| GENERAL INFORMATION |
The Sharptop Arts Association is a 501 non-profit community driven arts organization which was created to stimulate and encourage appreciation of all the fine arts and further help development of the arts and crafts in Pickens County. The S.A.A. governing Board of Directors is made up of concerned artists and citizens of the public and as such represent the wide scope and diversity of the regional arts community.
Through numerous classes, workshops, exhibits and cultural events the Association strives to provide a balanced but diverse program of art opportunities for all the people of Pickens County and the extended community in north Georgia.
Instructional fine art Classes and hands-on workshops are usually held at the Quinton Art Center in business district of Jasper, Georgia - including sculpture, pottery, painting, photography, basket weaving, ceramics, theater, philosophy and yoga, to name but a few of the ever expanding programs offered at Quinton by S.A.A. Most workshops, classes, and lectures are offered on Saturdays so as to accommodate the needs of the greatest number of citizens of our growing community by making the programing easily accessible and affordable to one and all.
Sharptop fine arts exhibitions feature a wide variety of local and regional artists in a assorted set of media. Each public exhibition has an opening night reception where the community has the opportunity to meet the artist in that exhibition. Artwork is generally on display every weekend at the Art Center, with most of the original works presented being for sale by the artists. for an extended period of time.
History
The Sharptop Arts Association was founded by Tom Quinton, assistant principal of the Pickens Elementary School, in 1976. Mr. Quinton, an artist, was interested in preserving our north Georgia mountain areas arts and crafts in a permanent location which was accessible to those interested in all the regional arts. In 1980 the historic building which now houses the Association was deeded to Sharptop Arts Association and named the “Tom Quinton Memorial Arts Center” in his lasting honor, and for the purpose he intended.
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