Joe Astacio
Honorable Mention - "Mountain Chapel, Melchtal, Switzerland" by Scott Ash
Honorable Mention - "Six Eggrolls" by Anne Berry

Plane Truth: The Art of Juried Show Winner Scott Silcox

September 2006

Abundance

August/September

Hollywood Classics: Unforgettable Stars of the Silver Screen

August

Atlanta Artists Center Traveling Show

July

Summertime Blues

June/July

Award Winners: Art from Permanent Collection Artists

June

Georgia Riches - 2006 SCAVA Traveling Show

May

Spring Into Action

April/May

Visions - The Photography of DeDe & Rick Gauthier

April

Congressional Student Art Show

March

2006 Annual Juried Art Show & Competition

February 2006

Judges: Mona Waterhouse, Kathy Yancey, and Charles Walls

Winners:

Best of Show - "Enigma," Scott Silcox
First Place - "Enchanted Iris," Dan Garcia
Second Place - "Beth Kneeling," Keith Barnett
Third Place - "Seaswirl Mermaid Orchid," W. Rodger Smith
Honorable Mention - "Sophia," Ada Astacio
Honorable Mention - "5 Elders," R Sydney Henderson

Artist Signature: 2005 SCAVA Traveling Show

January

Artist Signature

January