The Museum of Art near Madison brings Georgia’s creative legacy to life, hosting a rare traveling exhibit that unites rural communities through contemporary creativity.
An easy 30-minute drive from Covington will take you to one of the best hidden gems in Georgia’s art scene. The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is tucked among Morgan County’s rolling hills and expansive pastures, 10 minutes from historic downtown Madison. One of the few single-artist museums in the country, it has a simple exterior that belies the treasures within, though the sprinkling of sculptures provides a hint. Once inside, visitors find themselves transported into a serene, expansive gallery dedicated to the life and work of Steffen Wolfgang George Thomas, a German-born American artist who made Georgia his creative home.
From April 21 through May 29, the museum will host Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists, a traveling art show featuring 20 works curated from the Georgia State Art Collection.
“We are delighted to be one of 10 venues chosen to host this exhibit,” said Lisa Conner, the founding director of the museum and Thomas’ youngest daughter. “Reimagine is meant to bring art to more rural communities. It will not be shown in any big cities, and this is the only opportunity to see it in this area.”
“This world is too small for less than brotherhood, too dangerous for less than truth.”
Steffen Thomas
The 20 featured works in Reimagine were chosen for their ability to uplift and connect Georgia’s diverse southern art histories and communities. The exhibit includes work from three area art guilds: Southern Heartland Art Gallery, the Madison Artists Guild and the Artisans Village Guild. Featured media include painting, fiber art, sculpture, photography, pottery and more. These works are from the Georgia State Art Collection, a vibrant chronicle of over 600 pieces created by Georgia artists.
Admission to the museum is free during the traveling exhibition, which will kick off with an opening reception on April 19, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. All are welcome to attend, and Conner invites educators to bring student groups to view Reimagine. A teacher’s guide with curriculum connections is available at www.gaarts.org.
“We want to engage the community during Reimagine by hosting several creative workshops led by local artists,” Conner said. Planned artmaking events include a simple textile project with Jackie Kelley from the Southern Heartland Art Gallery Guild and a watercolor workshop led by retired art teacher April Hendricks. The museum will also host a presentation by sculptor Brian Danson.
The Reimagine “art is for everyone” theme echoes Thomas’ personal belief that art is one of the world’s strongest uniting forces. A prolific expressionist, Thomas created thousands of works of art over his lifetime in every available medium, including painting, mosaic, sculpture, printmaking and stonework. His public works can be viewed across the Southeast at a number of locations, from the Georgia State Capitol, Piedmont Park and the United States Military Academy to several universities, including Auburn, Emory and Tuskegee.
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call 706-342-7557 to arrange a group tour and visit steffenthomas.org to learn more about the museum.
For information about Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists, visit gaarts.org/programs/state-art-collection-tour.
Click here to read more stories by Kari Apted.
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