Published: May 15, 2008 11:41 am            

Mountain arts celebration planned

If it gets any better than this, you don’t want to know it. June in the Northeast Georgia Mountains is a treat any day, but clear your calendar for June 20 through 29 for the “Northeast Georgia Arts Tour” this year extending from White County, through Habersham, Rabun and Stephens counties.

This four-year-old event just grows exponentially every year. If you’ve been once you know about artists demonstrating their skills in galleries, on sidewalks, in restaurants and parks. You know that music from Bluegrass to Native American quickens the beat and provides a perfect soundtrack for the tour.

There are always good places to find food and entertainment in the same places these two weekends. The Tallulah Falls Blue Grass concerts, the Habersham Bank Homecoming concerts in the park, both come with fire or colorful fireworks. As usual, all you need for a good time is a chair or a blanket to settle on.

This year the tour introduces new places to go. The Helen Arts and Heritage Center in the town’s old city hall will have the requisite demonstrating artists, but also a “Garden Party” around sunset on June 21. To enjoy the food, beverages and ambiance reservations are required. In Toccoa the Currahee Arts Guild will be demonstrating at “The Studio” on East Doyle Street.

For those whose fingers start itching to try out the art on display, there will be interactive opportunities as well as some cool classes to attend. Watercolorist Wyn Foland will have a new acrylic for interested tourists to try. Richard Smith will be offering a digital photo class during Lunch at the GHCA center in Clarkesville. Belly dancing classes and Kids’ Art Camp will be available at the same location during the tour. Jewelry artist Deb Snyder will conduct a class, as will stained glass artist Deb Goatcher.

Travel farther up Highway 441 to Foxfire in Rabun County. This home of Mountain Art heritage will be holding its Dandelion Days Festival. The focus will be on weaving and dyeing using local and natural dye sources. Kids are the focus of this hands on experience but the whole family can enjoy touring the treasured site.

Nearly every gallery in Clayton will have artists demonstrating throughout the tour. The great thing about its expansion to two weekends is the opportunity to catch a favorite artist at more than one venue or to find a new favorite. This is just a “don’t miss” event. There is no need to book a flight or to board the pets. At just a little over an hour and a half from Atlanta, the “Northeast Georgia Arts Tour” is a chance to relax and enjoy scenery, art, music, food and family fun – maybe the best vacation available this year.

Brochures will be available at restaurants, businesses and tourist information centers and a complete guide to artists, venues, times and tours can be found online at www.artstour.org. For a complete list of artists visit www.georgiaartists.org.

        

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