The Mental Health Benefit Donating Artists for 2011

Michael Lachowski of Candy generously donated our logo this year "The Mental Health Benefit."

Jim Hamilton is a new artist to our auction this year. Jim donated “River Street Oak in Savannah, GA,” and “UGA VIII.”  Jim is a local artist who enjoys painting what he sees.  He is inspired to paint anything from tropical and beach scenes to local landmarks.  His art can be viewed at “paintingjimmy” on facebook.  His original paintings can be viewed at ‘Heery’s Too’ and ‘Athens Art & Frame’ on Epps Bridge Road.   paintingjimmy.com

Robert D. Clements is a long-time supporter of our auction and donated “The Easy Life,” and “Thistles and Painters.”  Robert Clements taught art at The University of Georgia for 25 years.  There, he won the University’s highest awards for his teaching and research.  He has artwork featured in public collections including OCAF, State Art Collection of Georgia and Smithsonian Institution.  He has been featured in many One-Person Exhibitions and Selected Group Exhibitions, and has works shown in museums all across America including the High Museum of Art, Alexandria Museum, and The National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC.   http://web.me.com/rclements1

Claire Clements donated a tropical giclee signed print.  Claire is featured in numerous Permanent Collections, Exhibitions and Private Collections including the Georgia Museum of Art.  Her goal in combining cutting, printing, painting and drawing is to communicate the universal through the familiar growing, livings things of her surroundings. 

Melody Croft is another long-time supporter and donated “Wisteria,” and “A Good Place to Be.”  Melody Croft has been painting for over 15 years, first in watercolor and now in oil.  She paints portraits, landscapes and still lifes.  openair-gallery.com

Bob Croft is always a generous and long-time supporter.  This year we are blessed to have many of Bob’s contemporary masterpieces, “Unplanned Geometry,” “Alien Landing Strip,” my personal favorite “ Rhythm Method…Ooops!,” “Harlem Night Club 1927,” “Red Tree in Sun,” “Sudden Serenity,” and “Experiment in Futility.”  Bob has been painting since 2002.  Bob and his wife, Melody (also featured,) have a website: openair-gallery.com

Jim White donated his own originals “Brave Little Potatoes,” and “ Nocturnal Mugwump.”  He also donated two unknown original artworks featuring a mountain scene and a cabin.  Jim is an alternative/Americana musician, currently touring, and local artist.  http://www.jimwhite.net/

Lisa Majersky is another oft-featured local artist in our auction.  This year she donated “Red & Blue Posie,”  “Red, but with Daffodils,” "Red Eyed Bird," and "Very Bright."  She lives in Athens in a house with three cats and an infestation of lizards, caterpillars, spiders, scorpions and beetles.  She likes music and art, and especially her cats!

Eddie Whitlock our former Executive Director donated his very own work “US Congressman Paul Brown,” (possibly a political statement) and an unknown but beautiful original featuring palm trees and the seashore, signed M. Elliott 1983.  Eddie moved here to Athens a few years back to join our organization and brought with him life and energy.

Dena Maxwell donated three photographs “Ring,” “S-Curve,” and “Dervish.”  These photos were part of a series “Fire Dance” which was featured in July 2010 at The 5 Star Day Café in downtown Athens GA.  Dena is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and mixed media artist.  She is a member of the Athens Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.)

Barbara Bendzunas donated a glazed pink clay bowl featuring a flower embellishment.  She enjoys and produces functional and fantasy pieces and teached clay-making classes. http://clayclassesbybarbarab.blogspot.com/

Bradley Tolbert another long-time supporter of the Mental Health Benefit, donated “Serpent and Worm,” “Lion,” and “Nude Woman.”  Bradley is a 41 year old iconographer, a self-proclaimed ‘devout’ bachelor, who practices celibacy and dogma.  He also enjoys playing music and writing poetry.

Kera Schaley donated two pairs of original photography featuring different views of driftwood, “Driftwood 1,” and “Driftwood 2.”  Both are paired in matted frames.

Wayne Ziemer donated four prints, framed and matted, "Woman," "Lioness," "Tropical," and "Dancer."  Wayne had picked these up while taking his favorite cruises. 

Erin Barton donated two hand-made glass beaded necklaces, one features a glass heart (not made by Erin) on multiple strands of various glass beads with a sterling silver clasp, and the other is multiple strands of shiny tubular glass beads with a brass clasp.  Erin is the Association Administrator for Mental Health America of Northeast Georgia.

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Jamie Calkin donated two limited edition signed prints "Collage of Athens," and "Athens Skyline with Sunflowers."  Jamie has been busy for the last decade painting scenes of Athens in ink and watercolors.  His website is www.jamiecalkin.com

Donald Harris donated "The Serpent Who Resides Where The Lizard Lives," and "Lady with Red Leaves."

Sharon Brondos donated two beautiful hand-woven scarves, "Multi-colored," and "Blue & Green."  She is a fiber artist living part-time in South Carolina and more time in Wyoming.  She began spinning yarns out of wool from Wyoming sheep and progressed to dyeing those yarns and knitting and weaving.  While she incorporates other fibers and some commercial yarns, most of her work begins with the raw fleeces she gets from ranches and farms all over the world.

Camille Morgan donated from her Fabuluxe line three hats "Crown Imperial," "Spitfire," and "Monterey."  Camille names her hats after cars of the 1950's, because it's more fun that way!

Jane King donated two pieces, "Waves," painted by Robin Fay, and "Mother & Child," an original sketch by Brandon Hendrix.