The words on the Westobou Gallery’s window aren’t cause for alarm — for now.
The bold “The End” placed upon the glass isn’t about the organization’s end, rather, it’s the name of the current exhibition—“The End: First Five Years” curated by Craig Drennen, an Atlanta-based painter who teaches at Georgia State University and is a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow.
However, the loss of funding from the Porter Fleming Foundation, the organization’s anchor funder since Westobou’s inception, has its officials looking for ways to not only keep its programs at its current standards but to expand its mission.
“We had known for a while that our funding was going to be no longer significantly made up by the trustees of the Academy of Richmond County” who administer funds through the Porter Fleming Foundation, said Matt Porter, Westobou executive director.
“Westobou is urgently seeking new anchor funding and a permanent facility to secure its future. Without it, current funds are expected to run out by mid-2026,” according to an email sent to Westobou supporters.
Originally started 16 years ago as a festival in a similar pattern to that of Charleston’s Spoleto, Westobou included multiple events at different venues over several days.
In 2021, Westobou lost half of its Porter Fleming funding, prompting staff reductions and the scaling back of the large-scale festival. Despite these challenges, Westobou reimagined its programming, emphasizing quality visual arts and seasonal events, according to the email.
Not only does Westobou currently have “The End” on display in the main gallery, but there’s a secondary exhibit in the micro gallery. Curated by Augusta artist Theron Cartwright, “Beyond the Panel: Connecting Comics and Culture”which “seeks to celebrate the rich tapestry of visual storytelling within the comic and sequential art genres. This showcase aims not only to spotlight the craftsmanship behind iconic comic book pages but also to explore the evolution of storytelling techniques and the broader cultural impact of sequential narratives,” according to Westobou’s website.
While many people are familiar with the gallery at 1129 Broad St., and the exhibits by local and regional artists, the organization does more than just show art. It provides artists working space at the Annex on the property of the old Academy of Richmond County building on Telfair Street. Currently artists Aort Reed and Syd Padgett occupy those spaces.
Padgett’s focus is photography. He specializes in an almost lost form of tintype photography and uses the space as a dark room. Read more about him here.
Padgett said having a dedicated space offers multiple advantages besides the obvious one of not having to use his bathroom as a darkroom.
“Just the act of traveling downtown helps put me in the right headspace to work on my photography. At home, there are always tons of things that feel more urgent than the project you are working on. Once I enter the studio, I’m there to work and other things just seem to fall away and let me concentrate,” he said.
Porter said lack of artist studio space is a problem he’s known about for years, and he’d love to be able to expand that to help more artists. He can envision an arts complex with not only the gallery but space for artists to work.
In addition, Westobou partners with the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art with an artist-in-residence program.
Genevieve Lucas, a multimedia artist from Augusta, is this year’s artist in residence. During her year, she will receive a stipend and have access to a working space at the Gertrude Herbert paid for by Westobou. The residency results in a show at Westobou.
Other opportunities for artists include the artist membership postcard show, SEEDs and guest curator positions.
“Every opportunity we have here directly results in payments to artists. We don’t do anything just for exposure,” he said.
To maintain their level of programming, Westobou has proactively sought ways to add to its revenue streams, he said. The last installment from the trustees came in July 2024.
Programs such as the Curated Palette which will be Thursday July 17 bring in guests as well as funds. Read more here. There are membership opportunities available, and they’ve added a few fundraisers such as its WestoHue party and WestoBOO Bash, which has an end-of-the-world theme this October.
But it still leaves a gap and the words the window and theme for the party provide a sense of foreboding.
“Art is a playful way to allow you to engage In stuff like that and sometimes, I think it Is a poignant reminder of just how challenging things can be,” he said.
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.
