Our friends at Art Rocks Athens Foundation, a non-profit organization created in 2011 to preserve the history of art created during a vital period in the town of Athens, Georgia, have launched a Kickstarter campaign to assemble a series of major retrospective exhibitions and performances about the vibrant art scene of 1975-1985 Athens, Georgia. Their mission is to unearth and share with the world the history of American art from this time and place.
By creating a permanent historical database; a curatorial record of exhibitions; and access to curators, collectors and scholars across the world, Art Rocks Athens stands poised to brightly illuminate vital American artworks that have essentially never before been in the public eye. Additionally, the Art Rocks project is guided by the very people who witnessed and participated in this history, making a picture far more complete than any outside historian could produce.
The Executive Committee of Art Rocks Athens has been working to develop programs and events that will further their mission of preservation, illumination and outreach. Since 2011, a diverse group of people in the Athens community have been working to bring Art Rocks to life. Photos and short biographies of their 35 team members are available at artrocksathens.com.
Here is an overview of Art Rocks Athens excellent kickstarter.com campaign:
Who in the world has the unmistakable voice of Fred Schneider of the B-52’s doing the home’s outgoing phone message? No one! Until now! Because YOU DO when you make a tax deductible contribution to the Art Rocks Athens kickstarter.com!
And that is just the beginning of the many incredible Premium Rewards Art Rocks Athens has put together for one of the artsiest, most creative and compelling kickstarter.com campaigns you have ever seen.
Looking for an original 11×17 print of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson of the B-52’s in full seventies glory printed and signed by photographer Keith Bennett, Kate and Cindy? Yep. They’ve got those. How about dinner and music for six at the Orange Twin Conservation Community, home to the Orange Twin record label and many members of the Elephant 6 Collective famous for bands like Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel? Yes. That. Is. Available.
Original limited edition art by Michael Lachowski, Cindy Wilson AND Jim Herbert? Yes, yes and yes. These are just a few of the incredible, one-of-a-kind rewards the Art Rocks Athens Kickstarter has to offer at all levels of giving.
But our artists, contributors and dedicated Board didn’t make this incredible Kickstarter just so you can get original art available nowhere else. The reason we are raising funds is because for over two years many people have been working 100s if not 1000s of hours to put together a series of
major retrospective exhibitions and performances about the vibrant art scene of 1975-1985 Athens, Georgia. Your tax-deductible donation to our 501c3 non-profit helps realize the collective vision of this group of committed volunteers.
Curators are curating. Collectors are lending. Databases are developing. Dance will be performed, and fashion will be cat walked. Every aspect of this project has been organized and planned down to every key detail: From proper insurance, shipping and registration of Fine Art, to securing exhibition space at the Special Collections Library of the University of Georgia. Even the historic Lyndon House gallery has been secured for a major Graphics exhibition. The final thing we need to secure to move forward is your commitment.
Every donation right now is critical to telling this rich and untold history of American art, and how it incubated the world famous Athens music scene. Your donation determines the success of our project. To learn more about the Art Rocks Athens story; how the Lamar Dodd art scene was key to launching the Athens music scene; and how you can contribute, please take time now to visit our remarkable Kickstarter. And keep coming back for more stories, more updates and more exciting tidbits as we gain momentum going into our series of May 2014 exhibitions and performances! And of course JOIN US for performances and exhibition openings Memorial Day weekend and on May 1 for the Special Collections opening and Fashion Show.
Other ways you can help are to share our link (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1387045108/art-rocks-athens-how-art-made-music-in-georgia-fro) with friends on social media or by forwarding this email. Talking about our project is also encouraged! You can check our Kickstarter for regular updates, like our Facebook page and visit our website for more information about the incredible exhibitions and diverse group of people working on the Art Rocks Athens project.
Thank you for your support.