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LOCAL POTTERS CAN HAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING A PLEASURE
You don't have to fed guilty if you haven't fin
ished your Christmas shopping: you can feel rewarded,
because several of tne best crafts studios in the area
have yet to hold their Christmas sales, and most of those
tlial have already had theirs are still open for you to
come out and shop
In case you just fell off the 3:30 p.m. turnip truck
into or area, Athens is the center of a rich vein of clay-
glass-metal-paper-fabric transformed by local alche
mists into exquisitely fashioned pieces both decora
tive and functional. All of this stuff, available at the art
ists' studios and in select local shops, makes the kind
of Christmas presents that are at the same
time beautiful, functional and personal
— items handmade right here in Ath
ens and its environs. In this
varied fare you
can find a
present for
anybody at
any price,
from a
$2.50
cup on
up into the hundreds of dollars.
The onenomenon has much in common with the Ath
ens music scene and the Athens art scene as well as the
Athens film scene: a lot of talented people came here fa
the University of Geagia in one way a another and stayed
around because Irving expenses are relatively low, coun
try living is abundant and the process has brought more
and mae artists and aafts people here, so that the whole
place has a congenial and understanding feel lor those
who make their living sellng beauty.
Sure, you can get a matched Melmac set fa the
same thing you’ll pay fa a Ron Meyers platter, and,
Itey, that's cool. But if you enjoy you platter so much
that you prop it up as a work of art to pleasure the eye
when not in use, and if you enjoy watching the delight
of guests as they spear a piece of pineapple and re
alize that they've just uncovered a bird's breast a a
woman's, then you’ll enjoy your Christmas shopping
as much as you'll enjoy what you get fa years to come.
IN THE SHOPS
This kind of shopping has became a ritual here
abouts. If you're in a hurry—and who isn't?—you can
find these local wares at several shops downtown and
in Five Points that have gone to the trouble to pick out
stuff they think you'll like. Since fa the most part these
merchants have been making these choices fa years
they’ve developed a keen eye for the pieces that de
light their clientele. You're ahead of the game the
minute you walk in the front door; the treasures of the
Athens area are laid out for you to behold. You don't
have to drive around out in the country: that's already
been done for you.
IN THE COUNTRY
But maybe you like driving around out in the coun
try Maybe that for you is a part of the Athens Christ
mas season just as much as the search to find the
perfect tree. In that case, there's still time to experi
ence the thrill and challenge of traveling the beautiful
countryside to see these objects of functional art right
in the studios where they were made and maybe shake
the hand that made them. While it will take longer than
popping into your favaite stae, heading out fa the
studios and sales gives you a better feel for how these
art objects you can eat off came to be.
MADISON COUNTY
Bendzunas Glass has had its
show, but that's okay, because you can
still catch Paul and Barbara's work as
part of the Broad River Craft Group
Show and Sale Friday, Dec 6, during the
hours 6-9 p.m., including a public reception (
and party. The show and sale continue Satur
day, Dec. 7 — 10 a.m.-5 p.m; and Sunday. Dec. 8
— noon to 5 p.m.
Take Highway 72 east to Comer. Take a right on
Route 22 and then a right on South Ave„ which is the
first street past the railroad tracks. Watch for the sign
on the left. Call 783-5863 for information. They're also
open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
between now and Christmas. The Broad River Group
includes Barbara and Paul Bendzunas, blown
glass; Ginni Edwards, wire baskets; Will
Langford, functional pottery; Mark Lasly, blown
glass; Tim Gartrell, sculpture; Chris Coulter, bird
houses; Raj and Jorn Piel turned wood; David
Morgan, pottery; Christie Moody, leaded glass.
The simple listing of these artists and their work
does nothing to impart a sense of their experience
and skill and the range of their works. David Mor
gan, for instance, has been at it fa so many years
with such concentration and ability that his cups
and plates and bowls have become a kind of zen blend
ing of form and function, so that the experience of hold
ing and drinking from a Magan cup becomes an act
of pleasure and beauty. To say that Christie Moody
makes leaded glass gives no hint of the magical cre
ations that are subsumed under this category. Even if
your Christmas shopping is all wrapped up, you owe it
to yourself just fa the pure thrill of the experience to
ride out and see what all these artists are doing.
David Morgan will be
having his
own
*/
Jeff Bishoff throws a pot.
(Photo by David H. Smith)
Find us before
_ ye j get
111 over your
head.
Save money on great gear for scuba,
backpacking, climbing, and skiing- now
through Christmas! And take advantage
of our longer holiday hours:
Monday-Saturday, 9:30-8
Sunday, 1-6
575 Hawthorne Avenue* 548-7225
Gharbon's
SPECIALTY SPORTS
FIVE STAR SPECIAL
★ ★ ★ ★ 'tAt
Jason’s Teriyakr
Chicken
served over rice
with a dinner salad.
$4.95
Mon. - Fri. 11 r 5 pm
TAKE OUT 351-6908
1061 Baxrer St. Athens 548-8702
Huy 441 at 1 -85 335-5062
0
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