For me, today is a day of reflection. It has been one week since I experienced the excitement of a gallery opening Colquitt County Arts Center style for the first time. Last Thursday, we had an opening reception for our two current exhibits, “The Georgia Artists Exhibition” and “Georgia Artists with Disabilities,” and for what it’s worth, I could not be more pleased with the way it all came together!

I would like to extend a big “thank you” to the Southside Veterinary Clinic for sponsoring and hosting the opening reception here at the Arts Center. It was truly a wonderful event! I would also like to thank the remarkable and very talented Leah Garcia for all that she has done to make these two exhibits come together in the fashion that they did. Bravo Leah! You always do an amazing job bringing our exhibits to life, and the amount of care that you put into these installations will forever make a lasting impression on me.

“The Georgia Artists Exhibition” is a juried competition that includes both two- and three-dimensional pieces from artists around our great state of Georgia. The winners from the two-dimensional category are 1st: Randy Gibbs, “Wren and Rope;” 2nd: Joseph Mazzilli, “Little Mitzi;” 3rd: Diana Morris, “Jacob.” From the three dimensional category 1st: Scott Marini, “Basket;” 2nd: Anna Edwards, “Blossom;” 3rd: Bill McLean, “River Rocks.”

I would like to thank all of the artists who submitted work and participated in the exhibition. All of the work submitted was absolutely remarkable, and we appreciate your involvement with this event.

“The Georgia Artists Exhibition” will be in the Vereen Gallery until July 27th.

 “Georgia Artists with Disabilities” is an eight city annual traveling exhibit that will be wrapping up here in Moultrie next month. Supported by the Georgia District Pilot Club, Georgia Artists with Disabilities Inc. provides a platform that creates commercial as well as award opportunities for all artists involved. This exhibit contains a wide variety of pieces that range from hand-sewn textile works to oil paintings.

If you’ve yet to make it by to see what these two wonderful exhibits have to offer, I encourage you to drop by. It’s an opportunity that you do not want to miss!

For more information on these exciting new exhibits as well as the multitude of other activities going on here please call the Arts Center at 229-985-1922 or you can e-mail Ashlee Parrish at aparrisharts@gmail.com! And to see what all is happening at the Arts Center you can visit our website at www.colquittcountyarts.com!  “Where Creativity Finds Community!”