ATLANTA (January 22, 2008) – Ten Georgia-based artists are among the 250 selected to exhibit and sell their high-quality, handmade furniture, jewelry, clothing, home décor and more at the 2008 American Craft Show in Atlanta. Artists include Atlantan Michael Gilmartin; Alpharettan Kirsten Stingle; Marietta residents Ricky Frank, Timothy Sullivan and Beth Tarkington; Athens resident Annette Paskiewicz; Carrollton-based musicians Martin & Scott; Lavonia resident Angelika Brennecke-Robolin; and Social Circle’s Gayle Pritchard.

Michael Gilmartin, whose hand-crafted furniture is on display and in use throughout the United States, South America, Europe and Japan, has been a wood sculptor for 28 years and a resident of Atlanta for twenty-six. The Gilmartin Rocker is in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, and his companion chair, the Avos Chair is in the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Annette Paskiewicz, creator of seamless fused glass jewelry set in sterling silver, is a native of Wisconsin and a current resident of Athens, Georgia. When asked about her relocation, she says, “I love Athens. The people here are so kind, loving and liberal, fun and supportive. I took a leap of faith and moved down to take over studio space in downtown Athens and I’m glad I did.”

Kirsten Stingle feels her fine arts degree in theatre has helped to hone her understanding of imagery and gestures in communication. She molds her clay art to mimic the human form, its various expressions, movements and postures. Then she quietly designs the piece in the direction of the unfolding story. Since moving to Atlanta from northern New Jersey in 2005, Kirsten is enjoying the Southern hospitality. “The various arts communities in metro Atlanta are very supportive of each other and offer a wealth of learning and experience as well as venues to show and sell your work. Atlanta and the Southeast region as a whole truly offer exponential opportunities for any type of artist.”

Creekside Pottery was established in Atlanta, GA after Timothy Sullivan left Southern California and a career in IT to return to his high school love of working with clay. He is now fully committed to “the most demanding occupation of my life.” Tim presently resides in Marietta.

Perfect for gift-giving at any time is original Cloissonne enamel jewelry by Marietta, GA designer, Ricky Frank, a long-time jeweler whose unique designs have graced the ears, necks and wrists of collectors for more than 25 years.

For those with a taste for unique pottery, Gayle Pritchard creates vessels made from earthenware clay and formed on either the potter’s wheel or slipcast from the original design and then altered and refined on the wheel. This Social Circle resident has literally learned to turn mistakes into art. She has perfected a “chattering” technique, a fault which can occur while trimming pottery, into beautiful patterns of small indentations in the clay.

Martin & Scott, from Carrollton, GA are a musical duo who use traditional methods of working with agave cactus and native bamboo to craft unique one-of-a-kind flutes and didjeridoos, a long, funnel-shaped wind instrument. Each is individually decorated and hand-tuned.

Chicago-born, Atlanta-raised artist Beth Tarkington calls herself a Georgia girl, citing Georgia’s influence on her life experiences and work. Her ceramic art pieces each tell a little story of the people, places and events that have inspired her. On her life in metro-Atlanta, Beth says, “I am surrounded by family and life-long friends. It is my connection with them that most forms and informs my work.”

German-born jewelry designer Angelika Brennecke-Robolin has worked as a Master Goldsmith since 1984. Angelika's designs are clean, highly stylized and timeless. Her major focus is to create powerful shapes with strong relationships to geometry and architecture.

The American Craft Show in Atlanta
March 14-16, 2008
Friday & Saturday: 10am-6pm; Sunday: 10am-5pm

Cobb Galleria Centre – Free Parking www.cobbgalleria.com

$12 for one day
$18 for a two-day pass
Children 12 and under admitted free.

To purchase tickets online, please visit: www.craftcouncil.org.

About the American Craft Council
The American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit public educational organization founded in 1943 by craft advocate Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Programs include the bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, annual juried shows, the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence, a specialized library, workshops and seminars.

*Photos pictured are Gilmartin Chair by Michael Gilmartin and Jewelry by Annette Paskiewicz