Gallery 111 First Friday features The 50/50 Exhibit and DHS IB Students

50/50 Exhibit

The Creative Arts Guild First Friday will showcase 50 plus works of local and regional artists priced at Fifty dollars and below. The exhibit will feature the small works of Chris Hageback, Joy Brownworth, Mike Shalett, Evelyn Marie Williams, Bradley Wilson, Cella Neapolitan, Cindy McCreery, Peggy Huffstutler, Janis Wilkey, Chuck Frye, Gay Arthur, Doug McCoy, Paul Fontana, Jody Harris, Carolyn Insler, Sandra Babb, Jo Lackey, B.J Wright, Gary Keeble, Paula Plott Gregg, David Bates, Karen Dunigan and Crystal Coker. The exhibit is a cash and carry show with artworks being replenished throughout the month of April.

Bradley Wilson, Guild Gallery Director states, “This exhibit is in direct response to these tough economic times. We’re hoping to create a win/win situation by offering affordable original artwork so that patrons can continue to build their collections and artists continue to sell.” The exhibit is non-juried and offers an interesting and eclectic mix of works from photography to paintings to jewelry.

Dalton High School IB Exhibit

The Guild’s main gallery will feature the artwork of Dalton High School International Baccealaureate (IB) Students Alicia Aguirre, Meggan Behr, Kara Crews, Brianne Dosch, Reagan Fromm, Lindsey George, Faviola Gonzalex, Katie Harden, Samantha Hernandez, Gita Khote, Kathryn Lutrick, Sofia Mendoza, Elizabeth Mosley, Holly Patterson, Chelsea Pope and Laureane Urbain.  The IB program is defined as "a rigorous, off-the-shelf curriculum recognized by universities around the world”  when it was featured in a December 18, 2006, edition of Time Magazine titled How to bring our schools out of the 20th Century. Many of these IB students plan to continue their arts education and have benefitted from the broader and challenging demands of an IB curriculum. The IB program at Dalton High School is taught by Catherine Kinsey and serves as the only IB program in Northwest Georgia.

The community is invited to continue their First Friday gallery hop experience at Michael’s Fine Arts & Framing ‘Wear Your Art’ Series on Dug Gap Road beginning at 6:00 p.m. Micheal’s will feature the agate pottery of Geraldine Powell.  The Guild would like to thank The Dalton Depot for sponsoring First Fridays and encourage the community to stop in before or after art openings for music and dining.

First Friday and Wear Your Art openings are free and open to the public. For additional information please contact the Guild at 706-278-0168 or visit www.creativeartsguild.org.

The Creative Arts Guild’s Student Arts Expo Senior Show hosted area Seniors for an award’s reception Tuesday evening, March 23^rd. First place winner in the expo and Spigel prize is Murray County’s Susana Contreras, second place winner is Dalton High School’s Elizabeth Mosley and third place winner is Dalton High School’s Lindsey George. Honorable Mention award winners are Susana Contreras, Alia Dubenvich, Haley Godfrey, Katy Nixon and Kristen Young from Murray County High School; Elizabeth Mosley, Lindsey George and Kara Crews; Cathy Saavedra, Joshua Foster and Ransom Worley from Southeast High School; and Zach Stafford and Paige Hicks from Northwest High School. The Bernice Spigel Prize winners receive a cash prize for excellence in visual arts.

First, Second, Third and Spigel Prize

Winners pictured: From Left to Right: Lindsey George, Elizabeth Mosley and Susana Contreras.

Honorable Mention winners pictured:

Front Row Left to Right: Alia Dubenvich, Haley Godfrey, Lindsey George, Kara Crews.

Back Row Left to Right: Angie Johnson, Melodie Vaden, Elizabeth Mosley, Katy Nixon,

Susana Contreras, and Catherine Kinsey.

Student Arts Expo Senior Show now on Exhibit

The Creative Arts Guild’s 2010 Student Art Expo concludes with the annual senior show now on display in the Guild’s main gallery.

The 47th annual student show includes work created by the top senior artists in Dalton Public Schools, Murray County Schools and Whitfield County Schools and allows student artists to compete for the Bernice Spigel Prize in the Visual Arts.

“This year’s work demonstrates an exceptional commitment to artistic exploration,” said Terry Tomasello, Executive Director of the Guild.

