Paintings by Aiken artist Sally Donovan are on display at Sacred Heart Cultural Center's Art Hall , with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today.
She was 12 when she received her first oil painting, along with her first lesson, from an aunt. She attended the Arts Students League and worked in the art department of a greeting card company in New York City.
After her retirement in 1995, she studied with Ralph Stone Jacobs and began painting still lifes and landscapes. After relocating to Aiken, she continued instruction under Al Beyer at University of South Carolina Aiken. Her art has been selected for juried shows, has been exhibited in many galleries in both north and south, and her work can be found in collections from California to Florida. She is a member of the Aiken Artists Guild.
The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art will open its fourth annual Spring Artists' Market and Festival with a wine and cheese reception from 6 to 8 p.m. March 19, followed by a full week of activities. The opening reception will preview an exhibition and sale of works by member artists. Works will remain on view and available for purchase through March 26.
On Saturday, March 20, there will be a free festival, with children's activities, hands-on art projects and artist demonstrations. The Gertrude Herbert will be open free all next week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The arts institute also will open an exhibit in its Creel-Harison Community Gallery on March 19 of work by Augusta artist Chad Cole . Cole says he is influenced by the "literature, mythologies and psychological underpinnings of Southern Gothic." His work responds to classic Southern literature, landscape and architecture.
The 35th annual Sandhills Writers Conference will be held March 18-20 at Augusta State University. American Book Award recipient Kimiko Hahn will give a keynote address at 11 a.m. March 18 in Galloway Hall.
The conference also features Georgia authors Joshilyn Jackson (novelist) and Nathaniel Lachenmeyer (children's literature), California-based nonfiction author and poet David Starkey , New York City literary agent Brandi Bowles and poet Robert Parham .
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Caroline Aiken will also perform during the literary celebration.
Sandhills also offers fiction, children's literature and poetry craft sessions, an authors reading and book signing, and a talk by Ms. Bowles on Why You Need An Agent. There will also be an appearance by Parham, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Augusta State and editor of the Southern Poetry Review , the prestigious national magazine now celebrating its 50th year.
The Morris Museum of Art is offering a week of free admission before getting back to business as usual. On March 19, the Art at Lunch series returns with Atlanta fine art and antiques dealer Spalding Nix discussing the history of painting in Georgia, and focusing on several artists in the Morris collection. Lunch will be by A Catered Affair, and paid reservations are due by March 17. Call (706) 828-3867.
On Sunday, March 21, there will be two free events at the museum. Jewelry designer Norris Boardman Nelson will have a trunk show from noon to 4 p.m., and at 2 p.m., Augusta State University professors Christine Crookall, cello, and Martin David Jones, piano, will be featured in the Music at the Morris series.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
