Savannah 2023 - return to a favorite city

We're on our Winter get-away and this year we are beginning in Savannah - the city with urban vibes in the midst of the many tree-filled city squares and parks and Live Oaks abounding. The greenest city space I know.  It's a unique combination, all amplified by the art vibe of being the home of SCAD - Savannah College of Art and Design - which has a presence all over the downtown 'Historic District'. We are a little south of the Historic District in the Victorian District, named for the wide span of Victorian architecture and a more residential and a bit more 'funky', which suits us well. 

I continue my penchant for using architecture as the anchor of my collage, especially my 'regional' or travel collage.  And Savannah has so much to offer.

 

J. Christopher's is one of our go-to spots for breakfast or lunch.  Good food, great ambiance and art-filled walls. These two would surely be regulars there.

Meet Up at J.Christopher's - Savannah

 

Amidst historic homes and Victorian beauties, there are still bits of vintage everyday life like this barbershop.  Elvis Costello seemed a good fit for retro hair.

Barbershop Barbershop - Savannah

The Savannah Theatre has inspired several of my Savannah collages.  The theatre first opened in 1818 and is one of the oldest continually-operating theatres. This is their current offering.

 

'Menopause - The Musical'  - Savannah

 

 

 

Cuban Window Cafe and a Cargo Ship Meet Pabst Blue Ribbon With a New Mural

While Savannah is most known for it's beautiful historical and Victorian architecture, you'll find other things to catch your eye.

I read about the Cuban Window Cafe before we arrived in the Savannah in the  'Eat It and Like It' blog by Jesse Blanco.  Check out his Cuban Window review here.  We were very delighted to find this little gem was quite near where we are staying.  Carry-out traditional Cuban Sandwiches were our first meal in Savannah.  Since then, we've enjoyed their extensive menu often, and have new favorites in Guava Pastelitos, Papa Rellena and Empanadas Cuban-style. Everyone who works there are just terrific and working hard to keep you happy - all in a funky vibe that I love.

Cuban Window on Abercorn - Savannah

Savannah is one of the major cargo ship ports in the country.  It is quite impressive to stand on the River Walk and have one of these behemoths glide by right in front of you. Catching sight of the ships is one of my husband's favorite Savannah things. The yellow teacups are a huge sculpture that is on the River Walk in the new renovated power plant area, Plant Riverside.  By the way, check out the JW Mariott lobby on the Plant Riverside website.  It houses the most glorious natural crystals collection, in sizes I have never seen before.

Savannah River Cargo

Well, I didn't drink PBR or go bowling, but I did love the building and jaunty air of Moodrights on Abercorn Street, where you can do both those things - Duckpin bowling to be exact.   Pool and Bingo too!  I think my retro characters would feel right at home at Moodrights.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Moodrights - Savannah

There is a lot of wall art and murals in the city and I thought it rather cool to come upon one at the beginning of the venture.  I decided my artsy style  people would appreciate it fully. SCAD - Savannah Collage of Art & Design - offers many fashion design programs, and I am often taken by the unique stylings people wear.

Mural Beginnings on Bull Street - Savannah

Savannah continues to be one of my most favorite cities and places to be.

Savannah Victoriana

We're staying in the Victorian District of Savannah and the abundancy of these lovely homes is amazing. Not surprisingly, Savannah puts a lot of effort in restoring and preserving their historic properties and organizations like SCAD and the Historic Savannah Foundation work toward this goal.  Like other cities, there was a time when people didn't recognize the value of  the past and 'old' and significant buildings were destroyed. As often happens, the spark of one person and then a core of people worked to rectify the situation. Check out the story of Anna Colquitt Hunter.

Artistically, I have found it interesting working with the Victorians, as they hold a very strong, defined energy and some elements just don't seem to work well with the central image and I find I must let the building itself lead the way.  Naturally.

East Park Avenue didn't mind hosting our Doc Martin girl, but maybe it's all that tulle that was the right vibe.

East Park Avenue Victoriana - Savannah

Amethyst Garden is indeed that vivid shade of purple - a bit amplified  here- and once again, my friend Deb Booth provided the perfect enhancement, the lovely purple Lotus flower.

Amethyst Garden on Hull Street - Savannah

This 'wedding cake' white Victorian was the most demanding in which elements were acceptable, including being in a vertical format.  White was totally the theme but after many iterations, the red balloon was accepted.

