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Anyone who's attended the Official NBAF Artists' Market in years past is likely to find familiar faces among the painters, sculptors and jewelers displaying work this year. About 70 percent of the more than 80 artists participating in the popular market are return exhibitors.

The big difference in this 20th anniversary edition of the market is the venue. Georgia World Congress Center is bigger and brighter than Greenbriar Mall, the Artists' Market's previous home.

ALEXANDER ACOSTA / aacosta@ajc.com (ENLARGE)
Clay sculpture by Woodrow Nash entitled 'Almitra'. Nash is an artist who travelled from Akron, Ohio to attend the National Black Arts Festival. Artists and vendors display their work and products during the National Black Arts Festival, July 24-26 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
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"I told them I would come if they came to a venue that would attract more people," said artist Elliott Hubbard, of Fairburn, who is exhibiting his colorful clay sculpture for the first time.

Other events taking place during the market include cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and a literary salon featuring panel discussions, readings and a children's story hour.

With art including paintings, photography, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry and prices ranging from a few dollars to several thousand, there's sure to be something for everyone.

Ceramic Sculpture: Elliott Hubbard

Hubbard, a self-taught artist, works with clay, metal and other objects to create colorful sculptures depicting themes such as music and flowers. Prices range from about $250 to $3,500. This year, he has introduced a series of jazz-themed prints inspired by Hurricane Katrina. The 30-by-50-inch limited edition prints cost $600 each.

Jewelry: Another Phase by Karen Roache

Roache had planned to get a doctorate in psychology, but during a hiatus from school she discovered people would pay for her handcrafted precious and semi-precious stone jewelry. The South Carolina-based jeweler has more than 2,000 unique designs of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces on display. A pair of wire-wrapped Venetian glass earrings cost $8, while a multi-strand necklace with Austrian crystals, amethyst, citrine, rubies and sapphires runs just over $500.

Mixed Media: Art by Najee

Najee Dorsey moved to Atlanta in 2005 and watched demand for his work grow. The Lithia Springs-based artist creates collages using fabric, paint, photographs, and paper that focus on themes of family, music and society; they start at about $680. Dorsey will customize any collage featuring photographs by inserting customer-supplied photos into the piece.

Functional Ceramics: Zebi Designs by Sandra Zebi

Zebi creates functional ceramics and tiles depicting images of women of African descent and other themes. Framed ceramic tile portraits, serving platters, plates, tea cups and saucers range from $15 to $200.

Painting: Simone Fennell and the late Albert Fennell

The day after the 2002 Artists' Market ended, Albert Fennell died. "He gave his life doing what he loved," said his wife, Shanna Fennell. This year, Fennell's daughter, Simone, is carrying on the legacy. The one-time aspiring actress started painting as a way to work through her grief, but when her mom saw her sketches, "I asked her, 'Can you do more?' " said Shanna Fennell. Simone Fennell's theatrical leanings are apparent in the diva-inspired women she paints . Prices range from $35 to $5,000.

America I Am: The African American Imprint

Also on display at the Artists' Market is the "America I Am" tour bus, a mini-museum containing a scaled-down version of the "America I Am: The African American Imprint" exhibit that is scheduled to begin touring the country in November.

This partial exhibit features artifacts, documents and music including Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves and a letter written by Booker T. Washington, all representing the contributions of African Americans to the nation's history.

The exhibition's presenter, radio and TV host and author Tavis Smiley, said the exhibit aims to raise the level of appreciation of African American history, both in and beyond Black America.

"When we are done with this, we believe we are going to have gathered the world's largest history project about the African American contributions to this country," Smiley said.

ARTISTS MARKET

NBAF Artists' Market. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon-6 p.m., Sunday. Georgia World Congress Center, Building A, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW. Admission: $5. Parking: $10 in the Red or Green GWCC lots.