Arts & Literature

How the Wesleyan Artist Market Converted to a Virtual Market for 2021

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2021

The Wesleyan Artist’s Market has been a celebration of local and national art and community creativity. With all of the changes of this past year, the volunteers and leaders of this event are innovating with how to continue to put on a great show in a virtual way. Join Karl Barham and Rico Figliolini on this very exciting episode of the Capitalist Sage as they sit down with the many wonderful organizers of this event.

Resources:
Website: https://artistmarket.wesleyanschool.org

Timestamp / Where to find it in the podcast:

[00:00:30] – Intro
[00:02:23] – About Kirsten, Nadine, Gina, and Megan
[00:06:13] – Transforming the Market to Virtual
[00:08:42] – The Live Market Experience
[00:10:46] – Choosing an Online Platform
[00:15:52] – Benefits of Online Art
[00:21:47] – Sharing Art Online
[00:25:40] – Artists Being Seen
[00:30:09] – Shipping Logistics
[00:32:29] – Importance of Getting Involved
[00:38:28] – Closing

“We always talked about how do we increase our foot traffic? For years, we kept trying to figure out, what are the logistics to figure out where people are coming from and how can we expand?And so now, one of the benefits hopefully is that we will supersede Georgia from patrons, ideally. Similar to how our artists come from all over the country.”

Podcast Transcript:

