Donating Artists for The Mental Health Benefit 2012

Michael Lachowski of Candy, donated our logo again this year.  We are greatly indebted to him for his many many many years of assistance and generosity.   www.candycreative.com

Bob Croft donated "Falling Leaves," "Stiff Breeze," "The Unseen Eye," "Sunny Road," and "Permanent Premonition."  Bob is a professor at Gainesville State College and is part of Open Air Gallery with his wife Melody. These pieces showcase Bob's wide range of styles and includes a triptche (3 in 1, or a set.)  He usually paints with acrylic on canvas. 

Melody Croft donated "Festival," "Googling-Abstract Art," and "Whirling Leaves."   All three pieces are oil on canvas, and "Festival" is unique since it's a compilation of one of her husband Bob Croft's paintings "E=mc2" and she has overpainted it with oil.  Melody is a full-time artist and she is part of Open Air Gallery with her husband Bob.

Robin Fay donated "Hope: Hope Flowers Against A Dark Sky." This beautiful multi-media composition includes handmade paper, fabric, flowers, sand, acrylic and other elements on canvas.  Robin is a multiple media artist and technology consultant, who finds inspiration in the lines, shapes, colors and forms of organic and manmade shapes from DNA spirals, curled ropes, to spiral staircases and sea stacks.  She layers color with materials: handmade paper, sand, acrylic, oil pastel, metallic flake, stone, glass beads, and natural elements to create her paintings.  To view more of her work or to find what she's up to in her art journal, visit robinart.com or follow her on twitter @georgiawebgurl (www.twitter.com/georgiawebgurl)

Lisa Majersky donated "Eric Makes A Decision," "Wyoming View," and "Vinca."  Each of these original, intricate watercolors is framed and ready for hanging, and they range in size from small to medium. Lisa has lived in Athens for 20 years.  She used to do music and sometimes art.  She likes cats! (Me too!)

Carol Rainey Fox donated "2 Roosters."  Carol is a local artist with a wide range of style from fine art to folk art.  This piece "2 Roosters" is brightly painted on a flat front cabinet door panel.

Darren W. Ellsworth donated "Untitled."  "Untitled" is an intricate pencil drawing on bristol board. Darren is an artist and owner of Orphan Art, which specializes in commissioned paintings and drawing.

Robert D. Clements is a long-time supporter of our auction.  Robert Clements taught art at The University of Georgia for 25 years.  There, he won the University's highest awars 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 Art in Washington, DC.  www.robertclementsart.com

Cheri Wranosky donated a sculpture "Treasures," featuring clay sculpture and jewelry. Her work reflects the human condition and our reactions as we interact with our surroundings. She often combines found and recycled objects with her hand-built pieces. www.cheriwranosky.com

Sue Goldstein donated "A Garden Keepsake."  The photograph of a dahlia is printed in black & white, and was taken at the Butchart Gardens, British Columbia. Sue is a Professor of Geology and Marine Science at the University of Georgia and has been photographing since 1999.  Her works have been exhibited at The Lyndon House (Athens,) the Atlanta Photography Group Gallery, and the Atlanta Botannical Gardens.  She is a member of the Atlanta Photography Group.

Beth Richardson donated "The Winds."  This photograph is matted, framed and signed under the mat.  Beth has always loved photography.  Her family camera was the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye and her first camera as a pre-teen was a Polaroid Swinger.  Her career in science as an electron microscopist has involved many hours in the darkroom processing negatives and printing photographs.  She spent a year taking black & white photography classes from Ron Lee.  She's a member of the Athens Photography Sharegroup and the Atlanta Photography Group.  Her work has been in juried shows in Athens and Atlanta.  She is happy to donate a photo in memory of Donald Keyes.

Hortense Bates donated two beautiful hand-woven scarfs.  A blue scarf made of mixed yarns, and a gold scarf of rayon.

John Fernandes donated his solo album which features original cover art by Kiran Fernandes (his super-talented 10 year old son.)  John is a well known musician in Athens who's played with many internationally acclaimed bands, such as, The Olivia Tremor Control, Circulatory System, Supercluster, Elf Power, and has recorded with Apples in Stereo and Of Montreal among others.