“This is one of the largest senior shows we’ve hosted. The work fills the gallery and even extends down the hall toward our lobby area. We’re delighted to display the work of these student artists.”

Judge for this year’s senior show was Robert Webb, local art patron, collector, Guild Trustee and co-founder of the Spigel Prize.

“The senior show is always eclectic, and this year it was nice to see many pieces that were born from independent study,” Webb said.

“It was intriguing to find that trends in major art centers are being mirrored in local student work. The ongoing return to portraiture,   the figure and still life is evident in the work on display. This year’s show is very colorful and contains several first rate works. I’m sure many visitors to the gallery will find a particular favorite.”

Susana Conteras of Murray County High School was awarded first place in the show for “Can We Go Outside?” Webb referred to the drawing of a child as moving past technique and capturing personality in a sophisticated and understated manner. Conteras also received honorable mentions for “The Amazing Andres,” “Time for the Hunt” and “What?!” Conteras is a student of Angie Johnson.

Elizabeth Mosely of Dalton High School received second place in the show for “Jackie,” which Webb praised for its strong gestural lines and the boldness of its composition.  Mosely also received honorable mentions for “True Love,” “Christiana Willocks” and “Figure 6.” Mosely is a student of Catherine Kinsey.

Lindsey George of Dalton High School received third place in the show for “Darin Vaughn.” Webb called the still life “an intricately composed and technically demanding work.” George also received honorable mentions for “Morning Bird” and “Dogwoods.” George is a student of Catherine Kinsey.

Other honorable mention recipients were Kara Crews (Dalton) for “Living Life is Easy” and “Change;” Alia Dubenvich (Murray) for “Vroom Vroom” and “Lock Up;” Joshua Foster (Southeast) for “Cherry Guy;” Haley Godfrey (Murray) for “Let It Rain;” Paige Hicks (Northwest) for “The Special;” Katy Nixon (Murray) for “Lucky Rabbit’s Foot;” Cathy Saovedra (Southeast) for “Untitled;” Zack Stafford (Northwest) for “Untitled;” Ransom Worley (Southeast) for “Almost;” and Kristin Young (Murray) for “Reagle” and “Show Off.”

“We offered a record number of honorable mentions this year,” said Tomasello. “That speaks to the quality and quantity of work that was included in this year’s show. The art instructors in our area schools should be very proud.”

Webb selected Conteras, Mosely and George as the three recipients of the 2010 Spigel Prize in the Visual Arts. Each student will receive $500 at their senior honors day.

“The work of these three students really stands out from the rest of the show,” Webb said. “There were clearly a number of pieces that merited recognition in the exhibit, but these three demonstrated strengths in multiple media, showcased strong technique and also revealed very mature and individual styles. Whether reinvigorating a classical medical illustration in a glittery Pop Art manner, coolly capturing personalities in striking portraits or using highly refined technique to deliver both simple and complex compositions in a compelling manner, these students are producing a caliber of work that commands respect and appreciation.”

A reception will be held Tuesday, March 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m. where award winners will be announced. Light refreshments will be served.

The Spigel Prize in the Visual Arts was established in honor of Bernice Spigel, the long-time executive director of the Creative Arts Guild who helped to found the organization in 1960. She was a past recipient of the Georgia Governor’s Award in the Arts and served for nine years on the Georgia Council for the Arts.

The Creative Arts Guild is the state’s oldest multidisciplinary community arts organization. The Guild offers exhibits, performances, recitals and lessons to youth and adults in the northwest Georgia region. For more information on the Guild’s programming visit www.creativeartsguild.org or call 706.278.0168.

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March features the Rome Area Flute Ensemble and A Celtic Celebration

The Creative Arts Guild’s monthly Noon Arts performance will feature the Rome Area Flute Ensemble. Musical selections will include Flight of the Bumblebee, Mexican Hat Dance, Habanera from Carmen and My Heart Will Go On performed by Terry Brandin and Vicky Culberson Drnek from Rome, Tammy McDonald and Melissa Morgan from Summerville and Guild Music Director Lisa Elders from Dalton. The performance will be held this Thursday March 18th, beginning at noon and will conclude by 1:00 p.m. in the Creative Arts Guild Main Gallery. Those attending may bring a lunch or call the Guild in advance to order a box lunch for $8.00. Noon Arts is free and open to the public.