Mayor's Corner

What Is Fine Art and What Is the Fine Art Market?

Does anyone have a feel for what is considered fine art, and if you do, what is that art worth?

Most think of art in terms of visual arts, i.e. painting, sculpture, jewelry, and the like. Many think of artists in terms of Michelangelo, Rubens, or companies like Tiffany or Faberge, and others. But most modern art isn’t created by folks with innate ability. Artists learn it and develop the sales skills needed to make a living. More likely they are the Warhols of our age. Most of us don’t appreciate some of the fine arts because we don’t like how it looks. After all a pile of sticks is just a pile of sticks no matter how cleverly they are stacked up. Yet the art market in the United States is over a billion dollars per year. Millionaires stalk each other at art auction in places like Christie’s and pay enormous prices for some items …

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Win Tickets to Opening Weekend of 'Lark Eden' at Aurora Theatre

Patch is giving away a pair of prime tickets to the last show of the downtown Lawrenceville theatre's season.

Enter to win a pair of fifth row tickets to an opening weekend performance of Lark Eden at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville on Saturday, May 4, at 8 p.m. from Patch.  Aurora's final play of its 17th season, Lark Eden is a southern comedy about chosen family and best friends. The play by Natalie Symons follows three lifelong friends over 75 years. The play runs from May 2 through May 26. Full-price tickets start at $20. Visit www.auroratheatre.com for discount and matinee prices. To enter Patch's ticket giveaway, simply tell us about your best friend in the comment section below by Thursday, May 2, at 12 p.m. We will randomly choose the winner from the comments. The winner will be announced by Thursday, May 2, at 6 p.m. See our rules for…

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Dacula Middle Student Turns Assignment Into Published Novel

Cosmic Love and War is a short, young-adult, novel written by 13-year-old author Jada Ariel Johnson.

'Phantom of the Opera' Runs April 25-27 at Mountain View High School

A small army of students, faculty and community members alike have volunteered over 6,500 hours of their time in making sure every detail is executed and performed with excellence as they bring this masterpiece together.

Mill Creek Chorus Sweeps New York Festival of Music

Members of the Mill Creek Chorus Participated in the New York Festival of Music on April 12, 2013.

Movie Review: 'Jack the Giant Slayer' Full of Over-the-Top CGI, a Little Romance and Gross Humor

A new Jack and the Beanstalk tale has flaws, but should do fine with a younger audience.

The CGI wizards in Hollywood have taken an old fairy tale and made it into kind of a big video game. This time Jack climbs the beanstalk to encounter not just one giant, but a whole village of them in "Jack the Giant Slayer." Shot in 3D and packed with CGI, director Bryan Singer uses his skills to create a whole new story that kids may love. Sure, there is a little romance and some gross-out vulgar humor but, hey, they are giants after all. The CGI is a bit over the top, but that is the way these fantasy movies are made these days. A great acting cast includes Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Bill Nighy, and Nicholas Hoult (who plays Jack). The giants are supposed to be scary, but, in fact, they seem a bit comical to me. Are there any flaws …

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Movie Review: 'Snitch' an Entertaining Picture That Keeps You Guessing

Critic says film generates a real desperation and fear as it shows a man getting in way over his head.

In "Snitch," Dwayne Johnson plays John Matthews, the divorced father of a teenage son, Jason (Rafi Gavron). The son gets strong-armed into a drug deal gone bad and ends up with a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. Ah, but there's a catch: dutiful, guilt-ridden Dad—who owns a successful shipping company--can infiltrate a drug cartel and get his son’s sentence reduced. Making the offer is U.S. Attorney Joanne Keeghan (Susan Sarandon), who’s also running for office. Rounding out the cast are Jon Bernthal as Daniel James, an ex-con and Matthews’ employee, who’s trying to go straight.; Michael Kenneth Williams as Malik, a cartel employee of Juan Carlos 'El Topo' Pintera (Benjamin Bratt ); and Barry Pepper as Agent Cooper, Matthews’ police …

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Dacula Ballerina to Participate in Prestigious Dance Competition

Ten local ballerinas selected to perform in Youth America Grand Prix Souththeastern Semifinals to present their competition pieces in a Feb. 24 preview.

The Gwinnett Ballet Theatre is inviting the community to see performances at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, by 10 local ballerinas who will be competing in the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix Southeastern Semifinals. The Gwinnett Ballet Theatre is hosting the semifinals of the classical ballet competition in March. It will bring an estimated 1,000 young dancers, their parents, teachers and coaches to Gwinnett County. Dancers selected for the competition are Claire Bockhop of Snellville, Abgrace Diprima of Lawrenceville, Kendall Greene of Lawrenceville, Madison Green of Lawrenceville, Kenzie Martin of Grayson, Bianca Melidor of Dacula, Nichole Polakowski of Snellville, Cameron Silas of Snellville, Jordan Silas of Snellville, and Madeline …

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Romantic Gwinnett Symphony & Chorus Concert Scheduled for Feb. 17

Program features works by Rachmaninov with a special performance by guest pianist at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth.

The Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra & Chorus will present a Valentines concert titled “Shine” at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, in the Performing Arts Center at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth. Concert ticket holders also will be treated to a pre-concert performance by the Gwinnett Symphony Youth Orchestra at 4:30 p.m. The GSOC program will feature romantic works by Sergei Rachmaninov including a special performance of Rachmaninov’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18” with guest pianist Robert Henry. An internationally distinguished pianist, Henry has won four International Piano Competitions and gave critically acclaimed solo performances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. In 2010, he released a debut CD “Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz.” …

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