Interview with Artists and Art Instructor, Susie Winton

 

tiles, clay, mixed medium, each tile 21/4"

1. Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background?
I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and first came to Atlanta as an undergraduate at Emory. After college, I traveled, married, taught school in Chicago, and eventually moved back to Atlanta.
I’ve always drawn and painted and made things, but it was only after our children had grown that I found my way to graduate school (Georgia State) and an MFA degree.

cans, gauche, water color, ink, graphite on paper, each image 6"x 6"

pin, gauche, water color, collage, found object on paper, 12"x12"

2. What's integral to your art and or art career?
The flotsam and jetsam of life around me. I live in town and walk a lot and find all kinds of small things that people have left behind. Having grown up in the south in the fifties when home was where a woman belonged and a woman used whatever was available, I’m also drawn to the scraps and detritus of my own clutter.
I’m an instructor at Chastain Art Center; teaching is definitely integral to my art. I learn from my students and have there a community of friends committed to the arts.

3.What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use
I like to single things out but often present multiples. I use my finds as a sort of contemporary archeology, an indication of our inventiveness and our waste, evidence of what we value and what we leave behind. I use whatever mediums work with my concept: clay, paper, paint, and printing inks, along with found objects and materials.

4. What makes you angry, what makes you happy?
War makes me angry, and holding on line for the att dsl customer rep.
Being in my studio makes me happy, and being with family and friends. My classes. Our outdoor shower.

5. Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?
The memory of artists and instructors who encouraged and helped me when I returned to school. Friends and family. All those brave people who stand up for what is good and right in spite of adversity.

6. What superpower would you want?
Hmm…so many unintended consequences there. But I think it would be really cool to fly.

7. What is your favorite artists and or other person?
Sean Scully, Kurt Schwitters, Agnes Martin, Cornelia Parker, Cy Twombly (especially his prints)

8. What advice would you give to other artists.
I’ve really enjoyed my time in residencies and artist fellowships. I would recommend doing that if the opportunity is there.

9. Contact details if any?
suwinton@bellsouth.net, susiewinton.com

 scatter, clay, mixed medium, found objects and materials, largest piece 61/2"x 81/2"

Volunteers Needed for The National Juried Show--Material Witness

The response to our upcoming exhibition Material Witness was tremendous. We had twelve hundred  images of work submitted from over three hundred applicants from every state in the country. From the works submitted our jurors worked very hard to choose seventy-five final pieces which range from performance art to jewelry. Congratulations to all artists accepted and especially those WCAGA members. Now it’s time to put on the show! There will be numerous opportunities to participate in  events associated with this exhibition. The need for volunteers begins with the receiving of work in

early September and will run through the pick up in November. We will also need help with the opening reception and our panel discussion. Times and dates will be somewhat flexible. If you are interested in volunteering please email Kate Colpitss at klfrost@aol.com or call at 860-508-7834.

For a list of the Artists please go to the Artists Page.

Temme Barkin-Leeds, Call of Duty, (MW3): She's Watching

Upcoming events

WCAGA Professional Development Workshop
Open to the public.
How to- do basic digital photo editing.
How to- submit art work to online Juried shows.
How to- sign up on the WCAGA Website.
How to- create and edit your WCAGA "My Page"
How to- create events on the WCAGA Website.
Any other issues are welcome.

If you haven’t submitted to Brenau Exhibition, we can help with that.
This is a informal, one on one workshop. If you have a laptop/i-pad/kindle fire, please bring it. We help you on your laptop or other handheld device if possible. Please remember to bring any images on your device or CD or USB drive.

Please contact Corlia, corliak@gmail.com if you want to come. RSVP is not necessary.

When: August 3, 3-4:30pm

Where: Dekalb County Public Library- Dunwoody Branch. 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338

August Art Share 

Sunday 4 August 2013 3-5pm
at the home/studio of:
Nancy Hunter
404-729-6157
1741 Hummingbird Lane, Atlanta Ga 30307.

The street is very narrow, (in places two cars cannot fit side by side). Please park so that neighbors are able to exit and enter the street. Parking in Nancy's driveway is fine.
Members/guests who wish to attend please let Kathy Meliopoulos 404-325-0863, kathymeliopoulos@gmail.com or Nancy Hunter hunternancyj@gmail.com know.

August Book Club Meeting
When: Sunday, August 11, 2013, 3:00 pm
What to read: "The Woman Upstairs" By Claire Messud
Where: Vickie Martin' home, 3120 Mays Court, Decatur, Ga. 30033

It’s a very informal format.
We have art-related reading material and then meet to discuss what we read.
Everyone is welcome to come to the discussion meeting
(even if you don’t get time to read the material first.).
The reading material is a jumping off place for the discussion.

