THOMASVILLE — Local artists are pulling out all the stops to bring Thomasville to the “recycle table.” Downtown merchant locations will brim with a wide variety of fascinating and creative art containing recycled or upcycled components, created by the southeast’s most talented painters, jewelers, fiber artists and sculptors.

Thomasville Center for the Arts in partnership with Downtown MainStreet and Keep Thomas County Beautiful are launching FLAUNT 2012: Upcycle/Downtown, and they are pleased to announce the finalists for the FLAUNT regional art exhibition and competition.

Challenging artists to think outside the box, while giving them a chance to “flaunt” their talent, FLAUNT: 2012 is this area’s most unique exhibition and artwalk. Each finalist was selected by a juried panel, and represents a diversity of artistic styles and genres.  

“Every FLAUNT artist has work that is visually compelling and each artist is entirely different, in their process and their style,” says Darlene Crosby Mathis, TCA Exhibitions and Events Manager.  “These artists are so enthusiastic about creating new pieces and they are ready to raise the level of their own work.”

Exceptional artists of traditional art mediums, and artists who specialize in recycled art, applied to the competition, making the judging process even more difficult. After viewing samples of their work, the jurors selected their 27 favorites. FLAUNT: 2012 artists are: Kelly Abbott, Kimberly Bechtel, Michael Brennan, Phil Bunnell, Tracy Cendoya, Casey Corbin, Cathy Corredor, Kay Cromartie, Barbara Aleene Edwards, William Gridley, Tracy Foutz-Hunt, Samantha Hunt, Donnalee pond-Koenig, Martha Lent, Elizabeth Barber Leventhal, Jitka Lesakova-Manousakis, Darlene Crosby Mathis, Diane Newsome, Wyatt Nocera, Sonny Ortolano, Barbara Psimas, Mary Proctor, Josh Rosen, Hyun Shin, Tracey Timmons, Linda Van Beck, and Walter Wager.

“These artists have a personal connection to their work”, says Mathis of the selected artists. “Each has a story based on an amazing experience, and the story is as intriguing as their art.”

An ongoing partnership with Downtown MainStreet, FLAUNT brings more to the public than just great art.  Downtown merchants see a boost in foot traffic during the exhibit and enjoy the benefits of having new customers introduced to their store. During the exhibition, one FLAUNT artist is hosted in a downtown merchant store or restaurant, with pieces of their work for show and sale. This arrangement has been a win-win for both the merchants and the exhibiting artists.

This year marks the second year the Center and MainStreet have partnered to bring FLAUNT into the downtown area. After the successful launch of FLAUNT: 25 last year, both groups began looking forward to collaborating once again.  

By adding Keep Thomas County Beautiful to the partnership, a new facet emerged, allowing recycling artists and traditional artists the opportunity to incorporate recycled components or techniques into their process, and explore how it relates to everyday life.  

“Keep Thomas County Beautiful is thrilled to be a part of this event, and to draw attention the fun side of recycling”, says Pam Lister Director of KTCB. “To bring awareness to recycling and upcycling measures, and to promote the pro-active side of recycling through art, is a new direction for our organization and the community.”

All 27 artists are busy completing new pieces for their exhibit, and raising the bar on their own creativity.  Each has been challenged to make a dress from recycled elements donated by local corporate sponsors.  These businesses have gathered items that the artists will now use to sew, weave, bead, or paint, making a one-of-a kind wearable dress that will be unveiled at FLAUNT’s opening night event, Sept.  7 at 5:30 p.m.

After the opening, the dresses will be prominently featured in each FLAUNT merchant’s display window.  Patrons are invited to stroll through each store to see the recycled dresses, and learn more about each sponsors own recycling efforts and purchase new pieces to add to their own collection.  FLAUNT artwork will remain in the stores available for purchase through September 29, the close of the exhibition.

FLAUNT: 2012 is a weekend of great art and activities. During the opening events, the streets will come alive with artist demonstrations and the unveiling of Thomasville’s first ever “yarn bombing” exhibition, the latest in outdoor art exhibitions.   

On Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m., the public is invited to attend a hooked rug exhibition at Thomasville Center for the Arts, featuring rugs made by several of the fiber artists who created the yarn bombing installation, and are members of the local rug hooking guild. It’s a full weekend, and you don’t want to miss these exciting events.  To find out more about Flaunt related activities, or to view the list of participating artists, log onto the Center’s website at thomasvillearts.org.