Karl: [00:00:30] Today we’re going to, on the Capitalist Sage podcast, we’re going to talk about
how a local artist’s market is going virtual in Peachtree Corners. Today’s guests we’re going to
have Kirsten Scott, volunteer coordinator at the Wesleyan Artist’s Market. Nadine Aram,
principal designer of NAK design and volunteer coordinator of the Wesleyan artist market. Gina
Solomon, volunteer coordinator with the Wesleyan artist’s market. And Megan Brooker artist
and art educator, and the assistant director of fine arts at Wesleyan school and faculty advisor to
the Wesleyan artist’s market. Welcome to the Capitalist Sage podcast. We’re here to bring you
advice and tips from seasoned pros and experts to help you improve your business and your
community in general. I’m Karl Barham with Transworld business advisors, and my co-host is
Rico Figliolini with Mighty Rockets, digital marketing, and the publisher of the Peachtree Corners
magazine. Rico, how are you doing today?
Rico: [00:01:28] It’s beautiful outside, I’m doing fine, thank you.
Karl: [00:01:31] It sure is. Spring is here for sure. Why don’t you introduce our sponsor before
we get started?
Rico: [00:01:38] Sure. We’re fortunate to have Hargray Fiber as a sponsor of these podcasts,
both Capitalist Sage, and the other podcasts that we do. Peachtree Corners Life and such. They
are a company here based in the Southeast, actually based in Georgia, that handles IT and
internet connectivity for companies throughout the Southeast. Small and large enterprise sized
businesses. Go check them out. They have products and information that you can use as a
small business or enterprise sized business that can make your internet connection faster and
better and provide the tools that you need to make your business work. So check them out at
Hargray.com/business and that’s our sponsor. Thank you, Hargray.
Karl: [00:02:23] We’re so glad to have Hargray as our sponsor, and a great business in the
community, helping us through all our technology needs for business and for residential in the
Peachtree Corners and greater Atlanta area. Today’s guests are going to help us understand
how the Wesleyan artist’s market has pivoted and made a shift over the past year to be able to
bring us a virtual experience of the auction. The dates of the Wesleyan artist’s market this year
is going to be April 22nd through the 29th. And please go online and check out their webpage,
all their social media to help spread the word about attending it in this new and exciting way. Our
guests today, Kirsten Scott, Nadine Aram, Gina Solomon, and Megan Brooker is going to talk to
us a little bit about their experience in pulling this together and how they helped the feature of
the artists and improve the experience in some way for people that are going to attend. Why
don’t I let them introduce themselves a little bit, starting with Kirsten, would you give a
introduction?
Kirsten: [00:03:30] Hey I’m Kirsten Scott. I am a resident here of Peachtree Corners and my two
children attend Wesleyan. I am a retired real estate attorney and turned homemaker with a side
gig flipping houses. And my real heart is for service which is a family character trait that was
passed along. And I’ve truly enjoyed being a part of the Wesleyan arts Alliance and the artists
market and many other service opportunities that are presented throughout the community, so.Karl: [00:04:05] Nadine?
Nadine: [00:04:07] Yes, I’m Nadine Aram. Also a resident of Peachtree Corners. We are very
lucky to have our two older children attend Wesleyan and in the past few years, we’ve been very
active with the artists market and the arts Alliance. By trade I’m an architect and designer. After
a couple of years in the corporate world, I started my own design firm doing more residential
work. So it’s been wonderful being able to work within the community. Harking a little bit how the
market functions too, a very open community event. So it’s been a wonderful experience and we
look forward to being able to talk about it today.
Karl: [00:04:42] Thank you. How about you, Gina?
Gina: [00:04:45] Hey, I am Gina Solomon, and I am a former resident of Peachtree Corners after
many years. And currently live in Berkeley Lake. I have a commercial banking and corporate
finance and treasury background. But like Kirsten and these other ladies are drawn to the
service side and have been a full-time volunteer for a couple of organizations over the years.
But I’ve spent a lot of time at Perimeter school and then Wesleyan school, the Wesleyan arts
Alliance. And then several other organizations as again, as a full-time volunteer. And this is my
ninth year associated with the Wesleyan artists market. It’s been an exciting and obviously very
interesting year.
Karl: [00:05:33] Fabulous. And Megan, why don’t you introduce yourself.
Megan: [00:05:37] Sure. I’m Megan Brooker. I teach high school art here at Wesleyan, and this
is my 14th year here, which is crazy. And I’m the assistant director of fine arts. So the lead for
visual arts, K-12 at this school. I’ve been involved with the artist’s market since my first year
here, which is, it’s been really awesome to see how much it has grown with leadership like these
ladies that are here with us, from the Arts Alliance. To see how much they pour into the school
and pour into the market is inspiring. So we’re very thankful for the Arts Alliance and the artists
market and all that it has to offer us.
Karl: [00:06:13] Well, after the past year, I know folks are so excited to get back to normal and
do things that, that we’ve done for many years. Gina, why don’t I start with you and just talk a
little bit about, some of the things that you’ve been able to do to help transform the live
experience of the artist’s market to virtual?
Gina: [00:06:34] Okay. Planning for the Wesleyan artist’s market is really almost an all year
around process. So when we finished the show at the end of April, we go into wrap up mode in
May, and then we start pre-planning over the summer. So it was this past summer where we
had to make the decision and work with the school on our plans for the 2020 show. And it
became fairly apparent that there were so many uncertainties associated with COVID that we
had a tough decision to make. Which was either go ahead and plan for a live show at the risk
that it might be canceled again, not have a show, or pivot to virtual. And because we feel likethis is the artist’s market is such an important tradition, not only for our school and our
immediate community, but our extended community and also for the artists. We made the
decision that we in fact would go virtual. It was unchartered territory for us, and there were
certainly, there has not been a roadmap. It was a big decision, but we felt like we had to put one
step in front of the other and go ahead and start making plans. So we announced that we were
going virtual in September and we were very fortunate early on to secure the support of many of
our longstanding partners and kind sponsors, such as the Peachtree Corners Magazine, the city
of Peachtree corners, Atlanta homes and lifestyle magazine, Imagine advertising and
publishing, Stirrup Media. These key partners, as well as Wesleyan school to help us deliver the
market going forward. So the first key thing for us was, the most important thing was to make
sure the artists were on board. And then secondly, to build a platform, an e-commerce platform
or secure any contract with an e-commerce platform to set this up virtually.
Karl: [00:08:42] If I could ask a question for those that may be new to Peachtree Corners, can
you quickly describe what the experience was like when it was live? And then we could talk a
little bit of what it’s going to be like when it’s virtual?
Gina: [00:08:54] Sure. The live event is an absolute highlight of our calendar year. It’s the
largest community building event at the school. The campus is open. Everybody is invited to
attend. Admission is free. We set up the show, the live show in Powell excuse me, in Powell and
Nancy gymnasium, which is a two floor expansive gym. And we have typically about a hundred
artists, professional and student artists combined on two floors over a three-day period. The
setup takes about internally, about a week for us to get it physically set up. The artists come in
wednesday before the show and then they pack up and leave Saturday night after the show. It’s
like having an enormous party for about four straight days. There’s a ton of energy. Nothing can
replace our live show. But ironically, over the years we have contemplated perhaps having a
virtual component to our live show. So while we did not choose this fate that ultimately we
ended up going fully virtual, this has given us the opportunity to pursue it and hopefully build
something that future generations of marketers at Wesleyan can use in a live show. When the
participating artists do set up booths at our live show, so you’ll see the individual booth set up
with all of their artwork displayed and the artists are actually present at the show which is
unique. Not all shows have the artists for the entire time, but we do feature all the artists.
Karl: [00:10:46] Oh fabulous. If I could ask Kirsten, when building out the experience in a virtual
world, can you talk about some of the things you had to consider and choices and platforms to
be able to do that?
Kirsten: [00:11:01] We did, we had to at the live market, we had entertainment and speakers
and we had to figure out how to bring some of that warmth to a virtual platform. And we did a lot
of research and we were guided with some other events that have happened that had a lot of
content. And they really advised us that we needed to be specific about our content and not
overdo it so as to distract the shoppers from the art. Which is really where we want everybody to
be engrossed is feeling like they get the opportunity to see the art that they typically would see
live and in person. And so we created some platforms and our presenting sponsor AH and Lmagazine provided us with a great opening night video where we’re going to cover the art of
collecting and excuse me. And that is a great conversation between art collectors and designers
and artists, where they can express a really great insight on how to go about collecting art
yourself personally. And that’s our opening night. We’ll also of course always have opening
remarks from Chris Cleveland head of school. And he’s always very excited and supportive of
our market. And I think he gets very excited about being able to kick it off and start it. We will
have that as well. A couple of other platform things that we’ll have will be a featured reel with
highlighting our Wesleyan fine arts program. In the past, we’ve had different variants of the
students be able to come in and the chorus be able to sing or the play members be able to
perform a small part of the upcoming play for the spring. And so this year will just be a highlight
reel focusing on those students and all their accomplishments they’ve been able to do this year.
And it’s a very unique environment. The teachers have been amazing, from a parent
perspective on really encouraging these kids to keep their artistic motivation going. And that’s,
we want to highlight that as well. And then we’ll have another little tidbit from one of our other
sponsors called Choo Choo Charcuterie. And she is, they’re going to perform or host a how to
put a charcuterie board together and some of the insight and the neat things that we’re all
seeing nowadays and supporting their local business. And finally, we’ll have a date night. Our
great sponsor Grace 17-20 is helping us create a unique menu for our Monet and Merlot date
night. And we’re hoping that guests will go and pick up a little something to eat and a little glass
of wine when they get home and enjoy shopping online with their spouse or their children. We
have the student artists as well, so we really want to encourage everybody to be thorough on
the site and take their time. We have a whole week to shop. It’s really great, yeah.
Rico: [00:14:01] Sounds exciting. So let me ask you, let me ask you this. When you, and I know
part of the process you ladies were going through at the very beginning, trying to find the right
platform and stuff. What was, what were like some of the key ingredients or features that you
liked about deciding where you are right now on the platform you’re using? And what are those
key features that someone else might be able to look at? It’s like, alright, that’s cool. I want to be
able to do the same thing. Even if it’s not an artist market could be something else. So if you
could share that with us.
Gina: [00:14:38] Okay. And y’all please jump in as well. There are some great, there are some
great e-commerce platforms out there. We ultimately did choose Shopify. And simply we did
want a very established name that there would have, there would be great recognition, not only
from the artist’s standpoint, but also from our buyers. And we liked the ability to customize the
program a little bit. It’s not as simple as simply setting up a store on your e-commerce platform.
Effectively we are the mall owner and we have the individuals store set up within our mall. So
it’s an extra layer and that has meant bringing in some different apps and working with a lot of
different people from different parts of the world to put this together, different time zones. And so
it’s definitely again, been an extremely interesting process. We did like the breadth and depth
and scale of Shopify and their ability to work with us to customize some things.
Karl: [00:15:52] What are the things that Shopify, for folks that don’t know it’s an online
e-commerce platform that a lot of people it’s one of the most known and well used. But whatcomes with that is trust. People know what that is and are comfortable and have used it, so
they’re familiar with it. But it changes the approach when you think about art and buying art. And
Nadine, I’d love to explore with you a little bit about how does someone like me who’s used to
going and looking at things, art to buy. How do I approach that virtually? How would you advise
shoppers and people participating in the Wesleyan event approach shopping for art this way?
Nadine: [00:16:36] Yeah, of course. Look, there’s no doubt that 2020 put a different spin on
things in life for everybody. Virtually everyone knows, everyone’s gone online to some capacity.
You even see big museums, like natural history museum, doing these virtual tours. Conventions
going to virtual booths. We’re coming in on that front as well and trying to the biggest impact
here. One of the biggest hallmark features of the Wesleyan artist’s market is the fact that it’s
always been a market for everybody. We’ve had all price points, all sizes of work, all types of
techniques, all types of skills. So that’s been a big factor for us to make sure that we drive
home. And I think when you approach trying to purchase artwork online you have to come to a
little bit, come to terms of you have to approach it a little bit more clearly. Because like Gina
said, nothing will replace an in-person experience. So you, so instead of being able to touch and
feel things you have to think through a little bit more logically. So typically, we always tell people
that when you come to the market, something will speak to you. You’ll find something that pulls
you in and just having an original piece of artwork at your home is really a special thing. And in
that vein, we always have a wide breadth of patrons, right? So we have people that come with
their own designers trying to fill in spaces for their homes or their offices, all the way to people
coming in to do personal shopping for themselves or little gifts for mother’s day, which is
typically about a month after the artist’s market. But there’s about four main tips I think, is a good
approach to when you try to purchase artwork online. And the first one is defining your intent,
right? So you come to the market with ideas in your mind. Is it for you? Is it a gift for someone?
Are you looking for some small filler pieces or a large piece to fill a large space? Knowing what
you’re wanting to come to the market with is important. The other aspect is understanding the
space, right? So again, is it a large piece? A small one? Bright colors, dark colors. Does your
space have high ceilings? Would it be more impactful for smaller pieces or the idea of a
triptych? So two to three pieces coming together. Horizontal, vertical, floral, landscape, abstract,
animals. We have the whole breadth of that, which has been a wonderful key feature of the
market. So we cover all types of genres, which is really a big benefit for people that come to our
store, to our market virtually, not store. The next one I would say is researching artists lists. So
visiting our website is a really big help that way, you know and can anticipate the artists that you
feel like you have a connection with. Whether it’s a technique, whether you like water color,
maybe you notice that you really do love oils. Maybe you do love a sort of whimsical piece that
artists put together. So being able to take a look at taking a look at our website and scoping out
our social media, because we’re doing daily, almost daily and weekly postings of all of our
artists. And we have a wonderful feature that’s called behind the scenes. And so you’ll have
artists speak about how they create the work. Images or videos of them creating the work. So
that’s another sort of draw to be able to replace that in-person experience. So that the patron
has a connection with the artist, which is also really important. And then the last one, I think,
which is really important too, is ask questions, right? When you find that artist or you find that
piece of artwork that you really do like, don’t be shy and reach out to the artist, email,sometimes they put a phone number. Giving them a call, maybe asking them for advice,
knowing your space and your height and your color scheme. No one would know better than the
artwork than the artists themselves. And then if there’s something that you’d like from a specific
artist, but it’s not the right color or it’s not the right size, our artists are typically always open for
commissions. Which is a wonderful piece too, because then you really have something
extremely unique for you and your space and asking questions and being descriptive is
wonderful. So it’s a different approach. But it’s definitely an approach where it’s happening
globally. Big name museums are doing it. The MOMA’s doing it. Like I said, natural history
museums are doing it.
Now we’re doing it here in Peachtree Corners.
Rico: [00:20:43] You know the good part. Also, like you said, you can communicate directly with
the artists as well. So if I was looking at a three dimensional piece, a sculpture or a plate, I could
probably ask them, can you shoot me a video? Walk around, then give me a 360 of what that
looks like in real life and show me scale.
Nadine: [00:21:00] Right, absolutely.
Gina: [00:21:03] And not to interrupt, but one other thing too, the capability of the site, the artists
will be submitting. Many of them will submit multiple images per piece of artwork. And they’ll
show you what it would look like hanging on a wall, or for example, sitting on a coffee table and
then you’ll have the ability to zoom in on the artwork. So you can see brush strokes, you can
see texture. It’s really, buying art online has become a standard. And we’re actually pretty
excited about the potential here. So we are seeing good things from pure shows and heard a
good thing. So our expectation is that it will be successful.
Karl: [00:21:47] One of the benefits that I’ve seen on these virtual art shows is the ability to
share with other people. That’s harder when it was in person. I walked in, I like it, but I have a
cousin in another city or somewhere else that’s not there. Virtually during your social media
posts, is it easy for people to share that with people in their network, friends and family? This
might be a good fit for them.
Nadine: [00:22:16] Yeah, absolutely. Especially on social media, it’s an easy thing to do where
you can repost or you can resend it to message to someone, Facebook and Instagram, for sure.
But even the week of the market, being able to just copy and paste that link directly to an artist I
