903 Artisans enrich Main Street community with color

Are moving murals on the menu for 903 Artisans next big community project?

The Artisans while only moving into their new space on East Main Street in Atlanta just a month ago have been making great strides in area art interests for the last several months by teaming up with area Downtown Merchants and Come and Take it Cafe.

The club began with a Facebook post and five of local artist Nancy Martin’s friends. It is believed to be the only non-profit art group for Atlanta area in about 20 years, give or take.

“Our first three meetings were around my dining room table and then we opened to the public in March,” said Martin, treasurer.

“Now we’ve been lucky enough to find this building next to Come and Take It Cafe. The owner is JD Denso and we couldn’t have done this without him or his vision.”

The club operates with the original founding members on the board. Luana Taylor serves as president; Sheryl Pattillo, vice president; Sherry Quinn, secretary; Kay Reynolds, in hospitality and recruiting; and Tara Collins, communications director (or the social media guru as she is fondly referred to.)

Collins posted that 903 Artisans was formed to bring awareness of and promote interest in the arts in the community. The movement currently has more than 40 members and hopes to continue in growing, they said.

“Through monthly meetings, artist’s demos, workshops, art exhibits, displays, community projects, and paint-outs, we hope to enrich the lives of our fellow citizens,” Collins stated. “Join in on our excitement as we bring the arts back to our community.” Currently, members are working hard to renovate their new space, which Pattillo said was once an Opera House, Masonic Lodge, Antique Store, and even a high school. Denson, next door has history on the building from nearly every decade.

A narrow staircase between 903 Artisans and Come and Take It Cafe leads to an old opera stage, complete with a pulley elevator, several dressing rooms, and even signatures from Vaudvillians aging back to at least 1907, according to Denson. “We have been working with the artisans to get a permanent place in our building,” said Denson, describing the shared space concept. “They will be teaching classes and preserving the arts for our town.”

Denson said October 1st marks when they can use the space for private functions and parties. If the Artisans hold an event, they will likely have him cater--thus space sharing.

“We will do some fun classes, art classes, basic teaching, theory,” Taylor said. Currently, the Artisans are working hard to renovate their new space, where a passerby complimented the turquoise paint on one of the walls.

“Well we are taking the turquoise out,” Martin said, unimpressed.

Taylor enthusiastically agreed while the rest of the board laughed. “It hasn’t been painted in a long, long time,” Taylor said. “This was all turquois up here... the doors we’re gonna go with a lighter grey, so it doesn’t clash with anyone’s exhibit.”

Martin said they are looking at getting gallery hooks, similar to Texas A&M Texarkana, with hooks that come from the ceiling as the framed paintings lay flush against the wall. Board members agreed the front of the building will be gallery space, with large classroom space in the back. The Artisans plan to offer a variety of specialty art classes headed up by area artists. This will even include a class on theory.

“We have a lot of very talented artists in our group,” Martin said. “Sheryl will probably do some glass art demonstration classes.”

The ladies said demonstrations or classes could be anything from torn paper, pen, and ink, acrylics, watercolor, pour painting and decorative painting. Pattillo says Taylor does a wonderful pen and ink. “We will have three artists of the month,” Taylor said, “We don’t want to limit ourselves to just Atlanta.”

The public may attend the meeting on a short-term basis before they must join, as this group is a non-for-profit enrichment group. Many of the attendees leave a small tip or donation for the lesson, while The Artisans are finishing up paperwork since they already function as a non-for profit group. The cost to join is just $40 per year, prorated down to $20 after six months.

Martin said they were grateful that Amanda Lafferty had filed the status for the Artisans to receive their 401 3C non-profit status, which they are expecting to receive soon.

“Everyone is welcome to join our group...You do not have to be an artist,” Martin said. “We welcome anyone who loves the arts, and who would love to see the arts in the forefront in our community.” “Not just visual arts, but the performing arts as well,” she added. The city recently donated Artisans a dumpster to help with cleaning out their new-to-them building, which they have been giving a lot of love to during their remodel. 903 Artisans also praised Ted Brabham, who is going to allow them to use some of his nicer furniture from Grandmaw’s Attic to both display and sell; Jan McGowan, pastor of Abundant Life; Price Hardware; Krystal Dawn, Flip N Cheer owner, and JP from Come and Take It.”

“JP wasn’t even sure how he was going to go about this and it just came together,” Taylor said. “It happened really fast, he’s excited... we’re excited.”

Downtown is in a growth spurt right now, too, Martin said. Members from the Downtown Merchants Association have been welcoming 903 Artisans to the area, such as Brabham and Dawn. The club had their first-ever art show and sale Saturday in Linden at the Public House.

“Anna Dewell-Eddings and Clay were great hosts,” Martin said.

“Linden Public House is a beautiful and warm venue.”

Their next show will be at the same venue on November 9th. Inthemonthsleadinguptotheirbigmoveandrenovation,903Artisans wasalreadyhelpingtorefinethecommunity’stasteinartinseveralways. The group worked with Downtown Merchants Association to find art projects to do with the kids nearby, such as painting watercolors in woods park and flower pots at Price’s Hardware. “We redid the town’s nativity scene for them and it should be beautiful this winter,” Martin said. Artisans also worked with BLAST (Being Better Leaders Starts Today) after school program, Gifted and Talented students/Flip N Cheer and more.

The group was asked about possibly creating movable murals, which Taylor explained would take up space in windows of empty buildings in an effort to beautify the area. “If a building is purchased, the mural could then be moved to another building,” Taylor said.

Art in the Park was another fun future idea being tossed around by the artists, though outdoor projects are on hold as of now due to the high temperatures in the area. Artisans said they are looking forward to the partnership with JP--known for his out of this world Brisket Tacos. Their next art show will be on November 9 at Linden Public House.

Those interested in joining should visit their Sept. 3 meeting and check it out. They do a demonstration at each one of the meetings and this one will be the popular paint pour. The thoroughly talented artists meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.

Yearly membership is $40, prorated after six months to $20.

As far as the renovation, the president put it best: “A few drips, a few runs, we are on the home stretch,” Taylor said.