Special to the WJH ATLANTA – The Okefenokee Heritage Center has been named one of 10 host sites for the curated traveling exhibition of works from Georgia’s State Art Collection.
The announcement was made by the Georgia Department of Economic Development team specialized in supporting arts and culture, Georgia Council for the Arts.
The exhibit will be featured May 12-June 20, 2025 at the Okefenokee Heritage Center coinciding with its 50th anniversary celebration.
“Bringing selections from the Georgia State Art Collection to rural communities is an exciting opportunity,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “We appreciate the support of the Georgia General Assembly for their support in expanding arts services to rural areas. The hard work of our Georgia Council for the Arts team highlights that Georgia is an amazing place to live and encourages pride in Georgia’s arts and cultural heritage.”
The 10 destination communities earned a stop on the tour through a competitive application process that focused on engaging small and rural communities across the state, and each will receive a grant to support the exhibit and the accompanying community activities.
The exhibition, “Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists,” is the first of its kind in over a decade, and will encourage additional arts and cultural activities that celebrate and increase awareness for the local community and spur tourism.
At each of the selected locations, works from that community’s local and regional artists will be exhibited alongside 20 featured works from the State Collection.
“This is more than just an art exhibit,” said Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly. “‘Reimagine’ shows how the arts can enhance multigenerational engagement and community development. By intentionally engaging with artists, communities can find creative solutions to problems, creating more vibrant places where people want to live and visit.”
The State Art Collection is an extensive, vibrant chronicle of more than 600 works created by Georgia artists from the 1970s to the 1990s. Works in the exhibition will feature paintings, photographs, and drawings by artists such as nationally renowned, self-taught Nellie Mae Rowe.
Also featured will be craft traditions such as quilting and lace making to spotlight and connect the rich and diverse Southern art histories and communities of Georgia.
For more information, visit www.okefenokeeheritagecenter. org or call (912) 285-4260.
The works of Fayette County folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe are among the pieces featured in the Reimagine exhibit coming to the OHC. SPECIAL PHOTO
