Studio by the Tracks

Wrapping Up Art From the Heart 2010

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:31:00 GMT

    The hustle and bustle of Art From the Heart has ended and we've spent the last week recuperating from all the hard work. Thanks to everyone who did so much to make it happen.

    For those who weren't able to make it, or even if you did make it and wanted to reminisce about the wonderful time you had, check out this Sunday's Scribblers column by Susan Strickland in The Birmingham News. Susan is always a great friend to the Studio and often features our events in her articles. Thanks, Susan!

    If you're still searching for that elusive perfect piece of art for your home or office, or if you need a gift for someone special, we will be glad to show you around our gallery. We've got artwork available for purchase (all great, as all art created here is), as well as select sizes of this year's t-shirts and koozies. Call or email to make an appointment to visit our i.f gallery and check it out for yourself!

You Need These Things!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:55:00 GMT

The time has come to enchant and delight you with pictures of some of the artwork that will be available at the Art From the Heart Benefit this year. Don't forget that it's coming up on Sunday, July 18th at the B&A Warehouse and tickets are on sale NOW! Donors enter at 6 PM.

Patron tickets are $100.

Donor tickets are $50.

Art From the Heart: It's the most wonderful time of the year!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:03:00 GMT

July 18th is right around the corner and you should know that because it's the date of the 2010 Art From the Heart Benefit. Savvy Birminghamians have been packing themselves in for the past 21 years and binging on the coolest art available.

We're back at the B&A Warehouse and the shindig kicks off on Sunday, July 18th at 5:30 PM and we've been busy all spring pushing our artists to produce even better work! It doesn't seem like Studio By the Tracks could get any better, but it totally can. It's magic.

Don't despair if you feel like you're out of the loop. There's still time for you get in on the action. Tickets for this year's event are for sale and you (yes, you) are only a click away from having one of your very own.

Patron tickets are $100 and allow the holder entry to the party at 5:30 PM and an advance viewing of all the treasures available for lucky patrons to get their hands on early!

Donor tickets are $50 and allow for entry at 6 PM.

It's that time again!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:54:00 GMT

Have you ever had to choose a most important month of the year? For some people it might be the month of their birthday or anniversary. Others may live for Christmas. Mothers like May and fathers like June, but sons and daughters are likely pulling their hair out trying to think of good gifts. At Studio By the Tracks, the month we love AND hate in equal measure is JULY.

The source of this confusing relationship with July hinges on the biggest event of our year: the Art From the Heart Benefit. The event only lasts four short hours - but the hours of planning and working that go into making it one of the social events of the Birmingham year could be described as innumerable.

The work is hard, but the payoff is worth it. The Benefit usually raises about half of our operating costs every year. Artists from the community donate artwork of their own for silent and live auctions. Artists from the Studio showcase their very best work in the auctions and the Student's Room is filled top to bottom with amazing deals on amazing pieces of art. If you've been, you know what it's like. If you've never been...well, words can't really describe it. You have to see it to believe it.

This year, the 21st annual Art From the Heart Benefit will be held on Sunday, July 18th at the B&A Warehouse. Patrons enter at 5:30 PM ($100 ticket) and Donors enter at 6 PM ($50 ticket). Art lovers and collectors know that the extra $50 is well worth the privilege of getting first peek at the mountain of paintings, drawings, ceramics, pillows and other delights. Tickets will be available on the website soon, so visit again for more information.

Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words, so now I'll just let artwork from the Studio (which will, of course, be available for purchase at the upcoming benefit) do the talking for us...

Girl on Quilt by Allison

Cake Plate by Art

Flower Platter by Herman

Strawberry Cake Tile by Linda

What a Hen Does by Melvin

Announcing the Debut of the SBTT Junior Board

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:18:00 GMT

It's been over a month since SBTT's Junior Board hosted a kick-off party at the Hill Event Center at the historic Alabama Theater, but we're going to talk about it anyway.

We're beyond excited about our new Junior Board and we like to think they're beyond excited about us as well. Their debut event was organized as a way for the JBs to spread the word about Studio By the Tracks to new patrons. After all, we are very, very greedy here at the Studio and we like to sell our artist's art. We like it when our artists make money...

We were pleased to use the Hill Event Center to showcase some larger pieces of art by John Miller, Melvin Roscoe, John Alexander, Jr. and Michael Hall. We didn't poll every single attendee, but it was definitely unanimously agreed that a good time was had by all.

There's no doubt that you'll be hearing more about the Studio By the Tracks Junior Board. Stay tuned!

Allow us to tempt you further...

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:05:00 GMT

With even MORE photos of some of the awesome artwork on display and for sale this Sunday, May 2nd from 2 PM - 5 PM at our GREAT OUTDOORS SHOW!

Way to go, Michael Hall!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:15:00 GMT

Congratulations to Studio artist Michael Hall, who was awarded Employee of the Year at Flex Digital. Michael was chosen and honored for his exemplary timeliness and attendance. Congratulations, Michael Hall!

Better Pictures Show a Better Art Show

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:26:00 GMT

Thanks to Frank at HAI for sending us some great photos of the Studio artwork on display in the Gallery at HAI!

New York, New York, a heck of a town!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:18:00 GMT

"If you can make it there," so the song goes, "you can make it ANYWHERE." If we believe everything we hear in songs, then Studio By the Tracks has definitely arrived...again.

Hospital Audiences, Inc. is a non-profit organization in New York City that provides an art program for mentally ill adults, similar to the one we do here at the Studio. They also have a gallery space with rotating exhibits of the self-taught artists who have participated in their workshops and studio sessions. They are also very cool about including other non-profit groups and inviting them to show their work as well.

