Athens, Ga. – In conjunction with the symposium “Look at That! Fresh Approaches in Urban Redevelopment for Athens,” the director of the University of Georgia Owens Library and Circle Gallery, UGA students, and an Athenian are exhibiting their distinctive interpretations of Athens.
The symposium will be hosted by the education committee of the Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation on Saturday, March 27 at Ciné, 234 West Hancock Ave. in Athens. A textile art exhibit will open on March 19 and a montage will open on March 24. Both exhibits will run through April 13. A reception for the two displays will be held on Thursday, April 1 from 6-8 p.m. Both the exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public.
René Shoemaker will exhibit her one-of-a-kind textile paintings in “Athens Above,” a unique view of the skyline of Athens. Her interest in urban development stems from her roots, having been born and raised in New York City, as well has her work as the director of the Owens Library and Circle Gallery at the UGA College of Environment and Design. She said her workplace informs her design sensibility and interpretation of place, and that she values Athens as a quality livable city.
“My intention through the artwork is to help people open their eyes to the physical and spiritual essence of our everyday environment,” said Shoemaker. “I found that when looking up at the rooflines, I noticed the stark geometric forms of the buildings against the exquisite blue sky of Athens in the fall and the spring seasons. I wanted to share that vision with my fellow citizens.”
“THREADS: Stitching urbanism, ecology, and community together in Athens, Georgia,” is a montage by a group working together to share their vision of what Athens could be. It was created by CED landscape architecture undergraduates Kevan Williams, Thomas Brown, Cat Dunleavy, and Agustina Hein; graphic design student Lizzy Hinrichs; recent interior design graduates Mary Alston Killen and Taylor Rassel; and Athenian Will Kiser. The group is striving to consider new ways to approach Athens redevelopment with a creative flair.
For more information, contact Shoemaker, at rds@uga.edu or 706/542-8292