Culture
New Art Gallery to Open in Nelsonville
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
Posted on:
A new art gallery will open in Nelsonville on Friday with a focus on featuring the self-taught artist.
Savage Art Gallery, owned by Wayne and Rebecca Savage, will host a grand opening from 6-9 p.m. on Friday at its location at 639 West Washington Street.
Wayne Savage had recently served as the studio coordinator at Passion Works Studio in Athens. He has since left Passion Works to allow for more time to focus on his own art and aspirations of opening the gallery.
“It was just that time in my life,” Savage said. “It’s in me. I’m an artist. I love art. I buy art. I sell art.”
According to Savage, both he and his wife are self-taught artists and wanted to create a space for other self-taught artists to showcase their work. The first featured artist at the gallery will be blind metal sculpting artist Rick Crooks. Crooks is a regular vendor at the Athens Farmers Market. A large metal elephant that Crooks sculpted is currently located in front of the gallery.
Other artists to be featured at Friday’s opening are Debbie Lee-Frazier, Dorothy Mitchell and Kailey Rose Cook, in addition to the work of Rebecca and Wayne Savage. There will also be jewelry made by a group of women at The Laurels nursing home.
“There’s not much of a venue for self-taught artists,” Savage said. “We wanted to provide a venue and a place to exhibit. A place for artists to be seen and heard.”
Savage said he’s also looking for artists to provide workshop instruction at the gallery.
Savage himself is an artist who focuses on dioramas and sculpting buildings out of foam board. He said his claim to fame was creating a diorama of the Seinfeld set, which he sold to Jerry Seinfeld in 2001.
For information about Savage Art Gallery and Studio, call (740) ART-7755 or visit www.savageartgalleryandstudio.com.