CONTACT ME
Phone: (706)-745-0068
Email: algarnto@gmail.com
Address: 75 Veterans Memorial Dr, Blairsville, Ga. 30512
Social Media:
Al Garnto
welcome friends
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
“This website is for Glorifying my Heavenly Father. The talents, blessings, and abilities I have are of His. I am a steward. If you find any of my work good, Glory be to Him, not I.”
Al Garnto
It is written in God's word in Deuteronomy 28:8, " The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Also written 2 Corinthians 9:8, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" In 1 Corinthians 1:27 it is written, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;". I am so humbled and thankful for HIS Grace that has abounded toward me. Over 30 years I have made my living solely from the sale of my art work that God blessed me with the ideas to make, and provided me the resources whereupon to create them. Anybody that knows me knows that I am not smart enough to have pulled that off. Praise Jesus, for God has prospered me through it all.
My Canvases are many
I specialize in large-scale kinetic sculptures for both home and public places.
As a Professional Artist, with over 30 years experience, I have created thousands of works of art. Classically Trained, my first 15 years was spent creating large-scale landscape paintings, murals, portraits and still-life's in oil, mixed-media collage, water colors, and in both charcoal and graphite works of art.
SELECTED Works
Praise Jesus tiger-lilies
Nelson pool house wall sculptureS
Al Garnto Fine art studio
DAFFODILS
Sunflower wall sculptures, Meeks Park, blairsville, ga.
Iwo Jima Memorial Young Harris, Ga.
kinetic sculpture suwanee town center, Ga.
kinetic flower sculpture, suwanee, ga.
kinetic sculpture, meeks park, blairsville, ga.
Appalachian sculpture project
The largest Kinetic Sculpture Exhibit in Northeast Georgia History since 2009!
The Appalachian Sculpture Project was conceived by Al Garnto, a native of Union County, in hopes of exposing areas of the Appalachian Mountains to art and sculpture that would otherwise not be attainable by small community funding. Mr. Garnto's sculptures have helped increase tourism, attracted students from surrounding colleges and school systems, utilized recycled materials, increased awareness of learning differences, and added to the beauty of Meeks Park. Most of the sculptures incorporate an art or history lesson for educational purposes.
Star Gazer, Meeks parks, Blairsville, Ga.
Steam-Punk fish Weather-vane
Al Garnto welding on Steam-Punk fish Weather-vane
Steam-Punk fish Weather-vane in Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Kinetic Water drop
Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Sunflower Wall Sculpture, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Sunflower Wall Sculpture, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Kinetic Kayak Sculpture,Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Kinetic Kayak Sculpture,Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
U Circle 58 kinetic sculpture, Meeks Park Blairsville, Ga.
Barn Bell, a kinetic sound sculpture, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
U Cylinder Sound Sculpture, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Carbon Water Drops, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Rotating Atoms of Matter, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
Carbon Water Drops, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Ga.
praising Jesus with resurrected art
"I am a Holy Spirit filled artist and I work a lot with recycled materials. I love to resurrect an object from it's death and give it a new life, a second chance, much like God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ for those who have faith and believe. I really enjoy making works that bring light into the world, that are colorful, bright, and that have a resonating spirit to them...like a person that has been born again. It is written in God's word in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." It would be hard for a person to see what these objects were before they were resurrected and born again. My works here on earth may never make it into any earthly museum but Praise Jesus for God our Father's Heavenly Museum! For it is HE that gives me these ideas, talents, and abilities. To HIM be the glory...HE is my biggest benefactor. " Al Garnto
Hand-Forged
Al garnto
hand-forged knives & rawhide sheaths
- I make knives & sheaths that have an old-world look to them. They are user knives. All my knives are hand forged. I do every step of the process myself – from the first hammer blow to the final stitch in the sheath.
- My hand forged knives are known for their wicked sharpness -- they keep a fine edge! I make a hammered-out knife with the raw hammer marks still visible -- there is no Trip Hammer run by an electric plug, just a good hammer and a strong arm used to carefully form each knife. All my knives are made from high carbon steels.
- Deer skin, rawhide sheaths~ My sheaths are made from deer skin and rawhide stretched over 8 oz. leather. They are decorated with deer antler beads, tin cones, and other natural materials. My sheaths are tough beyond all measure, and the knife fits snug!
- Who likes my knives? Hunters, Historical Reenactment Enthusiasts, Knife Collectors.
- I am a hunter, I put knives to good use. When I am out in the fields and woods, I learn from experience what I want in a knife. I strive to make a knife that is a natural extension of the human hand with an aggressive cutting edge. It must also be well balanced. Whether used to open the daily mail or to open up a big grizzly bear, my knives will get the job done.
