The Georgia Artisan Center is located at the EL Greenway Visitor Center in the historic train depot across from Robins Air Force Base.
The Georgia Artisan Center (GAC) is the latest addition to Warner Robins’ downtown landscape. Housed inside the EL Greenway Visitor Center, GAC offers shoppers quality craftsmanship made in Georgia. Visitors to the area can take home a piece of Georgia while locals can take pride in the collection of unique items assembled.
The location is 99 Armed Forces Boulevard, N., which is the historic train depot located directly across from Robins Air Force Base at the corner of Watson Boulevard. The plan is that the Georgia Artisan Center will eventually be housed in the tourist information centers offered by Warner Robins on I-75 and Russell Parkway. The Visitor Center will be the gateway to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park campus.
A variety of craft items now available for purchase include food items, music DVDs, books, soy candles and jewelry. All are made here in Georgia and most cost between $4.99 and $40.00. Quilted pieces, paintings and wooden carvings are on a higher level.
Currently showcasing their work is eminent author L. Harris Churchwell, who wrote “Seeking Glory” and “Captains at Rest,” two accounts of Georgia’s 12th Regiment during the Civil War. His wife Judy Churchwell, an author in her own right, shares “Tales from The Hotel,” which are her memories of the people she saw walking through the town of Hawkinsville when she was a child and lived in the family’s Hawkinsville hotel. The book captures the local culture and personalities of the guests and townspeople.
Macon quilter Sandy Gilreath showcases pieces that are a unique combination of fabrics, themes and techniques. She also has her book “52 Tuesdays – A Quilt Journal” available for purchase. Author Glenn Grossman has also signed copies of his “The Yoshinos of Macon”, which features an introduction by Carolyn Crayton. Warner Robins resident Jake Redmon shares his “Waters of Hope,” a book inspired by his visit to the Catskill Mountains in New York City.
Music collectors will appreciate Rowland Everett Fall’s CDs. His guitar and vocals are captured on “The Lightword Café”, “Hay and Hope” and “The Perfect Christmas”.
Daryl Lamb of Jackson, Georgia has handcrafted baskets of various sizes as well as pendants and necklaces. Another favorite from the Georgia Made/Georgia Grown line is the Georgia Peach Scented Southern Soy Candles. What is unique with candles is that when the candle melts, it becomes a warm skin care product.
Perry craftsman Bill Loudermilk has a timely display of Old World turned wooden Christmas ornaments, tool boxes and handsaw Christmas ornaments as well as train whistles. Additionally, Mark Turcotte has oval Shaker boxes, ornaments, pen sets, and military pieces representing all of the US Armed Forces in wood and glass. And finally, for a taste of Georgian flavors, Grandma Kaufman’s Homestyle Goodness offers frog jam, bourbon peach barbecue sauce, peach salsa and sweet beets.
The Georgia Artisan Center is open during normal Welcome Center hours, which are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
This story was originally published December 3, 2017 9:46 a.m.