think is even more impactful. We always talked about how do we increase our foot traffic? For
years, we kept trying to figure out what are the logistics to figure out where people are coming
from and how can we expand? And so now, one of the benefits hopefully is that we will
supersede Georgia from patrons, ideally. Similar to how our artists come from all over the
country.
Rico: [00:22:52] Now, we did a podcast recently with the Atlanta Jewish film festival. They did
everything virtual film festival. Whereas before they were stuck just in the Metro area and within
a few theaters. Now they were opened up almost to the world. Although I got to say that someof the videos, some of the films can only be geo located and screened. So Georgia limited too
or let’s say US. But they were able to expand the amount of people participating, not only the
films, I think showing, but also the participation of people showing up to watch those films. So is
that the same feeling you’re getting when you went out for artists, are you finding there are
more? You’re open to a wider range of artists because it’s virtual versus them having to show up
and set up?
Gina: [00:23:36] Absolutely.
Rico: [00:23:38] That is the best part of that? Isn’t it?
Gina: [00:23:41] Well it’s been, again, it’s been really exciting. We have artists coming from New
Orleans, we have Colorado. We have places where normally they would not be traveling this far
from. We do have obviously still a strong mix from the Southeast. But we can tell from the
people that are following us on social media and the groves on those accounts. As well as the
applicants for the show that this was, it was a broader net basically.
Rico: [00:24:11] And it’ll probably be great to see the actual statistics during the Showtime to
see where your visitors are coming from. And where the purchases are actually coming from.
That would be nominal to see that part of it, as a business person looking at this, right?
Kirsten: [00:24:25] I think one of the added benefits of going virtual is that, and one of the
reasons that I think that we would like to keep this component part of the market is because of
the reach we have been able to attract and jury artists and have them be part of the show that
they normally would not be able to do because of either distance or time constraints with a live
show. And so the virtual really allows us to have a broader reach. And like you said, we’re real
excited about seeing those statistics come in, so.
Nadine: [00:25:01] Yeah, I will just add onto that, in the past the way we’ve tried to help artists
that can’t be in our market in person is we’ve always tried to do a curated section. But now I feel
with this, we all collectively feel with this sort of virtual market that now the whole market is even
more curated. You really did vet the process of getting and achieving high quality artists with
wonderful work, great ethics, as best as a price point as we can. That’s the biggest benefit
right? To doing it. It is literally a one-stop shop for all types of artwork. And jewelry. Don’t forget
jewelry.
Karl: [00:25:40] I’d be curious on getting an artist perspective, Megan. This new world and
getting from an artist perspective, how do you see that changing how artists can get their work
seen? And are there any tips and advice you’d have on people using this new platform to
feature their art?
Megan: [00:26:02] Yeah, it is. It’s actually really exciting to see how the potential of what is going
to actually happen, moving from live to virtual. Because the beauty of the live show is the
interaction you have with the client. And Nadine mentioned the intent, like I feel that from theartist perspective, when the intentions match and what you’re looking for match. In that, what
the artist poured into it is what the client is looking for. It’s easy to communicate when you’re
live, right? When you are in person. And when somebody stands in front of your booth, this is
my favorite part of the artist’s market. Besides the big party, as Gina mentioned. Is that, is they
stand in front of your artwork and when they have an emotional reaction, it’s a beautiful thing.
So I will miss that live, but I’m hoping that and my goal as an artist of the market is to be able to
portray that and to explain that and make sure my intention comes across virtually. So whether
that be through captions or in marketing, and making sure that. Because I feel like this is a huge
piece of reaching your clientele that your work is created for. And so I think it’s interesting too. It
is a different, it’s almost employing a different level of marketing as an artist. Because as
several of you mentioned getting different angles of the artwork to make sure that everybody
can understand what it looks like on the wall, but also details of what it looks like close up and
what it might look like in different scenarios. Could you couple it with other artwork or what does
it look like on your shelf? So having the different variety to approach the, as much as the live
scenarios you can get virtually is super important. Sharing your intention and making sure your
purpose of your artwork is known. Because some may come in just wanting something that
matches their decor, but then there’s many others who want something that they do interact
emotionally with. But I do find that no matter which way, what we’re looking for as a client,
people want to know our story. And so I’m thankful for the platform like Shopify and all the art
clients is doing to help us to create that story on this web page so that it is shown through social
media and through our individual pages.
Karl: [00:28:21] I know in the past year, I don’t know if you’ve all had the same feeling because
of us having to isolate more. I’m seeing more expression of people’s feelings and passions
online. They’re reacting to things. If it’s an image, if it’s a story you’re seeing that. And I think
more people have become comfortable using that medium to communicate that. That’s one of
the things I’m excited about is in this forum, most times you don’t get to interact with the artists
in many cases. But I could see the opportunity through what you’ve created in this virtual
experience, the ability to have before interactions with the artists and the art and respond during
the artist’s market experience and potentially after. We’ve mentioned commissioned work, or I
follow your work now and get an exposure for those artists, that’s harder to do in just a purely
in-person event. After you leave the event, you may not see or can’t stay connected as easily.
So I think the time has come for this merging of the two and you’re able to leap frog into that.
Probably we were all forced to. But I think your idea of keeping elements of that as we bring
back the live experience next year, my fingers are crossed, next year live and in virtual. Are
there things that I want to ask a practical question of, when someone comes and makes a
purchase, there’s actually the buying part. And then there is the, how do I get the art, whether
it’s three-dimensional art and so on. Can you speak a little bit about how would that happen
during the event this year?
Gina: [00:30:06] Sure. Kirsten. Do you want to take that or?
Kirsten: [00:30:09] Sure. Yes. So the plan right now, because it’s all virtual is that we would,
each of the artists are setting up their own shipping portion of the market. And so with that, theywill be responsible for making sure that the art is packaged correctly. And with everything going
virtual or online for the past year, they have gotten a lot of experience on how to properly
package art and have it shipped out correctly. There is the option that with just our professional
artists, that again, communicating that if you’re local and there’s an opportunity to do a local
drop-off or a handoff. That is a relationship and a contact that you, that the artist and the patron
can foster and make happen so that the shipping costs aren’t added on for something that’s
local. And we’re hoping that maybe we’ll get an opportunity to actually host the artist on campus,
but that’s just, that’s Wesleyan’s decision. And we honor that decision and it’s would be, it’s up in
the air right now. As far as hopefully doing a on-site handoff opportunity where patrons could
come and meet some of the artists and actually pick up their pieces on campus. It would be
great to be able to bring folks back on campus. But like I said, Wesleyan is in charge of that and
they have done an amazing job of keeping our students on campus. And that’s their priority and
we honor that. So yeah.
Karl: [00:31:41] Would you want to add anything on that?
Gina: [00:31:43] As far as the delivery is concerned, when we were at, we were advised by a lot
of the consultants on this, that when we have a hundred different points of where the items are
going to be shipped from. And so whoever can, whoever controls the inventory really needs to
manage that process. And that’s the artists. We don’t have or control the inventory. So they,
once the sale is completed, then the individual artists will reach out to their buyers and they will
obviously secure whether the item is going to get mailed or whether it’s going to get picked up at
the artist’s studio or whether there’s going to be a meeting place. They will make sure that the
art is delivered one way or the other.
Karl: [00:32:29] I’ve got a question, if I could throw out to each one of you to respond to. If there
was one thing you wanted people that are planning on attending or people that have attended in
the past or especially people that have never attended. If there was one thing you’d want them
to know about the Wesleyan artist’s market that should drive them to want to attend or
participate or how they can get involved. What would that be? Nadine you mind if I start with
you?
Nadine: [00:32:54] Sure.
Karl: [00:32:57] Take your time. I know that it was a big question.
Nadine: [00:33:00] Yeah. There’s a lot of there’s a lot of thoughts going through my head, I think
right off the top. I’ll just say, I think participating in any capacity as a patron with the artist’s
market is a wonderful benefit to our students. And I don’t just say our students in the time that
they’re here K through 12, right? Because there are a lot of extremely talented children, really
they’re young adults by the time they graduate. But that will go out into this world and will do
some fabulous things. And I think they are able to do so because they’re catapulted by our
wonderful fine arts program of which the Wesleyan artist’s market is the biggest, it is their
biggest benefactor. So I think ultimately it does come full circle, right? Because we do havesome alums that are coming back and participating as artists in this market. And so the bigger
feedback loop is the fact that yes, you are gaining a wonderful and unique piece of artwork.
Students who have a huge love of fine arts continue on and have all the facilities that they can
have so that they can do the best performance that they can do, be it 2D or acting or music. And
I think that’s the biggest driver for us. And it’s been every year, to be honest with you has been
okay, how do we increase our bottom line? How do we increase our profit? Because at the end
of the day, it’s not going to our pockets, it’s going to help our children and the other students.
And I think that’s the, for me, that’s what drives me to keep going and what I hope other people
and patrons would consider.
Karl: [00:34:37] Fabulous. Megan, what do you think would be something that folks should think
about in supporting this in ways they can?
Megan: [00:34:46] Yeah, I actually was. I echo everything Nadine just said. That was the same
sentiments I was thinking. And I would add to that, that you can buy art anywhere, pretty much
any store. You can go to any local store and find something to hang on your wall to match your
couch. But this offers the unique opportunity to give back and to create a story that goes full
circle with the school, that is helping local artists, that is supporting local. But more than that it’s
creating so much hope in life. And just, I guess I’ll just say a story again, that is so much more
meaningful. That you could see every day, or use every day with jewelry, that’s so much more
impactful to your daily life.
Kirsten?
Kirsten: [00:35:30] Gosh, ladies y’all have done an amazing job of covering it. It truly is. It is the
story. I love that Megan. Where I look around at the pieces that I’ve purchased over the years
and every time I see them, there’s a story. There’s something behind it. There’s an experience.
And I know that like Nadine said and Megan said, that experience goes further than just myself
and my joy that I get from the art itself. But it passes on to all these children that go through and
experience, the amazing program of fine arts at Wesleyan. And we just want to continue to
support that and grow that aspect because it is critical for education and for expression. And
we’ve seen, like you said earlier, a great deal of people expressing themselves in ways that we
just never thought we would ever see. And we’re all getting to share it. I love the part of the
community about the fine arts. It is a community event and we’re expanding our community by
being virtual. And I love that. Because expanding your community as you can go years without
seeing somebody and then you’ll come across somebody in 10 years and go, gosh I remember
when I met you at the Wesleyan artist market or something to that effect. And so that’s exciting.
And the last component would be supporting our artists. With losing last year’s market we really
had a very big heart in making sure that we could do anything we could to help support the local
artists. And now our reach has gotten further and we know the importance and the value of the
artist. And so we wanted to continue to make sure that happened.
Karl: [00:37:17] Gina, would you add anything to what everyone has said?Gina: [00:37:22] The main thing I would say is the artist’s market for me, has always been so
much more than an event. It’s truly an experience. And I’m so impacted by not only the art, but
by the artists themselves. And in a really, it’s been a tough year for a lot of people on a lot of
different fronts. And this is as much about inspiration and offering some hope and a little bit of
escape. And also just it’s, I always find it so educational. So there are so many different
benefits beyond just, finding that particular piece. It’s really just the whole experience and it’s
and all are invited. Again, it’s our favorite part of this event is that we do get to open up the
doors and hopefully share the great art, beyond the Wesleyan campus. We’d just love for, to
continue to hopefully inspire through this event.
Karl: [00:38:28] Well, I know Rico probably feels the same as I do, and I want to thank you each.
Gina, Nadine, Kirsten, Megan. Not only for being a guest today and talking about the Wesleyan
art market, but for your time in volunteering and pulling this together. It’s been a tough year and
figuring out a way to bring this to the community here in Peachtree corners and beyond. I want
to thank you personally for all you’re doing. And for all the artists that are participating and for all
the people that people don’t see behind the scenes, I know there’s IT folks and technology folks
and logistics folks that help make this happen. And I really want to see the community come out
and support this more than ever. If you can’t get there those days, you could do it on your couch
at home and explore some of the art during that. So thank you for your service and for all that
you’re doing for the community and for Wesleyan and for artists in general.
Gina: [00:39:27] Our pleasure. And let me add, we did extend the show from three days to a full
week. So that hopefully allows everybody a great window to take a look and join the site.
Karl: [00:39:41] So can you remind me of the dates and how can people learn more?
Gina: [00:39:46] The dates are April 22nd through 29th. If you’re a sponsor, there is a preview
starting April 20th through the 22nd and it’s not too late to sponsor. So go to our website at
ArtistsMarket.WesleyanSchool.org. You can also check us out on social media, on Instagram,
Facebook, and Twitter. And those accounts are listed on our website.
Karl: [00:40:13] Thank you very much for your time today and for sharing all the hard work
you’ve done and I’m excited to go. I got to visit it when it was live. I’m excited to go visit it now
that it’s virtual and next year I’ll even be excited to doing a little bit of both. So thank you for all
that you’re doing.
Kirsten: [00:40:33] Thank you.
Karl: [00:40:35] I’m Karl Barham with Transworld business advisors. And Rico and I have
enjoyed getting to learn more of the many organizations, businesses, schools in the community,
and putting on the Capitalist Sage to bring you just what people are doing to innovate and to
help other people get ideas of how they can keep going and overcome challenges. Whether it’s
in their business or in their organizations that they support. For me our business advisors at
Transworld Business Advisors, we help consult business owners. We help them figure out howto get into business when they’re ready, how to get out of business and sell when they’re ready
and how to grow their business in between. And I can be reached at
www.TWorld.com/AtlantaPeachtree. And Rico, why don’t you tell us a little bit about what you
have going on and how people can reach you if they’d like to.
Rico: [00:41:26] Sure. So I publish Peachtree Corners Magazine as a lot of people know.
Started that out two years ago and we’re working on our next issue. So if you’re interested in the
artist’s market, one of the big features we have is we’re highlighting three of the artists in that
issue. That’ll be coming out the beginning of April. We’re also highlighting four student artists. In
fact, we’re doing another podcast later today. We’re recording with two student artists that’ll be
on Peachtree Corners Life. So that’s cool. It’s getting to know a lot of what’s going on and being
able to put that word out for Wesleyan artist market. Magazine has, is going to be the biggest
issue yet. I think we’re going to be 80 pages this issue. We’re going to be covering a lot of
different things. If you’re into tennis, USTA, recovering that we’re covering the new multi-use
ordinances the city has passed. That’s going to deal with development over the next decade in
this city and what that means with regard to multi-use when it comes to apartments, condos,
retail, office space. Things are changing. COVID has done all that to us. So we’re evolving.
Traffic has changed. The way people are living has changed. So the city has to contend with
that and that’s what they’re doing. So we’re, hopefully we can explain some of that. There’s a
bunch of other things in there. I also own Mighty Rockets. I do digital marketing, content
creation, and handle social media for several different companies. So if you’re looking to get
involved or you need to expand your presence online. Whether it’s product videos or content,
just reach out to me. You can go to MightyRockets.com or you could check my name on
LinkedIn. There aren’t too many Figliolinis out there. So you’ll be able to find me if you put
Atlanta. But this has been fun. I love talking about this. I’ve been involved with you ladies for, I
don’t know how many months now it’s been going back. Six, seven months maybe? Longer
actually. Yeah, actually before Nadine’s…
Nadine: [00:43:21] So it’s been almost two years.
Rico: [00:43:22] Yes. It’s been good to see this whole process evolve and to see how it’s
developed from the beginning. So I’m just excited. I can’t wait to participate.
Gina: [00:43:33] Thank you again.
Karl: [00:43:36] Thank you. And also, I just want to recognize Megan, thank you and for all the
teachers out there that have been helping take care of our children. So we really do honor you
and thank you and bless you for all that you and other teachers are doing. So thank you for that.
Megan: [00:43:51] Art therapy is a real thing, so.
Karl: [00:43:52] It is. Thank you for joining the Capitalist Sage Podcast today. Look forward for
future episodes. We’ll continue to bring you advice from leaders in the business and in thecommunity and talk about how they could improve that and help improve the community in
general. Have a great day, everyone

