The Artists of the Arts Association
An active group of two-dimensional artists paint with oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Some portray the landscapes of southern coastal Georgia others paint scenes from travels around the world. Others venture into the abstract, and multi-media works. In addition to paint, members draw with pencil, ink, charcoal and pastels. Photographers have blossomed both in the full use of digital techniques, to newer methods of presentation using aluminum and canvas to print and display their work.
Fiber Arts, of which the Weaving Guild is a key part, work in many mediums. Many members quilt or knit and the quality of their work cannot be found in normal retail stores. Members have extended into fashion design with their own patterns and fabrics to produce some stunning Outerwear.
It is natural that along with Fiber Arts a very active Jewelry group exists. Some people start at a craft level but soon they want to design, select, polish, form, solder, braze and mount for very unique and beautiful pieces. What becomes invaluable is that people of all skills will become friends through the Arts Association while at the same time learning from each other.
The use of natural materials is instinctive to most artists. Many members are accomplished wood workers. They spend many hours finding raw wood with grain coloration and limb patterns that when turned, polished and decorated are incredibly beautiful. At times they have made pen and pencil bodies and boxes, then ventured as large as rocking chairs.
Basketry thrives at Goodyear with artisans creating forms and patterns that change useful items into works of art. These same artisans are also instructors who willingly share their expertise with eager students in classes. Basketry is not only done at Goodyear Cottage. It can be done at home watching TV or sitting in the backyard enjoying the natural light.
The make up if our membership is diverse. Most members have a main area that they work in, but over 70% are involved in multiple artistic pursuits.
The Jekyll Island Arts Association ~ Pottery Guild
The Pottery Guild, established in 1976, is a subsidiary organization of the Arts Association with separate membership qualification requirements and dues, as outlined below. The Guild maintains a fully-equipped pottery workshop and studio in the basement of Goodyear Cottage. Experienced members help newcomers learn wheel throwing, hand building, slab, or sculpture work in a community environment.
The Guild participates annually in the Tidelands Nature Festival, the Manna House Soup Bowl Dinner, and the Jekyll Island Arts Festival. The Guild also hosts a visiting artist every winter.
Pottery Guild Membership
Faced with capacity limitations, the Pottery Guild has two categories of membership — full members and summer members. In addition, full membership entails an apprenticeship. Guidelines and applications for each category of membership are available via the links below:
Pottery Guild Full Membership Guidelines
Pottery Guild Full Membership Application
Pottery Guild Summer Membership Guidelines
Pottery Guild Summer Membership Application
The Pottery Guild has a comprehensive selection of equipment housed in the 1,400 sq. ft. pottery workshop and studio.
- Powered Pottery Wheels – 6
- Electric Kilns for Firing Wheel Thrown, Hand Formed and Sculpture – 4
- Work benches and seating for hand forming, glaze and Decoration work
- An assortment of Clay, Glazes and Decorating Materials
The Association has invested in professional display cabinets and shelving where the work of Pottery Guild members can be placed on consignment for sales in the Goodyear Gallery and Shop. As of this time we have about 75 members of the Pottery Guild. Because the equipment, upgrades, space, utilities, clay, glazes, decoration, hand tools … members of the Pottery guild have an additional assessment to the annual dues of $75/yr, to “keep the lights on, and keep them creating individual works of art”.
The Jekyll Island Arts Association ~ Weaving Guild
The Guild is made up of members who are learning how to hand weave on floor looms. Members help newcomers learn to plan, warp the loom and weave projects. To join the Guild, new members must first have completed a Beginner Weavers class. The classes are held on the weaving equipment in the Goodyear. They occur twice a year, in the Fall and the Winter Quarters.
The weaving studio on the second floor of Goodyear is open Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1 to 4 pm. All equipment is furnished. Currently the Guild has 12 looms of various types like those shown below.
- Rigid Heddle Looms ~These looms provide the equivalent of two-shaft weaving and can be adapted to behave as a four shaft loom by adding a second heddle set.
- Table Looms smaller, less expensive, portable looms are usually jack looms. Sometimes they have springs under the shafts to hold them down. Table looms are good for learning as they are portable enough to put into a car or even on a plane to take to a workshop.
- Tapestry Looms: The tapestry frame loom is the most simple form for a weaving loom. The Navajo loom would be considered a frame loom.
It is not unusual for Weavers to purchase their own looms to have at home, after they have acquired good skill through the Weavers Guild. This group is very social enjoying each other’s company as they work on their particular projects at the Goodyear.
The Jekyll Island Arts Association ~ Needlework Group
The Needlework Group meets every Wednesday, 1:30-3:30 pm, year round on the second floor of Goodyear Cottage. Come join us for tea and conversation. Work on your current project, learn something new, or just drop in for a chat. We are happy to teach beginners to knit or crochet, and we have supplies to get you started. Members can also assist with other types of needlework or crafts. Members of the Art Association can sell their creations through the Goodyear Shop.
There is no membership fee to join the Needlework Group.
For more information contact: Carol Cover carolhcover@gmail.com or Ame Ivanov amewillis@bellsouth.net.
The Jekyll Island Arts Association ~ Singers
The Jekyll Singers rehearse on Mondays from 3:00 to 4:30 at the Methodist Church Hall, from just after Labor Day in September, through the Holiday Concert. Rehearsals resume after the Holidays in early January in order to prepare for the Spring Concert in March. This year the Singers brought their music to an assisted living center in Brunswick where their music was greatly appreciated. We look forward to singing a few more off island concerts in the coming years.
The Singers are people that love to sing and come from varied musical backgrounds. There is always room for more voices! Please join the Jekyll Art Association and, if you are interested in joining ‘The Singers’ contact Kate Hamer (kwhamer@comcast.net).