FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“RAD Studio Cruise 2012” – Thriving arts district invites Atlanta to an exceptional evening of arts and entertainment

ATLANTA/DECATUR – January 29, 2012. The Annual RAD Studio Cruise returns for our fifth year on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Working artist studios, local boutiques, and formal galleries all hosting art sales, artist demonstrations, performances, and food.

This year marks the RAD Studio Cruise’s fifth annual celebration of local artists. The event continues to grow with over twenty venues in 2012. Thousands of people attend each year to sample a deliciously diverse group of artworks, seeing art in action, enjoying refreshments and performance, and getting to know area boutiques and their artist friends.

RAD Studio Cruise 2012 will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2012, with hours varying by venue with most open in the afternoon into early evening. Visitors are encouraged to stay in the area, and enjoy a romantic night of art paired with the many nearby dining and entertainment options. A small fleet of food trucks will descend on various stops in the Cruise, and the many fine restaurants of Avondale & Decatur also await.

ABOUT RAD STUDIO CRUISE

RAD Studio Cruise continues to gather steam in 2012, with an expanding lineup of venues and artists to delight art collectors and enthusiasts. The core of the event are the group neighborhood artists who define the Rail Arts District, working to create paintings, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, studio pottery, metal work and more. Area boutiques will also show off work by their artist friends adding flavor and substance.

Every week, hundreds of artists visit the Rail Arts District to work in large public studios like MudFire Clayworks ceramic studio, Duckbill glass studio, and the Little Tree Studios. Academy Theater, Georgia’s oldest independent theater, hosts a small posse of performance companies with a wide variety of programming each month. Other notable area artists include Amalgam Arts (jewelry), Suzy Schultz (paint, etchings), Lora Rust (ceramics), Barry Rhodes (ceramics), Zach Consorti (furniture and sculpture), Bart Webb (sculpture), and Catherine Goolsby (jewelry). The Avondale Arts Alliance joins RAD again this year with an artist market at the small business incubator at 151 Locust.

All of these studios (and more!) will open their doors for visitors with music and conversation, food and drink, education and demonstration, and a vast smorgasbord of aesthetic delights in all media available for purchase. See the full list of participating venues below.

“The Rail Arts District is a wonderful destination for all sorts of artwork, with a strong community of artists and local small businesses. The past few years have been devastating to many small businesses, and RAD Studio Cruise is a great chance for shopping and entertainment while strengthening your community. We guarantee that the artists and shopkeepers of the Rail Arts District will be happy to meet, greet, share, and laugh with you. Visitors will experience an incredible variety of artwork, food, music, boutiques and wellness providers, all filtered through the lens of personal connection and meaningful interactions,” notes Luba Sharapan, local ceramic artist and founder of MudFire Clayworks.

Visitors can download a Cruise Map and Schedule of Events of participating venues at www.railartsdistrict.com. Individual venue offerings and hours will vary, but visitors can expect refreshments, entertainment, art sales, demonstrations, and music. Admission is free and parking is available at each location.

ABOUT THE RAIL ARTS DISTRICT OF AVONDALE/DECATUR

A vibrant arts district has formed in the Atlanta metro area over the past few years. The area boasts some of the city’s largest community art studios, formal galleries, and dozens of individual studios for visual and performing artists. Reasonably priced industrial space and strongly supportive surrounding communities have been the keys to the growth of this new Rail Arts District.

The action takes place along a one mile stretch of CSX rail line that passes through downtown Avondale Estates, into the Laredo Drive industrial area, and along East Ponce De Leon Ave toward Decatur. This section of track is flanked on either side by mid-century industrial and warehouse buildings that are increasingly populated by art and artists. Tucked away in these unassuming buildings you’ll find large community art spaces that offer lessons, exhibits, workshops, performance space, studio rentals, classes, and of course artwork sales and exhibits. These large facilities are complemented by dozens of smaller individual studios to form a teeming arts district.

PRESS CONTACT

Erik Haagensen, MudFire Clayworks and Gallery, 175 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

phone: 404-377-8033, fax: 404-371-1554, email: info@mudfire.com

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

All of the participating arts organizations are located along a one-mile stretch of CSX rail line in downtown Avondale and off East Ponce De Leon Avenue in Decatur & Scottsdale. Activities will take place during the afternoon and evening with specifics varying by location.

Kudzu Antiques and Vintage Home Store, 404-373-6498
www.kudzuantiques.com
2928 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
Featuring a large selection of original art, including fine art, outsider art, and folk art.
Featuring an excellent selection of RA Miller.
Featuring local artists Karen Nichols, Ginny Nichols, Phyllis Vaughn, Lilly Cannon, Kathy Budka, more.

