Thursday, May 13, 2010

Blue Ridge Ga -- A Top Art City

Blue Ridge Ga
Blue Ridge Georgia -- one of America's Top Art Cities?  That's the goal of the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association in Blue Ridge.  Located in the historic Fannin County Courthouse downtown, the Art Center is absolutely the best in the Georgia Mountains, with a permanent Richard Lowe Evans exhibit, artist in residence program and gift shop offering the work of our local artisans.  Coming soon -- beginning Memorial Day weekend, an exhibit by the Southern Appalachian Artists Guild (SAAG).  The folks at the Art Center have used their limited resources in amazing ways, bringing the historic Courthouse to life and adding a layer of richness to the Blue Ridge Experience.



Fabulous Festivals
Next on the calendar is Arts in the Park, sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association every Memorial Day Weekend in Downtown Blue Ridge City Park.  More than 240 artists are participating this year.  The festival has become an official kick-off of warmer summer days in Georgia's Blue Ridge and attracts more than 10,000 every year.


The Arts are Alive in Downtown Blue Ridge
Artists love living, painting, creating in the Georgia Mountains, because there's a perfect pallette around every bend in the road.  More artists means more galleries and downtown Blue Ridge is an eclectic mix of shops and art galleries as a result.  Soon the galleries will begin a new "Art Walk" and recently the Shops on East Main started a block party one evening each month.  Pictured is High Country Art and Antiques on West Main, one of Blue Ridge's oldest and best galleries.  Next time you're in downtown Blue Ridge, take your own "art walk" and don't miss The Art Center in the 400 block of East Main.