By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

MUSIC
Spivey decks the halls
Spivey Hall, on the Clayton State University campus in Morrow, has announced a diverse slate of performances, most well suited for families, this holiday season, notably including a concert by Michael Londra from Broadway’s “Riverdance.”

The schedule at Spivey, the elegant 392-seat recital hall that will be decorated with Christmas trees and wreaths, garlands and colorful lighting:

• 11:15 a.m. Monday: Carols and holiday tunes from the Mercer Singers and the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings Orchestra.
• 7 p.m. Dec. 7: Spivey Hall Young Artists and Spivey Hall Children’s Choir in the first of three concerts showcasing the 170-member Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program (with plenty of free cookies, too).
• 3 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9: Spivey Hall Children’s Choir and Spivey Hall Tour Choir.
• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9: the Atlanta Singers performing modern interpretations of Christmas anthems, carols and spirituals.
• 8:15 p.m. Dec. 15: OurSong: The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chorus performing “A Twisted Holiday,” traditional favorites and familiar texts in fresh arrangements.
• 3 p.m. Dec. 16: “A Celtic Yuletide with Michael Londra,” featuring stories, songs and Celtic airs.

Tickets: 678-466-4200, www.spiveyhall.org.

VISUAL ART
Folk soars despite economy
With Chuck Rosenak in the audience at last weekend’s Slotin Folk Art Auction’s Fall Masterpiece Sale, a number of works from his highly regarded private collection drew huge bids at Historic Buford Hall.

In fact, the first and third-highest prices of the weekend were fetched by pieces from Rosenak, who co-authored with his late wife Jan the “Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century American Folk Art and Artists” and other seminal self-taught art tomes.

The auction’s top five sellers:

1. “Dr. Buz,” an undated painting on found roofing tin by Gullah artist Sam Doyle, $48,300

2. “Island Beauty,” an undated 1980s painting on tin by Doyle, $35,650

3. A circa 1940-42 painting of a horse on cardstock by Alabama sidewalk artist Bill Traylor, $35,650

4. “Charging Bull with Matador,” a 1987 painting on board by Kentucky-born William Hawkins, $33,350

5. An anonymous circa 1920s religious banner, 68 inches wide, on muslin cloth, $33,350

“I’m always a little bit more nervous when a consignor comes to watch the auction of his items in person,” said Amy Slotin, who assists her husband Steve in organizing the twice yearly auctions and Folk Fest every summer. “Of course they want the pieces to sell for good money, but often more importantly, it is a validation of their life’s interest … and, in Chuck’s case, his life’s work.”

Details on all 1,225 lots: www.slotinfolkart.com.

ARTS
Metro leaders arrive, depart

• Raye Varney has been appointed interim executive director of ArtWorks Gwinnett, a nonprofit agency that promotes and supports arts institutions and programs in Gwinnett County.

The former managing director of Marietta’s Theatre in the Square takes over for inaugural ArtWorks executive director Sally Corbett, who is returning to her home state of New York after 18 years in a variety of roles in the metro Atlanta arts community.

Information about Gwinnett’s cultural offerings: www.artworksgwinnett.org.

• Cobb County attorney Larry M. Dingle has been named a director of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Foundation. Dingle is a member of the firm of Wilson, Brock & Irby LLC. The non-profit foundation helps secure financial resources for the performing arts center.