Southwest Georgia Regional Fine Art Show and Sale opens Thursday
Albany Arts Council Art Show and Sale is biggest show of its kind in the region
By Brad McEwen
ALBANY — Once again dozens of the area’s best artists will show off some of their work at the Albany Area Arts Council’s annual Southwest Georgia Regional Art Exhibit and Sale, which opens Thursday at Albany’s Thronateeska Heritage Center.
The regional art show and sale, which is now entering its 17th year, is one of the area’s largest and most important juried art exhibits, and has become important in helping the Arts Council showcase the varied artistic talent from across the area.
“This is our premier event,” said Albany Area Arts Council Executive Director Nicole Williams. “It’s a regional event, so it creates a large pool of work of high quality. Our Empty Bowls event is our biggest fundraiser, but this show features the most art work. It’s our biggest event and it’s also the biggest event of its kind in the region.”
Williams said the show will feature work from 47 different artists, who will each present two pieces. Those works will then be judged by a panel of jurors including Laura Lynne Sperry, Todd Bertolae and Jim Mitchell.
The jurors will judge artwork in painting, photography and sculpture, with cash prizes awarded for first, third and third places. There will also be honorable mentions in each of the three categories and one award for best in show.
The winners will be announced at Thursday’s opening reception at the Thronateeska Science Museum, which will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the art show and sale is free.
“The purpose of this show and sale is not only expose Albany area residents to the fantastic work being done in Southwest Georgia, but to also give these wonderful artists the kind of exposure they deserve,” Williams said. “There is so much talent in this area and I really hope people come see the exhibit. They’ll be amazed.”
The exhibit will remain at Thronateeska through June 18 and can be viewed by the public during the science museum’s regular hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays.
Once the show closes, the pieces that won awards, as well as other works chosen by the judges, will be displayed in what is known as the “Winner’s Circle” exhibit at the Arts Council’s Carnegie Library headquarters at 215 N. Jackson St. in downtown Albany.
To learn more about the Southwest Georgia Regional Art Exhibit and Sale or the Albany Area Arts Council contact the Arts Council at (229) 439-ARTS (2787) or visit www.albanyartscouncil.org. To learn more about Thronateeska Heritage Center and its programs, visit www.heritagecenter.org.
Related Articles
My Grandpa Was Killed in World War II. I Met Him Through His Letters Home
Gina Wolf’s grandfather died before she was born. His letters sent to her grandmother from Europe during World War II made it possible to know what kind of man he was.
‘Sounds Like a Mutiny.’ Secret Recording Exposes Claims of Toxic Leadership After a Marine’s Suicide
This week’s War Horse story follows the systemic failures before and after the death of Cpl. Drew Mobley who was the third in two years at Marine Corps Base Quantico to die by suicide.
Southwest Georgia artists recognized at packed opening of exhibition
The annual juried exhibition, one of the region’s largest showcases of visual art, features approximately 46 artists and nearly 90 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and mixed media.
