Works inspired by the events of 2020-21 are on display as part of the Starkville Area Arts Council exhibit, “Time on Our Hands.” The exhibit can be viewed in the lobby of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 200 E. Main St.
The pieces range from acrylic pours to books to photographs to ceramics to drawings to paintings. SAAC Executive Director John Bateman noted that most of the submissions are from artists living in the Golden Triangle.
“Some of them are artists who are usually in our shows,” Bateman said. “I think a couple of them are some newer artists, but they’re all local to the Golden Triangle. I think everybody in this show is local with a couple of exceptions.”
One of the newer artists to SAAC is Shalene Weddle of Hernando. She is an acrylic and resin pour painter and creative educator. Her poured pieces on display feature turquoise, gold and white highlighted with other colors to make a shiny and bold statement.
The artwork includes nature, such as Starkville resident Bonnie Brumley’s pieces featuring Red Buckeye and Wisteria plants. While they look almost like photographs, they are actually ceramic mounted on wood frames.
Sabrina Campbell, of Starkville, has several drawings, including “Good Trouble,” a portrait of the late civil rights leader John Lewis created out of the words “Good Trouble,” written over and over again. His quote about Good Trouble is included in the piece.
Jane Dill, of West Point, has colorful handbuilt pottery along with some photographs in the exhibit.
About two years ago, SAAC started receiving more submissions from out-of-state artists, Bateman said. One such artist, GJ Gillespie, of Whidbey Island, Washington, has an abstract piece called “I Will Survive” in the exhibit, which is part of SAAC’s Art in Public Places series.
“We started getting submissions from out of state, particularly with art students,” he said. “Their professors want them to submit to juried shows.”
All of the pieces are for sale. The SAAC keeps a 20-percent commission of each sale to help pay for its overhead, while the rest goes directly to the artists.
Opening night of the exhibit was July 8. The reception was well attended, Bateman said.
The exhibit will be available for viewing in-person in the partnership’s lobby until Sept. 13. It will be available online on the council’s website at https://www.starkvillearts.net/timeonourhands.html .
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