MudFire Clayworks & Gallery, the Decatur ceramics studio and showplace, has a new owner with plans for new programs and enhancements.
Deanna Ranlett has acquired a controlling interest in MudFire, founded in 2002 in Brookhaven by ceramic artists Luba Sharapan and Erik Haagensen. Ranlett also is owner of Atlanta Clay, a supply house serving ceramic artists.
MudFire is at 175 Laredo Drive in Decatur, near Your DeKalb Farmers Market and is considered part of Avondale Estates’ Rail Arts District. Changes under way or upcoming include:
- Adding a ceramic tools and supply boutique
- More ticketed workshops held in a dedicated workshop space
- Frequent special-topic clinics
- Increased local focus in the gallery, which represents nationally acclaimed potters as well as emerging Southeastern artists, showing functional and sculptural pottery
- Addition of a full-time artist residency program
- Expanded online presence
- Creation of an organic garden
Ranlett said her main goal is “to strengthen and advance the clay community in Georgia and beyond. … We seek to bring in new clay enthusiasts to the center and serve as an educational resource to the public.”
Meanwhile, MudFire’s active exhibition schedule rolls on. On view through May 4 is “Fur and Feathers,” an invitational group show of what the gallery describes as “nature- and un-natural-inspired sculptural and functional pottery.”
More on MudFire, check out the gallery's Facebook page or call 404-377-8033.
ATTRACTION
Atlanta Botanical’s Gainesville garden to break ground
On Wednesday, the Atlanta Botanical Garden will hold a private groundbreaking for the first phase of Smithgall Woodland Garden in Gainesville.
Budgeted at $21 million, the initial phase is to include an entry road, visitor center, 2,000-seat amphitheater and 5 acres of display gardens. The garden is targeted for a June 2014 opening, and a second phase will include an interactive children’s garden, a native plant conservation nursery and a student training and education center.
The 165 acres of forested land was donated in 2002 by Gainesville resident Lessie Smithgall and her late husband Charles. Though not currently open to the public, a state-of-the-art greenhouse and 3-acre conservation nursery already operate on the property, located off Cleveland Highway.
Read more about the project in Wednesday’s Living section.
CONCERT
Celebrating Earth Day with songs, poems
Covenant Presbyterian Church in Buckhead will host a special Earth Day concert in its sanctuary at 4 p.m. April 21. The vocal artists will be Just Voices, an a cappella chamber chorus, and Pandora, a women's chorus. The groups will perform a family-friendly selection of classical works by Brahms, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Maurice Ravel, along with poetry, including works by Ogden Nash, celebrating the majesty of the Earth's flora and fauna.
In an Earth Day gesture, audience members are encouraged to bring neckties to donate to Ties that Matter, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps women in Haiti form craft-co-ops to create and sell bags, dolls and pillows from recycled ties.
Tickets, $10, $5 students and seniors, may be purchased at the door. The church is at 2461 Peachtree Road, Atlanta.
HONORS
City of Atlanta recognizes emerging artists
Five Atlantans will be honored with 2013 Emerging Artist Awards in an Atlanta City Hall ceremony at noon Mondayby the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.
Corey Bradberry (theater award), In Kyoung Chun (visual arts), Takara Clark (media arts), Johnny Drago (literary arts) and Angela Harris (dance) each will receive a $1,500 grant.
The awards were established to acknowledge and promote Atlanta talent, typically 35 or younger and with less than five years of experience, who are making an impact on the cultural life of the city.
Atlanta Opera official selected for fellowship
Bert Huffman, the Atlanta Opera’s development director, has been selected as one of 13 participants in Opera America’s 2013 Leadership Intensive. The program seeks to provide emerging opera administrators with the skills and contacts needed to advance their careers and to contribute to the strengthening of opera companies across the country.
Huffman and other honorees will meet for the first time in May during Opera Conference 2013 in Vancouver. That will be followed by a week-long workshop in July in New York City, where they will get access to decision-makers inside and outside the opera field. Participants in the Leadership Intensive, supported by American Express, pay no registration fees and receive a subsidy for travel and accommodations.
VISUAL ART
Arts Institute of Atlanta-Decatur hosts color experts
On April 27, the Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur will host a Color Summit, presented by the International Association of Color Consultants (IACC) North America, for artists, designers, color consultants and small business owners.
The 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. summit is to present expert advice on lighting, color and color rendering; help with business strategies; and offer the opportunity to network with consultants, artists and vendors from around the world. Environmental designer Frank Mahnke, IACC International president, will give the keynote address.
Registration fee for non-IACC members is $15 (and includes a networking reception, 6-9 p.m. April 26 at Sycamore Place Gallery). Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur is at 1 West Court Square in downtown Decatur.
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