The Visual Art and Music of Abe Partridge – February 11, 2023

Abe Partridge is a heralded musician, singer/songwriter, visual artist, and podcaster based in Mobile, Alabama.
Since the release of his debut, Cotton Fields and Blood For Days, in 2018, Partridge has toured relentlessly, including several tours of the Netherlands and the U.K. developing a reputation for moving, passionate, and sometimes comedic, performances at prestigious songwriter festivals and a regular at Nashville’s Bluebird Café. He has performed on the syndicated radio programs, Mountain Stage and Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. When Partridge is not writing or touring, He is creating his folk art paintings, which now hang in art galleries around the southeast and in the private collections of Tyler Childers, Mike Wolfe (American Pickers),
and Rick Hirsch (Wet Willie). His artwork was featured in Stephen King’s 2019 sequel to The Shining – Dr. Sleep.
He painted the cover art for Charlie Parr’s, Last Of The Better Days Ahead (Smithsonian Folkways). He also
created art for Tyler Childers ’2022 release, Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven? Facebook: https://fb.me/e/2AyFTTckC

Artist Statement
I left Mobile when I was 18 in pursuit of a theological education. I attended 4 bible colleges in 4 years… partly
because I couldn’t follow rules, partly because I knew better. I became a pastor of a small Independent Baptist Church in the Appalachians of Eastern Kentucky at 25 years old. When I was 27 years old I became acquainted with a horrible depression. I left the ministry and turned to Art. I have written songs and made paintings like these for years. Only after joining the military and going to war did I decide to begin sharing my art with the world. I never took a songwriting class, nor have I ever had an art class. I always just thought I was weird…

“Rethink preconceived notions.
Question authority.
Create new methods of survival.
See beauty.”

  • Abe

Friday, August 5, 2022 – Art Opening

The Art Guild of the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta

Invites you to the opening reception of:

The Visual Art of Nancy Emerson White

Friday, August 5, 2022, 6:00-8:00 PM

The First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta

470 Candler Park Drive, Atlanta, Georgia

Free and open to the public!

Artist Statement

When I lived in Sheridan WY, I saw that the college was offering a community class on pottery. I had a small child and few friends as we had recently moved there so it seemed like a place to exercise my mind and hands and meet people. Later when we moved to Idaho Springs, I heard of a class in Ellie Mitchell’s garage where an artist from Central City was giving classes every week. That was when I took up pastel pencil sketching and then oil painting. Ever since then I have found clay classes wherever I lived. It feeds my need for creativity.

Special Music provided by Lonesome Redwing

Lonesome Redwing features bluegrass and old-time fiddle classics, as well as fresh original material.  Kathy, Russell, and Ellen are all natives of Georgia, and are multi-instrumentalist as well as songwriters. Lonesome Redwing has opened for many legendary performers, including Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Claire Lynch, Patty Loveless, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. 

Saturday, November 20, 2021, 1-4 PM

Chilly Chili E-Fest at First E!

Downloadable Flyer:

https://firstexistentialist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Chilly-Chili-Fest-Flyer-2021.pdf

What’s the occasion? We miss each other!

We can gather, socialize, and

lay eyes on each other in a safe way!

It will be a day of outdoor fun and fellowship at First E.

We’ll have FOOD:

veggie

& beef or turkey

chili, and cornbread

beer & soft drinks, live music,

a Peace Pyramid

And other FESTIVITIES!

  Hopefully this will be a way for us to rejuvenate our spirits & morale

since we haven’t been able to gather as a Congregation for so long.


There will be a table for donations, so please bring what you can.


We are very excited to announce the  LIVE entertainment line-up:

Elise Witt and Mick Kinney

with Cuban musicians 

Lisset Rod & Irina Vazquez!

Kathy McGuire!

Debra Hiers, poet!


So bundle up and join us for fun, entertainment and chili on a chilly November afternoon. Watch Robert’s e-Blasts for more information.

This E-vent is sponsored by the Art Guild and the ACTION Committee. 

FRI, 09/17/2021 – PASS THE PLATE PRESENTS:

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE

On Friday, September 17 at 7:30, join us on Zoom to play a rousing game of truth, deception and outright lies.  Share three statements about yourself, two true and one false.  Your job is to make us believe the lie.  The rest of us will attempt to discern the lie. 

The zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/95955377139?pwd=aXVHb3J0bFR0NVRaRi92eCsrY3dSZz09

So, bring the most outrageous true things about yourself and the most believable lies.  Please bring enough for about three rounds.

Suggested donation is $10.00, but any amount will be appreciated.  Come and find out which of your friends are the best liars!

July 16, 2021 – SHOW & TELL!!!

BY POPULAR DEMAND

IS BACK! THE MEMBERSHIP GUILD INVITES YOU TO:

Remembrance of Things Past

Join us on Zoom July 16 at 7:30.  Bring something meaningful to you to share. It can be arts, crafts, pets, a beloved childhood toy, photographs, or anything else you want to tell a story about.  At the first event,  our Congregation shared stories of childhood friends that gave them something interesting, cookware that held memories of family feasts and other fascinating stories from their pasts. So, gather up your meaningful things and tell us why they are important to you.

The zoom link is here:

https://zoom.us/j/92830347666?pwd=MGU5NkpRc0I0YkJ5VWZmejRrM0FkQT09

   We’ll see you and your memories there!

