The Duluth area possesses a hidden gem that Stan Hall hopes to shine up and show off to the rest of Gwinnett County.

Hall, the new chairman for the Hudgens Center for the Arts board of directors, said his experience with the center may be similar to that of many other Gwinnett residents. Although he's lived in Gwinnett his whole life, he's only recently gotten acquainted with the arts center, a multi-use facility boasting more than 62,000 square feet of space that includes a black-box theater, art classrooms and a sculpture garden.

Kimberly Smith/ksmith@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Chairman Stan Hall is ready to shout about the Hudgens Center for the Arts.

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Hall, 51, is a veteran in law enforcement and works in the Gwinnett District Attorney's Office as director of the victim witness program. But he is not a stranger to the arts, enjoying outings such as attending ballet performances with his wife and daughter.

As the new chairman, Hall said he has big dreams — and is tackling plans— to make the Hudgens Center the "nucleus" of showcasing art and creativity in the county.

Q: Why is the Hudgens Center such a well-kept secret?

A: Maybe that's part of the problem, it doesn't need to be a secret at all. As a matter of fact, we need to be on a megaphone shouting as loud as we can about the Hudgens Center to get people out here. The resources we have here — it's just foolish that we're not utilizing it for the benefit of educating our children when it comes to the arts.

Q: Can you talk about your personal interest in the arts? You said your daughter was in ballet ...

A: For a long time, I think would consider myself sort of a casual observer. I met my wife, who's from Venezuela, who's a huge arts fan. She had some experience in ballet. Then, when our daughter was born in 1996. When she was, I think, 3 years old, she started in ballet, and we became really involved with Gwinnett Ballet. The turning point for me as far as really considering myself a fan of the arts was: I had an opportunity — I guess in the mid-'80s — to go to Paris and actually see the Louvre. You can study art all you want. But until you have the opportunity to stand in front of the Mona Lisa — and it really is the Mona Lisa — it takes on a whole new meaning. I was a late bloomer to the arts.

Q: Where do you see the Hudgens Center in 10 years?

A: In 10 years, I hope the Hudgens Center is the absolute nucleus of the arts community in Gwinnett County.

Q: Can you get into some specifics about ideas you have to make this center a major player in the local arts scene?

A: No. 1, our challenge has to be to make people know we're here, and the way you do that is you bring something to the Hudgens that people are going to be interested to see. I think if we can get the exhibits in that bring people to the facility, it'll speak for itself. Then they'll say, "Oh my God, I didn't even know this place was here!" Things like the Smithsonian—they have traveling exhibits all over the country all the time.

Q: How do you flip the switch between such a different day job and the arts center?

A: Sometimes you leave there, and you're just about as depressed as you can be based on what the subject matter of your day has been. If you've been dealing with a child who's been sexually molested, if that doesn't get to you personally, there's something wrong with you. So to be able to work eight hours a day in that environment and then to come to something like the ballet. It really has given me a balance that I think I have to have to survive. It's a very rewarding job as well, because if you can go home at night and you feel like you have helped someone who's been the victim of some very serious crime. That's very rewarding, that's very satisfying. I think these two offer me a great balance.

Q: What does it mean for a community to have a thriving arts center?

A: I think a thriving arts community is important to ... the way we look at not only ourselves but the way we look at the world because you can learn so much about the world through art that's not done in a political manner. I really do believe that arts are essential for the success of a people.

EXHIBITS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

"Gifts from Africa: Bronzes, Art and Artifacts" — A 230-piece exhibit of sculptures, masks and tapestries from the Republic of Benin. Gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Through Dec. 31. $5 (under age 4 free).

"Art Rocks" — Thursday, Aug. 14: 5:30 - 8 p.m. After Hours Social. Theme: Celebrate the "Dog Days of Summer!" Music, food, cash bar; Access to exhibits and garden. Members, $5, other guests, $10.

"Dreams of Africa" — Preview Party, Thursday, Aug. 28. 6-8 p.m. Featured: Clay sculptures by Atlanta artist Dale Ferguson; oil paintings by Jessie Mackay; mixed media pieces by Buford artist Anita Stewart; works by young artists in Gwinnett County schools. Exhibit continues through Dec. 31.

"Cocktails and Classic Cars" — Saturday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m. until midnight. Black Tie Event benefit. Entertainment: Stone Mountain Men's Chorus, swing music by Nick Palas, Gwinnett REALTOR Players, Shag Atlanta, B.J. Chorale. Live auctions, raffles. Food by select local caterers. All galleries open. Event is sponsored by the Arts League of the Hudgens Center for the Arts. Tickets $50 per person.

HISTORY

What is known today as the Hudgens Center for the Arts came out of a meeting held in a kitchen with six women who formed the Gwinnett Council for the Arts in 1981.

After two years of signing up members, fund-raising and lining up local artists to showcase, the council took up residence in the Williams House in Lawrenceville and offered county residents a place to appreciate performances and exhibits. In 1989, they upgraded to a 7,000-square-foot space in the historic Lawrenceville Post Office.

Then in 1991, the council banked a windfall donation from Atlanta developer Scott Hudgens, allowing it to double its space and move to the Gwinnett Civic Center campus.

In the past, the center gave off an air of exclusivity, said Stan Hall, the center's new chairman. Hall said he hopes to reacquaint the community with the center as a welcoming place for all. Hall said he's focusing on attracting visitors with nationally recognized exhibits, but will remain open to local artists.

Notable past exhibits include artists such as Pablo Picasso and Ansel Adams.