BY MAGGIE DIGIOVANNI
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: It is not an overreach to say that artist Don Sawyer has started something of a new and thriving art community in Wetumpka, Alabama.
The Downtown Artist of Wetumpka put on a show Saturday, drawing a big crowd, and having some great stories to tell about their artwork.
Wetumpka, once known as the place built around a meteor crater, today is taking steps toward another avenue of fame. Local artist Don Sawyer moved back to Wetumpka after leaving his studio in Destin, Florida. When he arrived, he found a town with many empty storefronts. On Company Steet, where he opened his art studio, only two or three other businesses existed. Although some of the town’s recent regrowth is credited to the HGTV show that upgraded some stores, Sawyer is responsible in huge part because he saw the possibility of an art mecca.
One person who credits him with that giant push that made him move into art as a lifestyle is Kelly Pierre. His artwork is a showstopper.
Brought up in a family of shrimpers in Louisiana, when told that one day the family shrimp boat would be his, he backed away. He told his father he wanted to be an artist. He discovered that wanting to be an artist and becoming an artist who could support a family were far different.
He met Don Sawyer, who recognized the enormous talent Pierre exhibited. He began urging him to make that his life, but Pierre hesitated. As a final step, when Sawyer decided to move to Wetumpka, he told Pierre to leave Louisiana.
“Finally letting go of the rope, as I told him to do, Kelly Pierre bought a small boat, lived on it through a couple of hurricanes, and drove it from Louisiana to Destin, Florida, where he was still a starving artist. That’s when I decided to leave the chaos of Destin and move back home. I had a nice little gallery there, right on the water. Pierre moved there,” Mr. Sawyer said. “He knew how to paint, but he didn’t know how to sell what he painted, so I worked with him for a while. Then I left Destin, which is where you go to make money and returned to Wetumpka where I go to do art.”
With stunning paintings of octopi with tentacles flowing onto the heavy frames, pelicans from his Louisiana home, along with magnificent sea turtles, he is living the life he left shrimping to do. The joy in his work is evident, as Pierre talks of his journey. If interested in his work, contact him at 985-381-3157 or www.pierreartist.com
Following his own dream, Sawyer urged other artists to come to the town he now called home. A trickle became a river as more studios opened, along with galleries. Visitors came to see the variety of talent displayed.
Eventually, the Wetumpka Art Festival became a reality, with artists considered best in their genres invited to attend.
Ray Bellew, a welding artist, who made the metal horses, sasquatch, and other well-known pieces that grace the streets of Wetumpka, had pieces that while smaller, held the public’s interest at today’s art festival. Whether a football hero ran for the touchdown or an iron dog, or a foot-tall cowboy riding a bronc, each was scrutinized over and over as visitors attempted to envision making art of scrap metal.
When asked how he turned to this art form, he gladly told of the steps that brought him there.
“I worked at a shop welding pieces but had never considered it as my life’s work. I prayed for guidance toward a career. One day, while looking at a pile of metal, a picture formed in my mind of Jesus on the cross made from that metal. I took the metal and made the cross right there. When people saw my work, they wanted to buy it, but, at the time, I was using the metal belonging to the company where I worked. It was not mine to sell.
“Eventually, I visited scrap and junk yards to find old metal and put it to a new use. Today, I’m doing something I love, and others appreciate.”
Marcia Weber Art Objects on Company Steet handles Bellew’s metal art. The studio phone number is 334-220-5349 or email marcia@marciaweberartobjects.com
Other examples of artwork on display today, include three-time award winner Jon Brinley, for beautiful pottery. A three-foot-tall vase grabbed my attention over all the tent-covered art. He uses salt and clay for one glaze or mixing sand from the creek, ashes from the fireplace, and clay out of a fire ant bed.”
EAN: “Clay from a fire ant bed?”
“That’s about all that is in the yard! Depending on how much of either is used, a potter can run the gamut of colors.”
EAN “How did you start in pottery?
“I started collecting pottery. I loved old folk pottery like jugs, churns, etc. Crawford County, Georgia had some of the most beautiful glazes and one day I saw an old folk potter turning on the wheel. I took a few lessons and have been doing it since. The largest piece was 47” high and 30” at the shoulder. I called it the babysitting jar. Put the kids in, put the lid on, and go to the movies!” Before readers get upset, he was joking.
“This is my first time at this event. I was invited. Don (Sawyer) said I was secretly interviewed.” He chuckled.
Hailing from Columbus, Georgia, my studio is my dad’s old tool house. I dig clay out of the creek down below the house, but that clay has limited uses. Jon Brinley is available at706-662-8420 or countylineartfarm@gmail.com
The Shack It Up musical duo kept the music playing and spirits high as visitor after visitor poured into the festival.
Working together on some abstract paintings and alone on others, Aimee and Luke Bentley brought biological and human art to the show. Luke proudly showed one of his paintings that is also now the cover for his new book, “Backwoods Forty.” Together they created a fascinating, eye-catching tent of paintings. For paintings contact them at 334-294-6566 or email aimeebently@amesbentleyart or for Luke’s book, www.bylukebentley.com or Instagram@bylukebentley
Charcoal drawings so realistic they might have been photographs, came from artist emarie, representing charcoal art in a whole new light She is another award-winning artist for her picture of a woman caring for a man. Whether human or animal, her work is enchanting. www.emarie.gallery or Instagram@emariegallery.
Moving visitors back to the days of paper dolls, Kelly Berwager found a treasure trove in her grandmother’s home. After her grandmother, who tended to be a hoarder, passed away, it was left to Kelly to go through her home to separate everything. Finding lemons such as paper dolls, old clothing patterns, and other items from yesteryear, she turned them into lemonade or the treasures she brought to the festival. She now searches yard sales and other places for old, unusual broaches or maybe more paper dolls and patterns. With her bent for modge-podge, she brings the past into the present making some of us wish for calmer times of childhood. Being multi-talented, she paints fashion art. For a glance into yesterday, reach her at 205-276-1574 or artgal464@gmail.com
As EAN geared up to leave, The Kelly Fitzgerald Center for the Arts came into view. Outside sat Libby Christenson. She is a talented artist in her own right, but also assists in making the Center a place for the entire community.
“The Wetumpka Wildlife Art Festival will be held here on November 11th, all day. There is a contest offering a $10,000 prize presented by L.I.B. for the person chosen for the best artwork, along with smaller prizes of $300 for three runners up,” Libby said. “The Kelly also offers a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving art student. There are classes at The Kelly for all ages.”
Located at 301 Hill St, Wetumpka, AL 36092, the The Kelley Fitzpatrick Center is open to all.
As a growing Mecca for art, Wetumpka is seeing artists from surrounding states join the festival. It is truly a place for all who enjoy beauty.
From the common to the unusual, there was something for everyone at the Wetumpka Art Festival. Many thanks to Don Sawyer and all of the artists who made it possible.
We can only imagine the beauty and creativity that is yet to be. But, it will certainly be enjoyable to witness.
