Winter Arts Fest Coming To Northeast Georgia Mountains

Four venues. 145 artists. And a setting that is straight out of a landscape painting. This is what you’ll find when you come to the Winterfest Arts & Coach Tour in the Helen, Georgia, area, February 16-17, 2019. This mountain region has long been known as a haven for artists, and their talents will be on full display for this fest, which is a compilation of four shows at four different venues—Unicoi State Park & Lodge, Helen Arts & Heritage Center, Hardman Farms Historic Site and Sautee Nacoochee Center (SNC). Visitors can park at either Unicoi State Park or the … Continue reading

Soque Artworks: Art & Crafts of Northeast Georgia Mountains

Northeast Georgia is a little hotbed of creativity with an abundance of talented artists and artisans, and Soque Artworks in Clarkesville, Georgia, is a prime showcase for many of them and their work. Opened in 2008 by Rush, Susan and Walton Smith, the gallery was created specifically to present the art and works of artists who live in Northeast Georgia the adjoining states. Soque Artworks features nearly 80 artists in 25 different mediums. Many are members of prestigious regional art organizations—such as the Southern Highland Craft Guild—teachers at the John C. Campbell Folk School or graduates of Penland School of … Continue reading

Northeast Georgia’s Burton Gallery & Emporium

It’s quite an eclectic place, and that makes Burton Gallery & Emporium in Clarkesville, Georgia, an even more delightful stop on a visit to the northeast Georgia Mountains! The gallery—which Southern Living magazine tagged “one of the best galleries in the State”— does not take a narrow focus in its space. Instead Burton Gallery & Emporium displays a wide-ranging selection that will appeal to a variety of tastes. While it is known for a large collection of original paintings, these are just the tip of its artistic iceberg. Step inside and you’ll find a wealth of other interesting and intriguing … Continue reading

Spring Art Festivals in the Northeast Georgia Mountains

If you’re looking for an excuse to head up to the mountains of northeast Georgia—other than a visit to Lucille’s, of course!—we’ve got several for you. The mountain towns of Blairsville, Dahlonega, Clayton, and Toccoa are each hosting arts fests. So grab your calendar, and start planning a getaway. April 21-22, 2018 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, Dahlonega. It’s a bit last minute, but if you can make it, this is great time to enjoy a slice of Appalachia. Bluegrass and old-time music highlight the celebration that includes a juried art show featuring traditional crafts, storytelling, dancing, free music … Continue reading

Creativity On Display at Willows Pottery in Helen, GA

The North Georgia Mountains is known as a hotbed of talented artisans, and we’re lucky to have many examples of their fine work right here in our neck of the woods. Case in point: Willows Pottery. Located in historic Sautee Nacoochee, just minutes from Lucille’s Mountaintop Inn & Spa, Willows Pottery is a working studio that showcases handmade stoneware pottery created by Ben Dockins and Betsy Ledbetter. Ben is a native of Habersham, Georgia, an area famous for its folk pottery. Betsy is a transplant from South Carolina who studied with Mrs. Jessie Meaders, a well-known North Georgia potter. If … Continue reading

Helen, Georgia’s Arts & Heritage Center

For a place that sees upwards of three million visitors a year, the Helen Arts & Heritage Center exudes small town charm. The combination of area history and creative expression is summed up beautifully here. The Helen Arts & Heritage Center is the brainchild of a several local women with a vision—to have a unifying place for artists to come together with common purpose. The non-profit center opened in 2007 and as the breadth of its opportunities and activities has grown, so has its popularity. There is a working pottery studio and a Painter’s Guild Loft where artists can work … Continue reading

Folk Pottery Museum Highlights the Culture of Northeast Georgia

It is rare to find a wonderful museum nestled away in a small mountain village. It’s even more rare to find one of the quality and depth of the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia. It’s a gem, and we are lucky to have it so close to Lucille’s. (See, one more reason to come visit!) Photo courtesy of the Folk Pottery Museum The Museum is part of the Sautee Nacoochee Center, which in addition to pottery, has a wealth of information on Cherokee heritage, as well as local history of gold strikes, railroads and timber. But the Folk Pottery … Continue reading

Discover Fine Appalachian Art at Soque Artworks

Step inside Soque Artworks and you will find the unique art of over 100 local and regional Appalachian artists beautifully displayed.  Located right on the square in historic Clarkesville, Georgia, Soque Artworks is the quintessential main street art gallery with a distinctly Appalachian feel. Named after the nearby Soque River, the gallery carries works in more than 25 different art mediums ranging from pottery, turned wood and metal to jewelry, fiber, paintings and photography, all available for purchase. No two trips to Soque Artworks are ever the same, with the inventory provided by local and regional artists changing frequently. Locally owned and operated since 2008, Soque Artworks has a reputation of … Continue reading