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Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

Arts & Literature

8 Theatrical Performances Coming to the Peachtree Corners Area

Published

2 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

Kathy Dean

Discover local theatrical performances: mystery, musicals, comedies, and Shakespeare in the Park. Support the arts with every ticket.

Photo by cottonbro studio

Mean Girls: High School Version
Thursday-Friday, April 11-12
Thursday and Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.
Paul Duke STEM High School
5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross
Tickets: Adults, $12; students, $10 and children (ages 5 and under), $5

Adapted from Tina Fey’s hit 2004 film, the Mean Girls musical has been nominated for a staggering 12 Tony Awards. Now, Paul Duke STEM brings the high school version of the show to life.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here.

The Curse of the Hopeless Diamond
Thursday, April 18. 6:30 p.m.
Anna Balkan Jewelry and Gifts
51 S. Peachtree St., Norcross
Ticket: $25, includes snacks and one glass of wine

The audience-participation murder mystery is a fundraiser for Lionheart Theatre’s summer theatre camp for kids and teens; it’s being hosted by Anna Balkan and 45 South Coffee House.

About the show: Reginald and Daphne Potter are touring extensively, along with their world-famous Potter Diamond, in the company of four detectives. It’s well-known that the Potter Diamond is beautiful…and cursed!

Purchase tickets here.

Anastasia
Thursday-Sunday, April 25-28
Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Valor Christian Academy
4755 Kimball Bridge Rd., Alpharetta
Tickets: $20 per person

About the show: Presented by CYT Atlanta, the show spans from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.

Click here to learn more.

Little Shop of Horrors
Thursday-Sunday, April 25-28
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Norcross High School
5300 Spalding Dr., Norcross
norcrosshigh.org, nhs-drama.com, 770-448-3674
Tickets: $10

About the show: A horror comedy rock musical, Little Shop of Horrors centers around a florist shop worker who raises a carnivorous plant that eats humans.

Secure your spot.

Seussical
Thursday-Saturday, May 2-4
Wesleyan School Powell Theatre
5405 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners
wesleyanschool.org, 770-448-7640

About the show: The fantastical, magical musical is based on the children’s stories of Dr. Seuss.

Discover more here.

Breaking Legs
May 3-19
Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 18 and Sunday matinees, 2 p.m.
Lionheart Theatre Company
10 College St., Norcross
lionhearttheatre.org, 678-938-8518
Tickets: Adults, $18; students and seniors, $16

About the show: In this madcap comedy, an Italian restaurant is owned by a successful mobster and managed by his beautiful unmarried daughter. When the daughter’s former college professor asks for financial backing for a play he’s written about a murder, the three main Mafiosi are intrigued with the idea of producing a play. The daughter becomes enamored of the playwright who discovers, through the ‘accidental’ death of a lesser thug, that his backers are gangsters.

Find tickets here.

Finding Nemo JR
Friday-Sunday, May 10-12
Greater Atlanta Christian School King’s Gate Theatre
1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross
greateratlantachristian.org, 770-243-2000

About the show: The hour-long musical adaptation of the Pixar film features Marlin, a nervous clownfish who lives with his adventurous child, Nemo, in the Great Barrier Reef. When Nemo is carried off to Sydney, Marlin must overcome his fears and travel across the ocean to find him.

Learn more here.

Much Ado About Nothing
Saturday-Sunday, May 11-12
Saturday, 2 and 5 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Simpsonwood Park
411 Jones Bridge Circle, Peachtree Corners
crewofpatches.org

About the show: Contemporary Classics Theatre presents Shakespeare’s romantic comedy May 11-26 at Simpsonwood Park in Peachtree Corners, Christ Church Episcopal in Norcross and Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in John’s Creek. Director Susanna Wilson’s version of the play is set in Italy during a 21st century film festival. Love at first sight, jealousy and confusion, an illegitimate sibling, mixed-up lovers, three weddings and a funeral fill this amusing look at love, betrayal and acceptance. Performances will be outside for a “Shakespeare in the Park” experience. Audience members should bring blankets and lawn chairs as no seating is provided. Shows run approximately 100 minutes with no intermission.

Click here for more information.

Want more event happening in and around Peachtree Corners?

Check out our recent article: 25+ Free Events Happening at Peachtree Corners Library in April and May

Arts & Literature

Wesleyan Artist Market 2024: Spotlight on Three Artists

Published

3 weeks ago

April 2, 2024

Patrizia Winsper

Singing birds, blossoming flowers and warmer days — the delights of spring herald the 26th annual Wesleyan Artist Market (WAM).

Painting by Meagan Brooker

Singing birds, blossoming flowers and warmer days — the delights of spring herald the 26th annual Wesleyan Artist Market (WAM) in Peachtree Corners, a vibrant celebration of art.

Discerning art enthusiasts head to Wesleyan School, located just north of Atlanta, for a chance to explore paintings, photography, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry and beyond from over 80 professional artists.

Mark your calendars: this year’s market takes place Friday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop in and immerse yourself in creativity!

Ashley Skandalakis

Returning to WAM for the second time is an artist who combines colors and textures not on canvas, but in an array of unique and lovely flowering vessels. Ashley Skandalakis, owner of Atlanta Planters, LLC, creates custom designs of planted pots to adorn your home or business and can fit all styles and budgets.

Before this southern belle raised in Americus, Ga. started playing in the dirt, she tried several different careers — from interior design to pharmaceuticals, technology to entrepreneurship. Skandalakis took a sprout of an idea and turned it into a blooming, multi-million-dollar business with her Lappers dining trays. Now she’s well on her way to growing Atlanta Planters.

For the past five years, Skandalakis has been making metro Atlanta more beautiful one potted planting at a time. She attributes the company’s growth to her unique style, attention to detail, outstanding customer service and beautiful products.

Start before you’re ready

After quitting her stint in the technology field, Skandalakis was in search of the next sensation that would produce the same rush her tray invention and eight patents gave her. A friend opened a new Buckhead restaurant and Skandalakis offered to replant her waning orchids. The restauranteur, lacking time and funds, agreed.

Self-taught Skandalakis took the vessels home, gathered orchids and supplies, and created striking compositions embellished with interesting stakes, moss and other plants. Dining patrons were so impressed by her eye-catching creations that they requested her business card as she carried them through the restaurant during delivery.

“When you’re passionate about something, you figure it out as you go,” she said. “Every day you wonder, ‘What am I going to learn today?’”

Rental truck road trip

At the suggestion of a painting class comrade, Skandalakis submitted photos of her fanciful florals to the Thomasville Antique Show. Two days later she committed to being a vendor in a show taking place in a week’s time.

“I had to source planters, orchids. I didn’t have a business license. I didn’t have business cards. I didn’t have a credit card processor. I didn’t have anything, but I pulled it all together. I stayed up till 1 o’clock in the morning making 45 orchid compositions. I really didn’t know how to do them, so it took me a long time,” Skandalakis shared.

Turning a $5,000 profit at that show in February of 2020 made her realize she had a new business. When the pandemic shut everything down in March, Skandalakis pivoted to outdoor containers and embraced her budding bailiwick with verve.

Busy beautifying outdoor spaces

Applying for a business license, building a social media presence and advertising led to some scheduled appointments. By May of that year, Skandalakis was fully booked creating seasonal planters for clients.

“Twice a year, I go to clients’ homes and make their planters gorgeous. If they need planters, I source those too. I love working with people to find the best containers for their space,” Skandalakis beamed.