White House on Hall - Savannah

And in the Victorian tradition,

 

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...

Found Images~Savannah

Savannah has a lot of art - in galleries, on walls, 'artsy' signage. It's kind of like old-school radio, finding a great tune that you weren't looking for or knew about - it just pops up.

These first two collages are based on images that 'popped up'. 

The "As Seen On TV' image was not in a gallery, but in the hallway of  SCAD building.  I was attracted to the TV bit and took photos through the glass.  The dot background was part of the original wall. but taking the photo through the glass distorted everything and when I amplified the colors I got the background you see in the collage.  The Pay Here and Dot signs are actual Savannah signs.  Dot is a free bus around time and Pay Here is a public parking lot.  The woman is a docent at the SCAD museum,  She just seemed so perfect as a perky student docent that I asked to take a picture. The docents carry tablets to show you more info about the installations. I colorized her skirt for this piece.

As Seen On TV collage ~ Savannah

Found Art collage is just that.  The background is a photo of a part of the well-collaged bathroom from a favorite coffee shop, Gallery Espresso.    The photo is amplified and tweaked a bit.  The vintage people seemed a perfect counterpoint.

Found Art Collage ~ Savannah

The Vintage Ladies incorporate another kind of found image.  I was googling about Victorian architecture in Savannah and found the hand-tinted photo of the Lovely Ladies, as well as a vintage postcard of the Lovely Suited Ladies.  Thank you Google.  The background is the famous fountain, built in 1858, in Savannah's well-known Forsyth Park.  I can't truly attest that these are ladies of Savannah, but they are now.

Vintage Ladies of Savannah collage

Savannah 2018

I'm happy again to be spending time in Savannah - a lovely, vibrant city with a touch of funk.  It's home to SCAD ~ Savannah College of Art and Design, which brings an emphasis on art and a great energy from its students I appreciate.  SCAD has also been instrumental in rescuing and restoring many buildings in Savannah and it is now part of its mission.

Savannah is most known for its many parks and squares, lovely green spaces with old live oaks and other trees and plantings,  and its beautiful old architecture.  But my eye is drawn to the off-beat and other.

I came across both these properties in the same block on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Fortunate I am.  There is renovation going on in the building they are in and I hope they're funky-ness will continue to have a home there.

Obviously  Kustom Hustle Tattoo has a most eclectic shop and apparently that same sensibility is present in the great reputation for ink.

Kustom Tattoo collage ~ Savannah

The Lion and Bear were hanging out on MLK.  The Tiger joined in.  The COA sign is ubiquitous in the Historic District. Certificate of Appropriateness.  Hearings and approvals have to be given for renovations, signage, etc.  I am not sure I would always be deemed appropriate.

Lions Tigers & Bears ~ Oh My! collage ~ Savannah

The Universe Trading Company had all the odd treasures you would imagine and many were surprisingly inexpensive but alas nothing called my name.  Yet.

Savannah 2017 Farewell

My Savannah time is coming to an end. 2016 was a very stressful year that required a lot of focus and attention and in that, energy for art often went by the wayside.  This Winter travel, which I am most fortunate to have had, really gave me a great infusion of time and energy. I've managed to stay off email and other 'duties' as much as possible  and in that opened space and open mental space, I've had a grand time collage-ing.  The funky island architecture of Cedar Key and the more formal but in their own way, funky, grand buildings of Savannah just speak to me so deeply.  

I'd love to say these blue doors are 'haint blue', but I don't really know.  Haint Blue is often found in the South and is related to the Gullah people. The blue is a reminder of water and is said to serve as protection from 'Haints', restless spirits of the dead who, for whatever reason, have not moved from the physical world' and who are afraid of water. Haint Blue is most typically used on windows and doors and porch ceilings.  In any event, I saw these large old blue doors outside an antique shop and they caught my eye.

Blue Savannah collage 

I looked up and loved the fact that the porches on this house at the corner of Barnard and Charlton streets had framed paintings on the walls. Outdoor porch art-yes! Of course, in my world, art often calls for pie as well.

Porched in Savannah

The Streamliner is a rescued diner, part of SCAD's ongoing renovations projects.  It  is a 1938 classic dining car, originally in New Hampshire, relocated to Savannah in 1990. In 1995, a popular BBQ joint, Sandfly took over the dining operation as a second location, downtown on Barnard Street. Lucky SCAD students can use their dining cards here.

