SOME FACTS ABOUT DECATUR

 Located 6 miles east of Downtown Atlanta, Decatur was founded in 1823, making it older than Atlanta (which was founded in 1837).

The courthouse square is located on land where two Indian trails crossed, the Sandtown which came east from the Chattahoochee, and the Shallow Ford, which follows Clairmont Road.  I found an interesting quote about the naming of the streets in Decatur.

 Shallowford Road, which led to the Shallow Ford, has been renamed Clairmont Avenue, probably because it does not go to, from or past any place called Clairmont. Covington Road is now Sycamore Street, probably because it leads to Covington and has no Sycamores on it. Stephens, "A Tentative Reconstruction of the Decatur Town Map of 1823", Atlanta Historical Bulletin, No.30, p.8, 1965.

Another interesting fact about the streets in Decatur, one road is spelled two ways, Clairmont Road, and Clairemont Road.  

When the Western and Atlantic Railroad wanted to make Decatur it's southernmost stop, the citizens of Decatur intervened, not wanting the noise, pollution and growth.  The railroad then founded a new city to the west of Decatur  - and that city became Atlanta (originally called Terminus and then Marthasville).

During the Battle of Atlanta, Union general James McPherson occupied Decatur to cutoff the Confederate's supply line from Augusta.  Confederate troops under General Joseph Wheeler (who my high school was named after) attacked McPherson's supply wagons.

Today, Decatur has the reputation of a progressive city with above average citizen involvement and it somehow has managed to keep a small town feel alive  despite being so close to Atlanta.  It is home to many downtown events and festivals, including the Decatur Art Festival, and it also has an active artist community with the Decatur Arts Alliance

Decatur is home to Emory University, the CDC, Fernbank Science Museum, Agnes Scott University, and the Columbia Theological Seminary. 

  

  

Joel Conison was a commercial photographer for over twenty years before returning to the Pratt Institute in order to earn a MFA. After teaching for five years at the college level, he has continued to work on his own photography as well as teach at the Spruill Center of the Arts, The Hudgens Art Center and give private instruction in Photoshop. His work has been exhibited at the local, regional, and national level.

This workshop will describe how to photograph your artwork.  A number of situations will be covered, such as, photographing outdoors and indoors, and solving the problems with each. The importance of lighting will be discussed.  An overview of  Photoshop Elements will be given as well as suggestions for other programs for editing digital images. Once your photograph of the art work is completed this workshop will take you through the process of color correcting your file, sizing your file, and saving your file properly.

Date: Saturday, February 26

Time:  10:00 a.m. -noon

Cost:  $50 all AAC members, $55 non-AAC members

Class size:  4-30

To Register:  Make check payable to Atlanta Artist Center and mail to 2979 Grandview Avenue, Atlanta, GA  30305, or by credit card by calling the Atlanta Artist Center at 404-237-2324.

Because the weather in the Spring is so unpredictable, I am keeping my festivals to a minimum.  Coming up for me is the following:

Inman Park Festival - April 30-May 1

Kirkwood Spring Fling  - May 14th

The Defoor Arts Centre- solo show in June.  My friends Tina Ciranni and Laura Parker will be showing in other areas of The Defoor Art Center at the same time!   Detail to come regarding the opening for what promises to be a fun event!

My work can still be seen at:

Emerging Art Scene located in Castleberry Hill

The Seen Gallery located in downtown Decatur

Check out my website and my blog

Martin is a serious art collector and he clearly knows the world of art - and I believe his knowledge of the artworld markes this story more compelling. 

The book tells the story of Lacey Yeager. In the beginning she is young, beautiful and fairly naive when she gets an entry level job at Sotheby's. But Lacey is also smart, so she is able to advance rapidly in the New York art world. The story of Lacey's rise in the art market is reported and told by a writer for the Art News, Daniel Chester French Franks, an astute observer. 

The book has it all - suspense, greed, misplaced values, humor, art-history, and overall a good compelling story.

Thank you for your time. If you are interested in seeing more, visit Emerging Art Scene or The Seen Gallery, or contact me for a studio viewing!

Vickie Martin Arts