Bringing something tasty to nibble on or drink is always nice, but not required.
RSVP (It’s helpful, but not essential.)
At this meeting we will decide what to read next and when to meet again.
Bring topic suggestions. Also let us know if you would like to offer your house or studio for a future Book Club gathering. For any questions, suggestions, comments, etc., contact the Book Club/Reading Group Coordinators. Vickie Martin vickiemartinarts@comcast.net and Vicki Bethel (Maggie), bethel.thayer@mindspring.com

Drawing Marathon

Dates: July 27 and August 24

Place: Barb Rehg’s Studio
Time: 10 to 3pm

Please contact Barb Rehg at brehgstudios@bellsouth.net to reserve a place. I can hold as many as 7 people in my studio. I have wall space as well as flat surfaces. I have drinks and usually plenty of food but you are always welcome to bring your own. These are both Saturday dates. I have found many of you have commitments during the week and that Saturdays and Sundays seem to be best. We have been following the format set down last year. We’re working on paper, using neutrals and leaving the content totally up to the artists discretion. I look forward to seeing you and working amongst you. I had hoped to change it up a bit but it seems the original format still works. Next year, however, we definitely should try some new formats. We have at least one fall session planned but we’ll announce that date in the August newsletter.

Invitation to participate in the first Open Studio Tours Planned for Metro Atlanta!

"Art Mob Studio Tour"

November 15-17, 2013

If you would like to participate in this new event, contact  Jane Springfield (jane@janespringfield.com) by July 26. Details below.

Details:

Commit to having your studio open to visitors on any or all of the following days and times:

Friday November 15, 6-9

Saturday November 16, 10-6

Sunday November 17, 1-6

You can invite other artists to show in your studio with you. 

There will be a small fee to participate to cover signage and publicity.

5% of sales will go to the charity Children's Restoration Network.

Your studio name, address, and web site will be listed in publicity.

The next planning meeting will be on July 27 at 2:00 pm. Further questions can be addressed to either Jane Springfield (above) or Kathy Rennell Forbes (artbykrf@mindspring.com).

Pot Luck Dinner in Honor of the WCA National Board.

You are invited to a Pot Luck Dinner in honor of the WCA National Board. At the home of Callahan McDonough. Sager Lofts, 455 Glen Iris Drive, Unit L (ground level/end unit), Atlanta, GA 30308. July 13, 6:45-10pm.

Park or drop off on Angier Ave. From Angier, enter gate to parking lot behind the building. Walk up the granite stairs on left, enter unlocked gate and walk toward patio. Enter condo through glass door.

handicap access: Drop off on Angier at intersection with Glen Iris. Use ramp to sidewalk. Enter door marked “WCA”. (1st door on right) For assistance call Callahan at 404-593-7370.

WCAGA will provide grilled salmon & tofu, beverages & white wine.

Please bring a plated food item with serving utensil that will feed approximately 10 people

and that can be served room temperature. Use a small tent sign to identify your dish and whether it’s vegetarian, vegan or contains nuts. You do not need to bring a main dish.

Please indicate whether you’d like to bring an appetizer, bread, salad, or dessert and reply by WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 to Chris Lewis at chris752@me.com.

Salad suggestions include tossed green, noodle, potato, fruit, corn, pea, roasted veggie, etc. Your response will count as your RSVP.

Please note: This is a members only event.

For more information on the WCA NAtional Board Meeting go to the WCAGA Website.

Interview For July-- Kate Colpitts---Artist, WCAGA Vice-President 2013/14

1.Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background?

I am retired and have the luxury of time which is good because I am an artist.  I worked for many years in the education department of a fine arts museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum and have taught art to children and adults.

2.What's integral to your art and or art career? 

Time

3.What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use.

I make art about my world, recording where I am and what I find in my environment.  Currently my work table and the view out the window beyond my work table is my subject matter.  That table is littered with the objects I find on my daily walks.  I see the entire image as indoor, outdoor landscape.

4.What makes you angry, what makes you happy?

Angry:  cruelty, greed, bigotry, poverty of body, mind or spirit, starvation, war, profit from war and oppression.  Happy: family and friends, the ocean, gardens, well grown food, a good story, wine, music, acts of kindness, birthday presents, kind people, babies, Haleakala Volcano (the most wonderful place I ever was), a fair deal, successful collaboration, the changing of seasons and other things.

5.Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?

This answer is found in #7

6.What superpower would you want?

I would like to be able to fly with complete control like a bird.

7.What is your favorite artists and or other person?

I am constantly being introduced to the work of artists that I love, historical artists as well contemporary ones.  The following well known artists have been an influence and I continue to learn from looking at their work:

Vincent van Gogh because not only do I find his work visually exciting but because his personal life was so chaotic and yet his work so highly organized and that conflict is of interest to me.

Pierre Bonnard because of the way he worked form and color….the way he put his compositions together…brilliant!

Eva Hesse for her strange, scary, beautiful, unique vision and innovative use of materials.

Jackson Pollack because he made really, really beautiful paintings and set us free.

