Art never sleeps in this town.
This week, I’ve got a couple of things to tell you about. One is the Augusta Poster Show and the other is a special exhibit combining Augusta’s history with the arts from two incredibly talented women.
Every two years, Jason Craig throws an art party, and I’m so glad to see that he found a larger venue this year. In 2023, the show was at CANDL Fine Art, and it was packed to the gills with the crowd spilling onto the sidewalk.
This year, it’s at the Miller Theater and features 30 artists from across the Southeast with 30 different posters focusing on the spirit of Augusta.
“From landmarks to local legends, inside jokes to heartfelt tributes, the posters reflect the many ways this city continues to inspire. Each design will be on display and available for purchase—making this one of the easiest ways to collect a wide range of local and regional art all in one place,” a news release said.
The event will be July 18 and 19.
One word of advice – get there early and buy your posters immediately. I promise they sell out quickly. I’ve watched it happen.
This year’s participating artists include Matthew Albert, Becca Anchor, Emily Bender, Kenneth Benson, Jeff Brotherton, Carrie Brooks, Dawn M. Cardona, Degan Cheek, Julian Chew, Jason Craig, Matt Dawson, Marianna Dixon Williams, Colleen Beyer Stewart, Clarissa Gainey, June Klement, Andrew Lawandus, Connor Lock, Cait Maloney, Jeremy Mace, Gabe Marshall, Jacki Mayo Van Dyke, Jon Paschal, Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman, Erin Tallent, Peter Stitt, Brad Stoneking, Rhian Swain, Autumn Von Plinsky, Chloe Welch and Henry Wynn.
I know the style of several of these, and I can’t wait to see what they’ve created.
VIP Night on Friday, July 18, offers first access to poster sales, music, drinks, and the chance to meet the artists. Go here for tickets to the reception. Guests can also vote for the “Crowd Favorite” award. The public show on Saturday, July 19 runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to attend.
See more of Rhian Swain’s work this weekend at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. She and Francie Klopotic have teamed up for an exhibition called “A Thousand Words,” which tells the stories of Augusta’s Black Community.
The two women have created 20 paintings that were inspired by stories told by the Museum’s Executive Director Corey Rogers and Program Manager Toni Dean, as well as by historic photos from the Georgia Archive and the Museum’s historic archives, according to a news release.
“Both artists have been involved with the Museum and its programs for many years and were excited to tell stories in pictures worth ‘a thousand words,’ about a part of Augusta’s rich history and culture that is often overlooked,” the release continued.
“A Thousand Words” will be on display until Aug. 31. A reception will be from 4 to 6 p.m. July 19 at the museum, 1116 Phillips Street. The reception includes a brief artists’ talk, refreshments and music by Sounds of Brilliance, with Grammy-nominated Maestro Daniel Sapp.
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.
