Spring Break
Gallery reaches out to amateur artists
Folk art gallery displays art and offeres workshops
TRICIA PURSER For The Red & Black
Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: Variety
Flat Penny Folk Art Gallery, Athens' first, is committed to help showcase artists with little or no formal training who might not be able to show their work at traditional venues.
The gallery was founded by Tim Flinn and Bobbi Jo Imbrogno with the goal of supporting local folk artists, according to their Web site, flatpennyfolk.com.
They offer a wide selection of self-taught and traditional folk art. All the art the gallery carries is either on commission from the artist or has been purchased directly from the artist.
Flat Penny offers local artists with a different kind of style a venue to show their work.
Imbrogno said that they hear about local artists from friends, pottery shows, word of mouth or the artists simply come to them.
"The artists feel that they are good, but not mainstream enough," said Imbrogno. "They feel they can't show at traditional venues."
"We feel that this is the best way that we can support these artists," Flinn said.
A school teacher for 30 years, Flinn considered folk art and pottery merely hobbies. After retirement, however, he returned to school to earn a Master's degree in folk art and visual studies at New York University.
After returning to Georgia, Flinn met Imbrogno when they started taking art classes together. Imbrogno said that their shared love of local folk art was the starting point for the gallery.
"It was basically a hobby that just exploded," Imbrogno said.
The gallery consists of a large, open room surrounded by various works of folk art, such as face jugs, quilts, and homemade posters. It opens into a larger room, which also contains different kinds of unique folk art.
The atmosphere is very welcoming, with Flinn and Imbrogno always willing to answer any questions.
The gallery also features several workshops open to the public. One such workshop at the gallery teaches attendees how to decorate and put faces on their own jugs and fire them. No experience is required.
Flat Penny Folk Art Gallery is open from Thursday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. You can also send an e-mail for more information to flatpennyfolk@gmail.com.
The gallery was founded by Tim Flinn and Bobbi Jo Imbrogno with the goal of supporting local folk artists, according to their Web site, flatpennyfolk.com.
They offer a wide selection of self-taught and traditional folk art. All the art the gallery carries is either on commission from the artist or has been purchased directly from the artist.
Flat Penny offers local artists with a different kind of style a venue to show their work.
Imbrogno said that they hear about local artists from friends, pottery shows, word of mouth or the artists simply come to them.
"The artists feel that they are good, but not mainstream enough," said Imbrogno. "They feel they can't show at traditional venues."
"We feel that this is the best way that we can support these artists," Flinn said.
A school teacher for 30 years, Flinn considered folk art and pottery merely hobbies. After retirement, however, he returned to school to earn a Master's degree in folk art and visual studies at New York University.
After returning to Georgia, Flinn met Imbrogno when they started taking art classes together. Imbrogno said that their shared love of local folk art was the starting point for the gallery.
"It was basically a hobby that just exploded," Imbrogno said.
The gallery consists of a large, open room surrounded by various works of folk art, such as face jugs, quilts, and homemade posters. It opens into a larger room, which also contains different kinds of unique folk art.
The atmosphere is very welcoming, with Flinn and Imbrogno always willing to answer any questions.
The gallery also features several workshops open to the public. One such workshop at the gallery teaches attendees how to decorate and put faces on their own jugs and fire them. No experience is required.
Flat Penny Folk Art Gallery is open from Thursday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. You can also send an e-mail for more information to flatpennyfolk@gmail.com.
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