Friday, May 25 • 5-10 pm

All around downtown Decatur

Local shops, restaurants, and educational institutions host free exhibitions and receptions.

Download the 2012 ArtWalk map (.pdf).

Sponsored by: The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur and Atlanta Home Improvement

See art on display at these participating Decatur businesses:

1. Agnes Scott College

Fine Arts Exhibition
Dalton Gallery, Dana Fine Arts Building
141 E. College Ave.
Juried multimedia exhibition featuring a diversity of artistic viewpoints. Exhibition runs through June 3.

2. Alexia Gallery

335 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-1969
Cate Jesson designs hand-fabricated jewelry in rich colors combined with organic and unpredictable lines. Adam Newman creates custom pieces that fit customer needs while staying true to his own unique style. Alexia Gallery offers handcrafted and custom-designed jewelry, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry repairs, resizing and restringing. Also: a gemologist on staff; watch repair battery replacement; and insurance appraisals.

3. Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur

1 W. Court Square, Suite 110
404-924-1800
AIA’s photography department presents the Big Print Show, featuring prints made by graduating students in their final quarter as part of their final portfolios. The larger-than-life prints show the technical and conceptual skills the students developed in the program. The AIA Decatur Gallery exhibits student and faculty work as well as the work of artists from the community.

4. Beacon Hill Arts Center

410 W. Trinity Place
404-377-2929
Come and enjoy New Dance at 8 pm. The event is free but there is limited seating.Reservations are strongly encouraged.
patton@beacondance.org or 404-377-2929

5. Cook’s Warehouse and Sherlock’s Wine Merchants

180 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-377-4005
Artist Vickie Martin’s work is a dance of shapes, rhythms and textures. She createstactile surfaces using paint, collage, and everyday household items such as salt, coffee,tea and alcohol. Layering these items adds depth, where unexpected things begin appearing. Sherlock’s Wine Merchant specializes in artisan, handmade wines from the world’s top producers, from Bordeaux to Napa Valley. Their retail partner, The Cook’s Warehouse, offers the best in culinary tools, gadgets, appliances, and wine and cooking education.

6. CORE

139 Sycamore St.
404-373-4154
Sketches of dancers, created during rehearsals, are presented by CORE (formerly Several Dancers Core) in partnership with the Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur. CORE is a professional dance organization that creates, performs, and presents contemporary dance, and opens channels of communication and education between artists and the community.

7. Cozee Teas

226 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
770-547-8495
Infusion photography by Sonya Yiu celebrates the personalities of her subjects. Cozee Teas is a new business in downtown Decatur specializing in a wide variety of loose-leaf tea beverages.

8. Expression Chiropractic

103 N. McDonough St.
404-981-4433
Julia Merriam and Emily Lynch’s sculpture exhibit is heavily influenced by oceanic life forms, with works ranging from creatures that could fit into a coral reef to wall pieces that reveal a suggestion of the aquatic. Expression Chiropractic promotes wellbeing by allowing your mind-body connection to function optimally. Artful demonstration adjustment at 7 pm.

9. Farm Burger

410 B W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-378-5077
Artist Stacey Brown presents an eclectic collection of original paintings for the contemporary art lover. His works include watercolors of farm animals and large mixed media pieces, like the one displayed at the entrance to Farm Burger’s Buckhead shop. Farm Burger’s menu is seasonal and sourced from local farms. The restaurant’s burgers are made from 100 percent grassfed beef that is dry-aged and ground fresh. The cows are raised on the sweet grasses of the southeast and are never fed antibiotics, hormones, or grain.

10. Heliotrope

248 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-371-0100
John Ishmeel, whose studio is in East Lake, exhibits his abstract collage canvases. John is an interior designer and artist who worked as a designer for the hit TBS show “Movie and a Makeover,” and has been involved in interior design in Atlanta for more than 20 years. Heliotrope is a gift store full of fun selections for the home and for special occasions.

