Journeys: From Here to There and Back Again Summer Season with Vickie Martin and Friends Atlanta Georgia

June 19th Opening Party

BREAKING NEWS: IKE STUBBLEFIELD TO PLAY DURING THE PARTY!

The Defoor Centre’s summer season opens up with four well established Southeastern artists that will blow your tiaras off your head. Vickie Martin, Tina Jones Ciranni, Laura Parker and Lisa Stevens will present recent works along with some familiar pieces. This wide selection of work will up from June 10th to August 31st with a Sunday soiree on June 19 from 2-4PM. The event is free and open to the public and kid friendly. JUST ADDED: musician Ike Stubblefield will be at the piano in the Forum Gallery.

Vickie Martin-Forum Gallery

A local-favorite whose work has been around the city’s best galleries, will be showing her complete collection of work. Rendered in paints, found objects and sometimes the use of salt – will give the images texture and depth. Vickie has found inspiration in all her surroundings. Her popular images of floating dresses and luminous moons will be a major focus of this showing located in the Forum Gallery.

“Vickie combines diverse materials and her own personal energy to create layered images that morph before your eyes and create visual poetry” - Lance Carlson, AIA owner of Carlson & Mosley Architects

In the other galleries around the centre:          

Tina Jones Ciranni, a mixed media artist that combines acrylic, collage pieces, spray paint and an occasional found object to create a pattern. A sense of direction she tries to emulate as we travel along in life. Her motto is if she   can make you feeling something – happy or sad she’s done her job.

“Her playful images along with textures made with mixed media get serious on canvas to entice the viewer” – Michelle Davidson, Exec. Dir of the Defoor Centre

Laura Parker, the free spirit of the group comes in with her musical background that began her journey years ago making it’s way through to her mixed media pieces pushing the art of abstraction. Her freeform of her hanging pieces are inquisitive, flowing as well as strong like the woman she is.

"Laura Parker, the artist and visual alchemist making paint into illuminations of the soul's gold" - Stacey Cohen, Fusionart Studio

Lisa Stevens, our Nashville traveler, comes in with her luminous art – she is our LEED accredited (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) artist. This means she creates with non-toxic so it stands the test of time while using materials that are locally-sourced. Her magical lines and color bring her journey here so we can rediscover our inner curiosities.

“…the paintings will be a sufficient recipe for a pleasant day…”-Chuck Beard, Nashville Galleries Examiner

Ruth Gogel – A local photographer who’s taken the basic photo and manipulated it into something very abstract. The image becomes something inviting and eye- catching. Her images have been apart of many shows, juried awards and media.

"Among the most striking are some translucent photographs, looking like Impressionist paintings, by Ruth Gogel"- Liz Favus, Marietta Daily Journal

BREAKING NEWS: For entertainment at this show will be Ike Stubblefield, a world known B-3 Hammond Organ player will transfer to the grand piano in the Forum gallery and bring his magical fingers to amaze us. Ike has been a fixture in the music scene for 40 years always maintaining the tradition of the B-3 sound. He started off at Motown Records where he played with some music greats in the 60’s. He’s been on tour with Eric Clapton, shared the stage Derek Trucks, and most recently played on some Cee Lo Green’s sessions. He will be releasing a new CD, come summer filled with jazz, R&B and rock sounds all coming from this jewel of a musician.

This is the first time in a long time that these artists have been shown together under one roof. Their work will tickle your mind and grab your eyes in wonder. One will speak to you!

About the Defoor Centre:

The Defoor Centre is located off Howell Mill Rd in Atlanta in the reviving Westside neighborhood, where a lot of local vendors that cater to the interior designers have been going to for years. The Centre has been a growing facility hosting major fundraisers to corporate meetings to private weddings all in house catering with a full bar. 100 years ago this place was a hospital for the soldiers fighting at the Battle of Peachtree Creek and to this day they are “still there.”

For more information on the Defoor: www.defoorecentre.com or just come by Tues-Friday to get something to eat and browse – 1710 DeFoor Ave Atlanta GA. On Facebook-www.facebook.com/defoorcentre or search for the Defoor Center ARTS group!