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News from Art Sandy Springs
October 2011 Volume 2, Edition 2
 
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At a recent meeting one of our Board members remarked, "Can you feel the energy in this room?" and how true that is. ArtSS has so many wonderful programs under way, making our community better every day.
I am happy to report that we received outstanding sculpture entries from throughout the world for the Playable Art Park. Read more about this below, along with information about our upcoming Members Events and ArtSSpring, plus our newest program "Give the Music Back" which brings after school music programs to our elementary schools.
If you are not a member of ArtSS, NOW is the time to join. And stay in touch with us through our website and our Facebook and Twitter pages. There is so much happening and we don't want you to miss a thing!
Warmest regards,
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The Playable Art Park Sculpture Competition deadline has passed and the more than 120 entries -- some from as far away as the Philippines, France and Canada -- are in our hands as we prepare them for our distinguished judges!
The submissions, we are pleased to report, are nothing less than spectacular and quite diverse! They include a wonderful array of creations using all kinds of materials, including brightly colored painted steel forms, beautiful carved pieces and huge cast stonework sculptures all big enough for children to climb and play on and just enjoy exercising in the great outdoors!
 | | Members of the Playable Art Park Steering Committee (LtoR) Jeffry Loy, Public Art Conservator of Fulton County Arts & Culture; Lauren Bernazza, Program Director of Abernathy Arts Center; Linda Bain, Executive Director, Sandy Springs Conservancy; and Cheri Morris, President of Art Sandy Springs and President of Morris and Fellows gather to discuss the entries. |
The forms of these magnificent pieces vary greatly as well, including animals and objects of all walks of life, both realistic and abstract, many with natural features, moving parts, and other interactive elements certain to delight the minds and bodies of children of all ages.
Lauren Bernazza, Program Director with Fulton County Arts & Culture, said the entries "will bring the community together in an active, artful and imaginative way. This project is the epitome of a community grass-roots effort in public art and it's managed to bring in proposals comparable to those received by city, county and state art agencies with years of professional experience in public art under their belt."
The winners of our competition, which must demonstrate exceptional ability to inspire and encourage children's play, will be displayed in six designated zones in The Abernathy Greenway, which is now under development and scheduled to be completed in Fall 2012.
The Playable Art Steering Committee is extremely pleased with the originality and artistic quality of the entries as well as the very high number of entries received. This fall the Committee will be cataloguing entries for submission to a blue-ribbon panel of judges, who will ultimately determine the winners of the competition. (Note that all submissions will go through strenuous environmental and safety inspections to ensure durability and child protection.)
Here are some key dates regarding the competition:
January 2012 -- art jurors select finalists
March 2012 -- maquettes of the winning sculptures will be presented to City Council for formal acceptance under the City Gift Policy
April through September 2012 -- winning artists fabricate sculptures, deliver to site
October 2012 -- site preparation, installation
Fall 2012 -- dedication
For those of you who do not know, the Sandy Springs Conservancy and Art Sandy Springs formed a joint venture to create The Playable Art Park at Abernathy Green, a children's sculpture park as an innovative and fun way to introduce children to art through play. Funded by Northside Hospital, the Playable Art Park will help children experience art by encouraging them to climb on it, jump from it, crawl through it, move it, and just plain play around it. This unique play space will inspire children on many levels. |
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Previous ArtSS Sculpture Winners on Display and For Sale
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 | | Broken Circle |
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Visit the Sandy Springs Library Lawn to view the ongoing display of our 2008 and 2010 winners of the ArtSS Sculpture Contest. While four of the sculptures have been donated to the City of Sandy Springs by Art Sandy Springs, five amazing sculptures by well-known, talented artists are now for sale. Purchase one for your home, your business, or your favorite charity today! More information is available at the Library.
Click here for images of the sculptures available for purchase. |
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ArtSSpring 2012 Planning Already Under Way!
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ArtSSpring is delighted to announce that our annual Art Auction, the major kick-off event for the 30-day extravaganza of the arts throughout Sandy Springs, will be held on Friday, April 13, 2012!
ArtSSpring has begun filling every day with enrichment and cultural activities all about celebrating and enjoying the arts, including concerts, art exhibits, children's talent contests, theatrical performances, culinary delights, garden tour, and literary happenings.
Once again, ArtSSpring and Art Institute of Atlanta will partner to sponsor a 2012 ArtSSpring poster contest with students submitting their art for a chance to win a stipend and have their art displayed throughout the community. Last year's winner is to the left!
Click here to view photos from last year's ArtSSpring festivities, and please feel free to add your own!
Be sure to periodically check the ArtSSpring page of the ArtSS website for updates. |
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Art Sandy Springs is working in partnership with Fulton County Arts and Culture and The Sandy Springs Society to support a scholarship program, Give the Music Back, designed to fund the cost of teaching instrumental music in the Sandy Springs elementary schools. The instruction is no longer publicly funded. These programs have been replaced by after school classes. Many students can not afford the cost of instruction and instrument rental. Give the Music Back gives through this program the children of Sandy Springs the opportunity to experience music. Learning to play a musical instrument early in life helps children develop self-esteem, learn discipline and social skills, and have fun and reduce stress in a creative environment.
In the 2011-12 school year, ArtSS is funding through Give the Music Back scholarships music lessons for fifteen students at Lake Forrest Elementary School. The school's Principal, Dara Wilson, said, "that she is so pleased to partner with Art Sandy Springs in this meaningful stimulation of learning for students who are so anxious to extend their horizons." Once a week after school, fifteen 5th graders are instructed by a certified teacher in the music of the violin and other instruments and are able to take their instruments home to practice. How excited they are to learn and prepare for a concert next spring.
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Give the Music Back students Sheyhla Bollo-Ramirez and Asvat Avala study their written music sheets under the eyes of Lake Forrest Music Instructor Todd Markey.
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Click here for pictures.
ArtSS is actively soliciting partnerships with various groups, businesses, or individuals to fund the Give the Music Back scholarships. We thank our growing list of supporters-Sandy Springs Society and Fulton County Arts & Culture-for joining with ArtSS in awarding after school music programs for enthusiastic Sandy Springs public school students wanting to be part of an orchestra. For more information contact www.artsandysprings.org.
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ArtSS Members Only Events
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November 8, 2011- Atlanta Art Conservation Center Tour, partner center with High Museum of Art and Williamstown Art Conservation Center and resource for information on all aspects of art collections care. 2:00-4:00 pm at AACC, 6000 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, Ga. 30341 RSVP-770-955-0277
December 16, 2011- Holiday Party at Laura and Bert Jones' eco-friendly LEED home, a special treat you won't want to miss. Look for a future invitation with details!
February or March, 2012- Special tour or concert outing to Spivey Hall, coordinated by ArtSS board member Nick Quintana, who is also an active member of the Spivey Hall Friends Council. Spivey Hall, located on the campus of Clayton State University, is a beautiful 400-seat, acoustically-superior recital hall that has presented the best in jazz and classical music to Metro Atlanta audiences since 1991.
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Share Your Photos on Flickr
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 | | ArtSS booth at the Sandy Springs Festival attracted many visitors! |
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View our recent photos from the Sandy Springs Fall Festival and please share your photos with us!
VIEW PHOTOS |
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