Life on the Westside

Today a special post about all of the things going on this weekend on the Westside...

First, starting this Saturday just across the street from us (!), you can find the new location of Jennifer Schwartz Gallery, which features photography. (Fingers crossed as they are rapidly completing the build-out as we speak!) And this Saturday, from 11 - 5, they will be holding Life Support Japan, a silent auction to benefit relief efforts in Japan. Images will be sold in a special edition of 10 for $50 each. Bids can be placed at the gallery or online.

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Schwartz Gallery to the Westside as the newest member of the Westside Arts District!

Secondly, we are having an opening on Friday night. It will be Meta Gary's first solo show at the gallery, and the body of work is spectacular. One of the standout pieces is included above, Taking Back the Days. Join us on Friday night from 7 - 10 for cocktails and to meet Meta, a local and native Atlantan!

(Jill Storthz)

Just up the street at Get This! Gallery, Jill Storthz is having an opening as well, also 7 - 10. The third solo show for San Francisco based Storthz, it will feature

her unique and eye-catching woodblock prints. Get This! is also part of our local arts/gallery district, WAD.

And speaking of,

(our gallery district off Howell Mill between 14th and 8th and Marietta Street between Howell Mill and Means)

There is a third-Saturday WAD walk this weekend from 11 - 5. Featured galleries include:

1) Jennifer Schwartz Gallery

2) Sandler Hudson Gallery

3) Kiang Gallery

4) Twin Kittens

5) Astolfi Art

6) Get This! Gallery

7) Saltworks

8) Tanner Hill Gallery

9) Octane Coffee

10) Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

11) EAG

OH, and it's supposed to be a sunny 80 degrees on Friday! Moral of the story, come check us out this weekend, and if you are a regular, stop in and say hi!

(Jennifer Cawley, Paths Cross)

Thank you Jerry

Anne Irwin Fine Art

Jackson Fine Art

The Signature Shop

Davis Waldron

Sandler Hudson Gallery

Today, while reading my daily dose of Counterforces and Other Little Jokes (the blog of local art critic and friend, Jerry Cullum) I felt the immediate need to say 'THANK YOU'.  You can read his post from Sunday, December 14th here.  Times are tough for many (who are we kidding, MOST) small businesses now, due to the recent downturn in our economy, but art galleries are some of those that are hurting the most.  So, I say 'thank you, thank you, Jerry' for mentioning the gallery owners and directors who are still bringing new and vibrant art to the city amidst these hard times.

As a nod to Jerry, I too would like to pay my respects to all of those gallery owners (locally and nationally) who continue to make our world a better place by making art accessible to the public. To this effect, above I have included images and links to some of my favorite small local galleries in the city.  If you have the money to buy art, please show your support by purchasing a painting from a local gallery.  If you cannot make a purchase, all I ask, is that you please visit your local gallery and see the wonderful new exhibitions that the owners and directors have labored over, that may not be as well-attended this year.  I know just as well as anyone else how much they would appreciate it.