RAD Studio Cruise

MudFire will be hosting pottery making demonstrations by Chris Baumann and Stacey Stanhope. We will have the gallery packed with great work by our demonstrators and others. Owners Erik Haagensen and Luba Sharapan will be having a kiln opening sale, pulling their latest work out of the kiln still warm.

Scroll all the way to the bottom for a ton of pictures to give you an idea of what to expect!

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 recording 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 in 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, recording equipment, studio rentals, classes, co-op studios, and of course artwork sales and exhibits. These are complemented by dozens of smaller individual studios to form a quietly teeming arts district.

About RAD Studio Cruise

Our first annual RAD Studio Cruise invites Atlantans to visit the Rail Arts District with five major studios opening their doors for live demonstrations and the exhibit and sale of finished works.

Visitors will enjoy the spectacle of the tightly coordinated movements of a team of glass blowers working in the high heat with liquid glass. Lumps of clay will magically transform on the potters wheel into elegant forms while freshly-fired pots are pulled still warm from the kiln to rest atop pedestals. A canvas will come to life with color and movement, line and shadow, in a cavernous space packed with fresh contemporary painting. Visitors will be able to create their own jewelry with casting processes or shop the elegant displays in a well-appointed jewelry studio. Sound and sparks will combine as raw metal is worked to produce sculpture inspired by nature.

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 studios are located in three clusters, each a two-minute drive apart, with plenty of parking. Refreshments will be served at each location, and dozens of restaurants are nearby.

RAD Studio Cruise is excited to be part of Atlanta's annual citywide celebration of art, ATLart [08].

RAD Studio Cruise Participants

All of the participating studios 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 three 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 five studios.

MudFire Clayworks, 404-377-8033
175 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030.
http://www.mudfire.com

The Alcove, 404-663-0159
2852 E. College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030.
Located in Avondale Estates, on College Ave between the Waffle House and James Joyce Irish Pub.
http://www.alcovearts.com

AMALGAM Arts Atlanta, 404-371-8922
3172 E. Ponce De Leon Ave, Scottdale, GA 30079.
Located just east of Your DeKalb Farmers Market at the corner of Paloma Dr opposite the US Steel building.
http://www.amalgamartsatlanta.com

Bart Webb Studios, 404-299-5556
2846 Franklin Street, Avondale Estates, GA 30002.
Located in Avondale Estates, a block off College Ave. at Pine & Franklin, a short one block walk from Alcove.
http://www.bartwebbstudios.com

Duckbill Studios, 404-460-2791
3172 E. Ponce De Leon Ave., Scottdale, GA 30079.
Located in the same building as AMALGAM Arts.
http://www.duckbillstudios.com