Press Release written by Camille Ronay, Georgia Made Georgia Grown, LLC

GOVERNOR’S TOURISM CONFERENCE AWARDS CREATED BY LOCAL ARTIST Christina Sullo commissioned for coveted honor

Over 300 tourism professionals gathered at the New Legacy Lodge & Conference Center on Lake Lanier Islands Resort Monday for the annual three-day Governor’s Tourism Conference.

Governor Sonny Perdue keynoted the closing luncheon on Wednesday, and presented eight Awards to outstanding tourism professionals and partner entities.

Jefferson ceramicist Christina Sullo was chosen to design the awards which she titled Lust for Life, inspired by the delight that comes from traveling and appreciating the beauty of Georgia.

Award Winners include:

Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives: Georgia’s Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage

Larry Allen Award for Excellence in Tourism: Lisa Smith, Rome CVB

Award for Creative Expression: Macon CVB – Macon Rocks! USB Guitar Flash Drive

Lifetime Achievement Award: Bill Hardman, Jr., Southeast Tourism Society

Tourism Champion/Private Industry: Sean McGinnis, Emmis Publishing

Tourism Champion/Partner Agency: Georgia Department of Transportation, “Discovery, Education, and Heritage Tourism” of the Old Federal Road in Georgia

Tourism Champion/Product Development: Martin Harmon, Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation

Tourism Champion/Legislative: Representative Larry O’Neal, District 146

 

Christina has worked in clay for 15 years, and raku for most of that time.  She builds her artworks by hand from clay, firing them in an electric kiln. After that first firing, she glazes the pieces, and puts them back into the kiln.

When the pieces are bright red with heat, she removes them, and places them into containers with combustible materials. This produces an intense reduction in temperature, which effects the colors in the glazes and clay bodies.

Her Gathering of Sisters series is instantly recognizable in any of the galleries she is represented in. The Sisters works are spontaneous, uplifting and joyful.  See her work at the Piedmont Arts Center in Winder, the Point of Art Gallery in Union Point and Wild Child in Monroe.

Christina’s art is signed with a musical sharp symbol, since Sharp is her maiden name.

Christina is the current president of the Georgia Piedmont Arts Center at 88 Griffith Street in Winder.  She also teaches pottery on the wheel and handbuilding classes.