Off The Beaten Path Artists To Open Their Studios For 10th Annual Fall Tour

Monday, September 21, 2009 - by Mike Antoniak

Want to explore some great art and Middle Tennessee’s majestic autumn landscape? Make plans now to attend the tenth annual Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour the weekend of Oct. 23-25.

This free, self-guided tour leads through breathtaking hills and hollows in DeKalb and Cannon Counties and around Center Hill Lake when fall colors are at their peak.

Along the way, you can stop and visit the studios of some of Tennessee’s leading practitioners of fine art and craft. These professional artists— working in glass, clay and ceramics, wood, fiber, paint, photography and other media — draw their inspiration from the pastoral, peaceful rural setting where they make their homes and studios.

One weekend each year they open their doors to the public, welcoming you in to meet with them, discuss their work, and acquire or commission a piece for you own enjoyment.

This year’s tour includes ten studio, 26 participating artists, and the tour hospitality center, the Stella Luna Art Gallery in Smithville.

Studio stops, hosts and guest artists include: From the Earth and Sea Originals with host artist Sherri G, Raku-fired clay, and guest Randy Johns, wood furniture; Fresh Chairs with host chair maker Tim Hintz and guests Jeanne Brady, fibers, and Kimberly Winkle, wood furniture; Creek Ferry Potter, host Susan Demay, functional and decorative stoneware, and guest T.J. Edwards, clay; Cosmic Clay, hosts Louis and Christine Colombarini, decorative and sculptural clay, and guest Cheryl Ludwig, fibers and weaving; Beech Hollow Studio with hosts William Kooienga, wood sculpture, and Sharon Kooienga, spinning and weaving, and guests Sandre Krikke, fabrics, and Kendra McKimmy, jewelry and sculpture; Liberty Paper Mill, host Claudia Lee, handmade paper and books, and guests Cherry Cratty, pulp painting, and Book Babes, printmaking and books; Bareglass Studio, host Damon MacNaught, glass and mixed media sculpture, and guest Bill Luton, photography; Arlene’s Clay Studio, host Arlene Knaack, tiled ceramic wall murals, and guest Maggie Sunsera, jewelry and wall hangings; Fuhrman Glass Studio, host Tom Fuhrman, blown and stained glass, and guest Ed Wooten, stained and fused glass and Shaker wood boxes; and Creek Bend Pottery, with co-hosts Rob Harvey, traditional wood-fired stoneware, and Amy Potter, architectural ceramics, and guest Breanna Rockstad-Kincaid, fibers and felting.

For more information on participating artists and their work, downloadable brochures on the group and tour, a tour map and directions, please visit the group’s website: www.offthebeatenpathtour.com


Chattanooga Featured In Where To Retire Magazine

Chattanooga has been selected by Where to Retire, the only magazine in America geared toward helping people with retirement relocation decisions, as a top retirement destination and will be profiled in the feature story “8 Terrific Towns for History Lovers.” The March/April 2012 issue will be available nationwide on February 21, 2012. Where to Retire editor Mary Lu Abbott said ... (click for more)

91st Annual Thomasville, Ga., Rose Show And Parade Is April 26-28

Celebrating 91 years, the Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival blooms April 26-28. A Southwest Georgia tradition since the 1920s, the free family-friendly Festival encompasses the Rose Show, which presents contemporary and heirloom roses against a backdrop budding with thousands of the blooms; the Rose Parade, known for its rose carpet and flowery floats; the Street Dance, ... (click for more)

Mother Of Man Charged With Killing Sgt. Chapin Given Prison Sentence Of 30 Years, 6 Months

The mother of the man charged with killing Chattanooga Police Sgt. Tim Chapin was sentenced Monday to serve 30 years and six months in federal prison.  Judge Sandy Mattice said the sentence for Kathleen Mathews, 57-year-old mother of Jesse Mathews, as a packed courtroom watched.  Ray Mathews, 51-year-old father of Jesse Mathews, must serve 20 years and 10 months. ... (click for more)

Vince Dean Picks Up For Senate Race; Tommie Brown Headed For Contest With JoAnne Favors

Rep. Vince Dean has picked up papers to run for the Senate District 10 seat now held by Democrat Andy Berke. And Rep. Tommie Brown picked up papers to retain her District 28 seat. That sets up a clash with Rep. JoAnne Favors, who picked up for District 28 earlier. Under Republican redistricting, Rep. Favors wound up in the Brown district. Rep. Dean, a Republican from East ... (click for more)

Thank You, Judge Mattice And Chattanooga

I would like to thank Judge Mattice for handing down a 30.5 year sentence for Kathleen Mathews.  Obviously, no amount of jail time, fines, or lashings can bring back Tim Chapin.   A 30-year sentence will, however, make the world just a little safer.  That's what Sgt. Chapin would have wanted.  He was a protector and sacrificed his life so the rest of ... (click for more)

Roy Exum: What 17 Pills Did To Me

Ah, step into my parlor of first-hand wisdom because, in the School of Hard Knocks, there are priceless lessons that you should know before it becomes your turn to dance. Never in my life have I ever had any back problems but, in early December, I came down with what is called sciatica and I have been a miserable man ever since. There are two big nerves that sprout out of the ... (click for more)