Media  Contacts:   Gina  Solomon     Market  Vice  Chair     gms728@gmail.com           Kristin  Chapman   External  Publicity     mkchap@comcast.com    

2014  WESLEYAN  ARTIST  MARKET:  SOARING  HIGHER!  “It’s  not  just  an  Event…it’s  an  Experience”  

ATLANTA,  March  2014  –  The  upcoming  16th  annual  Wesleyan  Artist  Market  (WAM),  themed  “Soaring  Higher,”  

is  set  to  run  from  May  1st  to  May  3rd  in  Wesleyan’s  Yancey  Gymnasium.    The  space  will  dub  as  a  multi-­‐level  exhibition  

hall  over   the   three  day  event.    Over  95  professional  artists  and  31   student  artists,   all   invitation  only,  will   exhibit  a  

broad  selection  of  original  artwork  in  a  variety  of  mediums  and  price  points,  including  oil  paintings,  acrylic  paintings,  

jewelry,  water  color,  ceramics,  photography,  mixed  media,  pottery,   floral  arts,   textiles  and  home  décor   items.    The  

artist   selection   process   ended  mid-­‐January  with   an   overwhelming   number   of   professional   and   student   applicants.    

Building  on  the  incredible  momentum  from  last  year’s  Market,  2014  promises  to  yield  an  exceptionally  talented  field  

of  emerging  and  established  artists,  including  first  time  attendee  and  Atlanta’s  own  Rob  Matre.  

The  recently  announced  2014  Featured  Artists  include  mixed  media  artists  Jenny  Henley  (Atlanta)  and  Kellie  

Montana   (Nashville)   as   well   as   sterling   silver   jeweler   Joanie   Muhlfelder   (Mantua,   Ohio).     Wesleyan   is   excited   to  

welcome  all  three  of  these  well  received  artists  back  to  campus.    The  artists’    works  of  art  can  be  found  in  galleries  

and  private  collections  across  the  southeast.    Past  Featured  Artists  returning  for  2014  include  Jenny  Shultz,  Marilyn  

Wendling,  Lisa  Berry,  Kendall  Boggs,  Shannon  Haas,  Adam  Newman,  Margaret  Berthold  and  more.    For  a  complete  list  

of  the  2014  Wesleyan  Artist  Market  participating  artists,  please  visit  www.wesleyanartistmarket.org.  

Additionally,   the  Wesleyan  Arts  Alliance  proudly   introduces   several  new  elements   to   the  Market   this   year,  

including  exhibiting  student  alumni  artists  such  as  Grace  Cowart,  2010,  and  Mallory  Macgill,  2013,  as  well  as  works  

from  SCAD  student  and  up  and  coming  artists  Evan  Jones  and  Michelle  Ann  Pettigrew  .      Market  guests  are  welcome  

to  stop  by  the  new  “Market  Café”  to  purchase  a  cup  of  coffee  or  pick  up  a  donated  baked  treat,  or  catch  a  culinary  

delight  from  one  of  the  Food  Truck  vendors  visiting  campus.      The  Food  Movement  will  be  bringing  Vintage  Frozen  

Custard,   Hail   Caesar,   Fry   Guy   and   Pressed   For   Time   Panini   Food   Trucks   onto   campus   Thursday   through   Saturday!  

Adding   to   the  excitement,   for   the   first   time  ever,   the  Wesleyan  Parents     Club  will   hold   their   annual   Tuition  Raffle  

drawing  Thursday  evening  at  the    Market.    For  scheduling  details,  please  see  www.wesleyanartistmarket.org    Other  

new   initiatives   include   an   expanded   Sponsorship   package   and   the   purchase   of   new   assets   (software,   tables,   peg  

boards,  signage)    for  the  Market,  all  of  which  should  enhance  the  success  of  the  Market  this  year  and  years  to  come!  

 

Just  like  last  year,  Wesleyan  hopes  to  engage  the  entire  community  as  they  celebrate  the  arts.  Students  will  

be  preparing  an  all-­‐school  theme  related  art  project  to  be  displayed  at  the  Market.    According  to  Market  Chair  Judy  

Beaman,“  we  want   to   highlight   the   artist   in   everyone   and  demonstrate   the   incredible   beauty   that   can  be   created  

when  we  work   together.”     In   addition,   there  will   be   live   entertainment   throughout   the   duration   of   the   three   day  

Market.     Opening  Night,   guests  will   be   treated   to   the   professionally   honed   talents   and  melodious   sounds   of   Judy  

Boehm  and  Brent  Whiten   from  Class  Act  Band.     Friday,  May  2ndand  Saturday,  May  3rd  will   include  a   full   line-­‐up  of  

performances  from  students,  faculty  and  friends.    Guests  can  look  forward  to  performances  by  instrumental,  choral,  

and  percussion  classes,  dance  and  musical  theater  groups,  as  well  as  the  Chapel  Band  and  individual  musicians  and  

vocalists.  

Wesleyan   is   also   hoping   that   the  Market   will   inspire   the   visual   artists   in   its   students.     In   addition   to   the  

professional  exhibiting  artists,    31  Wesleyan  students  have  been  invited    to  show  their  own  artistic  works  in  a  student  

section  that  will  enthusiastically  display  and  celebrate  their  talents.    Market  guests  can  expect  to  see  everything  from  

creatively  sewn  hair  accessories  and  clothing  to  jewelry,  artwork,  and  home  décor  items.  Aspiring  culinary  artists  will  

be  in  the  mix  again  for  2014  with  another  wonderful  selection  of  baked  treats  for  sale.    Like  all  of  the  other  artists  in  

the  Market,   the  students  will  be  donating  25%  of  their  sales  to  benefit   the  fine  arts  programs  at  Wesleyan.    “It’s  a  

great  opportunity  for  these  kids  to  focus  on  their  artistic  passions  and  learn  a  little  bit  about  the  business  side  of  art  

at  the  same  time,”  says  Beaman.    “They  completed  an  official  application  and  will  have  to  decide  how  to  display,  price  

and  market   their  wares  at   the   student  booth.    We  hope   it  will   encourage   their   interest   in   the  arts  and  be  a  great  

learning  experience  for  all  of  them.”  

  Critical   to   the   success   of   the   annual   Artist   Market   is   the   hard   working   and   engaged   group   of   parent  

volunteers  that  work  closely  with  Wesleyan’s  faculty  and  administration  to  successfully  grow  the  Market  every  year.      

Additionally,   the  Wesleyan   Arts   Alliance,   which   raises   funds   through   the  Wesleyan   Artist   Market,   celebrates   and  

supports   Wesleyan   School’s   commitment   to   the   arts   and   shares   the   belief   that   the   arts   are   both   a   tremendous  

avenue  for  self-­‐expression  and  an  important  part  of  every  child’s  development.    The  school  invites  you  to  join  in  the  

community  celebration  May  1st-­‐May  3rd,  and  hopes  that  everyone  will  find  at  least  one  opportunity  during  the  three  

day  run  of  the  Market  to  stop  in,  visit  and  thank  all  of  the  exhibiting  artists,  supporting  performers  and  volunteers  as  

they  “Soar  Higher”  in  2014!    The  Market  is  free,    and  everyone  is  welcome.  

For  more  information  on  the  Wesleyan  Artist  Market,  please  go  to  www.wesleyanartistmarket.org.  

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