"My Southern Memories"-Art Station Debut

By Doc Lawrence

Mayor Pat Wheeler (L) and David Thomas Welcome Olivia

Stone Mountain, GA-They came from nearby homes and as far away as Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee to enjoy the celebration of Art Station’s new exhibition, “My Southern Memories,” and honor the artist, Olivia Thomason. For over three hours, the packed house viewed 25 new paintings by the artists while enjoying platters of holiday-themed gourmet delights and fine Champagne. Journalist Dick Funderburke commented that “these are really extraordinary paintings and a tribute to Olivia’s talent. I am impressed by the commitment of this gallery to display them so impressively.”

Art Station garners regular praise as an arts center that includes not only the gallery but also an acclaimed theatrical company with a full season of performances. For almost three decades, audiences have enjoyed musicals, dramas, comedy and premieres. The holiday production is Plaid Tidings, the popular musical, followed in January by Hollywood actor Bill Oberst, Jr.’s portrayal of the beloved Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard. In addition, there is the facility’s Trolley Stop Cabaret scheduled to present jazz and blues stylist, the incredible Theresa Hightower.

Shall We Gather at the River

All of these productions take place while Ms. Thomason’s exhibition continues, spanning the December holiday season and most of January.

Among the dignitaries attending the Champagne opening party was Stone Mountain Mayor Pat Wheeler, several members of the city council and prominent government officials plus Dekalb’s own Frank Spence, a retired top executive with the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves. A friend and fan of Ms. Thomason, Spence said that “Olivia is one of my favorite artists anywhere,” adding that her paintings “take me back in my happiest childhood days with family and friends who loved gathering together at home and in church.”

Christmas in the Valley

Notable paintings by Olivia Thomason include U.S. Poet Laureate Carl Sandburg’s home “Connemara" in Flat Rock, North Carolina, New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty and “Angels over Atlanta,” a tribute to the 1995 Atlanta Braves World Series Championship.

“My Southern Memories” can be viewed during gallery hours daily, on weekends and before and after performances of Plaid Tidings.

Family Fun

More information is available at www.artstation.org and (770) 469.1105.