A Sense of Place

Gertrude Herbert - Opens September 19 

It’s that time of year again for the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art’s A Sense of Place Juried Art show, opening for its 28th year on September 19. This year, the show coincides with Augusta’s Westobou Festival, which should add to the increasing popularity of the annual exhibit. 

A juried show has a judge or “juror” that accepts or declines an artist’s work into an exhibition based on the theme of the show, expectations from the gallery, and sometimes the juror’s personal criteria.  Though there are prizes awarded to the best in show, it is also significant to have made it into the exhibit. 

A Sense of Place has proven to be nothing short of a success for the gallery, and the evidence is in the amount of submissions it receives in preparation for the event. This year over 1000 artists submitted work to be juried. The show’s chosen juror, Amanda Cooper of the Arts Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, found it difficult to whittle down the selection to thirty-eight artists representing twenty-two states to be featured this fall. “When I first heard the theme of this exhibition, I naively assumed I would be looking at numerous interpretations of the landscape,” says Cooper in response to show’s titled theme. “Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the creative extent to which these many artists went to convey the theme, very few of which consisted of the traditional trees and lake views.” It’s true, at first, one may naively expect to find a literal and redundant collection, but ultimately this theme can be deciphered to include all sorts of context from one’s place in society to a mental state of mind. 

A Sense of Place is not only a pleasure to the artist’s showing, but it’s a great place to view work that may otherwise be unseen in Augusta. 

A Sense of Place 28th Annual Juried Fine Art Competition opens on Friday, September 19 with a reception and awards presentation at 6 pm.  The exhibit is open to the public.

whiskey painters showcase

@ zimmerman gallery

In the beginning, there was a man named Joe Ferriot, an artist who travelled extensively for his real job (that paid for his art habit).  He longed for his art, so he devised a pocket-sized palette and paint box.  While waiting in airport lounges or retiring to the nearest watering hole after work, Joe would whip out his painting kit and amaze the people around him by producing miniature masterpieces.  To spice up the “act,” Joe dipped his brush into whatever he happened to be drinking at the time (usually some sort of whiskey) instead of water.  He became an instant celebrity and his “whiskey paintings” became a sought after item.

A group of Joe’s artist friends began to follow suit, meeting in taverns to produce their own miniatures and trade paintings back and forth (similar to baseball cards, I imagine).  Soon an official group formed, “The Whiskey Painters of America,” limiting the membership to 150 and setting strict requirements for new members.

The WPA’s purpose is simple and to the point (according to its website):

• To promote the fine art of painting in miniature.
• To promote the good fellowship among imbibing artists.
• To prove to fellow pub habitués that bongo drums and free verse are not necessary adjuncts to good art.
• To permit an artist to enjoy two of the three greatest pleasures in life while sitting on a pub stool or a dimly lit cocktail table any place.
• To add interest to an otherwise dull evening.

See this incredible display of tiny watercolors at Zimmerman Gallery as The Whiskey Painter’s annual sale exhibit opens on September 18, during The Art of Arts Autumn Amble.  You can take home your own original whiskey painting or become a collector yourself.  The exhibit will remain open through October 18 during regular gallery hours.