Newnan Art Rez Artist in Residence - Christina Laurel

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Each month, Newnan Art Rez invites a talented artist to live in Gray Cottage and simply spend time creating and interacting with the Coweta community.

This April, Christina Laurel left her home in Greenville, South Carolina to sample some Georgia hospitality and create an installation.

We visited Gray Cottage to speak with Christina and view her latest installation.

Christina was not always an installation artist. Early in her career her preferred medium was colored pencils.

During her time as an art student at State University of New York Brockport, her professors recognized that she was not pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

They encouraged her to explore the outer limits of her creativity. This is when her art moved out of the realm of two dimensions.

Her first three dimensional piece was a deconstructed kimono installation.

Christina explained to us that she is drawn to Japanese culture and aesthetics.

Her kimono installation preceded many Japanese inspired installations.

Later installations included Japanese cultural icons such as the fan and the ginkgo leaf.

A colleague introduced her to Japanese shoji paper. An almost translucent fabric-like material.

Because Christina once aspired to be a fashion designer, it seems natural for her to be drawn to this paper, which lends itself to the same manipulation as certain fabrics.

Christiana’s current installation is a series of shoji paper lilly pads on a collage background.

The installation is deceptively simplistic. 

Christina compares her art to the work of a sous-chef. She spends hours preparing the “ingredients” for her installations.

Her collages are formed of found paper, which includes pieces of her previous art, deconstructed books, and gifts from friends.

She often modifies the paper by removing layers or adding texture through distressing and tools.

Her goal for finished installations is an intimate, relatable work that has echos of nature.

She enjoys viewing her art through other’s eyes. Viewer’s feedback often gives her a fresh perspective on her work and allows her to see it in new ways.

You can learn more about Christina's work and process on her website and blog.

To find out more about past and current artists in residence, visit the Art Rez website.

Newnan Artist in Residence - Christine Cassano

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Coweta is home to a number of talented artists. The Coweta art community is constantly flourishing. In order to further cultivate the arts in Newnan, an artist residence program was formed.

In conjunction with The University of West Georgia, The Newnan Artist Rez program invites artists from all over the world to spend time in Newnan engaging with the community and enriching Coweta through their artistic expression.

Previous artists have included talented painters like Peter Tudhope and brilliant poet B.H. Fairchild.

The program houses its artists in the charming Gray Cottage. The little house is nestled in a quiet area next door to the McRitchie-Hollis Museum.

It’s close enough to downtown that the artist in residence can easily walk or ride a bike downtown, but also have a tranquil area to inspire creativity. This spring, The Artist Rez program was fortunate enough to secure Phoenix artist Christine Cassano.

She was kind enough to invite us to Gray Cottage to take a look at her current works in progress and learn more about her process. As soon as we walked into the cottage, our eyes were met with the results of art she has been immersed in while staying in Newnan.

The floor was covered with what at first glance appeared to be the fossilized remains of some long gone sea creature, but upon closer inspection were delicately constructed porcelain pieces stamped with a motherboard. 

Christine is a small woman with masses of thick, wavy brown hair. She spoke of her art with an enthusiasm that left us in no doubt of the passion she feels for her chosen profession. 

She began her artistic career as a two dimensional artist. Eventually, her work evolved beyond the canvas and she found she could express herself better with a three dimensional format.

Her art is not confined by conventional mediums. She works with a variety of unusual materials.
In addition to incorporating found objects into her pieces, she also uses metal, clay, concrete and even her own hair.

Much of her recent art looks as if it was excavated from an archeological site or found growing in the wild. When you look closer however, you will find elements of technology embedded in the piece.

This reflects her keen interest in biology as it relates to technology. Everything she puts into her art emphasizes this connection. 

She showed us a beautiful study of a very organic looking porcelain piece that was stamped with a motherboard. There were holes pierced through each point of electrical connection. Through this she weaves sutures made from her own hair. This is her expression of how similar the cellular function of the body is to the programming of a computer.

A series of serious health problems forced Christine to closely examine human biology and the way in which it interacts with modern technology. She takes these deeply personal issues and through her art, applies them to the whole of human history and evolution. The results are beautifully provocative and relatable pieces.