Kiran Fernandes donated "Follow It, Whatever It Is."  His donation is an ink on paper drawing inspired by the rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland.  Kiran has been famous in Athens for his unique creations and artistic talent since age 6.  His imagination and skill surpasses standard children's art and has earned him collectors throughout town.  He sells his work at local craft fairs, regularly creats album art and band posters, and is currently working on his first claymation film.

Leslie Snipes donated an untitled ink on graph paper. Leslie recieved her MFA from the University of Georgia in 2000 and has shown her work in the North & Southeast regions.  She currently manages The Loft Art Supply in Athens.

Ruth Allen donated multiple framed pieces.  They vary in style and theme.  Ruth is a folksy-whimsical artist featured here. 

Barbara Allen donated a keepsake wooden box from her Fanfare collection.  barbaraallen.etsy.com

Jim Norton donated an original silver and gold jewelry pin. Jim has been doing metal work and jewelry for a while now and owns his own shop Homeplace Gifts & Toys in Five Points.  Jim's jewelry background link.

Sally Coenen donated an untitled piece featuring a dark sky over a meadow,  beautifully framed.

Rene D. Shoemaker donated "Octagon House-Light Switches," an 11" x 11" hand painted silk item.  Rene began her exhibiting career with The Mental Health Benefit.  Her work is well known for its use of wonderful colors on hand-painted silk.  See more of Rene's work at: reneshoemaker.com

Peter Loose donated "Grace's Birthday Party 2004." Peter has been making art since 1987 and has been included in collections large and small.  His work has been featured in museum shows and his art has been published in magazines and books.  Several of his works were part of the set design for Hollywood release “Nights in Rodanthe.”    www.peterloose.com

"Visions," by William Cary Whitley was donated.

"Desolate," by Njambi Mwaura was donated.

Patrick Mizelle donated "View of Durham."  He graduated from UGA with a BFA in 1973, and retired to Athens in 2007 after a career in the Arts in Atlanta.

Cheryl Washburn donated an untitled acrylic on canvas featuring a cat portrait.

Dorian Zevos donated a beautiful tall clay vessel.

Jessica Elizabeth Smith donated "Deer in the Dayglo."  Jess is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, and lives in Athens and works at everyones favorite alternative weekly publication, Flagpole Magazine and the fabulous 40 Watt Club.  Her piece explores layering textures with the assistance of fabric, an ATM card, and a comb.  The image of a deer was used to provide an alternative to traditional mounted taxidermy trophies.

Nicolea Ambush donated multiple pieces, including a child sized glass seed bead necklace, two hand crochet/felted wool hats, and two visual poetry posters which are giclee print on canvas board with modge podge sealer.  Nicolea has many creative outlets that change with the seasons.  Art for her is a release from stress.  When her mind settles into a project and all outside distractions cease, she is at peace.  Visual Poetry at: www.nicoambushed.com

Peer Support Group donated a bottle top and yarn masterpiece.

Claire Clements donated "Songbirds in the Hosta Forest," a cut-paper painting. The painting is done in gouache on Strathmore paper. The inks used in this Giclee print are of archival quality and the paper is museum grade and is acid free, lignin free, chlorine free, buffered, and coated with quality injet coating. This print of the work itself is 17" X 22."  Claire Clements’ works can currently also be viewed, through Feb 24, 2012 at Athens Academy Meyers Gallery, in the show, "Keeping Watch: Recent Work by Georgia Sea Grant Artists." Her works are part of the new traveling, on-going show, by the Georgia Museum of Art: "Prints by Women: Selected European and American Works, Traveling Exhibit." 2011 and on-going. The work in this auction, "Songbirds in the Hosta Forest" was selected for "Art in the Air," and was displayed on a 40’ Billboard on the Atlanta Highway for a half year. This was a partnership between Athens Clarke County & Fairway Outdoor Advertising Co. Claire has exhibited her work in three major solo exhibits in the last four years. She created all new work for each exhibit. Recent juried exhibits include: Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation’s "SouthWorks National Exhibition," "Georgia Small Works," and Lyndon House Juried Exhibitions. She achieved a BFA in Painting and Design at Carnegie Mellon University, and Ma and Ed.D. at Penn State University, subsequently creating and exhibiting her art. Following her work with people in Human Services. Claire says, "I find myself brimming with energy; my desire to create art is my main focus for the rest of my life!"