(Columns sometimes contain opinion)
Westobou’s Season Launch Party is right around the corner giving a sneak peek at two new exhibitions.
The party starts at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, with a preview of the marquee exhibition “Space is Here and You are Looking at It” by Alex Lockwood of Nashville.
Lockwood “mainly uses recycled materials,” said Matt Porter, Westobou executive director.
However, his artwork often deals with some hard issues such as gun violence. One is a tapestry made by using the shells of AR15 bullet.
“This will be interesting to see. That’s another side of the arts in Augusta. Typically, we gravitate to the easily digestible. The cool thing about them (Lockwood’s works) is that they are beautiful looking even when they are alarming topics,” he said.
An artist talk will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 6.
Porter said not all of the pieces will be heavy, and the exhibition in the MICRO Gallery will definitely feature a lighter feel.
“Goblin Gazebo” by Augusta native Baker Overstreet is inspired by the puppetry of Louisa Mustin, who in addition to helping found the Augusta Players, started her own puppet theater in downtown Augusta.
According to Don Rhodes’ column in “The Augusta Chronicle” on Dec. 22, 2015, Mustin “opened the first permanent theater in America exclusively for the presentation of puppet plays” in December 1950 at 1467 Broad St.
Rhodes said her venture was ahead of her time and closed after only four years.
Fascinated by Mustin, Overstreet began researching her, Porter said. He even tracked down some of her puppets and connected with the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta to have them restored.
Goblin Gazebo “is a collection of sculptures that portray various characters – ‘goblins’ – figures that reference the hand puppet, but are inanimate and not playthings. Overstreet uses minimal materials and colors that further enforce their static nature. The implied movement of this sinister yet jolly collection of characters asks the viewer to project their own narrative, using the figures to set the stage for a production of their own imagining,” according to Westobou.
The Westobou Launch Party is open to members. Tastefully Yours will cater; there will be a full bar by White Horse Wine & Spirits plus live entertainment. Learn more here.
Back by popular demand is Rhian Swain’s exhibition “Breaking the Barriers” about women who’ve made their mark on the visual arts will be showcased at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, at 1116 Phillips Street, from Aug. 26 through Oct. 26.
The exhibition include 15 portraits of female artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Augusta Savage, Berthe Morisot, Yayoi Kusama, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Hilda Af Klint, Frida Kahlo and Kara Walker.
In 2023 Rhian was inducted into the National Association of Women Artists and received an NEA grant to create “Breaking the Barriers: Women Who Impacted the Arts”. She currently serves on the boards of the NAWA South Carolina Chapter and the Greater Augusta Arts Council.
I wrote a story about Rhian and her vision of the project. Read it here and see more photos.
An artist talk and reception will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Laney Museum.
The third annual AbstrAction Art Show will feature 28 Augusta area artists plus Artzilla Live painting from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 6 at APMU Studio, 1127 Broad St.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 36 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
