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Local hotel launches art gallery By ROBBIE OTTLEY The Red & Black The large buffalo that greets guests as they enter Hotel Indigo’s parking deck shows a different side of one of Athens’ most famous residents, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, “He’s interested in the iconic nature and the idea of the buffa lo,” Mercury Art Works owner Chris Wyrick said of Stipe, who sculpted the buffalo. “I’m glad it’s here because [Stipe] remains very engaged in the art and music community in Athens.” The bonds between a local art gallery and an international rock star epitomizes the theme of “Terre Verte,” Mercury Art Works’ new exhibit. The exhibit, opening Friday, is Mercury’s first in its new gallery in Hotel Indigo. The gallery achieves three of Hotel Indigo’s goals: develop ment of a more original atmo sphere, integration with the vibrant culture of Athens and use of local, renewable resourc es. “This project wasn’t just about making money,” said Nikki Boatwright. Hotel Indigo’s sales director. “Again and again [the developers] did the right thing wherever they could.” “Terre Verte,” which will run through early 2010, features entirely local artists. Its name, French for “true green,” comes from the olive green pigment that is one of the fundamental pigments used by painters. The exhibit’s focus on depictions of nature and landscapes aligns it with Hotel Indigo’s goal of sus tainability. © October 13-23, 2009 Tate 140* 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Take your picture on or before October 22 and receive a ticket for a FREE slice of pizza on the 22nd in Tate Plaza. Everyone who has their picture taken will be entered to win an iPod Shuffle. S2O FOR A YEARBOOK WWW.UGA.EDU/PANDORA UGA Online Courses M * MORE THAN 75 COURSES ONLINE For more information or to register: www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/randb 706-542-3243 1 -800-877-3243 See your academic advisor about applying specific IDL courses to your program of study. ( m , The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education ' 7 8 5* Independent and Distance Learning (IDL) Suite 193 * 1197 South Lumpkin Street * Athens, GA The University of is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. . CoumsY Mrrcuky Art Works ▲ Matt Alston’s “Patmos” is one of many paintings shown in “Terre Verte” that exemplifies a theme of sustainability. “We wanted it to be a broad enough theme to encompass a lot of different types of work,” Wyrick said. Among the more eclectic works in the exhibit is Mary Engel’s “Watchdog,” which plac es recycled watches around a sculpture of a dog. “They’re just immaculate. They’re gorgeous,” said Katie Graham, a fifth-year student in the Lamar Dodd School of Art who serves as a gallery assistant for Mercury. “It’s a really cool way to take all these things that people collect... and turn it into something really beautiful.” Friday’s reception will contin ue the theme of integration with the culture of Athens, with per formances by various music and Class Pictures TERRE VERTE RECEPTION Featuring performances by Canopy Repertory Company, Athens Hoopdance, Denise Posnak Contemporary Dance, Killick and Maps & Transit When: Friday, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Hotel Indigo dance acts from the city, who will play in the gallery and lobby of the hotel. “Since this is the first show in this new environment, we’re going to really go all-out,” Wyrick said. “Since the owners made such a commitment to connecting to the art and music community in Athens, we’re going to make this a multimedia experience.” COMPANION ' r> a'.'o ' h ,T ■Animal Hospital •wusmn j (706)549-6043 jj fX Troy Ptckere' www comparowipotvel com • Proventriiive Medicine • Grootnmg A Boarding • Physical .Exams • Spays A Neuters B • Vaccinations • Orthopedic Surgery • Radiology • Ultrasonography • • JHb nKHKi ' * * % ■r/ % ... .■ -OB'.' 'W 'IK. S -W/m. 9g . ffi. ■ ’3 ■" for an exclusive TEXT coupon*iljSS|lijj^^^^^^^| Text now to receive a coupon for a H FREE SlO Tanger gift card. gMmm Limit one $lO gift card per person and per cell Must present phone/text message at Tanger Shopper Services in Commerce, GA to receive $lO Tanger gift card. Offer expires 10/31/09. 'Standard text messaging fees apply f J&* SHOP OVER 120 BRAND NAME OUTLETS INCLUDING Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store HOLLISTER Bass NAUTICA Aeropostale CALVIN KLEIN Gap Outlet Nike Factory Store JOURNEYS Factory Brand Shoes PACSUN rue2l J.CREW LOFT Outlet MAURICES ABERCROMBIE & FITCH Timberland AND MORE OUT & ABOUT Tub Red & Black | Thursday, October 15, 2009 Dual slide guitarists revive traditions of classic blues By BRITTANY FORRESTAL The Red & Black Neither Tom Gray nor Mark Johnson could have predicted the result of their first meeting. It took place in the early '9os when Gray offered to sell Johnson a guitar out of the trunk of his car. Johnson didn’t buy the guitar, but after realiz ing they shared an interest in slide guitar, they exchanged numbers and decided to meet and play music. “We were playing together for several years, just getting together and jamming,” Gray said. But we were thinking two slide guitar players in the same band would probably be a pret ty strange thing.” It was in the late ’9os, when Johnson saw a televised perfor mance featuring two slide gui tarists, that the two agreed to perform their songs for an audi ence. They debuted their blues infused rock music in coffee shops and restaurants until the release of their first album gar nered them wider recognition. Now internationally renowned and with record deals in Europe and America, Decatur-based blues band Delta Moon has long since established itself as a mainstay in the genre. Gray said that despite his interest in all genres of music, blues has always been a pas sion. He said his interest lies in the depth of the genre and its influence on all varieties of E Kmremn (?fmm < ► Thursday 4 EAST SIDE LOCATION £ t O C Beer ( 6 0 oz., < £ Pitchers \ Reg. $6.95 Daily Specials ► Voted Best Margarita in Athens! www.MexicaliGrilleAthens.com TangerOutlets Commerce, GA I-85, Banks Crossing, Exit 149 800-405-9828 Monday-Saturday 9-9 Sunday 12-6 www.tangeroutlet.com buy direct from the manufacturer DELTA MOON with Seth Walker When: 8:30 tonight Where: The Melting Point Cost: $8 advance, $lO at door modem music. “All this stuff just goes way back. So we go way back to the roots, the old blues recordings, and that stuff is still a well spring,” he said. “Some people think of the blues as locked into this Chicago-style thing, but we like to look way back before that for our inspiration.” The band is now a quartet, which features Gray on lap steel and vocals, Johnson on bottleneck and slide guitar, Frahner Joseph on bass and Darren Stanley on drums, and maintains a largely improvisa tional live show characteristic of the band’s roots. Because of this, Gray said every song grows each time it is played. “I think songs do evolve over time,” he said. “It's still a living thing, that song. Every time you do it, it might be a little bit different. [lt] depends on what’s happening that day or what’s happening in that room that minute.” Delta Moon recently finished recording their newest album, slated for a U.S. release in Jan. 2010. After tonight’s concert at the Melting Point, the band is heading to Europe for a two week Scandinavian tour. 5