It’s a carefully orchestrated juggling act to get everyone’s plantings done. The season begins on April 15, when frost no longer poses a threat, and runs through the end of June. Winter pots are cleaned out and planted for the spring and summer. In October, the remnants of summer plantings are removed, and containers are replanted for fall and winter.

During the Christmas season, Atlanta Planters decorates fireplace mantles and front porches with handtied greenery, garland, lights and wreaths.

Perfect planters and plants

The quest for unusual urns from across the globe excites the impresario who works with vendors to source the best, whether modern or traditional. Preferred supplier Elegant Earth makes handmade products in Birmingham, Ala. The owner is an Atlanta native who is featured in Veranda magazine this May.

Skandalakis searches online auctions for vintage and antique vessels. She also scours the trade market in High Point, N.C. When associates have shipping containers arriving from abroad, they often give Skandalakis first dibs at their treasures.

Annual trips to Europe further the flowerpot obsession. Her travels usually entail securing planters while endeavoring to piggyback on friends’ cargo containers to get them across the pond.

Several hundred planters can be found at her Marietta store on any given day. Skandalakis intentionally purchased a deep lot to house them all.

A variety of wholesale nurseries around the southeast supply Skandalakis with the highest quality plants. Annuals and perennials usually come from local nurseries. Larger landscaping plants come from all over the region where the heartiest plants intersect with competitive prices.

Continuous growth

Though planters make up the majority of her business, those entrusting Skandalakis with their pots naturally began to ask her for landscaping advice as well. To better assist clients with landscape design, Skandalakis sharpened her skills at Emory University.

“I enjoy landscaping projects. Inspired by some of the world’s best landscape architects, I am constantly learning. It’s important to continue to grow,” she asserted.

A $600 minimum per planting session covers plants, healthy soil, fertilizer, plant toppers and labor. Skandalakis’ green thumb leaves clients happy with their containers.

Clients old and new

Customers who’ve been with Atlanta Planters for a while trust the gardener’s judgment. They’re happy to allow her artistic liberty. Skandalakis knows her clients’ favorite colors and which locations require shade or sun plants.

New clients are asked to provide pictures of their home, yard and planters. She believes the outside of the home should be an extension of the inside in terms of style — whether it’s modern, traditional or transitional.

Next, Skandalakis inquires about her clients’ sun/shade situation, access to irrigation, whether they have pets and if deer are an issue.

Floral designs to suit your lifestyle

Are you a good plant parent? Skandalakis can plant superb succulents for those who may habitually “forget” to water their containers. A building’s architecture and the client’s taste also can dictate what types of plants and containers are used.

Boxwoods in planters that tell a story look best on traditional properties. Grasses in sleek metal or concrete white pots are typical of modern estates.

Bright and happy

Every day brings joy; clients are happy to see her arrive and enamored with their containers when she leaves. Skandalakis once daydreamed about people who loved their job; now she professes to be one of them.

“When you enjoy what you do, it’s not a job at all,” she smiled.

The same look of satisfaction spreads across her face when she speaks about having shown her children that we’re capable of anything we put our minds to, without limitations.

WAM

Last year Skandalakis was blown away by the phenomenal show where she made new acquaintances and gained clients. Her large planters adorned the Wesleyan campus outside as well as the gym. The show takes place during her busy planting season, so Skandalakis and her team worked on weekends to prepare.

Expect to find a variety of planter sizes and types in her booth — some planted — in addition to orchids, other plants, indoor compositions and appealing merchandise from her shop. Last year she brought cowhide chairs from a Texas auction.

Book Atlanta Planters

An enterprising lady behind two successful businesses, Skandalakis enjoys sharing her inspirational story with women’s groups.

Listen to her friendly Southern drawl as she introduces loads of products and her latest “Five Favorite Things” on Instagram @atlantaplanters.

To learn more about Atlanta Planters or to obtain a quote, visit atlantaplanters.net or call 706-289-5736.

Stop by the Marietta flower shop for swoon-worthy, seasonal merchandise at 324 N. Fairground St. and find beautiful indoor plant compositions, orchids, gifts and an eclectic selection of indoor and outdoor planters. Skandalakis and her team can “plant them up” for you on site.

Elaine Jackson

In the quaint setting of Madison, Ga., Elaine Jackson finds her muse. The quiet town allows for easy access to the mountains where she often escapes to stock stores like Dogwoods with her paintings.

Highlands, N.C. is like a second home for Jackson. She and her husband have been visiting there since before they were married; the town hasn’t changed much since then.

A self-taught floral and landscape painter, Jackson started her journey into creativity with an art class in her teen years. It wasn’t until much later that she fully embraced her passion for painting.

Born and raised in Macon, Ga., Jackson’s artistic journey took shape gradually. After obtaining a degree in advertising, she found herself working in a bustling Buckhead PR firm where she met her husband.

Upon starting a family, Jackson put her artistic pursuits on hold to focus on motherhood. Today, from her converted carriage house garage studio, she creates captivating works of art.

Discovering the artist within

Once her daughters were grown, Jackson found the time to delve into her passion for painting. She began honing her skills, initially starting with watercolors and eventually transitioning into acrylics; she now uses both mediums.

Over the past twelve years, Jackson has dedicated herself to her art full-time, tirelessly perfecting her métier through trial and error, self-exploration and occasional workshops.

Capturing Southern tranquility

Inspiration for Jackson’s artwork comes from various sources, whether it’s a place she’s visited, the picturesque landscapes of her surroundings, art galleries, design studios or even from pieces requested by clients.

Jackson finds comfort in exploring the scenic vistas where she’s lived and drawing from the unique beauty of each location. Her paintings are infused with personal significance.

“Many of the landscapes are reflective of where I’ve lived or visit often in the South which have special meaning to me. The coastal scenes reflect the Georgia/South Carolina coast or the Gulf in the Santa Rosa Beach area. The countryside pieces and pathways are inspired from when I lived in Franklin, Tenn. or visited North Carolina,” she said.

The painter’s preferred subject matter often revolves around hydrangeas. Her floral paintings exude a sense of serenity and harmony, drawing viewers into a world of lush foliage and vibrant colors.

The space between realism and abstract art

What sets Jackson’s work apart is her distinctive style which she describes as abstract impressionism — a delicate balance between realism and abstraction. Through loose brushstrokes, palette knife sgraffitos and a harmonious blend of colors, she captures nature in a way that resonates with viewers, inducing feelings of tranquility.

“It’s not abstract to the point where you can’t recognize what you’re looking at. I want people to still identify with it, but it’s looser than a realistic painting. It’s like a transitional in between,” Jackson explained.

Embracing blue-green

Her signature blue-green palette, inspired by her love for the color green, has become synonymous with her artwork, sought after by collectors and interior designers alike.

It’s helpful that it’s a popular color scheme in decorating. Working with several interior designers, Jackson stays abreast of trends. People moving to Lake Oconee often commission work from the artist. Her shades of green and blue are ideal for lake houses.

“I’m trying to work myself into other hues. I have to keep those colors off my palette, or I’ll gravitate back to them,” Jackson said. She plans to explore different colors in new paintings and collect customer feedback received by the shops carrying her work.

Super-size

Jackson paints large canvases (48”x48”) as requested by designers. Though she was once “scared to death” of them, the large-scale pieces allow her to immerse herself in the creative process, granting her the freedom to express herself with fluidity and spontaneity.

She often incorporates texture into her paintings using palette knives, sponges and even unconventional tools like sticks from the yard, adding depth and dimension to her compositions.

A growing presence

Despite the demands of maintaining inventory for shows, her website, multiple galleries and interior design shops across Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, as well as fulfilling commissions, Jackson remains dedicated to her craft. Her work ethic and perseverance have paid off, earning her recognition and admiration from art buffs and collectors.

Initially, it was challenging to get her artwork into stores. However, Jackson’s influence has grown in step with her social media presence. She’s paid her dues and today shops pursue her.

The artist is thankful to have built up her business. “I’m slowly trying to spread myself across the country,” Jackson revealed.

Although her daughters encourage her to take time off, Jackson finds it difficult. She’s in business for herself and feels the studio, just two doors away from the kitchen, calling.

A steady base of realtors keeps Jackson painting watercolor home portraits that they gift to their clients. They’re popular at Christmas, too.

As Jackson’s artistry continues to evolve, she remains grateful for the opportunity to share her passion with the world. With each painting she invites viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature for a moment of respite from the chaos of everyday life.

Framing the narrative

The cost of framing large pieces is so prohibitive, Jackson paints the edges of gallery-wrapped canvases so they don’t require a frame. This leaves framing up to clients; some like gold, others want silver or wood. Many prefer to keep the paintings frameless.

Jackson does frame some of her smaller pieces (24”x24”, or 16”x20”). Usually, she uses modern floater frames. They’re not too expensive and they elevate the presentation of the work.

Her watercolor pieces are normally framed, but the artist also keeps some in a folder. People can purchase them loose and select frames to fit both their space and aesthetic.

Everything old is new again

Recently, Jackson has been exploring antique stores in search of old frames. There’s a treasure trove to be found with intricate designs and aged beauty. The artist has identified a growing appreciation for blending vintage elements with contemporary decor. She loves the thrill of the hunt!

Jackson repurposes the frames for special paintings that she thinks are fitting. Their ornate, almost gothic appearance reminiscent of a bygone era finds renewed admiration.

Other than applying a subtle wash to tone down excessively dark gold hues, the artist prefers to leave the frames untouched, allowing their original splendor to shine through. This endeavor has proven fruitful; her ornately framed pieces quickly find appreciative homes.

WAM

Preparing for art shows requires careful consideration. Jackson strives to offer a diverse selection of paintings in various sizes, styles and price points from $150 to $4,500, catering to the preferences of different patrons.

A mix of florals and landscapes — from small, intimate pieces to large, statement-making canvases — ensures there’s something for everyone.

The painter suggested a series of framed landscape paintings 20”x by 20” as a good idea for shows. Each one works as a standalone piece or can be configured in groupings. Instead of having to purchase one huge piece, people might get a few smaller ones to fit a space.

Jackson has been exhibiting at WAM since 2015, gaining a number of followers in the area. She appreciates the indoor luxuries and looks forward to client interactions.

“It has consistently been a good, well-attended show each year,” she said.

