So much to do at Gadsden Arts in August and September!

E-NEWS • AUGUST 2024

Headliners

Discover Art Series

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 10am – 11:30am

The morning begins with The White Rabbit Market featuring one of their custom coffees, crème brûlée, and the magic of a hot and cold tea using Tealyra’s French Lemon Ginger Tea. Enjoy these gourmet beverages and confections, and hear the remarkable stories of Thornton Dial, Sr., and Jack Whitten, who came from humble beginnings in Bessemer, Alabama, and followed very different paths to achieve national critical acclaim and a place in the history of American art. This program features Jack Whitten’s Lapsang, on loan from Art Bridges, and a selection of Dial’s assemblages from the Gadsden Arts Permanent Collection.

Offered in partnership with The White Rabbit Market

Reservations close August 29, 2024, 5PM EST

Discover Art Series

Dine & Discover Luncheon: B irds in Contemporary Art

Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 12PM – 1:30PM

Enjoy luncheon with friends, and gourmet coffee and tea with recipe demonstrations by The White Rabbit Market. Then, hear the fascinating stories of some of SAQA’s international fiber artists, and interviews with Jim Miller, photographer, and Brenda Francis, painter, both of whom celebrate Florida’s bird life.

Offered in partnership with The White Rabbit Market

Reservations Close: October 3, 2024, 5 PM EST

Stay in touch with the latest news!

To reduce environmental impact and ensure reliable delivery, Gadsden Arts is transitioning to digital-only marketing. Catch all of our updates and events on our website, e-newsletter, and social media platforms. If you know of someone who relies on our mailings, they can register for our E-news on the Gadsden Arts website, or call Scout Owen, Development Assistant (850) 627-5024 for assistance.

Major Exhibition

Aviary: SAQA International Quilting & Fiber Art

Save the date – opening in September!

Curated by Martha Sielman, Executive Director of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), this exhibition titled Aviary: SAQA International Quilting & Fiber Art presents fabric and fiber masterpieces from over 16 countries that interpret bird life in stunning detail. Special programs and workshops will be offered throughout the run of show – keep an eye on our website for details! To book a guided tour for any group of four or more people, contact Kaiyla Thompson, Museum Educator, (850) 627-5023.

Opening Reception

Aviary: SAQA International Quilting & Fiber Art Exhibition

Friday, September 20, 2024 from 5PM – 7PM

Featuring a Curator’s Talk and fiber art demonstrations

Admission – members & specified # of members’ guests free; nonmember adults $5

No reservations needed

Things to do

Art for Youth

Creative Futures Council – apply now

Your future in the arts awaits!

Creative Futures Council, formerly known as Teen Art Council, is now accepting applications! Available to high school students and freshman and sophomore undergraduates, this program offers the opportunity to explore visual arts careers. If accepted into the program, participants will meet through Zoom meetings, help plan events, work with professional artists in workshops, and showcase personal works. Applicants will be interviewed, and selected participants will earn $15 an hour.

Applications due: Friday, September 6, 2024 @ 5 PM EST

Apply Here

Cultural Events

20-Minute Art Talk – Jack Whitten & Thornton Dial, Sr.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 12 PM

Join us for a 20-Minute Art Talk, where our museum staff or Art Guides lead a fun and informal conversation comparing two artworks every first Wednesday at noon. This month we will look at Jack Whitten’s Lapsang, on loan from Art Bridges, and pieces by Thornton Dial, Sr. from the Gadsden Arts’ Permanent Collection. This event is free for GACM members or included with the price of admission, with no reservations required. Generous support for this project is provided by Art Bridges.

Jack Whitten (1939-2018), Lapsang, 1974, acrylic and graphite on canvas, 67 5/8 x 39 5/8 in. On loan from Art Bridges.

Art for Children

Free art-making in the ArtZone!

On Saturdays, 10am – 4:30pm check out the ArtZone, our free open art studio! This month we’re inspired by Jack Whitten. Jack Whitten (1939 – 2018) was an American painter and sculptor celebrated for his innovative use of objects rather than paint brushes to make art. He even built a tool called the “developer” to move paint across the canvas. Families visiting the ArtZone will make their own artworks in the style of Whitten through found object painting, slab painting, and tile mosaics. You can also continue the fun at home with our free Art@Home Kits! No reservations are needed.

Generous support for this project is provided by Art Bridges. Saturday Family Days are presented by Centennial Bank, in partnership with the National Hookup of Black Women – Gadsden, Art for Children sponsor Bell & Bates Home Center, and Art @ Home Kits sponsor TDS Telecom.

Cultural Events

Create your own event!

Create an entertaining outing with your group at Gadsden Arts! Enjoy a guided conversation about the art on view, and create art! Tours and activities are free with the price of admission, and your group can order in lunch and enjoy dining in our Bates Community Room. Use of our gathering space is free with your guided tour. Call 850-627-5023 for more information.

Things to see

Fletcher Museum Shop

Find your one-of-a-kind gift today!

These miniature knitted baskets by Susan Frisbee are only the beginning of an array of local artwork on sale at the Jean Gard Fletcher Museum Shop. Visit soon and check out more of what our museum has to offer.

Regional Exhibition

36th Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition – Only 3 weeks remaining!

On view through Saturday, August 24, 2024

The Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition is an annual tradition that began more than three decades ago! Art in Gadsden was founded to promote the work of our region’s artists and bring fine art to families in Gadsden County and the region. This year’s exhibition presents 100 great works of art – be sure to see it before it closes! You can also hear from some of our Best of Show Award winners from the past two decades of Art in Gadsden in this video from our June Dine & Discover Luncheon.

Watch the Video

What’s happening!

Art for Children

What an amazing summer!

Thank you all for enrolling your Art Explorers in this year’s Gadsden Arts Summer Camp. It was a joy to hear their happy chatter, and witness their creativity and enthusiasm throughout the program. Be on the lookout next summer for exciting themes and activities. We hope to see your Art Explorer return, and we encourage you to invite a friend to join the fun.

Thank you to our Art for Children Sponsors, Education program contributors, and sponsors Bell & Bates Home Center, TDS Telecom, Centennial Bank, and Sunnyside Farm Management, Inc. for making low tuition possible for every camper, and scholarships available for 65% of campers!

Our Community

Investor’s Update

Organizations like Gadsden Arts are magical because we are a community. We join together to bring great art experiences to everyone. Check out the Investor’s Update for an overview of all that you’ve helped make possible since January. It has been an amazing year so far – thank you!

Investor’s Update

Cultural Events

Another great year of Artist’s Studio Tours

Thank you so much for a great second annual day of Artist’s Studio Tours! As part of our celebration of the 36th Annual Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition, GACM members had the opportunity to explore and speak with regional artists in their studios in Tallahassee, Quincy, and Havana. Special thanks to Mark Georgiades, Dean Gioia, Terry Hawkins, William Hugh McKeown, Eluster Richardson, and Fred SanGuiliano for opening their studios to our community!

Stay in touch for more exciting events like this one!

Upcoming Events