RAD Studio Cruise 2009

RAD Studio Cruise was a huge hit last year with over one thousand attendees, and the second annual installment in 2009 will be bigger and better with more studios, more artists, more performances, and a new artist market. Visitors will enjoy paintings, sculpture, theater, jewelry, pottery, blown glass, furniture, live music, photography, magicians and more.

The event will take place at four "tour stops" on Saturday, February 7, 2009, from 5:00 to 10:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. Download our map here.

MudFire will be hosting pottery making demonstrations by featured artist Marissa Hudson. Owners Erik Haagensen and Luba Sharapan will be fill the gallery with their latest creations, many still warm from the last kiln firing.

Scroll all the way to the bottom for a ton of pictures to give you an idea of what to expect! For more info, read our full press release.

About the Rail Arts District

A vibrant new 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, relocated Buckhead 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 is taking 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 into Scottdale. 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.

About RAD Studio Cruise

RAD Studio Cruise 2009 is our second annual event, building on the amazing turnout and enthusiasm we gratefully experienced in year one. All of the founding group will be back including Alcove Gallery (sculpture & painting), AMALGAM Arts (jewelry), Bart Webb Studios (metal sculpture), DuckBill Studio (blown glass) and MudFire Clayworks (pottery & sculpture).

This year's Cruise will include great new additions including the debut of Academy Theater, the just-opened artist colony at Little Tree Studios, the artists of Studio 2850, and individual artist studios at the participating facilities.

Just in time for Valentines Day, visitors will be able to shop elegant jewelry displays alongside students working on their latest creations. Lumps of clay will magically transform on the potters wheel into elegant forms. Just down the tracks a tightly coordinated team of glass blowers will work in the high heat with liquid glass. Canvases will come to life with color and movement, and sparks will fly as raw metal is worked into whimsical sculptures. Magicians and improve actors will circulate amidst a temporary artists market.

At each stop of the cruise there will be music and conversation, food and drink, amusement and information, wonder and awe. Alongside the artists in action will be finished works for viewing and sale, with artwork in all media and many styles and price points. The makers will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate their techniques.

Visitors can start at any location and pick up a map showing the other locations. The participating arts groups are located at four stops, each a two-minute drive apart, with ample parking. Refreshments will be served at each location, and there are dozens of restaurants nearby.

Download the map with location information.

RAD Studio Cruise Participants

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 Ave. near the farmers market. There are four stops to the cruise, each two minutes drive time apart. Activities will take place ongoing between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm at all locations. Download map.

LOCATION #1
3172 E. Ponce De Leon Avenue, Scottdale, GA 30079 Located just east of Your DeKalb Farmers Market at the corner of Paloma Drive & East Ponce, opposite the big US Steel building. Turn onto Paloma for parking. This one story brick building houses the following...

AMALGAM Arts Atlanta, 404-371-8922 http://www.amalgamartsatlanta.com

Corina Pia, Atelier Viva, 404-285-6354 http://www.corinapia.com

Duckbill Studios, 404-460-2791 http://www.duckbillstudios.com

LOCATION #2
MudFire Clayworks, 175 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. Use Laredo Drive to cut between downtown Avondale & E. Ponce De Leon and visit MudFire at the tracks.

MudFire Clayworks, 404-377-8033.
http://www.mudfire.com

LOCATION #3
Academy Theater, 119 Center Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 Downtown Avondale, behind the tudor village at the corner of Potter Ave and Center Street.

Academy Theater , 404-474-8332 http://www.academytheater.org

The theater is also hosting the RAD Artist Market for one night only!

LOCATION #4
Corner of Franklin & Pine Streets, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 A block off Avondale Road/College Ave "behind" James Joyce Irish Pub & Waffle House. Park here, everything is in one building, except for The Alcove just around the corner on College Ave.

Little Tree Art Studios, 404-297-9960 2830-2850 Franklin Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002.

Andy Cherewick Exhibit
Little Tree Gallery, 404-297-9960
In the Little Tree Building
http://athensartists.com/html/andy_cherewick.html

Cutting Edge Gallery & Framing, 404-292-9200 In the Little Tree building.

Bart Webb Studios, 404-299-5556 In the Little Tree building. http://www.bartwebbstudios.com

Studio 2850, 404-433-3320 In the Little Tree building http://www.suzyschultz.net, http://www.consorticustom.com, and http://www.susustudios.com

The Alcove, 404-663-0159 2852 E. College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030. http://www.alcovearts.com