The Streamliner - Savannah

Well, you can't come to Savannah without some reference to 'The Book' or 'The Movie', as the locals call it [so I read anyway] - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which chronicles the tale of Jim Williams, well known antique dealer and home restorer and his trial for murder.  I have a little tradition of watching the movie while I'm in Savannah. This year I took special note how very much The Lady Chablis steals the show, The blue gown peeking up on the roof is from the famous Cotillion scene in the film.  Sadly, she died of pneumonia last September.

The Lady Chablis at the Mercer-Williams House - Savannah

I found among my images a wonderful Bulldog, and I altered him a bit into a Blue Bulldog [why not blue!]  and found I was drawn to use him quite a bit in my Savannah collages. 

Later, while watching Midnight In the Garden I discovered a bulldog plays a role - he is Uga the famous University of Georgia football team mascot. I don't know if I subconsciously remembered the bulldog from watching the film before, but it I got a laugh when I discovered I had been using the same motif.

Savannah! 2017

Savannah is such a favorite city of mine.  It's home to SCAD - Savannah College of Art & Design, and that adds such a vibrant element to the Historic & Midtown districts. In addition to art and creativity, SCAD is involved in preserving buildings, for the school use and more.  An eminently walkable town, it fills my cravings for the urban walk-about vibe,   

We're here longer than other times and that has opened up a lot of creative space for collage.  Like in Cedar Key, I am inspired by the sights I find in our wanderings and all these collages are based on my own photographs. Amplified and altered, of course.  I said to my husband that I'm a regional artist who goes to other regions.

Garden of Lambs - Savannah

Eat Pie - Savannah

I couldn't help but have my own response to the Ascension Parking Only sign.  These vintage characters were perfect for the mood,

Ascension - Savannah

Bradley's Lock & Key was founded in 1893 and is still fixing, unlocking, re-keying and so on. Peering through the windows, the place is chock full of vintage things of all kinds. Bradley's also has a ghost past.  Savannah supposedly is the most haunted city. I loved the sign.

We Fix Anything But A Broken Heart - Savannah

You can check out previous years' Savannah posts by entering Savannah in the blog search box.

Savannah!

Savannah is a great town and a favorite place of mine - the fabled Historic District an ultimate place for the urban walker.  The one-of-a-kind aspect is Savannah's 24 'squares' - park-like oasis all throughout the District, plus 3 'non-square' parks, including the vast 30 acre Forsyth Park.  Walk, walk, Sit awhile among the wondrous Live Oaks,Walk, Find coffee and good food - all abounds.. 

The elegant classic architecture of the Historic District is indeed beautiful, but Savannah is different from other historical towns, as it is the home of SCAD, the well-known Savannah School of Art and Design, so there is a grand eclectic mix of modern and funky among buildings with a long heritage. SCAD has saved and rehabbed at least 67 buildings in the historic District which are used as classrooms, galleries, residences etc.  Amongst all the history, my artist eye is delighted to find the urban oddments that always appeal to me.

No time while here to really collage, but I thought I would 'amp' - amplify and saturate  - the colors of some of my travel photos, which will hopefully find their way into emerging as fuller collages.   Having fun I am.

  

Streamliner Diner 'amped'

The Streamliner is a 1938 diner saved by SCAD and relocated to Savannah.  The Sandfly BBQ people lease it.  Great BBQ too.

Paddle Wheeler 'amped'

This grand old=style ship is available for cruises, parties and weddings.  My step-daughter Mia was married here in 1996.

Art Car 'amped"

Came upon this art car at the Market Square.  The artist is the gentleman in the blue plaid shirt.  He told me he didn't think he was an artist or that it was an 'art car', but that he had been working on it for five years and that he did like to bring it out to the Market for people to see 

Sofa Park amped1

Sofa Park amped2

These sofas are part of an installation of about six in the 'garden' of the SCAD gallery.  The walls are the remains of an early freight depot.  The museum itself is more of the recovered building.  The sofas are of a dense plastic.

Random fun...

And two last things worth mentioning.  I happened upon these great sketches on the street, next to the trash can.  I rescued them too. Of course.

Gotta love the tip jar at our favorite coffee shop, Gallery Espresso.  Ta da!