Explore the Decatur Art Festival and Downtown Galleries
Historic Decatur, Georgia is a city that showcases the arts. Located six miles east of downtown Atlanta, Decatur is home to a variety of shops, galleries, and restaurants clustered near the Old Courthouse Square. Every May, the city showcases its artistic community during the Decatur Festival of the Arts. More than 70,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s 25th annual festival, scheduled for May 24-26, 2013. In addition to festival activities, visitors are invited to explore downtown galleries. Here are the highlights of the weekend’s festivities.
The festival kicks off with an ArtWalk on May 24 from 5-10 pm Local shops, galleries, restaurants and educational institutions in the downtown and Oakhurst areas will host free exhibits and receptions. One stop on the ArtWalk will be the Dalton Gallery on the Agnes Scott College campus, located at 141 College Avenue. The university will host a juried fine arts exhibition from May 21 to June 2, which will be open to the public from 2 pm to 5 pm Monday through Friday and from 12 pm to 8 pm during the festival weekend.
The highlight of the Decatur Festival of the Arts will be the juried artist market in downtown Decatur on May 25 and 26. This high-quality market attracts artists from across the Southeast, who will exhibit paintings, sculptures, mixed media, ceramics, digital arts, fiber arts, glass, leather, and jewelry. Theater and literary arts activities and presentations will take place on the front lawn of the DeKalb History Center in the Old Courthouse on the plaza. Visitors can enjoy musical entertainment on the performing arts stage in the bandstand. A children’s festival is scheduled for May 25 at the Decatur Recreation Center, located at 231 Sycamore Street. Children can enjoy arts and crafts, inflatables, and music. Food and drink vendors will set up at the festival, or visitors may want to try one of Decatur’s popular downtown cafes or restaurants. Admission to the festival is free and the hours are from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday. Attendees can take MARTA transit to Decatur Station.
There are several galleries in the center that festival goers will want to visit. The Seen Gallery is located at 415 Church Street. The gallery offers original paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, prints, hand-blown glass, and limited-edition prints. Wild Oats & Billy Goats, at 112 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, specializes in whimsical and colorful folk art. Visitors can browse paintings, ceramics, sculptures, jewelry, and hand-sewn art. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Rose Squared Gallery & Framing is located in Courthouse Square, at 111 Clairmont Avenue. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery features works by owner JD Isaacs and other artists. The works of metal artist Ivan Bailey are currently on display. Watercolor and drawing classes are offered.
Decatur Market & Gallery, at 153 Ponce de Leon Place, is a cooperative for emerging artists and artisans. Each of the two dozen artists exhibiting at the gallery works one day each month to greet visitors. The gallery exhibits modern art, landscapes, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. The hours are from Wednesday to Saturday from 12 to 20 pm and on Sundays from 12 to 17 pm.
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