By Phyllis Gilbert

Jay Wilson, artist and neighbor

You saw it first on the 2003 5K race t-shirts. A few hours later, hats and travel mugs appeared. Sales of Oakhurst logo items were brisk at the ONA table during the festival last month, and we on the Executive Committee couldn’t be prouder of it. And we are profoundly grateful to the artist, Jay Wilson, for his artistic inspiration, professional guidance, and unending patience during the design process. To top it all off, he also created a new masthead for the Leaflet, incorporating the new design.

Jay lives on Third Avenue with his wife, Amy, and their son Rufus, who was born this year. Like many of us, Jay and Amy found their way to Oakhurst from Midtown and Buckhead. On a more dramatic note than some, they closed on their house just a few days after eloping in 2001.They have been active in the community from the start, and Amy currently serves on the board of directors of the Community Center of South Decatur.

2001 was also a big year for Jay professionally, when he founded Nine Rodessa, Inc., a strategic creative and design firm. Along with two associates, he develops brands for emerging companies and works with established ones to update or change the way they are perceived by consumers. His clients range from Bella Cucina, a specialty food company based in Atlanta, to Brainwash Productions, a record label in London, England.

Asked what he likes best about Oakhurst, Jay replied, “My neighbors. I’ve always wanted to live in a place where you wave and say ‘Hello’ to people as you walk or drive up the street....Amy and I feel that we have a home in Oakhurst that extends beyond the four exterior walls of our house.”

Commenting on the new logo, Jay said he likes its simplicity. He then pointed out that while its lines and curves are quite intricate, the design reflects an era when simplicity was defined differently. “The turn of the 20th century was when letters were written, stamped and mailed. Communication wasn’t instant and disposable, it was deliberate and composed to illustrate and describe ‘what’s going on over here’.” Communicating to the world “what’s going on over here” here in Oakhurst is precisely what we were after, and the design that Jay created does just that.

When you see Jay and Amy and Rufus around Oakhurst, be sure to say hello. They’re good neighbors.

Special note from the Webmaster: Jay is the genius behind the graphical design of this website. Without his talent and dedication to our community this sit would not have been as rich as it is.