A new cultural arts initiative is being unveiled at the Peachtree City Library.
“Our vision is to showcase the talents of our current art associations while introducing a new and diverse art program elevating the quality of art presented to our visitors,“ said library administrator Jill Prouty.
The new program will include fine artists, fine art photographers and emerging artists drawn from local, regional and national talent. Student artists from area schools will also be included in special exhibits.
Rebecca Watts, adult services librarian, will coordinate the program. Plans include forming an advisory committee to assist in developing the art in the library program and selecting artists to exhibit. Artist selection will be by invitation and by jury. Artist Eleanor “Honey” Corbin is currently assisting with this effort.
The library has long held a space for two of the area’s local art associations to display works from their members. The new initiative seeks to expand and revitalize those relationships as well as seek fresh input and develop new relationships with diverse artists.
Fine art photographer Dale Niles is exhibiting through April courtesy of the Fayette County Art Collective. A reception and “Artist Talk” will be held Friday, April 29, from 7-9 p.m. in the main library. Light refreshments will be served.
Concurrent with this exhibit is the “tape-up” photography show continuing through April. Donna Rosser, fine art photographer, coordinated this exhibit. Greg Blair of Dogwood Gallery in Tyrone is providing the merit awards.
Misty Lackey’s art students from Joseph Sams School will be exhibiting work in various areas in the rear of the library during April as well.
Watts is coordinating with the Fayette Society of Fine Art (FSOFA) and the Newnan Coweta Art Association (NCAA) to develop a schedule that would encourage a more diverse participation from its members. The two associations have joined forces to champion a retrospective of the art of beloved Newnan artist Helen Hayes, who passed away last year at the age of 100. The works will be on display through April. A reception, including a brief talk by the artist’s daughter Gail Ericsson, is planned for Sunday, April 10, 2-5 p.m. in the library’s Readers & Writers Room.
Mia Broder, award winning mixed media and collage artist, will exhibit May 2-June 27. Broder brings whimsy and a mastery of paper mache to her art. An “After Hours” Artist’s Reception is also planned, date to be determined. Ms. Broder will also be providing an art workshop for teens on July 8 in conjunction with the library’s summer reading program.
July and August will showcase the work of Meihua Lu and Guanyu Shi, husband and wife fine artists trained in China at the Guangzhou Academy of Art. Their work includes oil painting, woodcut prints, Chinese ink brush and watercolor. Both artists have gallery representation. Reception TBA.
September and October will focus on art photography. Corbin is coordinating with several groups.
November and December bring the exciting art of Michael Sawecki, an award winning fine artist who works in several media including oil painting. Sawecki is a high school art teacher.
The calendar for 2017 is in the early planning stages. The committee hopes to produce a student art exhibit in conjunction with Student Art Month in February and March. Additional plans include a juried “Call for Artists” for a fine art show toward the end of 2017.
Prouty, Watts and the committee are encouraging the public to visit the library during these exhibits and to become engaged with the art and the artists. For information, contact Rebecca Watts at rwatts@peachtree-city.org.
