Published: July 01, 2009 04:35 pm      

Annual budget show is sponsored by the Art Guild

July 17-18 the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade will hold the annual Budget Show and Sale at the Plateau Creative Art Center, 451 Lakeview Dr. (off Peavine). This free exhibit gives the public a chance to buy original art work at a fraction of the price a gallery would charge. The Budget Show and Sale begins at 9 a.m. each day.

Incidentally, this is not third-class work. At the PCAC, we have many outstanding artists and craftsmen. Many made their living before retirement in illustrator graphics and teaching. Others had to spend much of their time raising children and with financial responsibilities. So, although they were always interested in becoming artists, retirement finally brought the chance in to practice their avocation full time. These talented aspiring artists took classes, worked hard, and many are now doing professional quality work. The more cynical among you may say, “Ah hah….this is where these artists dumb their dogs.” Not so! Trust me. Many of us artists have a space problem. If we don’t want too much clutter, a lovely piece of work that we hate to give up goes into the Budget Show. Then there are things you may love more than the craftsmen. When the writer took pottery many years ago, my teacher was about to trash a gorgeous pitcher. The handle was too thin and potentially impractical for daily use. Since I wanted it as an ornamental piece, he agreed to sell it to me unsigned and for a low price. I still have it on a shelf and I still love it.

Since framing can be expensive if you do not do it yourself, there will be a number of matted and framed pieces in the exhibit. The perfect piece for your home may be in this group. Provide a few strategically placed pillows, throws, etc. to echo the colors in the painting, and give your room a great new decorator look.

One of the artists that you will see exhibiting in the Budget Show is Judy Clark Turner, who was born in Atlanta but lived with her husband Jack and raised her two boys in Nashville. Judy drew and sculpted and produced a sculpture in an eighth-grade art class that made her consider art as a career. However, life interfered so Judy married, had two boys, worked as a part-time bank teller, and helped her husband rehab old homes for sale. Throughout this time, she took classes and worked on her own art. Given her busy life, it is not surprising that she went to four universities before she graduated in 1991 from Tennessee State. Perhaps, one of her most important teachers was a woman from the Metro Parks Recreation, whose excellent teaching kept her coming back. After her husband retired, they began to look for a smaller home. Friends had suggested they move to Fairfield Glade, since they wanted someplace quiet and serene.

Judy now does her own shows and exhibits at several galleries in Nashville and Gatlinburg and at PCAC. She takes inspiration for her glazing designs, more or less, from nature. Her favorite article to throw on the wheel is a bowl. Bowls are attractive, practical, and she likes the feel of producing them.

Donna Slinkard came to Fairfield Glade by way of Dayton, Ohio. As an Air Force wife, she had lived in most areas of the USA plus several years in Newfoundland. She had always had an interest in art. Fortunately, the bases on which she lived had a variety of classes for service wives.

Slinkard took classes in oil painting, but found the obvious disadvantage of small children and the long drying time for oil paint. She began to use acrylics, when they were relatively new. As a result, she taught herself. Later when her children matured, the artist returned to oils. Then she discovered pastels and found them highly expressive of her style. For the last 15 years, she has been teaching still life, portraits, and landscapes in oils and pastels.

These two artists are representative of the many fine artists whose first quality work will be part of the Budget Show and Sale at the PCAC. Get there early to choose your purchase.

The Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a non-profit organization dedicated to the visual arts. The guild is open to artists in Cumberland County and is active in school outreach programs, county art exhibits, and cooperation with other art groups in the area. To learn more about the Art Guild, please visit the Web site at www.Artguildfairfieldglade.net. Or better yet, stop in to see the gallery at the Plateau Creative Arts Center.