When You’re Strange, Things Will Be Great Downtown

Earlier this year I was asked by the Athens Downtown Development Authority to create four whimsical designs to celebrate the wild and weird side of Athens for their downtown banners. The idea is to encourage the community and beyond to visit downtown, grab some lunch at a local restaurant, pick up some new vinyl at the local record shops, grab a gift at the gift shops, or heck just walk around and explore the architecture! I based the designs off my merry band of misfits, a bat and donut, raccoon with an ice cream sandwich, a possum with a waffle, and a new Athens addition-Rock Lobster with a vinyl record. (The lobster is inspired by the song “Rock Lobster” by the B-52s and the new Rock Lobsters Ice Hockey team!) Well the banners I designed were an absolute hit. Phone calls came pouring in from people asking if they could buy the actual banners. The Athens Downtown Development Authority told me they didn’t have one complaint about the banners which apparently is a first. In fact they received multiple phone calls praising the banners. That the community embraced these weirdough banners has warmed my rock n roll heart and further seals my commitment to celebrating the misunderstood, the maligned, and the slightly mischievous. /|^._.^/|

The bummer news is that the banners have finally come down (ADDA is ramping up for the holiday decorations), buuuut the rad news is they are all here with me in my art studio. I will have them on display and available at the Backyard Bonanza If you want to own a piece of strange Athens downtown history, you can go ahead and grab one of the banners right now. Check them out below.

p.s. It is also a new month which means there’s a new Wild at Art featured collector. Scroll down to find out who it is!

Add sprinkles,

Will
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Athens Downtown Banners

click images for details and to purchase

Wild At Art Episode III

It’s a new month so we have a new Wild At Heart featured collector. Checkout Wild At Art Episode III with the amazing Dr. Jeff Legato!

Your Name: Hi My name is Jeff Legato
​Location : I live in Winterville, Georgia

What do you do when you’re not collecting art?​
​By profession, I am a Veterinarian at Sycamore Veterinary Services ( www.sycamorevets.com on the web, Facebook and Instagram). Hobbies? I swim and on rare occasions, hike, and paddleboard. I also make copper and silver jewelry from time to time.

What piece(s) do you own?​
The piece I own is a valentine heart that says; “2 cool for Rabies”.

Where do you display it?​
It is displayed in my clinic (Duh!!)

Why did you connect with this piece?​
​My connection to this is on several levels. The obvious is that I like to remind everyone that while Rabies is fatal, it is also preventable. Dig a little deeper, and you will find there is one mammal (the Opossum) that almost never gets rabies- Its body temperature is too low for the virus to incubate. As a side note, there is an offhand reference to this in the latest version of “I am Legend”, but that’s a story for a different day.

If this piece was a song, it would be:​
Were this piece a song??? Ooohh tough one. Rudy can’t fail!!

What’s your go-to comfort activity when you need a little art-inspired escape?​
Go to comfort activities: Being outside.. reading..cooking…working on a jewelry piece.. Listening to music (my tastes are pretty wide ranging)

What is your favorite comfort food?​
Homemade spaghetti & meatballs!!

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Upcoming In-Person Events

Oct. – December 2025 – FEATURED ARTIST at Trackside Tavern, Decatur, GA

November 22nd – Backyard Bonanza Open Studio Sale

December 7th – Winder’s 1st Sunday Art Market – Finished Goods Brewery Works, GA

December 11th & 12th – Big City Holiday Market, Athen, GA

​more coming soon…​