Brush with round leather worlds | Football arts in the American South
Decatur, Georgia | Rare is the time when we can write from our own town about cultural happenings related to football. But the World Cup arts program has seeped into even this sweltering corner of the all-encompassing FIFA universe.
The Vinson Gallery on 8 June inaugurated a showing of the 14 official art posters commissioned for the finals. Except for the efforts of Hisashi Tenmyouya (Japan) and Owusu-Ankomah (Ghana), we found the results somewhat forced—perhaps a problem when artists respond to a commission rather than directly from inspiration. We were most surprised by the new creation (below) from local artist Ruth Franklin, who is English. Gallery owner Shawn Vinson, shirted in England replica colors, said he had suggested on a stop by Franklin’s studio that she add a football to her composition. Such is the birthing of the football arts, at least in a Southern state.
 The new Ruth Franklin creation, unexpected but welcome. |
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, has campaigned to relocate the remains of goalkeeper-cum-existentialist Albert Camus from their resting place in Lourmarin. 
[...] I couldn’t locate one nearby but unfortunately, I chanced upon an exhibition at Decatur, GA. I have fond memories of the place where I spent many evenings either studying or just whiling away time. The art district of Decatur might be a weird place for soccer art but it sure is getting in the act by remixing one of the local art pieces by adding a ball to a local artist’s painting. “Gallery owner Shawn Vinson, shirted in England replica colors, said he had suggested on a stop by Franklin’s studio that she add a football to her composition” [source]. this is unprecedented in an otherwise football (American)-crazy southern state. Quickly Bookmark “The Art of Football”‘ at: Listen to this post [...]
[...] Franklin is a studio artist represented by Decatur’s Vinson Gallery. Her work has featured previously in this space (see 10 Jun 06). [...]