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A member of Lifers Car Club poses with her motorcycle. ARELLA CASH/Staff -
Members of Lifers Car Club pose with hot rod. Behind them, one of the many signs along the studio can be seen. ARELLA CASH/Staff -
Over 30 antique Hot Rods are lined up outside Livery Studio for a Hot Rods & Pinups photoshoot. ARELLA CASH/Staff
The Artisans Village hosted an open house event for the newly renovated Livery Studio on April 30.
A few months prior to the event, a few members from the Lifers Car Club asked if they could host their club at the Livery Studio for a Hot Rods & Pinups photoshoot. This request inspired the open house event.
“They had an immediate appreciation for the space and the vibe down there which everyone seems to have...one idea led to another, and it just so happened that we scheduled this event on the same day as The Artisans Village Guild’s Annual Paint Out on April 30,” said Tomson-Hooper.
Over 30 antique Hot Rods were lined up outside the livery and around the parking lot. The Lifers Car Club invited Chad Shivers and the Fridgidaires to perform live Surf Guitar music on the city stage. The Artisans Village set up tables and chairs inside the livery and Kersey Catering offered pulled pork BBQ, nachos, buffalo chicken wraps, bacon potato salad and more to feed the crowd.
Several artists from The Artisans Village Paint Out Contest chose to recreate scenes from the event with their paintbrushes. Their artwork is on display at The Artisans Village Art Gallery located in downtown Eatonton on the square.
“It's been a labor of love for the last few years to renovate the Livery Studio,” said Kevin Tomson-Hooper, The Artisans Village board president. “So, it's very gratifying that we're at a place now where we can start to sponsor events and exhibits in this space, like this one.”
In 2016, The Artisans Village acquired the warehouse which was originally a livery stable. Over the course of six years and some fastidious fundraising, there is now an open studio space for artists, live demonstrations, special events, and/ or exhibits.
The studio is an open space inside that is intended for artisans who work in the hot arts and high-noise arts, which include metalworkers, glass blowers, pottery, chainsaw carvers, blacksmiths and more.
“We want to keep the space open so that the creativity of the artists can be seen by each other and the public can walk and talk with some of the artists and look at their works,” said Tomson-Hooper. “It’s an inviting space for everyone.”
The Livery Studio also welcomes visitors to Eatonton on the outside by featuring art that expands on the building’s history. A University of Georgia professor, Joseph Norman, led the “Color the World Bright” restoration initiative and partnered with The Artisans Village to work on several murals around the city. During Phase II of a Ghost Sign Mural Restoration Project, his students painted a mural referencing the Livery Stable and blacksmith work on the side of the studio. Then during the renovation process, Katie Eidson painted The Artisans Village Logo with Livery Studio added below it. Eidson was the team leader for “Color the World Bright.”
“I think this restoration is all part of the effort of improving community and economic development,” said Tomson-Hooper. “We’ve made great strides over the years to finish this studio and we're happy to be part of that effort to help the community.”
According to The Artisans Village website, in February and March, the Livery Studio made grand efforts in its completion. The Wizards carefully cleaned and power washed the interior walls and the 100-year-old brick floor. Lake Country Glass and Mirror manufactured and installed all of the pedestrian glass doors.
Print and Sign Solutions helped with the design and installation of the new metal sign with their name and logo and completed the vinyl sticker signage on all of the glass doors. Then, mid-March, two new heaters were installed with the help of ACS Heating and Air Conditioning Services.
Now, in April, the studio is finally ready to open its doors to the public. The studio will initially be used for pop-up exhibits and local events but will eventually grow into a space that artists can rent to create their works.
“The art community is very vibrant and there are very creative artists here. More and more collaborations are starting to take place within the art community between visual arts, literary arts and performing arts,” said Tomson-Hooper. “This is just one step into the growing economic development taking place in the arts community.”