The 6th Annual Fall Art Festival is Saturday, November 4 at the Albany Museum of Art
Live performances by talented musical artists who have deep roots in Albany will provide the soundtrack for The Heart of Albany Festival. Presented by Publix and the James M. Barnett, Jr. Foundation, the 6th annual festival celebrating art and the community is 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, Nov 4 at the Albany Museum of Art, 311 Meadowlark Drive. Admission is free.
The entertainment gets underway shortly after The Heart of Albany Festival opens at 10 am, with featured performers taking the stage in the afternoon. Songwriters in The Row: Cliff Corr & Aaron Lee will perform noon-2 pm, followed by singer/songwriter Evan Barber at 2:30-4:30 pm.
DJ Planet X will open the day at 10 am, with the Illustrious Ladies of DC dance and cheer team taking over at 10:15 am. Ballet Theatre South will follow at 10:45 am with a selection from The Nutcracker. Aspiring local singer/songwriter Brilynn Nevaeh concludes the morning with her 11:30 am set.
“Our fall art festival is known for its professional chalk artists from the Southeast who create larger-than-life artworks on the pavement while you watch,” Albany Museum of Art Executive Director Andrew J. Wulf, Ph.D., said. “We also have other exciting art demos going on all day, including Chris Johnson making prints by using a steamroller as a press. No celebration is complete, however, without music and live entertainment, and we are fortunate to have a wonderful lineup of performers.”
Corr and Lee comprise Songwriters in The Row with fellow Albany native Franklin Engram. Earlier this year, the three, who played music together while attending college, appeared at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, sharing stories and performing original songs. While Engram cannot be at The Heart of Albany Festival because of a scheduling conflict, Corr says that he and Lee are excited to perform in front of a home crowd.
“We always love an opportunity to return to our hometown,” Corr said. “Being able to play some music and support the Albany Museum of Art is even more special. It will be a blast to see some old friends and make some new ones.”
Corr, a resident of Decatur, grew up in a musical home environment. His father, Dr. Price Corr, played in a band, and Motown and Beatles music were the soundtracks of his childhood. He describes his style as acoustic with pop, Americana, alternative, country, and folk influences. While the tech and marketing pro isn’t planning on a full-time music career, he is currently working on a full album of his music.
Lee, who now resides in France, grew up with the sounds of church choirs and his grandmother’s piano. A self-taught guitarist, he and Engram recorded an album-length cassette of their music at the beach when they were high school freshmen. During COVID, Lee decided to pursue music full-time. He recorded a debut album of his top 20 songs, and is currently mapping out more collections of his work.
After Corr and Lee close their performance, Evan Barber will begin a two-hour set.
No stranger to the Americana/roots music scene in the South, Barber is an Albany native who has been writing, recording, and touring across the region for the better part of the past decade. He’s cut his teeth sharing the stage with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Blackberry Smoke, Jason Isbell, and the Drive-by Truckers.
Barber’s songs paint images of the South. His latest offering, Until The Thunder, plays out like a daydream on the front porch swing after an evening spent under the stars, reminiscing about what has passed and pondering what is yet to come. Guitars awash in reverb blend with Barber’s warm, crooning vocals to offer a unique listening experience on his first solo album. It draws heavily from his upbringing, as well as road-worn experiences from time spent touring with his band, the Dead Gamblers.
The morning also will be entertaining. Ryan Smith, a.k.a. DJ Planet X, will get things started on the James M. Barnett, Jr. Foundation Stage. He will keep the music going between sets by the other performers throughout the day.
The Illustrious Ladies of DC, known for their high energy and spirited performances, are varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders at Dougherty Comprehensive High School. The cheer and dance team has been spreading joy to local elementary schools through volunteering and conducting mini-camps, presenting original material at each session.
If the holidays cannot get here fast enough for you, Ballet Theatre South will present an entertaining preview of the ballet company’s upcoming performances of the magical Christmastime favorite The Nutcracker. An Albany holiday tradition, the full performances of The Nutcracker are set for Dec 1-3 at the Albany Municipal Auditorium.
Capping the morning entertainment will be rising star Brilynn Nevaeh, a Westover High School student whose beautiful voice is earning her a devoted following in the Albany area and on social media.
In addition to professional chalk artists and entertainment, The Heart of Albany Festival will feature demonstrations by artists, family games and activities, animals from Chehaw, a bounce house and games, face painting, collaborative artmaking, and games. The AMA and its galleries will be open, as will the AMAzing Space creative play center.
In addition to Publix and the James M. Barnett, Jr. Foundation, The Heart of Albany Festival is sponsored by Flint Community Bank, Vine Vision, Fleming & Riles Insurance, Phoebe, WebstaurantStore, Bridge Import Group, Adams Exterminators, Edward Jones, J&J, F&W Forestry, JLA, Synovus, Albany Internal Medicine, LRA Constructors, the Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., Moreschi Pediatrics, Ambetter Peach State Health Plan, and Perfect Strokes. HeartFest Partners are WALB, The Albany Herald, Southwest Georgia Living Magazine, Retro FM 102.1, AAA Concrete Products & Materials, Smile Doctors, 4imprint, and the City of Albany.
To learn more, visit The Heart of Albany Festival website HERE.
AMA EXHIBITIONS
- Land That I Love, works by Ashley Cecil, is in the Haley Gallery Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
- Familias, works by Ramiro Davaro-Comas, is in the East and Hodges Galleries Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
- Southern Visionaries: Self-Taught Artists From the AMA Permanent Collection is in the McCormack Gallery Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
- Escape Plan, an installation by Elinor Saragoussi, is in the West Gallery.
ABOUT THE ALBANY MUSEUM OF ART
The Albany Museum of Art is located at 311 Meadowlark Drive in Albany, Ga., adjacent to Albany State University West Campus just off Gillionville Road. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Albany Museum of Art is open to the public 10 am-5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
For more information about the AMA please visit our website, www.albanymuseum.com, or call 229.439.8400. Be sure to follow the @AlbanyArtMuseum on Twitter, AlbanyMuseum on Instagram, and AlbanyMuseumOfArt on Facebook.
