LY N D O N Vol 5 #2
H O U S E
A R T S
C E N T E R
N E W S L E T T E R
A FACILITY OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY LEISURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Childrens’ Exhibition Didn’t “Just Happen”
Art Association Completes 90th Year
By W. Robert Nix
By Madeline Darnell The purpose of the Athens Art Association, since its beginning in 1919 and is today, the cultivation of fine arts through lectures, art classes, and art exhibitions. What has changed are the arts institutions in Athens and technology, changing the way the Art Association meets its objectives. In its earliest years before the Georgia Museum of Art and Lyndon House Arts Center came into being, the Art Association served the function of the museum and LHAC by hosting fine arts exhibits from local and regional artists as well as collections borrowed from artists and collectors throughout the US. The venues were scattered through Athens to try to interest wide audiences. Many were in various schools of the University of Georgia, but other venues included the clubhouse of the Athens Women’s Club, the Georgia State Teacher’s College, Civic Hall, YMCA, and Athens Chamber of Commerce.
Photo: Shannon Williams
Through Our Eyes : Portraits and Self-Portraits by the Students of the Clarke County School District was a fantastic art exhibition but it did not “just happen”. For the Clarke County School District it began in the fall of 1956 when the newly combined school system began a professional program of art education in the schools. In the beginning, art specialists worked with the elementary classroom teachers to present a unified sequential curriculum for all students. The high schools already had certified art programs and as the middle school programs were developed, art was included in the curriculum. In time, the success of the program lead to employing professionally certified art teachers to implement the art curriculum at all levels. With the development of an outstanding art program which produced exemplary works of art, there became a need to showcase the results of an art curriculum which was designed to meet the developing needs of students from pre-k through high school. The exhibition of student work in each school is an integral component of the art curriculum and served as the foundation for a broader and more selective level of exhibition for the general public in an art facility which also had to be developed. (continued on page 11)
When the Chancellor House was opened at the University in the 1930s, it served as an arts center for meetings and exhibitions. Currently the AAA exhibits artwork of members throughout the community at the State Botanical Garden, Athens Regional Library, and several businesses.They also exhibit at the Lyndon House during the biennial Full House Exhibition. During its first few decades the AAA took the role of community arts educator as the Museum and Arts Center do today. They gave informative tours of (continued on page 6)
Photo: William Winburn
Winter/Spring 2010
ArtiFacts Staff Editor Madeline Darnell Graphic Designer Van Burns Writers Celia Brooks Madeline Darnell Carissa DiCindio Nancy Lukasiewicz W. Robert Nix Mary Padgelek Caroline Self Dale Wechsler Jenny Williams Photography Shannon Williams William Winburn
Left: Members of the Athens Art Association display work to be exhibited in the Athens Regional Library in April of 1984. L-R: Hildegarde Timberlake, Tom Early, Eda Ellis, Betty Secrist, Flo Gross and Bill Cartey.