New Beginnings

I hope this is the first of many monthly updates for our blog. If there is anything you would like to see in it we would love to hear it, let us know.

With classes in full swing there are some wonderful goings on at the Art Center these days. For all those that like to dabble in pottery or are interested in just getting a feel for clay there are still a few Weekday Pottery Workshops with Hugh Bailey left. These are one session workshops that focus are a single theme or technique. They are inexpensive, low commitment, and a whole lot of fun. Just $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers, it is a real bargain. They run on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:30, and we have 2 sessions left; July 16th Creepy Crawlers (Frogs, insects, etc) and July 23rd Slab Structures/houses. If you have taken any of the 6 workshops that were offered this session the glaze date for all of them is July 30th.

I'd like to stress to all of you that the Oak Ridge Art Center is not just for Oak Ridgers. We welcome all of you from wherever you are to come experience our gallery, enter our open show, or take a class with one of our fine instructors. We feature free ongoing exhibits in our gallery year round and love visitors. Membership is not limited to Oak Ridge residents either, and it does have benefits from reduced class prices to greater exhibition opportunities and beyond. We love our members no matter their zip code.

This Saturday the 12th of July marks the opening reception for the newest show entitled "Tickle Me Pink". It is a great chance to see our member's witty and whimsical side. There will be a gallery talk on Saturday at 6:30pm along with the reception and refreshments. This is open to all so come on out and show our artists some love and support. If you can't make it to the reception, the show will run until August 10th.

Do we have any super sleuths out there? Do you like solving mysteries? Are any of you finding yourself with extra free time and are computer savvy? We have got a project for you. The Art Center has numerous pieces of art that we don't know much about. We would love some volunteer researchers to try and find out more on some of our pieces. This is an ongoing project and you can spend as much time as you would like looking into any of our unknown art. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Just call or email the Art Center to find out more.

This is one of the Mystery Pieces we have hanging right now in the permanent collection. We believe it is by a T. D. Mather, an American Artist, and it is a Color Lithograph from 1965. The signature looks like JMathers, JMathies, Louthers, JWithers, Smithers... and '65. If you recognize or are familiar with this artist or this print please let us know. We have been researching but have yet to find any information.