The Clarkesville Main Street Design Committee recently awarded The Art-Full Barn with the Clarkesville Main Street Award of Excellence. From left to right: Tonya Fowler Kimsey, Greg and Gail Kimsey (owners); Wendy Behrens, Teresa Barry and Mary Beth Horton, Clarkesville Main Street.
The Award of Excellence recognizes a downtown business or property whose owner has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make their property appealing to the eye. This includes excellence in building rehabilitation; attractiveness and creativity of window display, yard, and sidewalk, storefront or landscaping.
The Design Committee selected The Art-Full Barn as the recipient for their creativity with the mural on the rear of their building.
“The committee is always looking for ways to keep Clarkesville appealing and interesting,” Clarkesville Main Street Manager, Mary Beth Horton said. “The mural adds a bright and energetic entrance into downtown, and makes an otherwise empty wall a piece of art. When you drive into town, you can’t help but notice the work!”
“We are thrilled with the finished mural!”said Gail Kimsey, one of the owners of The Art-Full Barn. “People have stopped in the store every day since the day Nick began painting because they saw the mural and wanted to learn about the store and the artist. Nick did a great job combining our request for something creative and FUN with his own personal style, and produced a piece of art that sparks that ‘Oh, cool!’ response from admirers of every age. It’s fun to watch the folks who stop to take pictures pick out their favorite section of the mural.”
Nick Morris, or “NACK” as he signs his murals, along with his wife Amanda, own and operate Crispy Printz, which specializes in environmentally safe screen-printing on all manner of surfaces. Visit crispyprintz.com to see an array of work from these two very talented artists.
“The Main Street Award of Excellence was created to encourage Clarkesville residents and business owners to develop and maintain their properties or business in an attractive manner, thereby improving their own neighborhood and ultimately the downtown as a whole,” explained Bill Gresham, Design Committee member.
Horton added that another downtown mural, funded by the Georgia Council for the Arts Vibrant Communities Grant, will be completed spring 2017, and will further add to the visual experience of downtown.
The Awards are selected based on committee nominations, and are recognized quarterly. For more information, contact Clarkesville Main Street at 706-754-2220.
