The Athens art community is back in full swing this season with exciting new exhibitions and plenty of opportunities to reflect, learn and socialize. Check out the handful of upcoming receptions below, and make sure to check Flagpole’s weekly Art Around Town section for a full list of exhibitions currently on view.
TINY ATH GALLERY: tiny ATH gallery will host two separate pop-up exhibitions in April. The first, held Apr. 11 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. with music by DJ De La Luna, spotlights local mixed media artist Sadie Padial. Often exploring food and femininity, her maximalist collages are exuberant in color, whimsy and texture. Coinciding with Third Thursday, the gallery will host a second pop-up show with Holly Hutchinson on Apr. 18 from 6–9 p.m. Working primarily in pen and ink, her illustrations of plants, animals and people emphasize hatching techniques and precise linework.
THE ATHENAEUM: “Sharpening a Screw,” this year’s annual Master of Fine Arts degree candidates exhibition, represents the culmination of each graduate student’s formal training within an academic institution as they venture into the professional contemporary art world. This year’s nine candidates graduating from UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art include Martin Chamberlain, Meredith Emery, Katie Ford, Yoon Huang, Lindsey Kennedy, Dylan Lewis, Alejandro Ramirez, Kit Rutter and Ashley Wingo. The Athenaeum will host an opening reception on Apr. 12 from 6–8 p.m., and the artists will give short talks about their work during MFA Speaks on Apr. 24 at 6 p.m. “Sharpening a Screw” will remain on view through May 9.
DODD GALLERIES: The exit show “Liminal” showcases students who will receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this spring from the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Marking the final milestone of their undergraduate studio art studies, the exhibition’s title references the students’ unique position transitioning between structured learning and self-guided independence. Addressing topics of identity, community, conflict and personal narratives, the variety of works range from painting, ceramics, sculpture, robotics and sound. To accommodate the volume of 40 different artists and their visitors, the exhibition has been divided into two parts. “Liminal” opened with the works of 18 artists on Apr. 5, and will conclude with the remaining 22 artists during a reception on Apr. 19 from 6–8 p.m.
CIRCLE GALLERY: The UGA College of Environment and Design’s Circle Gallery, located in the Jackson Street Building on north campus, continues its mission of presenting thoughtful exhibitions at the intersection of art, environmental design, landscape architecture and historic preservation with Peter Essick’s “Work in Progress.” Essick is an Atlanta-based photographer who has contributed to National Geographic for 30 years and was recently named one of the top most influential nature photographers in the world by Outdoor Photography Magazine. Shot from the perspective of a drone flying overhead, the images in “Work in Progress” investigate the appearances of ever-changing landscapes and construction sites altered by humans. On the surface, Essick’s scenes present almost abstract images as light, soil, wood, steel, concrete, water and other elements combine. Essick’s work simultaneously documents the environmental impacts of construction, land use and suburban sprawl, and provides a prompt to consider negative impacts such as the elimination of tree cover and loss of habitat for wildlife. Essick will discuss his work during a closing lecture on Apr. 17 at 4:30 p.m., and the exhibition will remain on view through Apr. 24.
ROOK & PAWN: Organized by Kendall Rogers, “Serenade: An Exhibition of Artworks” will include pieces by roughly 20 different local artists including Keith P. Rein, Sierra Kirsche, Mike Groves (aka “poopbird”), Marisa Leilani Mustard, Ed Edderson and Jesse Raven. An opening reception with live music by John Kiran Fernandes will be held Apr. 17 from 6–9 p.m., and the artworks will remain on display at The Rook & Pawn through June. Another great time to swing by will be during the pop-up outdoor market on Apr. 21 from 12–6 p.m., when various artists, makers and vendors will set up shop.
OCAF: The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation will open two new exhibitions for the spring season. “Southeastern Pastel Society: All About Pastels” is a juried member exhibition organized by a not-for-profit organization that supports pastel artists across the country through exhibition opportunities, educational programs and an online directory. Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month in May, “Perspective: A Journey into Mental Health,” features figurative sculptures and abstract paintings by local artist and educator Bobbi Johnson. An opening reception will be held Apr. 20 from 5–7 p.m., and both exhibitions will remain on view through June 1. “The Mystic and Mistrial Art of Bob Marable” will follow in late June.
ATHICA: The Athens Institute for Contemporary Art’s spring show, “Parameter: Candace Hicks, Claude-Gerard Jean and Timothy McCool,” presents works “united by its parameters, in which geometrical planes and abstract architectures harmonize across different modalities and artistic visions.” The exhibition was co-curated by Jon Vogt and Christina Habibi, the latter of whom currently has an exhibition of her bold, abstract paintings on view at ATHICA’s satellite space at Ciné through Apr. 25. An opening reception for “Parameter” will be held Apr. 20 from 6–8 p.m., and the exhibition will remain on view through May 19.
HENDERSHOT’S: Currently on view at Hendershot’s, a collaborative exhibition presents skateboard photography by Mason Pearson alongside unique wall-mounted lamps by Corwin Weik of NiwRoc Studio that incorporate stained glass and the skateboards that appear in Pearson’s photographs. A closing reception will be held Apr. 24 at 7:30 p.m., and a portion of proceeds from print sales will be donated to Boards For Bros.
BOTANICAL GARDEN: “ART and SOUL” is one of over a dozen solo shows Judy Bolton Jarrett has presented at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia since 1988. The garden holds a special place in her heart; it’s where she celebrated her 80th birthday with the exhibition “Art and Attitude” in 2021 and married her husband in 2023. She’s also been commissioned by the garden to create artwork for special occasions over the years, including a 40th anniversary limited-edition print. “ART and SOUL” features an assortment of landscapes and flowers in tethered acrylics as well as mixed media works incorporating collage. A closing party will be held Apr. 28 from 2–4 p.m., and a portion of proceeds from art sales will benefit The Lukas’ Fund.
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