Find Jackson’s work

Those seeking to experience Jackson’s talent firsthand can find her work in galleries and design studios across the South. To inquire about purchasing a painting or commissioning a custom piece, visit her website at ejacksonart.com or follow her on Instagram @ejcolors.

Jackson’s artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of creativity and the profound connection between artist and audience. Through her paintings, she invites us to pause and find solace in the timeless beauty of nature.

Purchase Jackson’s work in Georgia

WebbMarsteller in Peachtree Hills, Atlanta
Sunshine Village Art Gallery in Watkinsville
Dogwoods Home in Clayton
Ocmulgee Arts in Macon
Julep Gallery on St. Simons Island
Zeb Grant Design Home in Madison

Meagan Brooker

In her childhood days in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Meagan Brooker longed to paint the sky and clouds on her bedroom ceiling. Her earliest memories include a yearning to express her creativity.

The little girl who once begged her mother for art supplies and classes was first encouraged to pursue her passion and develop her skills by a high school art teacher.

“I was doing a Georgia O’Keeffe replica in oil pastels. She walked up behind me and said, “Whoa, you’re really talented!” You always remember those who encourage you to do what you love,” Brooker stated.

Despite an early penchant for photography, Brooker’s family encouraged her to pursue pre-med studies at the University of Georgia. “Use your brain,” they told her. “You’re smart, make some money.”

But Brooker realized she didn’t want to study science for four years, much less practice medicine for the rest of her life. It simply didn’t interest her. Conversely, shifting to art second semester caused her to flourish, feel divinely inspired and never look back.

Nurturing creativity

While her mom was supportive, her dad would’ve likely continued to endorse a medical school path had he not passed away when she was in secondary school. She majored in Art Education at the University of Georgia.

Brooker transitioned to Wesleyan School after teaching elementary art in Gwinnett County for two years and participating in a year-long mission trip to Kentucky. During her second year at Wesleyan, she began working towards a Master of Studio Art degree at New York University.

Brooker has been a freelance artist for decades. She currently resides in Duluth. She’s been teaching high school art and witnessing the growth of Wesleyan’s visual arts program for 17 years.

From photography and ceramics to drawing and painting, Brooker loves working with and teaching about all types of art. Painting with a plenitude of textures and washes of color is her favorite.

Art teacher by day, artist by night

Once her young sons have gone to bed, Brooker can be found painting in her home studio surrounded by her work, an easel, tables and storage shelves.

The industrious working mom laments a lack of time. She craves longer stints in the studio to develop more robust work, both conceptually and physically.

For Brooker, painting is meditative self-care. It takes her away from the tasks of her daily life, fulfilling a need for self-expression and recreating the world around her. She derives satisfaction from depicting on canvas what she’s experienced while traveling.

Imagination takes flight

Brooker’s fascination with winged creatures began with seeing Raphael’s cupids when she was young. Later, she became enamored with birds on a wire and recently, she’s been painting birds and butterflies in flight. To the artist, they represent hope and resilience.

Her work is a pictorial ode to her father’s passing with spiritual undertones. Brooker finds flying animals and insects enchanting because they’re harbingers of something bigger than us. The artist believes there is more to this world than what we know and see.

Little loves

Wishing to spread beauty, calm and joy in the universe, Brooker creates artwork that reflects her personal experiences, wishes and dreams.

“When clients are moved by the same sentiment, it is a beautiful, spiritual connection,” she said.

The artist calls her 3”x3” and 6”x6” canvases “Little Loves.” Inspiration for these fast-selling pieces stems from a sentiment, quote or Bible verse featured on them.

Reflecting on the chosen words inspires the colors, textures and patterns the artist uses to represent them. Seeing clients emotionally drawn to her work warms Brooker’s heart. It tickles her to know that some pray and meditate with her tiny paintings before them on mini easels.

Brooker’s art

Brooker produces whimsical, textured and painterly acrylics on canvas ranging in size from 8”x8” to 46”x60”. Most of her canvases are 20”x30”. She works primarily with thicker acrylic paints, spellbound by the effects of experimenting with washes to create layers of unpredictable textures.

Palette knives are her tools of choice when creating texture with thick body Liquitex acrylic and Golden high flow acrylics. Intrigued by the unexpected, Brooker described her process.

“I cover every canvas with a layer of acrylic washes [water dotted with different colors of acrylic that bleed like watercolor and create a textural background] and however they land, color and texture-wise, I build from that as I’m inspired. I love that you don’t really know how it’s going to turn out at first,” she explained.

Robin’s egg blue, Payne’s gray (a dark blue-grey), golds, teals and some neutrals dominate Brooker’s palette. She’s drawn to abstraction because it’s harder than it looks, she said.

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell

Traveling inspires Brooker’s landscapes. Working from pictures taken on her trips, she paints sceneries that captivated her, aiming to replicate their loveliness and the emotions she felt there.

“Italy is my heart,” she said, recalling her Cinque Terre series. She also painted an Ecuador series, enthralled by its mountains and verdant hills.

Wesleyan Artist Market

As an art teacher, Assistant Director of Fine Arts, Head of Visual Arts and a veteran exhibitor, Brooker has an insider’s perspective on the market. She sees how it comes together full circle.

She witnesses parents volunteering to put on this hugely successful event, giving generously of their time to the school. In turn, the faculty has more funds to better support students.

“It’s a beautiful testament to how much they care about the school and our mission. I’m very thankful,” she said.

Find Brooker’s paintings

Through her dedication to art education and her unwavering commitment to her craft, Brooker inspires others to embrace their creativity.

To view and purchase Brooker’s work, find her on Instagram @meaganbrookerfineart.

Learn more about Meagan Brooker in this episode of the Peachtree Corners Life podcast.

Wesleyan Artist Market 2024: Meagan Brooker

Arts & Literature

Wesleyan Artist Market 2024: Meagan Brooker

Published

4 weeks ago

March 28, 2024

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

The Wesleyan Artist Market takes place in Peachtree Corners on April 26-27, 2024

Listeners are taken on a journey into the colorful art world through the eyes of high school art teacher Meagan Brooker. With 17 years of experience at Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, Brooker shares her passion for creativity, sharing how art has become a form of therapy and a source of inspiration in her life. From discussing her artistic process and inspiration to highlighting the importance of art for mental well-being, Brooker’s infectious enthusiasm for art will captivate and inspire listeners of all backgrounds. Brooker’s art will be displayed at the Wesleyan Artist Market 2024, April 26-27.

Tune in to discover the transformative power of creativity and art in this enlightening and uplifting Peachtree Corners Life Podcast episode.

Timestamp:

00:00:00 – Introduction of Artist Meagan Brooker
00:01:32 – Teaching Art at Wesleyan School
00:04:00 – From Science to Art: Following My Creative Passion
00:08:42 – Balancing Creativity and Exhaustion
00:10:18 – Painting as Meditation and Process
00:13:53 – Tuscany Landscapes to Inspire Artists
00:17:29 – Finding Inspiration in the Unexpected
00:20:32 – The Healing Power of Art in Challenging Times
00:23:16 – The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Artists
00:25:49 – Embracing Digital Art Tools and AI in the Creative Process
00:29:08 – Exploring AI’s Role in the Creative Process
00:31:23 – Closing

Podcast Transcript

Rico Figliolini 0:00:00

Hi, everyone. This is Rico Figliolini, host of Peachtree Corners Life. This year, this month, today we’re doing an interview with an artist that’s going to be at the Wesleyan Artist Market, Meagan Brooker. So let’s say hi to Meagan. Hey, Meagan.

Meagan Brooker 0:00:13

Hello.

Rico Figliolini 0:00:14

Thanks for being with us. Appreciate it. Thank you for being with us. Before we actually get into all of this, I just want to say thank you to our sponsor, EV Remodeling, Inc. They do a great job when it comes to remodeling, design and build, start from scratch up. Eli, him and his family live here in Peachtree Corners, does a great job. Lots of people know them. Anything from your bathrooms and kitchens to your whole house almost. So check them out at evremodelinginc.com. We appreciate the support of these podcasts. So now let’s get right into it because we’ve done this, I just did this interview a little while, a few weeks ago with two student artists that are going to be featured at Wesleyan Artist Market. Their stream is actually going to happen Wednesday. For Meagan and I to know you all that are listening won’t know which Wednesday that is, but it’s going to be on a Wednesday. Actually, before we go to press with the next issue of Peachtree Corners Life magazine, which has three profiles, including Meagan, of the Wesleyan artists, three of the artists that are going to be there. So this is a compliment to that. We’re going to be talking a bit about art and what inspires Meagan. So let’s get right into it. Meagan, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself and maybe how you started at Wesleyan.

Meagan Brooker 0:01:36

Yeah. So I teach at Wesleyan school. I teach high school art. I teach all levels of AP photography, and I’ve been there for 17 years, which makes me feel very old.

Rico Figliolini 0:01:51

You’re not, though. You look fine.

Meagan Brooker 0:01:54

Thank you. So I went to the University of Georgia and went after getting my degree in undergrad of art education. I taught elementary art in Gwinnett county for two years. And then I did missions work for a year, actually, and was looking for a high school job because I thought the idea of the challenge of high school would be really interesting. And, yeah, I just love my job and I love Wesleyan. And I’m very grateful to be there because obviously I’ve been there for 17 years.

Rico Figliolini 0:02:29

Yes, it’s a great school. Wesleyan school is in the city of Peachtree Corners, and they do a fantastic job and they’re growing. I mean, they’re in the middle of actually a building project right now for their STEM building. So lots going on at Wesleyan. This is just one facet of what they do. So you’ve been there 17 years and you’re teaching high school students, I believe the high school, the upper level class. Upper school, yes. In particular, what are you teaching at this point? What subject or mediums are you working in?

Meagan Brooker 0:03:01

So currently I’m teaching all levels of 2d art. So drawing, painting, mixed media, anything that’s 2d from foundations all the way up to AP, the AP level, which is kind of college credit courses. And that includes AP photography. Previously I taught photography and way back in the day I used to teach 3d as well. But I love now that I get to specialize in two d. And then we have amazing teachers who teach focus on photography and focus on 3d. So we have a great team.

