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Out of ATHICA: This past weekend, hundreds of new graduates
walked under the UGA Arch for the first time, symbolically
crossing the threshold from campus to the wider world. Our
community celebrates transitions like these throughout the
year, but not all of them are tied to the academic calendar.
Another important institution will also be making a transition
this year. ATHICA will celebrate the transition of its founder
and fearless Director Lizzie Zucker Saltz into a new phase of
her life, passing the torch to new leaders for this beloved arts
resource. I spoke with Zucker Saltz and ATHICA's board presi
dent, Katherine McQueen, as well as local artists, curators and
board members about their hopes for ATHICA's future.
Many know Zucker Saltz as the visionary force behind * \
ATHICA. She is the tireless powerhouse who kept the show
going over the last decade, with the help of an army of volun
teers and interns. But as she s?.ys, 'Ten years is a long time
to do anything, and I was looking for a successor." She found
one in McQueen, who worked at a nonprofit gallery in Austin
for seven years before moving here. Like a lot of ATHICA's
volunteers, McQueen has worn many hats: exhibiting artist
curator, board member and the brainchild of the successful
The ATHICA board celebrates the nonprofit's 10-year anniversary [Havivah, lizzie and Noah Zucker Saltz
center]
"Mystery Triennial" exhibition. McQueen describes ATHICA's new
operational model as one that will rely more on input from the
local community, with small groups working together on spe
cific committees to do all the work required in keeping up the
ambitious exhibition and event schedule that the art space has
maintained over the years.
Unlike traditional museums and commercial galleries,
ATHICA's mission as a nonprofit space eager to show challeng
ing artwork means it fills a role in our community that other
art spaces do not. In this, Zucker Saltz says, "ATHICA can
respond in the moment and be spontaneous." This spontane
ity is apparent in the way its affiliated events make the most
of local talent and interests: experimental music, literary and
multimedia events are part of the reason ATHICA has become a
destination for more than only the visual' arts.
ATHICA's exhibitions are also distinguished by the strong
curatorial voice which contextualizes the work for audiences
unfamiliar with looking at contemporary art. Without being
overly didactic, the essays and text accompanying the artwork
help make it more accessible. This has recently extended to our
youngest art patrons, with a new emphasis on programing for
children led by board member Sage Roberts. Arts education
programming is an important step in broadening the institute's
role as an "arts incubator."
Presenting artwork by established artists and new artists, •
from people living all over the world and right here in town,
is onq of ATHICA's greatest contributions. I asked some locals
about their thoughts on ATHICA and Zucker Saltz's impact.
Noting the importance of presenting artwork by people
living outside of our community, Lamar Dodd School of Art
Professor Emerita, artist curator and board member Judy
McWHHe says, "ATHICA is also a bridge between local talent
and *the big picture' since its exhibitions always include artists
from other regions of the United States and they are curated
with timely issues in mind. Lizzie has attracted local business •
support for the arts and educated countless interns and volun
teers. Working with her is a 'baptism of fire,' but her obsessive
drivo and imagination have been crucial to the organization's
remarkable ambition and success."
This excitement about a new art space is also recalled by
longtime Athens resident activist and former ATHICA curator .
Melissa Link. She notes that "Athens has undergone quite a
transformation over the past two decades. Once upon a time,
Athens' edgier artists were relegated to one-night shows in
grungy abandoned warehouses and empty storefronts. As these
got bought up and transformed into thriving businesses, out
lets for exhibiting such work essentially disappeared. ATHICA
filled that void and then some. ATHICA's professional, accessi
ble and open-minded environment gave this town the cutting-
edge and uncensored art space we'd been craving for decades."
As a place for new artists and curators to participate
in exhibits, Zucker Saltz has been an incredible mentor to
so many. Her willingness to encourage people to try some
thing new and stretch their boundaries extends to alL Artist
Tatiana Veneruso remembers, "I
approached [Lizzie] to use ATHICA
to house a show for the Occupy
Movement. It was October 2011,
and it was such an exciting time,
with so much activity, I didn't
think it could be ignored. She
didn't think so, either. I remember
going to our first meeting to plan
'OCCUPY: This Is What Democracy
Looks Like," feeling confident with
my list of 40-45 artists that were
participating in the show. 'Hmm,
how 1>out we go for 99? she said.
I felt nauseous, but that's Lizzie,
always striving to do better."
Naming the unique attributes
that make Zucker Saltz such a .
force of nature, board member and
former ATHICA curator Doth Sale
comments, "Only someone with her
incredible amount of dedication,
focus and perseverance could have
founded ATHICA, nurtured it into
a full-fledged contemporary arts
center and kept it going strong for 10 years. Lizzie.created a
much-needed art venue outside the realm of the university and
the government, where artists and curators could address sig
nificant topics and present challenging materiaL"
Ask anyone. Zucker Saltz's passion for the arts, her drive and
ambition to make ATHICA a reality, and her dedication to our
community is a rare and precious combination. Her hard work
these past 10 years has put ATHICA in a good place for new
leadership to take over.
John W. English, UGA Professor Emeritus, artist and board
member, sums it up: "ATHICA's reputation as a lively center to
embrace contemporary art has now been established, so it's
up to the board of new stewards to keep it going at the high
standard Lizzie set. It's a challenging time for nonprofits, but
the mission of keeping the conversation between Athens and
artists has never been more worthwhile."
As a former ATHICA board member and co-curator myself, I
echo these sentiments and thank Lizzie for the gift of ATHICA
and for her extraordinary work in creating a unique and vital
resource for the arts. But it's not over* Lizzie will continue to
be associated with ATHICA as its artistic director emerita. As
the board plans for the future, its members seek your'input.
Contact them at mailto:board@athica.org with your ideas or to
offer your support to help sustain this gift for years to come.
On the Theme of Transitions: This is my last coUrmn. My sincere
thanks go to Flagpole, Art Notes readers, supporters of the arts
scene and to the many talented artists and curators I have been
privileged.to get to know this past year. Art is for everyone,
.and I encourage you to get involved: make art, buy art, go see
art, volunteer—your world will be more colorful because of it!
Caroline Barratt
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MAY 16,2012 • FLAGPOLE.COM 9