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LOCAL
March 24 - 30, 2016 » Page 14A
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ARTS
Continued From Page 2A
Across the street, artists
at Atlanta Hot Glass wowed
attendees by transforming
glass into beautiful vases and
sculptures. Artists at the local
studio were not dressed in
old clothes or paint gear, but
metal jackets, construction-
grade gloves and steel-toed
boots for protection.
In other locales, the
public engaged with artists
in rented spaces within Little
Tree Art Studios. While the
space looks like nothing more
than a loading dock from its
visage along Franklin Street in
Avondale Estates, the building
houses arts of all shapes,
sizes and talents.
Soap makers Larisa
Maletz and Troy Maletz of
Owl Trace Soaps in Duluth
used the event to spread the
word about natural remedies.
The couple has been making
natural soaps, shampoo
bars, lotion bars and scrubs
since August 2015 and finds
events like the Studio Cruise
the perfect place to meet
other artists and network their
product.
“We have all different
types of essential oils,” Larisa
Maletz said. “One is made
from spearmint; one is made
from chocolate. Everything we
use is food grade.”
The couple said the soaps
are a healthier alternative
to run-of-the-mill grocery
store soaps, which typically
use harmful chemicals and
additives.
“What you put on your
skin, you put into your body,”
Troy Maletz said. “We’re
always fighting over natural
soaps with other people,
so we decided to make it
ourselves.”
Elizabeth Scott, 82, saw
the event as an opportunity
to showcase her hobby of
quilting. Scott has been part
of quilting shows, guilds and
groups and now dedicates the
majority of her time to quilting
at Little Tree Art Studio.
“I quilt in here for my
own pleasure,” Scott said.
“It gives me something to do
and a lot of friends. I’m in
here every day I don’t have
a doctor’s appointment. I’ll
get here around 10 a.m. and
leave around 4 p.m. I like to
make wall hangings and small
quilts.”
Scott’s eye for patterns,
colors and fabric make
quilting an obvious choice
for a creative outlet. The
process, not the end product,
is what matters to Scott when
designing and crafting a quilt.
“I don’t keep a clock, it all
depends on the quilt itself,”
Scott said. “I just enjoy it and
take my time.”
Scott was not the only
artist claiming to be a
hobbyist at the March 19
event. Photographer Michael
Boatright, who showcased
and sold portraits, action
shots, landscapes and other
subjects, said the practice has
been a part of him for as long
as he can remember.
Boatright’s skills have
taken him to New Mexico,
Europe, Scandinavia and
most cities within the United
States.
“I’ve been a photographer
for over 40 years - my dad
taught me,” Boatright said.
“I like to participate in life. I
love photographing dance
and theater. I love the
process-l love creating, the
creative process. The smell of
chemicals still has a special
place in my heart. We had a
dark room when I was 12, and
there’s still a certain magic
about pulling a print out and
looking at what you’ve made.”
Boatright said Atlanta
and surrounding areas also
offer a plethora of places to
shoot for the well-trained eye.
His favorite place within city
limits runs along northern
DeKalb Avenue near the CSX
Railroad yard.
“Atlanta is just a really
cool place to photograph,”
Boatright said. “Travel
Photography magazine listed
Atlanta and Georgia in general
as one of the top places to
photograph. New York didn’t
even make the cut.”
Boatright also said
collaborating, being
around various artists and
participating in events
similar to Studio Cruise is
what makes him appreciate
taking part in a creative
field. He, along with Troy
Maletz, commented on the
event’s ability to bring many
different artists together for
the purpose of creativity and
community.
“You have to have events
like this, because there aren’t
a lot of avenues for upcoming
artists,” said Troy Maletz.
“Here, you can have a 7-year-
old artist next to a 70-year-old.
The community takes care
of each other, and this is one
way to get good people in,
open your eyes and get a
different perspective.”
For more information on
the Rail Arts District and the
Annual Studio Cruise, visit
www.railartsdistrict.com.
Soap maker Larisa Maletz of Owl Trace Soaps in Duluth discusses her products.
Quilt maker Elizabeth Scott shows the intricacies of a quilt in progress.
Photographer Michael Boatright talks about one of his works. Photos by Travis Hudgons