Rico Figliolini 0:03:33

Excellent. Cool. Let me ask you something, because as we grow up, as we’re young and we’re getting into school and we’re in elementary and middle school, we start discovering ourselves a little bit, right? We start discovering what we like, what we don’t like and stuff. Of course, people around us, including parents, may sometimes tell us what we should like and we shouldn’t like or what we should become. I know that you inspired early on to be an artist, to go down that route. Well, maybe not to be an artist, but to go down the route of the arts versus the science. So tell us, what inspired you? At which point did you decide you wanted to be creative versus being, let’s say, a doctor or something?

Meagan Brooker 0:04:17

Yeah. Well, that’s interesting, actually. I tell all my students, like, follow your innate gut and what fulfills you and stirs you up and makes you want to do more. I, from a very young age, was always wanting to paint, create, take classes, paint my ceiling in my bedroom, even though my mom wouldn’t let me paint furniture. I was always wanting to create or create my own space or do something creative. I had a very fast working creative brain and I came from a small county up in north Georgia, and there weren’t many opportunities in the arts. So in high school I had a great art teacher who was the first one who looked at my work and said, you know, you’re really talented. And I was, you know, so I got that encouragement and that fed in, which made me want to work harder. It made me want to do more and try more and get better. So I actually went to college and started in premed because I had good grades and was smart and my family was like, you, listen, go make some money. Don’t become a teacher.

Rico Figliolini 0:05:27

Not good money there.

Meagan Brooker 0:05:30

So I started off in premed and I just was bored to tears. And it was not life giving anyway. So I decided to switch to art and have never looked back ever since then. My family sometimes wishes I might have, but they see how life giving it is for me now and how innate it is and how much I’m able to do with the creativity. So it’s come around.

Rico Figliolini 0:05:56

So you’ve never really looked back and said, maybe I should put my brushes away and do something else.

Meagan Brooker 0:06:02

No, it’s too natural. I have too much of the creative and too much to put out there to stop. I’m not really that great at anything else either. Have too much fun with it to stop now.

Rico Figliolini 0:06:18

Right? Okay. And I can appreciate that. My parents wanted me to be an accountant, hated numbers, could never do that. And just not for me. My brain didn’t work on that side for that. But teaching art, this is one of the things I learned from my youngest, right? He says to me, I asked him, I said, what do you want to be? He says, I’d love to be a writer. I want to write. I want to write novels and stuff. So he’s creative, but he doesn’t want a job, that he has to write a lot during the day, because then all his creativity is gone by the end of the day. So how do you work that? How do you balance. It’s a life balance, right? Work life. How do you balance that creativity with the work that you do all day long with other kids? How do you do that?

Meagan Brooker 0:07:05

Honestly, that is probably the toughest part of my job. And I have two young boys, so that to complicate the.

Rico Figliolini 0:07:14

How old resources.

Meagan Brooker 0:07:18

One’S twelve, he’s in fifth grade and one is eight. And they go to Wesleyan with me, which is also a huge blessing. When I started off in art education and I got into the courses and started doing the practicum teaching, I loved being able to impart the knowledge of creativity and the natural working of all of the brain work that working with your hands does in every way. And it’s not about teaching methodology to me, as much as it is like pulling out this natural creativity. And I was always fascinated with art therapy. I considered studying that, but I think art is very much a natural therapy. And there’s so many studies about how when we’re working with our hands, how our brains calm down, they can think better. They’re clearly so. Even just a 30 minutes break in the middle of the day or an hour break to work with your hands and not have to just use a different part of your brain is so good for anybody. You think about how it works with four year olds. It’s the same with 80 year olds. Being able to use my creativity during the day, it is exhausting because I feel like being asked 20 questions every five minutes. I do come home depleted, but at night, when the boys go down, when I can, I will go down and just let it all out on canvas. I will say, currently, my work is not the most conceptual. It’s more reactive, but it’s kind of more guttural and things that I. It’s emotional in a way of things that I’m reacting to in my current life. And I feel like most artists do that. It’s like where you are, your work is breathing out of where you are.

Rico Figliolini 0:09:17

I think that makes sense, right? Because inspiration is in the moment when you’re doing these things. It’s not like most artists plan these things out. Sometimes you may have in your head, but you’re working in the medium you’re working in. It could appear different, and you’re trying to rough it and do different piece from it. When you are like that, when you have to be in your space, if you will. I know writers, for example, will write with the door closed, if you will, and they know that pages and chapters will go away at some point because they’re just getting into that space. Do you find yourself doing that with art? How’s the process? Do you sketch first and then go to the medium that you choose for it in the paper or the surface that you want to put it on? How do you do that part?

Meagan Brooker 0:10:04

That’s a really good question. I love sketching and planning in my current stage, just don’t have that much time. So I tend to work out my process as part of the process and build up my layers and build it up until it’s a complete being. So the art is very much a process as opposed to being a super planned, which is my personality, more free spirited by nature. And so sometimes I will write verses or quotes or things that are on my mind kind of in the canvas as I’m going as a meditation. And then I’ll build the color, texture, and design up as part of that meditation of whatever is on my heart at the time. And the art will kind of come out of that longing or prayer or moment that I’m having there. I do small ones that are, I call them little loves, but they’re all based off of an attribute or a thought, like prayer, contentment, love. That they’re kind of prayed over in a way.

Rico Figliolini 0:11:21

I know there’s one behind you, but I put one of your pieces on the feed right now. Tell us a little bit about that one.

Meagan Brooker 0:11:29

This one. If I had a gallery show, which I hope to one day, I would call it something like an affinity for winged things. I’ve always had loved angels. I love birds, butterflies. There’s something about them that represents such hope and freedom. And so the past few years, I’ve done quite a few butterflies. And so the one on the screen here, I love the color tone in it, but I recently started adding in kind of a duo tone background with the gold and white. That almost represents a duality of. It. Kind of brings in a contrast of emotion, if you will.

Rico Figliolini 0:12:11

I see two different color spaces. A border, ragged border. Same way with. I see this. Right. This is another piece that you’ve done. Same type of ridging, same type of look. Duality. Two different worlds, two places. What were you doing here in this one?

Meagan Brooker 0:12:33

Yeah. Similar to this one here behind me. I feel like there’s always a tension in our humanity of light and dark. Right. There’s a tension we’re pulled between right and wrong, light and dark, hope and failure, or anything that could pull us down easily if we don’t pull toward the light. So when combining these hopeful creatures like birds and butterflies, with that tension, to me, it’s this representative of choosing the hope, choosing freedom, choosing to do what you can do, to move yourself to a higher purpose and to truth and to light and to all the things that God offers us in this life. So it’s just kind of representing like, yes, sometimes life’s really hard, but there is hope.

Rico Figliolini 0:13:29

Let’s go to something a little different that you shared with us. This one, it’s a bit different than the other two. Can you tell us a little bit about this one?

Meagan Brooker 0:13:39

Yeah. This one was inspired by, actually, Tuscany and the green hills of Tuscany. I love traveling. I love Italy, especially has my heart. I’m actually taking a group of the high schoolers to France this summer, and I’ve not been this part of France, so I’m excited about that. But I often will recreate images or know certain landscapes of pictures that I take when I’m traveling. Not all overseas, some here, and recreate them. And so this is kind of representing, loosely, the villas that you’ll see dotted all over the hillscape. The landscape of. And Tuscany is dotted with farmland everywhere. And these are just hilly wineries and orchards.

Rico Figliolini 0:14:29

So this was done in acrylic? Correct. And you chose that over. Do you work mostly in acrylic now, or do you work in.

Meagan Brooker 0:14:38

I love oil, love watercolor. I love mixed media. For artist market, I choose to do acrylic in the same vein. And I hope that you don’t hear this as an excuse is more. It’s just a stage of life where it’s quicker. The acrylic, I’m able to move quickly and work quicker and layer in it and get the effect, because I don’t necessarily have time to sit and make 30 oils in this stage of life. So acrylic offers me the ability to work a little quicker in it.

Rico Figliolini 0:15:10

Okay. And this particular piece, I mean, they’re all relatively big pieces too, right? Like 30 x 30 or something along those lines.

Meagan Brooker 0:15:17

That one’s huge. That one is, I believe it was 40 x 60. It’s about the size of this one behind me. And a friend bought it for their piano room in their house. So it looks really good on that big wall.

Rico Figliolini 0:15:29

Nice. When people do buy your stuff, do you recommend certain framings for your pictures, or you let them do their own thing?

Meagan Brooker 0:15:37

Usually they have something in mind that fits their aesthetic, but I love float. Personally, I think float frames look so good.

Rico Figliolini 0:15:46

So when people buy your paintings like this, I’ve asked this of other artists, how do you feel about it? You’ve done it. It’s not like it’s the 30th piece that you’ve done of the same exact thing. So you’ve spent your time doing it, and it’s leaving you. It’s almost like a baby. It’s going away. It’s going to be in someone’s house. How do you feel about that?

Meagan Brooker 0:16:09

This new series with the duality are some of my favorite new ones. And to see one of my favorite parts of doing work for clients, when people are choosing work, like at artist markets as opposed to galleries or collected and stuff like that, is seeing people’s reaction to it and why they choose it. That is such a precious moment, because I think every artist, or most artists at least, pour so much of themselves into it. And to your point, some of them have trouble letting go of it because they become precious. But when they stop in their tracks and have a visceral moment of like, oh, my mom just died, and she loves birds, and that’s her favorite color, and they’ll just start, my goodness, there are tactile things that they will hold on to that become meaning to them, that may not be the eye assigned to it, but it doesn’t matter. That’s what the beauty of art is. The expression of the color, the movement, the feeling, and the hope that people will hold on to.

Rico Figliolini 0:17:16

Wow. Yeah. I can’t imagine that feeling. I’m not an artist, so I can’t imagine that. I’m a graphic designer, but not an artist, so I don’t know how that feels. I do know how it feels to put together a magazine and send it to the printer and then have it come back in a palette of, like, 10,000 copies or something. I don’t know how that feels.

Meagan Brooker 0:17:39

That’s a relief, is what that’s called.

Rico Figliolini 0:17:42

Yes. In fact, I have two deadlines this week, so it’s going to be a relief when this week is done. Yeah, it’s just one of those crazy weeks, actually. So we talked about keeping fresh and continuing to evolve. Well, actually, we didn’t talk about evolving as an artist. You touched upon it a little bit. But how do you do travel? You do find, like you said, Tuscany was a great, beautiful landscape to be inspired by. You can’t go wrong with Tuscany. Right? Do you find inspirations in some of the simpler things in life or places that you didn’t even think inspiration would come from, or moments? Does any of that happen sometimes?

