Our Town: Dunwoody Arts association hopes to pop with small space

Pop-up shops, pop-restaurants, pop-up booths - they’re sprouting up across the metro area these days. So why not a pop-up art gallery? Members of the Dunwoody Fine Art Association are ready to give it a try.

“We’ve been given the space for a 3-month trial, and if it works out, we’d like to continue,” said Susan Proctor, who has been in the group for 12 years and now leads the 70-member organization. “It’s a very little space, but it’s a big deal for our little group.”

Members represent works in an array of media, including batik, sculpture, photography, watercolors, oils and acrylics. Having a gallery to showcase those works has been a dream of the association for some time, said 15-year member Julie Marshall.

“We’ve heard tell that there used to be one years ago, but it’s been so long that most people don’t remember it,” she said. “We’re ready to try it again. This space was a storage area and only has about 1,000 square feet, but we’ll have room for about 70 paintings, as well as some sculpture and jewelry.”

The temporary gallery in the courtyard of the Dunwoody Village Shopping center will open Feb. 23 with a public reception. That event is also the highlight of the association’s fifth annual Art Walk that kicked off last week and runs through Feb. 25.

“February has been designated as our fine art month,” said Marshall. “During that time, different businesses in the community have graciously agreed to put some our members’ art on their walls.”

Local art lovers can check out an array of works during local business hours at about 30 locations, including Peter’s Restaurant, Dunwoody Diamonds, Ravinia Club, city hall and the Dunwoody library. Member Maria Skrinjar has two pieces hanging in the lobby of the Dunwoody Stage Door Players theater at 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.