The American Craft Council Show features hundreds of the country’s top fine craft artists presenting their latest handmade creations in jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor. The Show draws nearly 10,000 visitors during its three-day event, and is a unique opportunity to experience the works of hundreds of the country’s most talented craft makers under one roof.
Top Players in Fine Art Come to Cobb
One of many area artists featured in the 26th annual American Craft Council Show (ACC) at the Cobb Galleria Center the first week of March is east Cobb resident and ceramic artist Beth J. Tarkington. She has participated in the yearly show for about a decade. “I choose to do the ACC shows because they represent the top players in the fine craft field,” Tarkingson says. “There are so many amazing artists doing these shows, from all over the country. They are strongly juried, which makes them hard to get into, which just makes getting in even more special. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the top-level show in Atlanta and, beyond that, in the Southeast.”
On top of that, Tarkington says that the American Craft Council is deeply committed to educating people in the fine crafts and supporting the fine craft communities and individual artists and their work. “What I personally enjoy most about participating in any show is connecting to my audience, watching people respond to my work, or not!” she adds. “Hearing their comments and sharing all of this with other artists.”
As an artist, she was personally encouraged by Debra Fritts, a well-known ceramic artist from Roswell, to pursue her unique approach to ceramics by transferring her drawing and painting skills from paper and canvas to the clay surface. “My work is very narrative; pieces tell stories, pursue themes,” Tarkington says. “My work is hand built, which means I do not use a potter’s wheel. It’s a slower process, each piece is one-of-a-kind. You’ll never see rows and rows of pieces in my studio! But I absolutely love using the clay colorants—slips, stains, under glazes, glazes in a very painterly fashion.”
Her career as a full-time ceramic artist began after spending 16 years teaching art at the high school level. Tarkington earned degrees from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University with an emphasis on drawing and painting and surface design. She and her husband live in the Atlanta Country Club, where her studio is also located.
This year’s show will be held March 11, 2016 from 10 am to 8 pm; March 12, 2016 from 10 am to 6 pm; and March 13, 2016 from 11 am to 5 pm. Advance show tickets are $12 On-site admission is $13 per day. Children 12 and under and American Craft Council members get in free. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time at craftcouncil.org/atlanta.
Date:
March 11, 2016 from 10 am to 8 pm
March 12, 2016 from 10 am to 6 pm
March 13, 2016 from 11 am to 5 pm
Admission:
Advance show tickets are $12 per day.
On-site admission is $13 per day.
Address:
Cobb Galleria Centre
2 Galleria Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30339
Parking:
Free Galleria parking
For more information, please call 800-836-3470.
