(Editor’s note: Columns often contain opinion)
During lockdown in April 2020, I went from working out at the gym to walking daily.
In those early walks, I noticed a child had written messages of hope in chalk on the sidewalk. The journalist side of me felt the need to chronicle it, so I snapped some photos, threw them on Facebook and my “Scenes from a walk” was born.
Over the years, I’ve photographed the interesting things I saw along the way – animals, including a heron that scared the bejesus out of me once as it flew up from the creek, sidewalk art and flowers – lots and lots of flowers. People commented; they loved it. So, I’ve continued it.
On Sept. 27, 2024, my walk route became a danger zone as Hurricane Helene picked up massive pine trees as though they were toothpicks, snapping some in half while throwing others like javelins into countless roofs and cars. Downed power lines and power poles were potentially deadly obstacles as I witness firsthand. Without streetlights to illuminate the road and warn of the danger, a car came within inches of barreling into a downed power pole on one of my walks. I can still hear the screeching of the tires.
My “scenes from a walk” became a journalistic record as I compiled photo after photo of the destruction. A few days after the storm, I expanded by reach, getting photos of the damage in other sections of town and posting a gallery of photos to Augusta Good News. That collection of photos would go on to win a first-place award from the Georgia Press Association in June for best web gallery. Go here to see those photos.
When I saw the Jessye Norman School of the Arts’ artist call for a photography exhibition marking the one-year anniversary of the storm, I knew I wanted to try to be a part. My photos told an important story.
I’m honored to be part of “One Year Later – Scenes from the Hurricane.”
I hope you’ll attend the opening reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5 at the Ann and Ellis Johnson Gallery of Art at the Jessye Norman School.
Juried by the phenomenal photographer and documentarian Mark Albertin, the exhibition features works by Abigail McDonald Drescher, Allison Greene, C. Moses, Camilla Reid, Carol Cross, Coco Rubio, Dylan Wilson, Erin McLure, Erin Tallent, Eva Creel, Hannah Ewest, Gerald Woods, Grace Halverson, Graham Gooden, Haliegh Key, Harley Sousa Goodman, Henrique Nardi, Jai Gillish, Jim Wynn, Jordan Hendrix, Katelynn Bell, Krystal Lyon, Sue Bruss, Andrew Vincent, Ren Ashe, Haley Scarboro, Mary Gainer and Patrick Krohn.
While you’re downtown, be sure to swing by the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art’s opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday for the Sense of Place exhibit, which is in its 43rd year. The pieces chosen for this year’s exhibition represent 21 states, with 63 pieces of art by 59 artists.
Christina Rice’s exhibit, “Imaginary Beings” opens Friday in the Creel-Harison Gallery. The mixed-media works are inspired by characters from books, movies and TV, with an emphasis on women in mythology, magical beasts and fantastical costume, according to the Gertrude Herbert website.
As a Westobou member, I got one of the coolest invites via snail mail a few weeks ago. It was super fancy with a wax seal and all! It’s for Westobou’s season launch party which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday highlighting “The Big Light,” works by Kate Burke.
Consider a membership in Westobou. The arts group lost its anchor funding and needs supporters to help this downtown gem thrive. Learn more here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