Christine is enjoying her stay in Newnan. Her removal from the blanching desert environment of Arizona to the lush foliage of Georgia has shifted her focus. She also loves the challenges that come with being removed from her studio. Being in an environment with limited materials has pushed her out of her comfort zone, inspiring new thoughts and ideas.

While she is here, she has been working on an installation piece for the university’s permanent display. The piece incorporates rolled porcelain stamped with a motherboard and medical vials filled with Newnan memorabilia. The university also purchased an additional piece that will go in their permanent collection as well.

This is Christine’s very first artist residency and she has been impressed with the kind welcoming hospitality that she has received from the residents of Newnan, the Artist Rez members and The University of West Georgia faculty and staff.

You can view her art in West Georgia’s permanent collection or by visiting her website. To learn more about her process and art, visit her blog or follow her on Instagram. 

Horses, Trains and Pick Up Trucks - Downtown Newnan

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For the next several months, visitors to downtown Newnan will have their senses delighted by the vibrant new art display sponsored by the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society.

The colorfully painted sculptures of trains, trucks and horses not only make the square a fun, vibrant outdoor gallery, but the art exhibit benefits a great cause.

For many years, the Newnan Historical Society has held a vision of a children’s museum featuring interactive displays that illustrate Coweta’s history in a format easily that brings the past to life for all ages.

We are huge history fans and love the museums of Coweta County. We could browse them for hours, but we understand that they can be dry and boring to young minds. We would love to see a museum that caters to Coweta’s ever growing youth population.

Many local businesses agree with us. Most of the sculptures you see downtown were purchased by these generous patrons and decorated with care by local artists of all ages. The level of detail on the sculptures is impressive. The theme of the display is all roads lead to Newnan and we loved seeing how each piece has a different and unique interpretation of the theme.

The display is well worth making a special trip to the Newnan Square. It took us a little over half an hour to look at the 29 art pieces. We were lucky to meet a few of the artists along the way. Some pointed out special details they had added and all were proud and excited to have their art on public display.

The trains, trucks and horses will be on display for the next six months or so. If you are excited by the idea of a children’s museum in Newnan, please consider donating to the cause!

Martin Pate

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Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

If you have ever browsed the Newnan Art Walk, strolled past the windows of Fine Lines gallery or toured the McRitchie Hollis museum, chances are you have encountered the beautiful artwork of Martin Pate.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Mr. Pate was kind enough to invite us into his home studio to discuss his journey into the fine arts. His second floor studio is a small room crowded with paintings, mementos and tools of the trade. A large portrait of his wife, Rhonda, looks over the studio and a restored 1920s mannequin in a cherry red leotard and tutu keeps him company as he works. We loved his vintage desk, a beautiful piece salvaged from his first job as an illustrator in Atlanta.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Martin Pate arrived in Coweta County thirty-one years ago as a young artist just beginning a promising career.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Pate’s life was saturated in art from a young age. His parents were both creative souls who encouraged their young boys to indulge their passion for drawing. An artistic inclination seems to run in the family. Their house contained original artwork created by Pate’s grandmother. His aunt was also a very talented painter and illustrator.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

As children, Martin and his brother Charlie loved to draw. When their aunt moved in with them for a short time, she set up a studio in their home where the boys could sit and watch her create her art.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Pate describes watching in fascination as she used her palette knife to apply paint directly onto the canvas. The experience of watching broad strokes of color become pictures was a magical one.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

As the Pate boys honed their artistic skills, they became well known at school and began to receive small commissions from teachers and fellow students. Pate won several awards for his early art. He still remembers the elation that came from seeing a blue ribbon attached to a piece he had created. The ribbons are now proudly displayed in his studio, all faded purple from the years.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

After high school, Pate followed in his brothers’ footsteps by attending Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida. He graduated in three years and set out in the world to make his living as an artist. He and his wife moved to Atlanta, where the illustration firm Brown Dog offered him a position as an illustrator based on his talent for drawing realistic animals. He stayed at this company for the remaining three years they were in business. Pate came into the illustration business at a time of radical change. Companies were relying more on stock art, so there was not as much of a need for hand illustrations.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