11. HomeGrown Decatur

412 Church St.
404-373-1147
Twenty-plus local HomeGrown artists present the PBaRT show – sculpture, paintings, jewelry, textiles and photography that pay homage to Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. HomeGrown Decatur is an artist cooperative featuring the work of more than 100 local artists and crafts people in pottery, painting, metal, photography and more.

12. Mingei World Arts

427 Church St.
404-371-0101
Artur Salmome Huali, a third generation Peruvian artisan now living in metro Atlanta, learned the art of “mates burilados” – intricately hand-carved gourds – from his father, well known artisan Hugo Salome Gaspar in the Huancayo district of Peru. Artur and his brother Necker will exhibit their amazing work and demonstrate their process. Mingei World Arts is a locally owned gift shop and gallery, and a direct importer of antiques, folk art and fine craft.

13. Sammiches N’ Stuff

515-A N. McDonough St.
404-378-8778
The Southeastern Photographic Society presents its Spring! Show. SPS’s mission is to help its members learn the skills needed to capture great images and share them with others. This is accomplished through lectures, field trips, and competitions. Membership consists of more than 200 amateur and professional photographers. Sammiches N’Stuff is a healthy, family friendly, value-conscious breakfast and lunch shop.

14. The Seen Gallery

415 Church St.
404-377-0733
20/20 is an exhibit that includes two bodies of work –- one by photographer Michelle-Dawne and the other by painter Jane Elliott Reis. The photographs by Michelle-Dawne are interpreted and rendered as paintings by Reis. The pieces, though similar, retain the emotions, visions and perceptions of their creators.
The Seen Gallery is a multi-discipline art gallery working closely with established and mid-career artists and offering original painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, etchings, hand-blown glass and limited-edition prints.

15. Speak . . . Easy!

Literary Arts Festival
Old Courthouse on the Square • 7 pm
A celebration of the literary arts in music, voice and art with host Jerry G. Featuring music by Kim Armstrong and performances by wordsmiths Felton Eaddy, Veronika Jackson and Nancy Riggs. See the Theater and Literary Arts page for more details.

16. Squash Blossom Boutique

113 E. Court Square
404-373-1864
Local jewelry designer Heather Haase joins Squash Blossom again this year with unique antique and ethnic pieces that are the centerpiece of her earthy Bohemian style. Squash Blossom, celebrating 13 years in Decatur in July, offers cool and casual women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, plus TOMS shoes for men, women and children.

17. Trinity

131 E. Trinity Place
404-378-0197
Trinity presents original artwork by Ruth Franklin, an English artist and Decatur resident. Recently, Ruth’s paintings were shown at the RAW Art Fair in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Enjoy her work, along with that of other fantastic Trinity artists. Trinity offers home furnishings, accessories, gifts, designer jewelry, fine art and prints. Also design services for homeowners, business owners and designers.

18. Vivid Boutique

133 E. Court Square
404-371-5181
Jan Cash is an Atlanta artist who designs and creates jewelry featuring vintage and new glass, pearls, semi-precious stones and custom handmade tags. Her hand knotting technique, using sterling silver and 14K gold-filled findings, gives each piece a delicate and airy look, making the design elements appear to be suspended in air. Vivid Boutique is a one-of-a-kind specialty boutique offering unique selections, affordable prices and great customer service.

19. Wild Oats and Billy Goats

112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-378-4088
This evening of live demonstrations from local artists includes pottery on the wheel and folk art painting. Wild Oats is a folk art gallery carrying works of local and regional artists, including paintings, pottery, handcrafted jewelry carvings, ceramics and whimsical gifts.

20. Worthmore Jewelers

117 E. Court Square
404-370-3979
Enjoy fine to fun art, jewelry and watches, live music, cold drinks and Worthmore’s annual anniversary barbecue. The celebration continues all weekend! Stop by during the festival and see why Worthmore has been voted Best Of Atlanta, Best to Do Business With, and one of the Top Five Design Stores in the US.