Savannah 2020

Always so happy to spend time in Savannah. The Historic District and further neighborhoods offer a wonderful combo of urban elegance, historic architecture, funky art, the River walk and the unique opportunity to enjoy a green oasis in its numerous 'Squares', i.e., parks throughout the city, culminating in  Forsyth Park with its many Live Oaks and its lovely, famous fountain.  

The presence of SCAD - Savannah College of Art and Design adds a special air of creativity and interesting people to the town. And offers a major museum and various galleries. Savannah's Jepson Art Center and the Telfair Gallery are other rich sources of art. as well as the numerous private galleries all around town. My personal favorite gallery is Roots Up, home for so-called 'outsider art'.

Our daily meanderings offer rich architecture, storefronts and homes, and all the signage and oddities that always catches my eye. And like in Cedar Key, many of my collages from the past six years have become historical artifacts, capturing places that are radically changed or no longer there.  

City Market - A.T Hun Gallery - Savannah

11 Barnard Street - Savannah

Planet 3 - Savannah

Prohibition Museum - Savannah

And a final caution I came upon...

Roots Up Gallery ~ Savannah 2018

A trip to Roots Up Gallery is always on my Savannah To-Do-List. As described on its website, it is a place celebrating Southern Folk Art, Local & Regional Artists...with Unique Finds from Creative

Minds.  

I had a bit of a shock when my first foray revealed that the gallery was no longer there! But Google happily revealed that they had simply moved and their new space was terrific and only a few blocks from our place here.

Last year my fondness of Roots Up prompted a collage of their old Liberty Street shop and as you can see Patsy Cline is a fan too. You can check out the whole post here.

I am also once again a most fortunate gal because my husband got me an early birthday gift ~ a most wonderous Frida Kahlo inspired piece by Reverend Johnny Ace.  This is my second piece by the Reverend from Roots Up ~ which was last year's birthday gift.  Happiest Birthdays to me!

Frida Kahlo & Her Monkey With Elvis On Their Minds
by Reverend Johnny Ace

Frida will surely compliment all the crowd from Rock and Roll Heaven.

Everyday Scenes of  Rock and Roll Heaven
by Reverend Johnny Ace

You can follow Roots Up on Facebook.  In my 2017 post, I mentioned  Betty Nathan, a Savannah assemblage artist who lived well into her 80's.  Roots Up was curating many pieces from Miss Betty's life-long collection and the first show is coming up, so I'll be checking Facebook on this one myself.

When we can't do, we can look

My sister has been hospitalized since March 3rd.  It's been a hard time and I've traveled to see her a couple of times.  So my mind hasn't really been ready yet to create.  But in the midst of this distracting time, I've got to enjoy some fine, funky art, so I thought I'd share.

For my birthday I received a wonderful outsider art painting entitled Everyday Scenes in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven by Rev. Johnny Ace.  It's painted on wood and just pleases me so much.  I saw it at the great Roots Up Gallery, an 'outsider art' gallery,  in Savannah and my husband got it for me.  Lucky me!

Every Scenes in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven by Rev. Johnny Ace
On Saturday night the guys like to hang out with Elvis down on Main Street, goofing off, smoking cigarettes  and hitting on dead chicks.

I found this great blurb on Rev. Johnny Ace at Mike's Art Truck,   a great online outsider/folk art gallery based in Hillsborough, N.C.

I came across the wonderful funky cat beings of Danial Ryan on Facebook. This is my recent favorite.  I tried to buy this oddling treasure, but alas, I saw the post too late. I often feature pie in my own work.  Someone else now has this delight, but I sure love it.

Pie Cat, Plops2 by Danial Ryan on Facebook

Max Smoot is a friend of my son out in Oregon and I've gotten to hang out with him a bit over time. His art always speaks to me and captures just that touch of bizarro I appreciate.  Check him out at Maxart on Facebook and at his maxart shop @ bigcartel.

Max Art critters on Facebook

And then while working on my own Etsy shop, I came across Church of Type.  Super hand made block prints with a great sensibility.  Made my day.

Hank Williams @ Church of Type on Etsy

So with all this juicy art cooking in the background to inspire me, I hope to back creating myself soon.