With the closure of Brown Dog, Martin and Rhonda decided to move to the Atlanta suburbs. They chose a beautiful old house in The City of Homes and have been here ever since. Pate laughingly describes his home as a thirty-year hobby. He loves taking a break from his work to tackle a project around the house.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Pate’s talent for life drawing landed him regular commissions with the National Park Service. He works with archeologists to recreate past scenes of American life. These are richly detailed paintings that bring a long gone era to life.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

In 2007, Pate rediscovered his love of gallery art. The global economic recession had severely limited the budget of the National Park Service. His resulting work was beautiful paintings of lone female figures striking hauntingly emotional poses.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Pate emphasizes the importance of drawing the human form from life. He believes that artists should practice this often. When his son decided to attend his father’s alma mater, Pate began teaching a life drawing class so that he could pass this important skill to his son. His live models are mainly dancers. They are generally more comfortable with performing and holding uncomfortable poses for long periods of time than the average person.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Pate’s son and daughter both inherited his artistic talents. His son received his degree from Ringling in animation and his daughter attended Clemson to study architecture. You can find Pate’s pieces for sale at Fine Lines Art & Framing in Newnan or Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone. He also accepts portrait commissions. He continues to teach his life drawing class on Monday nights and it is open to the public. It is an informal atmosphere attended by a wide range of talent levels.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

To learn more about Martin Pate and see some of his art, visit his website and follow him on Facebook.

Artist Martin Pate Photograph © 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Fabiano's - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Besides amazing food, one of the top things we look for in a restaurant is atmosphere. We have never liked the cookie cutter interior décor or the forced atmosphere of the national chain restaurants. We love going to Fabiano's and knowing it is one of a kind.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The individuality of Fabiano's is apparent as soon as you walk in the door. From the stamped tin tiles on the ceiling, to the concrete floors Fabiano’s embodies a hip casualness. The walls are filled with local art. Fabiano’s is adjacent to The Alamo, a fun downtown bar. Together, they once made up the town’s only movie theater. The space was later turned into a gift shop until 2004 when it was converted into a restaurant, bar and music venue.

We arrived at Fabiano’s with huge appetites. A sign at the entrance encourages you to seat yourself. We ordered two appetizers to take the edge off of our hunger. The caprese salad was fresh and incredibly delicious. Flavorful tomatoes and sliced mozzarella were laid on a bed of fresh, crisp greens. The salad was seasoned to perfection and topped with fresh herbs.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The garlic knots were doughy balls of bread drowning in a rich, buttery garlic sauce. They were served with a thin, tangy marinara sauce for dipping.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Fabiano’s has a very well rounded menu for a local pizza parlor. In addition to the traditional pizza and calzones, they offer several Italian dishes such as baked ziti and lasagna, as well as sandwiches, burgers and wings. Fabiano’s also offers an impressive beer and wine list and a number of specialty cocktails crafted by the Alamo’s bartenders.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We chose classic pizzeria fare for our appetizers. You can order an entire pizza or just a slice of your choice. We got a slice of pepperoni pizza. Fabiano’s serves their pies New York style. The giant slices come with generous toppings. There were two layers of spicy pepperoni on the lightly cheesed pizza.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our calzone was huge. Cheese and olives were stuffed into a perfectly browned crispy crust. The calzones are served with a thick, hearty pizza sauce for dipping.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Even though we were so full from our meal, we couldn’t resist ordering some of the tasty looking desserts. The tiramisu was creamy with only a slight hint of coffee. We liked that it was not overly sweet. 

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also got chocolate chip cannoli. The hard chocolate shell was filled with thick, rich and sweet mascarpone and chocolate chips. The dessert was served with two generous dollops of light, sweet whipped cream.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

By the time we finished our desserts, we were stuffed to the brim. The plate portions are so generous that you could easily have a full meal with just an entree. We also love the prices. We got two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts for around thirty dollars.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Fabiano’s has frequent special events and drink specials. They have several big screen TVs that are perfect for viewing big sports games. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with upcoming events and promotions. We are frequent customers at Fabiano's, so if you see us, please be sure to say hi!