KEN AUSTER - TO ARRIVE FRIDAY

Finally... It has taken me well over a year to get this surfer dude here in Georgia. We originally wanted to head to Savannah last year, but it never panned out, but with short notice this year, we had to be satisfied with the hills of Atlanta. Ken arrives Friday where we will first visit Anne Irwin at her gallery opening and then we will be hunting for places to paint on Saturday. Sunday, Ken will hold a full day demo/lecture at the gallery and then we are off to the to-be-announced locations on Monday (rain is in the forecast), and Tuesday (sunny- yeah!!!). I AM so looking forward to watching Ken paint...he is legendary. Will get pics for you all to see!!!

MERIT AWARD WINNERS - MIXED MEDIA/COLLAGE EXHIBIT - The Gallery at Paper Mill Village

Merit Award Winners:

(L-R) Donna Thomas (School and Gallery Director), Douglas Fromm (Atlanta), Lisa D. Watson (Savannah), Patricia Wolf (Atlanta), judge Kenson Thompson. Absent: Rae Broyles (Atlanta), Luby Lowry (Savannah), Mary C. Leto and Pat Sahertian (Blufton, SC)

MIXED MEDIA/COLLAGE EXHIBIT RECEPTION - FRIDAY, MARCH 5th

Group shot at Mixed Media/Collage Exhibit reception on Friday, March 5th












Another group shot












Kenson sharing laugh with juried artist Janet Saryadegar












Kenson with merit award winner, Patricia Wolf












The reception was well attended by numerous juried artists traveling from Savannah, Athens, and throughout the metro area and their supporters. After the introduction of the awards, Kenson Thompson, the judge, noted that her selection of the merit awards was a difficult choice, but a common thread ran throughout her selections - works with a story, a mystery and paintings that made her want to go paint! The reception was followed by a workshop held at the school by Kenson in her techniques this weekend. She said she gave away all of her secrets and was so willing to share! A number of students at the workshop took my suggestion and visited the Women's Center at Northside Hospital where a large collection of commissioned works by Kenson are on permanent display.

OIL STICKS USED IN MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP

Huge oil crayons...gorgeous colors...make a nice shot!!

STUDENT EXAMPLES - KENSON'S WROKSHOP

Student, Rae Broyles, completed work day 1 of Kenson's workshop. So much fun!!!

KENSON HELPING STUDENT

Kenson explaining technique to student, Blayne Beacham.

KENSON'S WORKSHOP - BEGINNING DEMO

This is Kenson's beginning demo today for her workshop at the school. She requested a small intimate group of students. They all looked like they were having such a good time.

MIXED MEDIA/COLLAGE EXHIBIT FRIDAY RECEPTION

I am getting really excited about Kenson's coming tomorrow to judge the Mixed Media/Collage Exhibit. The reception is Friday evening, so I hope you will come - between 6:00 - 8:30 pm at the gallery.

It is so much fun to just walk behind a judge to hear their thoughts. It is such a learning experience. For example, Corinne Adams who judged the Photography Exhibit definitely leaned toward the "mystery" of the photographic work, the "moment" it caught in time, and the "story". Not only did she take into consideration the photograph itself, but the framing - she looked at the work in its entirety - from the start to the finished product. Bill Davidson, judge for the Southestern Plein Air Exhibit, stood for almost thirty minutes in the middle of the room before taking a closer look. He rotated 360 degrees and let the merit works first capture his attention from a distance. Then, upon his closer look, he looked for those "lost and found" edges, color harmony, variety, asymmetry,composition, and most importantly, VALUE - ahhh...VALUE - how many times is this word mentioned in one of our workshops or classes!

So, tomorrow, I get to "hear" what Kenson has to say...I fell in love with her work years ago in the atrium at the Women's Center at Northside Hospital which houses a collection of her work. I simply cannot wait!