In light of the recent storm, and the subsequent couple of days I spent in the dark due to the mass power outages, I have had a bit of a reality check. I constantly work on this, but I have a particularly bad habit of paying too much attention to what’s going on in the world of my smart phone instead of the world I am surrounded by (a problem that judging by the volume of people I see with their noses buried in their phones while walking across campus, a lot of us have), so it was refreshing to be forced to be unplugged for a while.  In those two days, I had the realization of just how blessed I am. I have so much to be thankful for, right now, one of them being the Colquitt County Arts Center and the incredibly talented group of people I am lucky enough to get to work with. In the short time that I have been on staff here at the Arts Center I have been constantly surrounded by these beautiful souls who have already shaped me and informed my character in ways that I never could have expected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am also thankful for the many volunteers that take time out of their day to help out at the Arts Center. This week a team from the United Way spent part of Wednesday at the Arts Center giving our Traverse Gallery a much needed facelift. Thank you so much United Way, and thank you volunteers! There is so much at the Arts Center that would not be possible without your hard work!

On the note of exciting things going on at the Arts Center…

As I am writing this, I am cooling off from taking down our latest exhibit “Dr. Vincent Keesee: A Southerner’s Perspective.” I could not have been any happier with the way this exhibit shaped up, and am sad to see it go, but all good things must come to an end, and soon I am going to begin preparing our galleries for not one but TWO new exhibits. On October 5th “Wingspans” will open in the Vereen Gallery and will be up until November 16th. Since our McCall collection is still in the process of having a bit of conservation work done, we have decided to open up the gallery space for a temporary exhibition.   “Coming to America: The Immigrant Experience” will open in the McCall Gallery on October 12th and will be on display until December 14th.

“Wingspans” is a selection of works by North Carolina artist Ingrid A. Erickson. Erickson largely draws inspiration from her extensive research and investigation of specific species and ecosystems. She seamlessly brings together art and science with her pieces, and does an incredible job of transporting her viewers to a whimsical world with her exquisitely intricate birds. This is an exhibit that features large scale works in cut paper as well as an installation pieces with over 200 individual parts. This will be an exhibit unlike any other, and is undoubtedly one that you will not want to miss! “Wingspans” will be in the Vereen Gallery from October 6th-Novemeber 16th.

“Coming to America: The Immigrant Experience” is a reproduction by Lakeland, GA artist Andrew Sabori, of the 1935 WPA Mural that once hung in the dining hall of Ellis Island. The mural was originally created by Edward Laning, but was mostly destroyed during a violent storm in 1954. The dining hall was a place that was never visited by the public due to the fact that it was an area that was kept quarantined, but millions of immigrants to this country passed through its doors over the years and sat beneath the scenes created by Laning. After visiting Ellis Island and hearing about the destroyed mural, the Saboris decided to reproduce the mural on a smaller scale and use it as an educational tool for students. While the mural is the main attraction of this exhibit, there is also a series of over 30 portraits of famous immigrants created by Sabori as well as copies of their original immigration papers provided by the National Archives. “Coming to America: The Immigrant Experience” is an exhibit perfect for field trips because it providess an interactive glimpse into the lives of the many immigrants that passed through Ellis Island and will leave students with a lasting impression. This exhibit will be in the McCall and Traverse galleries from October 12th – December 14th.

Guided tours with activities to further explore each of these exhibits will be available to school groups!

In addition to the upcoming exhibit openings, our Second Annual ARToberFEST is on the horizon! ARToberFEST is an event to celebrate and showcase our local artists! ARToberFEST will be held on downtown Moultrie’s beautiful Courthouse Square on October 7, 2017 from 2-6PM . This family friendly fall event will include handmade, original works by fabulous artists from across Southwest Georgia as well as a musical showcase of student talent from classes offered at the Arts Center.   Everyone is welcome, and admission is FREE!

For more information on the upcoming exhibits and activities at the Arts Center or to register for ARToberFEST, feel free to email me, Ashlee Parrish, at aparrisharts@gmail.com, call the Arts Center at 229.985.1922, or drop by our website www.colquittcountyarts.com !