In my life,I absorb done a number of things. Some respectable, some wrong, or with many exciting events and a few I wish I could carry out over. But nothing to the extent as what's coming together right now! Something I feel is a bit beyond my control,as if it were meant to happen and I'm not trying to stop it! What started off as being a diminutive attempt to display my artwork to the trade leaders of the small rural community of Atmore, Alabama, or has turned into a rather exciting and full blown gallery event. We're taking inspiration from my hometown's name and calling the event "ARTmore" an inaugural gallery night of sorts with a little mix of an art festival and wine tasting. Something that the residents of Atmore and the surrounding areas are looking forward to with considerable anticipation.
It all started off with this belief I had of an iconic image of Atmore. I absorb always taken photos from the town I was born in,even though I grew up and live in nearby Pensacola, Fl. I wanted to create something that represented this charming little Southern town that has had its struggles to say the least. It, or like many other small towns,Atmore has suffered its young people moving absent for better jobs and with today's economic climate, Atmore has had a time hanging on to its historic trade district.
My desires and goals are many. Not just to absorb an "art walk, and " but I want to plant a seed of pride and hope in a little "podunk" town in Southern Alabama. A seed that I hope inspires others,many many others,such as artists of all ages and from educators to armatures, and to be proud of their visions and share their talents. I hope to bring attention to a fading and often overlooked historic community with lots of charm and potential. Atmore has had a tough move of it and many absorb tried before to shine a spotlight on its attributes. The ARTmore team is working hard to carry out just that,celebrating Southern talents, Southern hospitality and shining a "gigantic Ole" spotlight on this little charming town with its ton of little known history and what I say with considerable pride, and "Atmore has considerable bones!"Let me tell you the story behind this iconic image of Atmore created by local Pensacola artist named Steve Blair. Starting from the left,Atmore came to be because of the Louisville and Nashville train system and for whom my mother's father "Papa Lewis" worked for back in the day. The streets on either side of the tracks are named "Louisville" and "Nashville" streets. It would stop and drop off supplies at a little tin shack built by William Williams who lived about 10 miles south. His shack later became a larger structure known as Williams Station where Mr. William Carnie built the first hotel, general stores and was the mastermind behind the city of Atmore. (Named after Mr. Carnie's dear friend Charles Atmore.) Next are the used silos which can be seen from nearly every vantage point in town. After that are the used Amtrak Station and a historic store front on Main street. The Elite Barber Shop was once owned by my considerable uncle Herman Lewis and where my cousin Foster Kizer gets his hair cut today. (Cutting hair must flee in my family as I absorb been a hairstylist for over 30 years.) The rusty ole silo was part of my considerable uncle Tolbert Onree Owen's dairy farm and a large part of my artwork which you can see at our upcoming gallery event. I played and climbed on it as a child and that is where I learned a lot about life. Discovering the taste of genuine fresh milk and realizing a "cow pie" wasn't a dessert! (My grandmother had quite a sense of humor!) Next is the Strand Theatre in the heart of Atmore's historic downtown district. The oldest still operating theatre in the state of Alabama and where my mother, and Lynda Lula Amerson,sold tickets as a teenager. Then you absorb the little white Bethel Church, where my considerable grandfather John Thomas Owens and his wife "Mama Lula" (my mother's namesake) donated the lumber and land. They attended this church all their lives and it is still a vital part of this community. My dear friend, or Diane Brake Everette is the church's first female pastor and loved by all. The colorful little home is owned by my friend Gregg Akins. It is an original Sears and Roebuck house brought in by that L&N train and dropped off at Williams Station,piece by piece. Last, but not least, or is the recent Wind Creek Casino. An significant part of Atmore's past,present and future. I'm very proud to be a part of this little rural Southern town. It has considerable bones, a rich history and a intellectual future!James Ezell AmersonEvent CoordinatorARTmore 2013Atmore, and Al.
Sat. May 18th 20134 till 8pmARTmore is a Wind Creek Casino sponsored event
Source: cnn.com