All knives on this page are sold. My normal waiting list is 3 to 5 months ~ but can be longer at times.
contact me
ADDRESS
Al Garnto
75 Veterans Memorial dr
blairsville, ga. 30512
Phone
706-745-0068
algarnto@gmail.com
My RESUME
Appalachian Sculpture Project
Meeks Park, Blairsville, Georgia
2009 - 2024 Currently on Exhibit
Funding by the Grassroots Arts Program & Georgia Council for the Arts
Recommendation by
Winner Suwanee SculpTour 2012 - People's Choice Award - Al Garnto
Featured TV/Video Appearances:
2012 - Al Garnto - A Retrospective
20 years of Al Garnto's work
Show and Inerview at Young Harris College
Video By David Sellers
2012 - Studio Interview
Behind the scenes - rare look at Al Garnto's Blairsville Studio
Video by David Sellers
2009 - Mountain Trails Appalachian Sculpture Project interview hosted by Cindy Williams
Filmed in Meeks Park
2006 - Art in the Mountains by David Sellers
AL Garnto's Nottely River Series
Filmed at David's Fine Art Gallery in Murphy, NC
2003 - Art in the Mountains by David Sellers
The Al Garnto Retrospective Solo Art Exhibit
Filmed at the Clegg Fine Art Gallery, Young Harris College
Selected Commissions:
Union County Community Center
Kinetic Sculpture - Wind Sculpture Weathervane #3
Charles Hill: Family Portraits
Toni Smith: Portrait
Bill & Gena Frisby: Portrait
Tony & Katherine Hamby: Family Portrait
Young Harris College: Mann Collection Designs
Joele Kimsey: Portrait
Alexander's Store: Display Mural
Billy Blue: House Mural
Kevin Green: Collage Wall Sculpture
Toni Smith: House Mural
Pat Smidt: House Mural
Solo Exhibition History:
2012 Al Garnto - A Retrospective
20 Years of Al Garnto's work
Young Harris College
2006 - David's Fine Art Gallery, Murphy, N. C.
Nottely River Series and Other Selected Works
2003 -Young Harris College, Young Harris Ga.
A Retrospective: Drawings, Paintings and Constructed Assemblages
Group Exhibition History:
1994 - United Community Bank, Blairsville, Ga.
5th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition
1994 - Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta Ga.
Student Art Show
1992 - Young Harris College, Young Harris, Ga.
Student Art Show
Awards:
2012 - Suwanee Sculptour - People's Choice Award
1994 - Honorable Mention
United Community Bank, Juried Exhibition
1993 - Presidential Scholarship Award
The Atlanta College of Art
1992 - Second Place: Paintings
Young Harris College Art Show
1992 - Honorable Mention, Sculpture
Young Harris College Art Show
Formal Education:
Savannah College of Art & Design Atlanta (formerly The Atlanta College of Art)
Atlanta, GA
Student status: Alumni
Major: Art & Sculpture
1993 to 1994
Young Harris, GA
Student status: Alumni
Major: Art & Sculpture
Clubs: Tennis Team
1992 to 1993
Selected Permanent Collections:
Union County Community Center
Kinetic Sculpture - Wind Sculpture Weathervane #3
City of Suwanee
Wind Sculpture Weathervane #2
Young Harris College:
Byron Herbert Reece Series
Young Harris College:
Al Garnto 30+ designs in "Mann Collection"
John Denton - Collector: Al Garnto Collection
Alexander's Store: Mural display - 75 ft.
Charles Hill: Family Portrait Collection
Amicalola State Park: Water Fall Mural
Janice Kelley - Collector: Union County Historical Court House Collection
Owenby/Sosbee: Still life and Landscape Collection
Selected Publications & News Releases:
November 2015 - Veterans Memorial Hiawassee, Georgia
Towns County Herald and North Georgia News
September 2013 - Georgia's Kinetic Artist - Georgia Backroads Magazine
Article by Scott Thompson
June 2013 - Blue Ridge Country
Gen X and Gen Y People Making a Difference
May 2013 - North Georgia News
Al Garnto wins People's Choice Award
August 2011 - Young Harris College Spotlight
Article published by YHC
January 2011 - The North Georgia News
New Garnto sculptures at Meeks Park
Article by Janice Boling
The New Castle Record
Everyday art from the heart of two sculptors
By Gwen Johnson
May 2009 - Georgia Mountain Living Magazine
Through the Eyes of Al Garnto
Article by Scott Anna
March 28, 2006 - North Georgia News
Resident Artist Al Garnto's Nottely River Series
Interview by Janice Boling
March 30, 2006 - Union/Towns Sentinel
Al Garnto - The man behind the Art
Interview by Emily Hrabovsky
March 15, 2006 - Cherokee Scout
Al Garnto - One Man Show
Scouting Around by Gerry Silvia
2005 - Union Sentinel
Local Artist Canvases Nottely River
Interview by Justin Melick
October 23, 2002 - Union Sentinel
The Art of Al Garnto
Press Release from YHC
2002 - Spring edition of Echoes
Young Harris College Publication
Cover Art
1999 - October 28 The Union Sentinel
Interview by Delores Kilpatrick
October 15, 1998 - The Union Sentinel
Interview by Michael A. Rhodes
1992 - Corn Creek Review
Art by Al Garnto
Published by Young Harris College
© 2024 by Al Garnto