Joseph Beuys because his work was so profound and sad.

Judy Chicago because of what she had to say.

Yoko Ono for her creative breadth and just because.

Charles Burchfield because he saw so much.

Helen Frankenthaler for her elegance.

Agnes Martin…..so beautiful, quiet, dedicated and moving.

8.What advice would you give to other artists.

I subscribe to the Andy Warhol, Chuck Close school of advise….don’t think too much…..just do the work, the work, the work.

9.Contact details if any?

klfrostataol.com

New Exhibit Opportunity for September 2013---MORE--Brenau University

A WCAGA Juried Members’ Exhibit

Exhibition Dates: September 17 to December 15, 2013

Where: Sellars Gallery Brenau University

Gainesville GA

Application Form available on the WCAGA Opportunities Page
More

We often see something disturbing, something beautiful or even something ordinary that in our mind’s eye becomes compelling, richer or ‘more’ than it is for others. We create work in response to the intensity of our reaction. For whatever reason, the image has become something in the artist’s mind that is laden with layers of content. This ‘something’, that is noticed by the artist, is as much about their perception of the world as the work that is created in response to what they saw or experienced. It is in effect ‘more’.

In bringing together work from many artists, recognition for another kind of creation happens when a juror or curator chooses work and installs it in such a way that the individual pieces are enhanced and the viewer is given ‘more’.

This WCAGA Juried Member show will be a multi media exhibit showing 2D and 3D works chosen by Susan Bridges, who will bring her own esthetic to the choice of artists concepts, subject matter or media.

As part of the exhibit, WCAGA will schedule an artist talk for the night of the opening reception, focusing on choice of materials...its relationship to the concept, its importance to the artist and its qualities and method of application.

Juror Susan Bridges

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Currently Owner / Director at whitespace gallery

whitespace is a contemporary commercial art gallery located in a converted 1893 carriage house in the historic neighborhood of Inman Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Named Critic’s Pick for Best Gallery 2010 by Creative Loafing Atlanta, whitespace provides an opportunity for both emerging and mid-career artists toshowcase their works. Owner / Director Susan Bridges founded the gallery in 2006, in order to encourage open expression and to promote original, unconventional projects. She currently represents an eclectic mix of original contemporary art, sculpture and photography by local, national and international artists.

In addition to directing whitespace, Bridges is currently focusing her attention on i45 Collective, a group of Inman Park, Old 4th Ward and Little 5 Points galleries and the newly created Flux Projects, a non-profit benefiting public art projects. Susan is a current board member of BURNAWAY, an online magazine dedicated to the visual arts and Flux Projects.

Specialties

Curating, Artist Representation, Design Services

Calendar

Application Deadline: August 3, 2013

Image Notification: August 15, 2013 Installation: September 14 and 15 (if necessary)

Deliver work: Saturday, September 14th from 9:30 to 11:00am

Or: Contact Barb Rehg to leave work at her studio or with another artists

who can deliver for you.

brehgstudios@bellsouth.net

Opening Reception: September 19, 2013 Take Down: December 15 - 11:00am ...

Or: Contact Barb Rehg to have the work taken back to her studio to be picked up at a later date or make arrangements to have another artist pick up for you.

General Information

This juried exhibit is open to all and only WCAGA members in good standing. Work accepted must remain on view for the entire exhibition.

NOTE: Some images or parts of images may be used for the invitation. If you Do Not wish us to use your image, please indicate this in your submission.

Entry & Fee

FOR THIS PARTICULAR EXHIBIT WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR AN APPLICATION FEE. However, if you are one of the artists chosen to exhibit we will be asking for a juror, installation and reception fee, not to exceed $40.

Images Submission

Send up to five images by email to brehgstudios@bellsouth.net. The image resolution should be 300dpi. And no larger than 1megabyte. Only the artwork should be visible, no background, frames etc. Label each image file as follows: number. title, initials. jpg, for example, 1.Rework.br.jpg. The number should correspond to the application. This is a blind application process. Artists will be asked to provide Artist statement and artlist corresponding to image entries as the juror may wish for further information.

Limitations

All two dimensional work must be framed and properly equipped for hanging. Maximum size – 72” wide. Ceilings are high and large work is possible. Assemblage and installation is possible but needs to have detailed instructions regarding how it would work in the space. It would be best to assume you should be present to install. Work can be suspended via runners in the ceiling but be aware that it does not hold heavy weight.

Agreement

Submitting an entry form constitutes an agreement on the part of the artist with all the conditions in the prospectus.

Delivery & Return of Work

The artist is responsible for making arrangements for delivery to and pickup from the gallery. If your work will be shipped from out of town please make arrangement with a WCAGA member to receive the work. You will be responsible for the method of return if mailing the work back is required.

I can accept work at my studio.
Barb Rehg

407 Creekview Trail SE Smyrna GA 30082

Brenau Application for is available on the WCAGA Opportunities Page.