MudFire Clayworks, 404-377-8033
www.mudfire.com
175 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Featuring a gallery full of studio pottery by 60+ artists
Featuring studio potter Erik Haagensen, www.haagensen.net
Featuring studio potter Luba Sharapan
Featuring special pottery exhibit for Valentines Day
Featuring wood fired pottery by Shawn O’Connor
Featurning porcelain pottery by Martha Grover

Little Tree Art Studios, 404-297-9960
www.littletreeartstudios.com
2834 Franklin Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Artists in a variety of mediums open their studio doors
Featuring Brenna Carnegie Rizzardi: custom clothier
Featuring Phyllis Vaughn: hand painted and crafted treasures for home and heart
Featuring Cat Tesla: Painter, artbycat.com
Featuring Jennifer Jones: Painter, www.jenniferljones.com
Featuring Bonnie Carter: Painter
Featuring “Laok” Siripanhya: photographer/T-shirt design
Featuring Makeda Siripanya: fashion blogger
Featuring Gail M. Tribble: Painter
Featuring Barry Sons: Painter
Featuring Flashbox Productions: Photography
Featuring Taylor Means: Painter
Featuring Karen Ku: Illustrator and Painter, www.karenku.com
Featuring Tony D. Moyers: Painter

Duckbill Studios, 404-460-2791
www.duckbillstudios.com
3172 E. Ponce de Leon Ave, Ste D, Scottdale, GA 30079
Featuring glass work for sale by various artists
Featuring glassblowing demonstrations

151 Locust, 404-496-4952
www.151locust.com
151 Locust St. Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring the Avondale Arts Alliance Artist Market, www.avondalearts.org
Sculptural pottery by Gwen Fryar, on Facebook
Upcycled jewelry and wearables by Pat Berryhill, www.magpiedreams.net
Recycled glass jewelry by Michelle Dessin, on Etsy
Pastel paintings by Susan Grill Joss, www.sgjoss.com
Abstract paintings by Victoria Webb, www.victoriawebb.net
Embroidered wall pieces by Amanda Miller/Flex Family Arts, on Etsy

Himalayan Handmade Candles, 678-705-3245
www.himalayantradingpost.com
202 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Featuring the folk art of Kirk Stansbury
Featuring Robert Griffiths – original paintings, limited edition prints,organic cotton tea towels
Featuring original paintings by Debbie Corbo
Showcasing their complete line of Himalayan candles

165 DeKalb Arts & Professional Building, 404-377-1451
www.165dekalb.com
165 Dekalb Industrial Way NE, Decatur, GA 30030
Featuring pottery by Barry Rhodes, www.rhodespottery.com
Featuring jewelry by Catherine Goolsby, www.JewelryAndMetalsmithing.com
Featuring acupuncture by Decatur 5 Element Acupuncture
Featuring floral arrangements by Floral Couture
Featuring healing arts by TheBodyMindWorks
Featuring musical performance by Copious Jones and The School of Hard Knocks
Featuring musical performance by Yoshi Furuta finger style guitar
Featuring culinary masterpieces by Raw in the Garden food truck

Lora Rust Ceramic Designs, 404-805-0979
4C Pine Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Pottery making demonstrations
Featuring pottery by Lora Rust, www.lorarust.com
Featuring pottery by Kathryn Bowling, Dana Burrell and Barry Gregg

Academy Theatre, 404-474-8332
www.academytheater.org
119 Center Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring an artist market and music throughout the day

Pine Street Market, 404-296-9672
www.pinestreetmarket.com
4A Pine St., Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring handcrafted artisan cured meats and sausages from local pork
Featuring artwork by Robert Hill of Yay! Studio

Finders Keepers Furnishings, 404-377-1944
www.fkconsign.com
2753 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
Featuring Jewelry by Page Gardner

Trilogy Bookstore, 404-228-3828
www.trilogybookstore.com
4 N. Clarendon Rd., Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring Tarot readings, art sale, refreshments, demo classes

Urban Grounds, 404-499-2136
38b N. Avondale Rd., Avondale Estates, GA
Featuring artwork from Kathy Wolfe.

Bart Webb Studios, 404-399-3429
40 Franklin Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring metal sculpture by Bart Webb and paintings by Chris Warner

Yay Studio, 404-585-0363
www.yaystudio.com
2830 Franklin Street, Avondale Estates, Georgia 30002
Featuring art by Julia Lutgendorf, Nicolette Morgan, Jennifer Young, Leah Owenby, Robert Hill.

¡Bailamos! Studios-ATL, 770-383-1327
www.bailamos-studio.com
3172 E. Ponce De Leon Avenue, Suite B, Scottdale, GA 30079
Featuring Zumba dance-fitness demos, health and wellness grab bags

Studio 2850, 404-433-3320
studio2850.wordpress.com
2850 Franklin Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring custom modern furniture by Zach Consorti, http://www.consorticustom.com/
Featuring paintings and etchings by Suzy Schultz, http://www.suzyschultz.net/
Featuring abstract acrylics by Su Abbot, http://www.susustudios.com
Featuring large format oil paitings by Jim Wakeman, virtual Jim!

AMALGAM Arts Atlanta, 404-371-8922
www.amalgamartsatlanta.com
3172 E. Ponce De Leon Avenue, Scottdale, GA 30079
Featuring jewelry sales, jewelry making demonstrations, and make-a-ring for visitors

CrossFit East Decatur, (404) 371-1355
www.crossfiteastdecatur.com
185 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Featuring local artists in an artist market, and fitness demonstrations

The Beer Growler Avondale, 404-228-1463
www.thebeergrowler.net
38A North Avondle Road, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Featuring photography by Clint Alwahab