Callanwolde Fine Arts Center — Attraction in Decatur

As a Disabled US Army Female Veteran, who’s permanently in a Mobility Wheelchair with 2 medically necessary small Service Dogs. In saying these things I would travel to Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by Marta Buses and Trains which will take me majority of my day. I did this for over two years taking Metal Smithing/ Jewelry Making Classes, Charcoal Drawing Classes, Acrylic Painting Classes and Hand building Pottery Classes without any problems. It wasn’t until two weeks of the Summer Pottery Hand Building Studio Access ending which I was enrolled in that a student cruelly mistreated my 2 small Service Dogs and me that she triggered my PTSD where I relived my rape that happened while I was serving in the Military over 30 years ago. I reported what happened to me in person over the phone and then in emails and sadly , I wasn’t believed.

One of the Administrators Mr. Andrew called my horrific ordeal a unique situation. Which if you look at the definition is unique mean being the only one of a particular type; single; sole. Without equal or like; unparalleled. That’s clearly an insults to injury, I don't make up stuff or I wouldn't lie on anybody. What I endured it triggered me, made my me feel extremely unsafe and them not believe me. Especially when I reported it and what truly happened to me.

I'm not the only Veteran who hasn't been affected like, Rhonda and her Service dog Leo to be viciously bitten. For the Administration allow that woman to bring her vicious dogs to be still on the premises is totally disrespectful, uncaring and biased.

Mr. Andrew to say he has to be unbiased , which I feel like if the shoe was on the other foot, and if I had done anything wrong, things would have been handle differently.

To say they want Veterans to not understand the true effects that Veterans who have PTSD and other other plights that we are always looking for a safe haven and happy place. To be misunderstood, mocked , triggered, not believed when something horrific or tragic happens to us. Then for Callanwolde to do nothing to stop it, instead , they make you feel like you're the person who has done wrong when you haven't. It’s just like my rapist did to me while I was in the service.

To say they love us and we're part of the family , family don't treat each other like that. What happened to me could have been handled in a professional way instead of in a way where I feel like I weren’t believed, that it and I don’t matter. Callanwolde has become place where it’s a trigger and unsafe for my 2 Service dogs and me.

Although some my items that I did in summer studio access was returned to me, which without my permission was fired in a kiln and damaged. There are still items missing my daughter and I have reached out to Mr. Andrew asking for them to be returned and apparently he’s ignoring us.

I have moved on and will never step never entered the premises of Callanwolde again.

Below are pictures of items that are missing and I believe that they are not going to return them, which is sad because I’m who created...

I recently attended a wedding at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. The center is beautiful and upon arrival, most of the staff was amicable and friendly. At this particular wedding ceremony, the center provided white folding chairs. Some of the chairs had been painted and the paint was tacky to the touch. I had not noticed this beforehand and was sitting for more than an hour in wet paint. When I stood, I felt the fabric on my skirt sticking to the cushion. As I peeled my skirt away from the seat, I was left with multiple streaky stains of white paint across my bottom. I was beyond livid! Being that this was a wedding, I was formally dressed and the skirt cost a pretty penny. The staff on-hand seemed generally unsympathetic to the issue. They took everyone's name but no contact information. They didn't even set the wet chairs aside when they pushed them into the next room for the reception. I spoke with the main coordinator, Jade, who seemed bothered when I asked her name and contact information to follow up. She never once apologized and acted as if I was annoying her for being concerned about my ruined skirt. I left the event early to keep from sitting, once again, in wet paint (since they reused the same affected chairs). I plan to speak with someone a bit more professional in the main office as soon as it reopens for business, but I am beyond dissatisfied. For such a classy venue, I was appalled at the lack of care and compassion the staff showed the guests. I wonder how future guests will feel, knowing that this center would allow carelessness (wet painted chairs on the day of the wedding) and callous disregard for complainants. I will not soon attend another event here.

UPDATE

It has been nearly a month since the paint incident and the only resolution that the Director (Peggy Johnson) had to offer is that I drive 25 miles out of my way to leave my formal skirt with her assistant to have it cleaned. I explained that it was not feasible for me to make that trip (and certainly inconvenient) and even mentioned that the woman, "Jade" that I spoke to on the day of the incident indicated that there would be a different means of fixing our issue. I have not since heard a word from any member of the Callanwolde staff and am completely dissatisfied. Be wary that if you host an event here, that you and your guests may be victim to the same. The venue provided seats that were painted and not dry the day of the event. Several guests walked away with paint on their clothing. Nothing has been done to settle...

I finally made it to Callanwolde to see the Atlanta Collage Society exhibit. Both were underwhelming. The facility was underwhelming, even disappointing. Maybe, because it was the off season, so to speak, it is "down in the heel", run down, shabby, and tired. It certainly needs a good scrubbing, fresh paint, and several coats of wax. The room in which the ACS exhibit is displayed is trashy. Trashy debris was scattered all over the room, some of it leaning up against the artwork. The condition of the room very much demonstrated the Callanwolde staff's lack of respect for the artists, and the artworks they chose to exhibit. The condition of the room made for a bad art experience.

That being said, I went to the exhibit to appropriate fresh, new ideas to incorporate in to my collage paintings. There was NOTHING to appropriate. Most of the artwork exhibited is "soulless". Most of it looked like the collages the teaching nuns had us do in religion class, and art (none of the teaching nuns were trained art teachers) in middle school. *Disclaimer: I am a member of the ACS. I believe that we can, and should challenge ourselves to do better, and be better artists. I expect A LOT! of myself, that's just how I was raised, and I expect a lot of others too. It's ALL good.

My 40 y/o Autistic friend hated the experience. And his mother, a retired highschool art teacher, wasn't too keen...