Atlanta collage artist Laura W. Adams was deeply inspired by attending the first of three exhibitions of 474 original John James Audubon’s bird watercolors at the New York Historical Society last spring.
The viewing sparked a new series by Adams, “Audubon Interpretations — New Paper Collage Works On Canvas,” being given a premiere showing at Lagerquist Gallery starting Nov. 7. The exhibit of 15 full-scale (or larger) re-creations of Audubon’s North American bird paintings opens with an artist reception 6-9 p.m. that night.
“I was struck by the incredible beauty, colors, luminosity and vibrancy of Audubon’s original works,” said Adams, a self-taught artist with an Emory University law degree who recently moved back to Atlanta after a 20-year absence.
Adams praised Audubon’s “meticulous attention to detail and the gracefulness and perfect balance of his compositions” and said his passion was “contagious.”
Her homage to his work and conservation efforts employs no paint, substituting a variety of colored, textured, patterned and tissue papers.
Adams said the series has taught her patience as she painstakingly layers papers in a fashion that turns them into a form of sculptural bas-relief.
In addition to Lagerquist, Adams’ works are represented by galleries in New York, Charleston, Savannah and Highlands, N.C.
Through Dec. 3. 3235 Paces Ferry Place N.W., Atlanta. 404-261-8273, www.lagerquistgallery.net.
Meanwhile, the New York Historical Society's chronological series of Audubon's bird watercolors will continue next year. "Audubon's Aviary: Part II of The Complete Flock" will run March 21-May 26, 2014, with "Part III" planned March 13-May 10, 2015. 212-873-3400, www.nyhistory.org.
THEATER
Act3 to revive Uhry’s ‘Parade’
The executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in October that will move the statue of Tom Watson from its prominent place on the State Capitol’s grounds brought the story of the 1915 lynching of Leo Frank back into the public spotlight.
Which makes Act3 Productions’ earlier plans to present “Parade,” the musical by Atlanta native Alfred Uhry (book) and Jason Robert Brown (music and lyrics), most timely. The Sandy Springs community theater will stage the show, in which political firebrand and publisher Watson’s part in instigating Frank’s lynching is depicted, Nov. 7-23.
“Parade” ran on Broadway for three months in 1998 and won Tony Awards for best book and best original score. It explores the case of Frank, the Brooklyn-bred Jewish pencil factory foreman who was found guilty of murdering 13-year-old Mary Phagan in a trial tainted by anti-Semitism and unreliable witnesses, among other issues.
Act3 Playhouse, 6285-R Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Tickets, $15-$28. 770-241-1905, www.act3productions.org.
ARTS
Declaration advocates for state funding
Two Georgia arts advocacy organizations, ArtsGeorgia and the Georgia Arts Network, have jointly drafted a declaration encouraging support of an increase in state funding for the arts for fiscal year 2015.
The document notes that the Georgia Council for the Arts’ budget has been cut from $4 million in 2008 to $586,466 today, placing the state at the bottom nationally in per capita arts support.
“This has resulted in a significant reduction in the available programs and services that the GCA is able to deliver to the arts industry in Georgia,” the declaration states. “The current budget profoundly limits the grants program, leaving some of Georgia’s valuable arts organizations without well-deserved and much-needed support. … As a consequence, many of the community-based and fine arts organizations, large and small, throughout the state, struggle to continue serving their audiences and their communities.”
To read the full text: http://blogs.ajc.com/arts-culture
Groups announce new leaders
- Actor's Express: Alex Scollon has been appointed the Westside theater troupe's managing director. He's the former managing director of Palo Alto Players in Palo Alto, Calif, and New Village Arts in Carlsbad, Calif.
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Russian-born first violinist Anastasia Agapova, a recent Curtis Institute of Music graduate who has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in Russia, Germany, England, Ireland, France, Finland and Lithuania, will join the ASO this month.
Two other musicians joined the orchestra at the beginning of the 2013-14 season: Christopher Todd Skitch, second flute; and Stuart Stephenson, principal trumpet.
- Burnaway: Stephanie Cash is the new editor of burnaway.org, the Atlanta-based nonprofit with a mission of providing critical coverage and dialogue about arts in the city and the Southeast since 2008. A contributor to artsatl.com since moving to Atlanta in February 2012 to wed, Cash was a staff editor at Art in America from 1993 to 2012.
- Spivey Hall: Melanie E. Darby, former Atlanta Symphony Orchestra director of education programming, is now education manager at Clayton State University's recital hall.
VISUAL ART
Exhibit to benefit Tanzanian village
Kudzu Art Zone in downtown Norcross has partnered with the Tanzania Global Team, a ministry of Perimeter Church of Johns Creek, for an exhibition benefiting the Tanzanian village of Karansi.
“The Karansi Project; Transforming a Village from the Bottom Up,” opening Nov. 8 at Kudzu, features art work inspired by life in Tanzania. Exhibit proceeds and additional donations will bring food, shelter and health services to an area ravaged by poverty and AIDS.
An opening reception is planned 7-9 p.m. Friday. Through Nov. 22. 116 Carlyle St., Norcross. 770-840-9844, www.kudzuartzone.org.