May 14, 2021 – The Membership Guild Presents Another Story-Telling Event:

“9 TO 5” – STORIES FROM WORK

Inspired by the musical based on Stud Terkel’s book Working, the Membership Guild invites you to pour yourself a cup of ambition, gather up your best occupational stories and join us on Friday, May 14 at  7:30 on Zoom.

https://zoom.us/j/92068997547?pwd=WTRFbitKTitrV3A5dDlmQ252YTV0Zz09

Share your tales of never getting credit, being a rung on the boss man’s ladder, putting money in his wallet and the dreams he never took away.

Watch the e-blast for the zoom link and we look forward to hearing about your service and devotion, takin’ and no given’ and tides turning.

Look for information about attending the musical “Working” below, and in the e-blast.

Join us for “Working” – the musical!

The Membership Guild invites you to see the musical “Working” on Wednesday, June 2, at 8:00 pm (rain or shine).  The play is is at the Alliance Theater at the Callaway Plaza Tent.  It is outside, socially distanced and masks are required. We have a block of 12 tickets in pods of 2 or 4. The group rate is $25 per ticket. Reserve your tickets by e-mailing sueking@gmail.com. Tickets are limited, so get them while they’re hot!

May 5, 2024 — Rev. Dr. Lisa Heilig

“The Hunger Journey”

Hunger and poverty are considered “wicked problems” by social scientists. How might we journey in our understanding of hunger and poverty and be moved to meaningful action?

Facilitator:  TBD
Musician: Snake Oil Medicine Show Band with Craig Rafuse

April 28, 2024 — Sara Drew

“60% Water”

In honor of Earth Day we’ll take a deeper look at water and what it means to us: our bodies, our spirits, our communities, and our planet. 

Facilitator:  Charlene Ball
Musician: William Chelton

April 21, 2024 — Paul Feather and Terra Currie

“Sacred Violence”

Paul and Terra will describe their journey of “Sacred Violence”—the direct production of basic needs in order to minimize participation in the violent economic systems that support our lives. For the last two decades, they have partially liberated themselves from these systems, and they will discuss the limits and implications of that liberation.

Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
Musician: E-Band

April 14, 2024 — Dr. Jon Herman

“A Zen Interpretation of Science and Religion”

Keiji Nishitani was one of the most brilliant (and challenging) representatives of the “Kyoto School,” a Japanese philosophical lineage that sought a creative fusion of European philosophy (especially existentialism) with the Zen Buddhist philosophy of emptiness. Nishitani, who studied under both Martin Heidegger and Kyoto School founder Kitaro Nishida, recognized that the Modern West could not produce an adequate solution to the conflict between science and religion. What he offered in their place was, in a manner of speaking, a Zen transformation of both.

Facilitator: D. Patton White
Musician: Mick Kinney

March 31, 2024 — Open Mic

“Stories of Renewal and Rebirth”

Spring has sprung, and Eostre is upon us.  “Ostara, Eástre seems therefore to have been the divinity of the radiant dawn, of upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing, whose meaning could be easily adapted by the resurrection-day of the Christian’s God.” (Grimm)  We will open the floor for anyone who cares to share a brief story, thought, poem, song, visual art, dance of rebirth or renewal.  We will also have on hand materials to add to our Spring Tapestry hanging at the front of the sanctuary.

Facilitator: D. Patton White
Musician:
Charlie Vogt

March 24, 2024 — Rev. Leon Clymore

“Palm Sunday with a Twist”

As a Christian minister for years, I have spoken many a Palm Sunday message – but not like this one that I will do.

Leon has wandered for 86 years. Good and bad things have happened to him in this journey. The best things have been a wonderful wife of 63 years, three great adult children, seven beautiful grandchildren, and some spiritual and philosophical growth along the way. Leon has had four careers: Christian missionary, pastor, computer programmer, and addictions counselor, but he says that a part-time job of teacher of English to immigrants was the most fun (8 years). He has gone from fundamentalist Christian to evangelical, to liberal Christian, to agnostic/atheist. His goal now is to learn to love more and better.

Facilitator: Libby Ware
Musician: Jean Heinrich

March 17, 2024 — Rev. Kim Palmer

“Warts and All”

We accept others despite their characteristics, flaws, and limitations. Why is it so hard to accept these things in ourselves? Let’s talk about how we can let go of our self-criticism and shame, and learn to accept ourselves fully.

Rev. Kim Palmer is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister serving as an affiliated community minister with the Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North congregation. She is a board-certified chaplain and has served Emory University in the dual role of chaplain and spiritual health researcher until retiring with her wife Marty. She continues to train chaplains and support research projects at Emory and elsewhere as a contractor. When not working, she and her wife chip away at numerous house and yard projects and enjoy kayaking on local rivers and lakes.

Facilitator: Sara Drew
Musician: Craig Rafuse

March 10, 2024 – Rev. Maureen Shelton

“Drinking as You Pour: The Gift of Self-Compassion”

Exploring the elements of self- compassion and the role it can play in building both individual and community resilience.

The Rev. Maureen Shelton serves as Director of Education and Director of Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health at Emory Spiritual Health. She is ACPE Chaplain Educator and Senior CBCT Teacher.

  • Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
  • Musician: Bill Chelton

March 3, 2024 – Rev. Marti Keller

“No Stopping Us Now”

​​To celebrate the beginning of Women’s History Month, we look at the  adventures of older women in American History –  and the activist histories of elder women in our own midst.  This at a time when being older and public-facing is under attack.

Rev. Marti Keller describes her Big Life Goal as beholding life and bearing prophetic witness to what she discovers. She has done this through her short verse poetry, her creative nonfiction essays and blogs, her critical and immersion journalism, her justice advocacy for women and girls, and her 25 years of parish and community Unitarian Universalist ministry.

  • Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
  • Musician: Kathy McGuire