Road Trip: 4 Great Art Towns to Explore
Art is everywhere you look in the Southeast. In some place, it is more than an attraction or a reason to visit; it’s a way of life.
An art town with a football problem perhaps can best describe Athens, Ga. While football is a big deal, so is the art scene. Create your own art gallery crawl in downtown Athens. Explore exhibits by local and regional artists at Mercury Gallery, ATHICA and Flat Penny Folk Art Gallery which houses works by Georgia folk artists.
No visit to the Classic City is complete without a visit to the Georgia Museum of Art. The official state museum houses a permanent collection and hosts a variety of traveling exhibits from all over the world.
Eight miles south of Athens is Watkinsville a thriving artists’ community. Stop by the Chappelle Gallery and explore (and purchase) the works from different artists. The Oconee County Arts Foundation, housed in a 1902 schoolhouse, features on-going exhibits highlighting regional art, In addition, they sponsor an annual Holiday Market in December and SOUTHWORKS in May.
Commonly referred to as The Paris of the Piedmont, Carrboro, N.C., located near Chapel Hill, is filled with galleries. The 2nd Friday Art Walk that takes you to such places as the NC Crafts Gallery filled with a little of everything from jewelry to ceramics to folk art.
For a more intimate view into an artist’s life, The Orange County Open Studio Tour held during the first two weekends in November allows you to see up close how artists work and create.
Additional galleries include the Clay Centre Gallery, featuring the works of local potters. The hub for all arts in Carrboro is the ArtsCenter, highlighting the different works of artists throughout the state. Dirt Road Gallery combines the owners’ love for art and travel. Many of the pieces found here were acquire on their many travels.
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.,was voted as one of the “100 Best Small Art Towns” in America. Enjoy viewing works from artists around the state in the Arts on Douglas, a converted Ford showroom.
True art lovers agree that there is nothing more interesting than going into a particular artist’s gallery. You can’t walk away empty-handed from Teresa Bowen’s Clay Gallery. Filled with pottery created by this local artist, you are sure to find a special piece or two to take home. At Galleria di Vetro, you can watch artist Kyle Carni as he blows glass into intricate artwork.
Another interesting gallery here is Global Crafts, a type of art-with-a-conscience gallery. Based on Fair Trade principles, (insuring that the items were not made in sweatshops, or produce from child labor or forced labor), this gallery sells works of cultural art from artists in third world counties.
Chattanooga, Tenn., has revitalized itself to becoming one of the top arts’ destinations in the region. Bluff View Art District is filled with 
eateries, bed and breakfasts, and of course, art galleries. Here you will find River Gallery, an historic building featuring a variety of regional, national and international arts and crafts collections. The River Gallery Sculpture Garden located on the banks of the Tennessee River is perfect for a leisurely walk. This outdoor art venue has over thirty pieces of artwork landscaped along the bank.
Housed in a mansion is the H
unter Museum of American Art . Their permanent collection covers a vast period throughout American history.
Do the Chattanooga Gallery Hop. No, this isn’t a new dance, but an opportunity to explore local art studios and galleries. Concentrating on downtown Chattanooga, some of the galleries include regional artwork at the In-Town Gallery (423-267-9214; ), and contemporary artwork at Plum Nelly Shop & Gallery.
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POSTED IN: Art Galleries, Small Towns to Visit, Southern Byways, Things to See in Florida, Things to See in Georgia, Things to See in North Carolina, Things to See in Tennessee, road trip
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