Media Contacts:
Gina Solomon Kristin Chapman
Market Vice Chair External Publicity
gms728@gmail.com mkchap@comcast.com
2014 WESLEYAN ARTIST MARKET: SOARING HIGHER! “It’s not just an Event…it’s an Experience” ATLANTA, March 2014 – The upcoming 16th annual Wesleyan Artist Market (WAM), themed “Soaring Higher,” is set to run from May 1st to May 3rd in Wesleyan’s Yancey Gymnasium. The space will dub as a multi-‐level exhibition hall over the three day event. Over 95 professional artists and 31 student artists, all invitation only, will exhibit a broad selection of original artwork in a variety of mediums and price points, including oil paintings, acrylic paintings, jewelry, water color, ceramics, photography, mixed media, pottery, floral arts, textiles and home décor items. The artist selection process ended mid-‐January with an overwhelming number of professional and student applicants. Building on the incredible momentum from last year’s Market, 2014 promises to yield an exceptionally talented field of emerging and established artists, including first time attendee and Atlanta’s own Rob Matre. The recently announced 2014 Featured Artists include mixed media artists Jenny Henley (Atlanta) and Kellie Montana (Nashville) as well as sterling silver jeweler Joanie Muhlfelder (Mantua, Ohio). Wesleyan is excited to welcome all three of these well received artists back to campus. The artists’ works of art can be found in galleries and private collections across the southeast. Past Featured Artists returning for 2014 include Jenny Shultz, Marilyn Wendling, Lisa Berry, Kendall Boggs, Shannon Haas, Adam Newman, Margaret Berthold and more. For a complete list of the 2014 Wesleyan Artist Market participating artists, please visit www.wesleyanartistmarket.org. Additionally, the Wesleyan Arts Alliance proudly introduces several new elements to the Market this year, including exhibiting student alumni artists such as Grace Cowart, 2010, and Mallory Macgill, 2013, as well as works from SCAD student and up and coming artists Evan Jones and Michelle Ann Pettigrew . Market guests are welcome to stop by the new “Market Café” to purchase a cup of coffee or pick up a donated baked treat, or catch a culinary delight from one of the Food Truck vendors visiting campus. The Food Movement will be bringing Vintage Frozen Custard, Hail Caesar, Fry Guy and Pressed For Time Panini Food Trucks onto campus Thursday through Saturday! Adding to the excitement, for the first time ever, the Wesleyan Parents Club will hold their annual Tuition Raffle drawing Thursday evening at the Market. For scheduling details, please see www.wesleyanartistmarket.org Other new initiatives include an expanded Sponsorship package and the purchase of new assets (software, tables, peg boards, signage) for the Market, all of which should enhance the success of the Market this year and years to come!
Just like last year, Wesleyan hopes to engage the entire community as they celebrate the arts. Students will be preparing an all-‐school theme related art project to be displayed at the Market. According to Market Chair Judy Beaman,“ we want to highlight the artist in everyone and demonstrate the incredible beauty that can be created when we work together.” In addition, there will be live entertainment throughout the duration of the three day Market. Opening Night, guests will be treated to the professionally honed talents and melodious sounds of Judy Boehm and Brent Whiten from Class Act Band. Friday, May 2ndand Saturday, May 3rd will include a full line-‐up of performances from students, faculty and friends. Guests can look forward to performances by instrumental, choral, and percussion classes, dance and musical theater groups, as well as the Chapel Band and individual musicians and vocalists. Wesleyan is also hoping that the Market will inspire the visual artists in its students. In addition to the professional exhibiting artists, 31 Wesleyan students have been invited to show their own artistic works in a student section that will enthusiastically display and celebrate their talents. Market guests can expect to see everything from creatively sewn hair accessories and clothing to jewelry, artwork, and home décor items. Aspiring culinary artists will be in the mix again for 2014 with another wonderful selection of baked treats for sale. Like all of the other artists in the Market, the students will be donating 25% of their sales to benefit the fine arts programs at Wesleyan. “It’s a great opportunity for these kids to focus on their artistic passions and learn a little bit about the business side of art at the same time,” says Beaman. “They completed an official application and will have to decide how to display, price and market their wares at the student booth. We hope it will encourage their interest in the arts and be a great learning experience for all of them.”
Critical to the success of the annual Artist Market is the hard working and engaged group of parent
volunteers that work closely with Wesleyan’s faculty and administration to successfully grow the Market every year. Additionally, the Wesleyan Arts Alliance, which raises funds through the Wesleyan Artist Market, celebrates and supports Wesleyan School’s commitment to the arts and shares the belief that the arts are both a tremendous avenue for self-‐expression and an important part of every child’s development. The school invites you to join in the community celebration May 1st-‐May 3rd, and hopes that everyone will find at least one opportunity during the three day run of the Market to stop in, visit and thank all of the exhibiting artists, supporting performers and volunteers as they “Soar Higher” in 2014! The Market is free, and everyone is welcome. For more information on the Wesleyan Artist Market, please go to www.wesleyanartistmarket.org. ### www.wesleyanartistmarket.org
Facebook.com/ArtistMarket
Twitter.com/WesleyanArtMart