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Fourth row, reserved seats, cold beverages and a great view of Rhonda Vincent and her “rage.” What a show. The “Bluegrass Queen” Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, opened the 2009 Westobou Arts Festival last night at the Imperial Theater in Augusta, Georgia. Presented by the Morris Museum of Art and the Greater Augusta Arts Council, the show was fabulous. Had I known that cameras were allowed, I would have brought the 70/200 f/2.8 to capture some great images. Flash was not allowed and thus the few shots I did snap feel blown out. None the less, the concert was fantastic > small venue, not overly crowded, easy access, beverages allowed, easy to relax and acoustically ’sound.’ I shall purchase some new music this weekend. Bluegrass oneth.
On Broadstreet just two blocks from the canal, you’ll find another jewel in the Augusta crown. It’s call Artists’ Row. Along the “row” you’ll find Gallery on the Row. I’d call it one of the important facets of the jewel. Housed in a spacious historic building, this gallery of fine art features a diverse group of local and regional artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, clay, and photography. Diverse, rich in local color, and deep with talent, you’ll find the experience overwhelming. Enjoy.
Cloud Nine is an all-natural developer and formulator of high quality of skincare products. Interestingly, they produce every product by hand – from start to finish – on Broadstreet – in Augusta, Georiga. The store is laid back, upscale and pleasantly filled with some of the best scents this side of Dunkin’ Donuts. Seriously, it’s so good you want to taste the product rather than use them. When in Augusta, stop in and they’ll give you a demonstration of the products. I tried the Salt Glow on my hands (reluctantly) but was surprised at what it did. Salt Glow removed the excess grit build up from paints and harsh chemicals, and it took away the dryness without an odor. How that happened I’ll never know. Good stuff – great value – terrific store.
Somewhere between a breakfast that was askew with angst about the day’s activities, a formal presentation to folks we didn’t know, and a lunch from Fat Man’s, I felt the presence of James Brown reach out and say — “thanks!” The day was very interesting on a lot of fronts.
My team saddled up and shared a new branding campaign for Augusta, Georiga. After we shared our work, I felt like an Augusta native … powerful – I tell you. Was our work and creative thinking well received? Did I hear that question from the back row?
Yes, it was taken in like a friend you haven’t seen in a while and embraced with open arms. Not in a carte blanche sort of way – not at all. It was embraced as a solid idea that the whole team can leverage to gain even more traction with each respective target audience. More importantly, the discussion around the meeting/eating/scheduling table was focused on doing so in an economical and sensible manner. Everyone agreed that evolution feels better than revolution. Shorty-short (the net-net), we’ve got lots of work to do and even more to enjoy.
I feel good.
Westobou Festival, President Wilson, Artist Row, Phinizy Swamp, Augusta Canal District, Morris Museum of Art, Fort Discovery, Partridge Inn, etc. , ETC.
The Morris Museum of Art, located on the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta, Georgia, is the first museum dedicated to the art and artists of the American South. The collection includes holdings of nearly 5,000 paintings, works on paper, photographs, and sculptures dating from the late-eighteenth century to the present. In addition to the permanent collection galleries, the museum hosts eight to ten temporary special exhibitions every year.
I carried my camera along to snap some interior shots. NOTE: photography is not allowed inside, but because I was touring with the PR director for the Museum — and because I agreed to ‘not’ photograph any painting directly from the front — I was allowed to snap a few room shots. The Morris Museum — it’s a jewel in the midst of downtown Augusta, Georgia. Remember to click on a photo, then click on it again to see the larger image. Enjoy.
The Augusta Canal was chartered in 1845 and completed in 1847, as a source of water, power and transportation for the city of Augusta. It was one of the few successful industrial canals in the American South. During the time of construction, the canal was headed by Henry Cumming and was designed by J. Edgar Thomson. In 1847, the first factories started, a saw and grist mill and the Enterprise Mill, were built. It would be one of many factories that would be built along the Augusta Canal.
By the time of the Civil War, Augusta was one of the few manufacturing centers in the South. The power afforded there led Confederate Col. George W. Rains to select Augusta as the location for the Confederate Powderworks. The twenty-eight buildings, which were the only ones constructed by the government of the Confederate States of America, stretched for two miles along the Augusta Canal. Other war industries started to establish along the canal making Augusta an important center for ammunition and war materiel.
Unlike most Southern cities after General Sherman’s march through the South, Augusta ended the war in better condition. The population had doubled and hard currency was available to fiance recovery. The canal was enlarged in 1875.
A boom era saw the construction of the Enterprise Mill, King Mill, and Sibley Mill, the Lombard Ironworks and may others opened or expanded. Several people who lived on farms moved to the city to work at the mills. Largely employing women and children, the factories led to the rise of mill villages in their precincts. In the 1890s, the city replaced its old water pumping station with impressive structure at mid-canal that is still used by the city of Augusta today. As the electric age began to dawn, Augusta began to turn the canal’s falling water power to drive the first generation equipment. By 1892, Augusta boasted both electric streetcars and street lights — the first Southern city to have these amenities.
If you visit Rock Bottom Music Center in Augusta, Georgia you might find Ray Hutto repairing an instrument. My recent visit to RB didn’t find Ray at all. He was out on the town with family. Ok then. Ray has been working on stringed instruments most of his life. It could be your violin, cello, modern and vintage guitar, mandolin, banjo or even a monster double bass.
From what I’ve heard, Ray can repair almost any stringed instrument. When he’s not working on instruments, his passion is the guitar. If you’ve heard of Hutto mandolins – and yes, I have seen several and they are sweet – Ray’s father, John Hutto has built some of the finest and most sought after mandolins around. Next time I’m in Augusta, I’m visiting the “city store.” Rock oneth.
Little did I know that my visit to Augusta would include so many beautiful sites, sounds and delictable meals. Having visited August on six other occassions, this trip was vastly different. Prior trips were associated with Augusta National or business meetings that just happened to be held in Augusta. This trip was diffierent because I met with the Augusta CVB team. More so than any trip, I learned a lot (!) about the community and its product offering, and I enjoyed some great meals. While the weather didn’t cooperate my first evening here, and I was super-tired last night, I’m certain the camera will emerge today as will a few photos. Play on.