Meagan Brooker 0:18:23

Yeah. Sometimes I think back to COVID, and we were so limited, and I’m a mover and a shaker. I don’t sit still well to a fault. And so having to sit still kind of shook me. But I found myself grabbing my camera and going out in the beautiful spring light and catching these abstracted flowers that were blooming across the street and the way that the light hit them or life, noticing trees in our yard that were blooming. And I hadn’t noticed how beautiful they were at the time. Things that I hadn’t stopped long enough to appreciate. And, of course, the beauty of my children and their just innocence at their ages. And so just taking time to stop that makes me want to highlight the beauty of life as opposed to the hardship. Because anytime we can have a moment, and if my art is a moment to stop and be like, okay, let me just take a beat and find some hope and find a little moment of truth and hope in our day.

Rico Figliolini 0:19:33

Okay. COVID was an interesting period. Right? It was a bad time for many families, but it was also, in some ways, a good moment in time because things stopped. We were forced to stop what we were doing. So it was so bad at one point that if you remember the supply chain issues, ships stopped delivering, and in fact, the sea woke up more. The creatures in the sea, the whales, things were happening, air was a little cleaner. It was just different time. Right. So I can see that quiet. But you’re basically forced into doing things that we weren’t. We were forced to stop doing what we’re doing. The inspiration, I guess, can be found in many places. You’re teaching lots of kids through the years, 17 years of teaching at Wesleyan. I’m sure there’s been talented, very talented kids across that time frame. Is there any story, inspirational time, particular student or group of students or class that you felt was a moment that you want to remember? Maybe that inspired you, maybe that inspired other kids. Maybe there was something going on at that moment, or maybe even creativity out of students that you didn’t think would be creative because maybe art wasn’t their thing.

Meagan Brooker 0:20:54

Well, for one thing, that just because we came out of the conversation of just talking about COVID is how important art was to the ones who had it during that time. Teaching hybrid was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And when we were, like, on camera and trying to teach art from home and all of that. But I have multiple stories of students who. Art was their lifeline at the time, because whether home was not safe for them or whether they just needed to be out and be social or whatever it was, art was their way of their identity, of finding some way of expression that pulled them out of the anxiety, the mire, the scariness, the loneliness of the time, and a way to express themselves and kind of think outside of themselves. When you’re so glued to your phone or your computer trying to do a thing, art pulled them back out. So that was a beautiful thing and a testament to the purpose, I think, of our dedication, and I think what comes to mind, and I’ll shout out to my current AP art class, who are just, they’re so much fun, and we’re actually having our art show next week, so I’m excited about that. And they’re so creative. But I think that in this culture of, again, what we’re seeing post COVID is a lot more anxiety, a lot more pressure, a lot more peer pressure. The social media is out of control, and culture has a lot of expectations. And I think that what is beautiful is seeing the kids respond to these pressures through their art and subverting them with truth and with showing their own personality and identity in a way that they wouldn’t in social media. So their own personality and their truth is coming out. So they’re becoming more confident through their expression of art in a way that they wouldn’t without it. Right. So it’s like, oh, I am good at something.

Rico Figliolini 0:23:01

Right? No, I get where you’re going. You’re right. I could see that. But I can also see social media is good and bad. Right? Instagram, TikTok. I mean, there’s different various levels. If you allow yourself to scroll for 30 minutes, you’re losing a bit of your life. Maybe. But there are artists out there that actually share online also, and they use that medium to be able to share their art, whether it’s ceramics they’re doing or whether it’s actually watching them create something in the moment. Yeah, because that’s TikTok. I mean, does that. Right. Instagram, to a lesser degree, I think. But you could be watching an artist, a street artist, or just an artist in a studio painting, sketching the whole process for an hour or two, which is kind of interesting, right? Because you get to see the creative process. Most people don’t see that. They see the finished piece. They don’t know what Meagan Brooker to make that piece or what. Brie Hill, who was one of the students I interviewed, what it took her to make a painting and what she invested in that painting. Or Esther Cooper, who’s the other student I interviewed who does creative pastries. Right. That’s a whole different long. There’s no longevity to that. It expires at some point, you either eat it or it goes bad, but in the moment, it’s a good looking piece, maybe. Right. Talking about 3d art. More than that. Right. The scent of it and stuff. So I could see how social media can be helpful in some ways with some students.

Meagan Brooker 0:24:33

Yeah. I think with social media, we have so much at our fingertips now we can appreciate art in a whole new way, because, like you said, you can see the process. You can understand it more, but it also makes you want to try more. And there’s always going to be cynics. There are going to be people who will try to poke a hole in it. But I think we will be students until we die. I think that’s part of the creative part of teaching. Like, we always have more to learn. And so that’s what’s so fun about social media, is being able to go on and try something new or to see new work, because we’re to be inspired by something outside of us which broadens our perspective and opens our worldview a little bit.

Rico Figliolini 0:25:22

Yeah. Now, just to stick with technology a little bit, because there are students that use Photoshop, procreate, other digital products and software where you can create online in layers, brushes. We create your own brush palette, if you will. Do you delve into any of that? Do you see students using that as part of the process of what they’re doing? Are they using it even to pre plan a physical, tactile piece of art? What’s the final piece?

Meagan Brooker 0:25:59

It’s such a big question right now in the art world, and my co worker Drew Phillips has actually done a lot of research and given some talks on this. I currently do not teach any AI in what I am teaching, but I see the value of. Well, also I will say there’s inherent AI almost in everything now, like in my AP photography, and know there’s always the option of generative fill. But AP doesn’t allow any type of AI, but I think the use of it for know. So speaking of Rehill, she’s one of my students. She’s amazing. She just did with a girl being lifted up by doves with a sheet and ropes. That’s hard to take a picture of. She just finished it yesterday and it’s stunning. So maybe we can do a recap and show the finished piece. Not yesterday, today, but it’s hard to take a reference picture for that, to get her full concept in there. And we made it happen. But you could put that kind of prompt into AI and have it kind of create a reference for you, but then you are drawing it. So there’s a lot of debate about that and the crossover of what’s allowed. And, but, and there’s a lot of people who think that AI is going to take over a lot of jobs. But I’ll tell you, and this is coming from conversations with people who are working with Microsoft, AI creatives will never be out of a job because AI needs creatives to be able to create the prompts to do the job. And so the people who can think outside of the box and creatives, there will always be a place for us.

Rico Figliolini 0:27:45

Yeah, there’s so many forms of AI too, right? There’s language based, generative, there’s very various levels of AI. So you’re right though, because you need to be able to, I’ve played in it a little bit as far as writing and stuff like that, and even dolly and some of the visual elements and even a different form of sora, which is more video based. Right. And it’s not everything that people make it out to be. It takes the process of doing it almost, like you said, in some ways you have to be an artist to be able to pull out from that anything artistic that makes sense. Yeah. So it’s not as easy as people think. I get that question sometimes. Can’t you just do this in Photoshop? AI is in there. It’s like, no, you can’t just do that. You have to really think about what you’re doing here. It’s never going to look like what know, you could go into AI and you could go chat GPT and Dolly and tell it what you want and say, good, close, you got to where I need it. Add this and this, but don’t remove that and it’ll give you something completely different. So I know the prompts might be a little, you have to work the prompts the right way and stuff, but yeah, AI is a good tool to derive inspiration from. I think I agree with you there. You’re going to need creative people still, but I’m sure that’s still within the next five years that probably will be part of being taught in the creative process. Right. How to use AI as an intern or apprentice, if you will, for yourself in some ways. So you’re going to be at the wesleyan artist market. You’re going to be showcasing some of your work. I’m assuming some of the work that I showed, that we showed may be there. What type of work will you be actually showing at the show?

Meagan Brooker 0:29:33

Yeah, I’m doing some more of the, like what we were talking about with the dual duality and kind of playing around with that more, trying out some new subjects and content, but mostly that. But I want to try out some landscapes and build in some more looser sunset sunrises along with the birds and butterflies and see what I can turn out there.

Rico Figliolini 0:29:59

Cool. Anything you want to share with us that we haven’t touched base, I really.

Meagan Brooker 0:30:06

If you haven’t been out to the artist market, I highly recommend it. Okay, again, I’ve been at Wesleyan for 17 years, and I’ve been displaying at the artist market for 17 years. And believe me, I’ve grown a lot. I would be embarrassed to show you what I sold the first few years. I think my first year was actually, I taught ceramics, and so I did some ceramics, but I’ve grown a lot. But the funds of the market come back to the students. So it funds the fine arts and so the marching band, the visual arts, the theater, and so it comes back to the students there at Wesleyan. But beyond that, it is such a high level event put on by volunteers from the school, which is almost hard to believe because it’s such a professional looking event and it’s indoors. It’s one of my favorite things that we do throughout the year and I’m so grateful for those who put it on. So come out to see us. It’s a really fun event for the family.

Rico Figliolini 0:31:10

It’s going to be April 26 through the 27th, so that Friday, Saturday, and if you want to find out about it, it’s Wesleyan artist market. Just google that and I’ll show right up. Do you want to leave a last maybe word for any aspiring artists or educators? Anything you want to leave advice for them before we end the show?

Meagan Brooker 0:31:32

Yeah, I think if you feel like the need to create, whether that be writing, singing, writing out songs, it doesn’t matter if you’re good at it. The act of creating is fulfilling and there’s a reason that you are stirred to do it. And I think personally, I think that’s God working in you to bring you to a higher light and a higher purpose. And so just do your thing. It doesn’t matter what everybody else thinks, as long as it’s for you and for him or for whoever else you want to see it. Just let your light shine.

Rico Figliolini 0:32:03

Cool. We’ve been talking to Meagan Brooker. She’s a 17 year veteran teacher at Wesleyan school, teaching high school kids about art, and she’s going to be showing at the Wesleyan Artist Market. So stay with me for a second, Meagan. I want to just say thank you to our sponsor, EV Remodeling, Inc. Does a great job design, build home remodeling, kitchen, bathrooms, everywhere that you can think of. Eli and his family live here in Peachtree Corners. They’re just wonderful people. You should check them out. Evremodelinginc.com. So check those out and thank you, Meagan. I appreciate you being with us.

Meagan Brooker 0:32:38 Yeah, my pleasure.