New silk paintings exhibit to open at Columbus Museum on Sunday
Rene Shoemaker has had exhibits in London and Paris this year. But on Sunday, the artist will open one at the Columbus Museum.
"Discovering the Chattahoochee Valley: Silk Paintings by Rene Shoemaker," an exhibit of large-scale silk paintings, runs in the Galleria until next July.
"Using silk as my canvas, and dye as my paint, I describe a sense of place through extraordinary colors," Shoemaker said on her website. "A degree in fabric design, life experience, and a love of travel and quiet places all merge together to create beautiful images for you."
The Athens, Ga., resident said her mission is to bring beauty into the lives of people she has met and those who she hopes to meet. The artist created site-specific works about the Chattahoochee Valley after visiting the area and making sketches of local buildings, spaces and people.
In addition, Shoemaker solicited responses from the community through social media to decide which buildings and locations could be used in the paintings. Shoemaker said on the museum's website that the exhibit is "about discovering what makes the city and valley unique to its citizens and visitors."
For this project, the University of Georgia graduate used silk twill, a midweight silk that billows gently as the air moves.
While that exhibit opens Sunday, one that opened Aug. 16 and runs until Jan. 10 should also be of particular interest to local people. The exhibit is called 'Once Collected, Always Cherished" and it features highlights from the George Greene and J. Kyle Spencer collections.
The museum recently obtained items from the collection of the late Russell County Circuit Court Judge George Greene who was an avid collector of local artifacts for decades. Among those is an extensive archive related to the musician "Blind Tom" Wiggins, as well, as items related to the Civil War.
The exhibition also features maps from the J. Kyle Spencer Map Collection, which documents the emergence of the American colonies, specifically Georgia, for more than 30 years.
The history of European settlement, American Indian communities and their forced removal, and the growth of Georgia counties can be traced through these unusual and colorful maps.
Do I need a ticket to see the exhibits?
No, just come to the museum.
What is the cost?
The museum is free and the air conditioning is great. Don't forget to visit the gift shop.
Will children like the exhibits?
Older ones should. There is plenty of color and it is educational.
When is the museum open?
The Columbus Museum is closed on Monday. On Thursday, it is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, it is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday it is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where is the museum located?
It's at 1251 Wynnton Road.
Where can I get more info?
Call 706-748-2562 or visit www.columbusmuseum.com.
This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "New silk paintings exhibit to open at Columbus Museum on Sunday."