The good folks at HAI recently organized an exhibit of artwork from several different community programs around the country and presented Outsider Art: Survey 2010. Studio has had some of their artists submit work to HAI shows in the past and it turns out they were eager to have us back! That's right...we're popular in New York City.

We shipped an array of fine work and were even lucky enough to get send two of our staff to the opening (yours truly and Children's Program Director Karen Balliet). The opening was on Thursday, January 4, followed by an excellent round table discussion with staff from other programs around the country: Main View Gallery & Studio in Oneonta, New York; Art Enables in Washington, D.C.; and of course the teaching artist from HAI. We were also fortunate enough to be joined by a regular artist at HAI who offered valuable insight into how self-taught artists are helped by these programs.

For any interested New Yorkers or anyone traveling in the NYC area, the exhibit will remain up through April 30, 2010 and the gallery is open Monday through Saturday from noon until 6 PM. Eight community programs have worked displayed and all of it is awesome.

Here are some photos from the SBTT area. They're only taken with a camera phone, but try to let yourself bask in the ultra-cool hipness of a New York City art show anyway...

Thanks and Thanks in Advance!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:55:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone who attended our art opening at Bottletree. It was great to get into a new venue and a lot of people who've never seen Studio By the Tracks artwork were introduced to our awesomeness.

If you didn't get a chance to drop by Bottletree, don't dispair. Studio work will be up all month and we'll also be bringing some new things every Friday afternoon to replinish the walls. The show is cash and carry, so if you see anything you like, you can pay cash or check to the friendly Bottletree bartenders and take it home with you. Instant gratification!

So, go by Bottltree, grab a drink and an appetizer and enjoy the artwork!

Studio At the Tracks Invades Bottletree!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:07:00 GMT

Though there are many cool places in Birmingham, there can only be one coolest and that is definitely Studio By the Tracks. Logically, there can only be one next coolest, and that is certainly Bottletree. If you put these things together, the coolness of the situation will surely take cool to a whole new level it's never been on.

We'll test this algorithm of cool this Friday, January 8th when Bottletree hosts an art opening for Studio By the Tracks. If you're like me, you probably have a little hoard of cash from distant relatives who don't know you very well and you just canNOT spend it on anything sensible, like work shoes or the power bill. I suggest art to beautify the home and calm the soul. Specifcally, art from the Studio.

The opening kicks off around 6 PM and will end around 9 PM (there's a music show scheduled later that night - Eric Bachmann - you might to check his website out and see if you might want to stay). Everything will be cash and carry. Not only that, but the show will be up for the entire month of January and we're going to be adding new stuff every Friday afternoon. There's no better excuse to stop by Bottletree for an end of the week cocktail - just tell 'em you're going for the art!

Come one, come all!

Last Minute Holiday Shopping!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:12:00 GMT

Hi, All!

If you're wondering where you can find inexpensive and unique gifts before the holidays, ponder no more! Studio By the Tracks still has a some leftovers from our fabulous Holiday Open House, not to mention the wonderful goodies that our students are STILL making!

Next Thursday, December 17th, we'll be hosting an informal get together so you can come in, check out the merch, and shop in a mostly frantic-free environment. Feel free to bring your own cocktail or snack (you don't even have to share) as well as some of your trendy friends with good taste and a wallet full of cash, check or credit (we take all three).

This casual soiree begins at 5:30 PM and will continue until around 8 PM. And who knows, we might be in the mood to wheel and deal if you're buying lots of stuff - after all, we need to clear our gallery walls to get ready for our next show in the spring!

Email or call if you have any questions. Or - you can just comment below!

Hope to see some new faces next Thursday!

Want to get rid of some very specific junk in your attic?

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Lucky for you, the staff at Studio By the Tracks is planning some very special drawing lessons for the children starting in January and we are looking around for WORKING SLIDE PROJECTORS! Yes, these archaic machines certainly seem like a thing of the past since we now have things like computers and digital cameras, but don't be fooled into thinking they're destined for the garbage heap just yet...

If you've got an old slide projector that works well, please feel free to call us at Studio By the Tracks. The number is 205-951-3317. Ask for Daisy. If you can't bring it by, and you don't live a million miles away, she's just crazy enough to come and get it from you! She is really dedicated to art and teaching art to kids! Like I said, CRAZY! She also talks about herself in third person a lot! Like right now!

Stay tuned to the Studio blog for a few casual upcoming events that will allow you to come by and do some last minute Christmas shopping. You'l be glad you did!

Tantalize Your Eyes!

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:32:00 GMT

The Holiday Open House is only a little over a week away (Thursday, November 19th from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM) and even WE are amazed at the wealth of beautiful objets d' arte that we've been amassing (and still are).

Check below to see a sampling of fineness...

Flying Girl by Allison.

Dog bowls by various Studio artists.

Stained Glass Window by Herman.

Bird Bowls by James.

Mother & Child Star Ornament by Ross.

Christmas, Christmas time is near...

imiller@studiobythetracks.org — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:23:00 GMT

We know it's not even Halloween yet, but here in Irondale, we're already getting ready for Christmas. Every year, we fling open our doors for the Holiday Open house and people rush in like crazed shoppers desperate for a Tickle Me Elmo and simply clean us out. The Studio is such a popular Holiday hot spot that we have to start getting ready as soon as possible.

We're doing our part to get ready, so we really need you to do your part and to mark your calendars! We've decided to move the event up a little this year so you can get your shopping in early. On Thursday, November 19th, you can come to the Studio and get stuffers for all your stockings - and maybe even a little gift for out of town family for Thanksgiving!

Email us if you're not on our mailing list and we'll be happy to mail you an invitation with more information about the Studio. Really! We will!