Photography
by Kelley Krohnert

January 2, 2024 to February 29, 2024

Artist Statement

My name is Kelley and I live in Smyrna, Georgia with my husband and daughter. My husband and I moved to the Smyrna/Mableton area from Dunwoody over 15 years ago, and we absolutely love this part of town.

I became interested in photography as a hobby shortly after my daughter was born in 2008, and 5 years later, when she went to Kindergarten, I launched my photography business, Kelley K Photography. In April 2016, I was accepted into the Click Pro network of talented photographers, part of Click Magazine. It is an honor to be included in this professional organization of well-respected professional photographers and artists.

My specialties are corporate headshots and children and family photography. On the personal side, I’m also very drawn to fine art photography, because it pushes me creatively and allows me to really enjoy the more artistic side of photography. I shoot a variety of landscape and nature photos, as well as abstract and macro (close-up) images.

I first pursued photography as a way to capture better photos of my daughter and our family. As I learned more about my camera and about light, I began to truly capture images that I was proud to display on our walls. I love that I am able to capture these kind of beautiful images for my clients as well.

https://kelleykphotography.com/

Oils, Acrylics, and Charcoal
by Max Oliver

March 1, 2024 to April 30, 2024

Artist Statement

Hailing from the heart of south Georgia, Max Oliver emerges as a captivating multimedia artist whose creative journey has been marked by a profound exploration of diverse mediums and styles. With a recent graduation from Kennesaw State University, where he earned a bachelors degree in fine art with a focused emphasis on painting and drawing, Max’s artistic narrative unfolds as an intricate tapestry of innovation and expression.

He specializes in oil paint, although his work is wide ranging in subject matter with use of varying media from digital to traditional charcoal drawings, watercolor, acrylic and oil paints. Much of his recent work consists of commissioned oil portraiture, pets, and still-life paintings.

His style leans more toward a dark realism with heavy influences from classical luminist painters. This style illustrates themes of a fantastical exploration from a crisp, firm depiction of the way things are, into a whimsical, curious world of what could be. This evolution from strict to playful could be more aptly characterized as dark humor.

His background consists of assisting in several mural projects for local schools, businesses, and restaurants, three submissions to the Spring into Art Festival at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, GA, two pieces to the Highlands Art Festival in Highlands, NC, donations to local auctions and charities in Valdosta and Atlanta, seven submissions to the Celestial Show at Phoenix and Dragon Bookstore in Sandy Springs, GA.,and three submissions to the Visions of Recovery art show for artists supporting addiction recovery at the Fine Art Gallery at Kennesaw State University.

Artist Website

Transformations Exhibit
May 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024

Combined Art & Display Gallery Exhibit

Elizabeth Mobley – Glass Artist
Mausi – Mixed Media
Stella Spyrou - Photography

Artist Statement:

Elizabeth Mobley

I work with glass because it's challenging - and because no two pieces are the same. Also, glass can be massive and dense, but at the same time delicate and fragile.

I keep going back to my favorite subjects: landscapes, seascapes and animals - imagining depth, texture and lighting to project images in glass.

The results depend upon my technical skills, patience and sometimes luck. If I'm successful, there is wonder. If not, the piece will be melted and reborn into something new.

Artist Statements:

Mausi (Sharon Brown)

Mausi started drawing from a very young age. Her first drawing was of JFK as seen on black and white TV. And from this point on, she never stopped drawing, painting and creating different types of art. Mausi is a multi media artist working with watercolor, pencils, charcoal, acrylics, pastels, textile and natural products to create drawings, paintings, and 3-d structures. She finishes most of her work with artistic framing and embellishments.

She graduated from the Western Kentucky University with an Associated of Arts degree in Fine Arts. She never stopped learning and improving her artistic knowledge and talents.

Stella Spyrou

I have always been taking pictures in my spare time but I became more serious about photography after I retired from an IT Senior Manager position at a pharmaceutical company.

I joined the Sweetwater Camera Club in Douglasville, GA and participated in many of the monthly competitions winning from Honorable Mention to 1st place several times. My winning images were published in the Chapel Hill News and Views (a local publication) and displayed at The Photo Spot in Douglasville, GA. In addition, many of my images were displayed at various local art exhibits. One of them, Evening at the Port, won 3rd place in November 2013 at the NOVAS (National Open Visual Arts Show) sponsored by the Cultural Arts Center in Douglasville, GA.

Atlanta Collage Society
by Cynthia Frigon, Jane Kelley, Ellen Kierr Stein, Jeff Rackley and Aaron Whitmoyer

Art Gallery
July 1, 2024 to August 30, 2024

Artists Statement:

Collage refers to both the artistic technique of arranging and gluing pieces of various materials onto a supporting surface and to the resulting artwork. Collage is one form of mixed media. It first became popular in 1912 when Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were innovating Cubism in their painting. Some say Picasso was the first to use collage in his oil paintings.

Because it combines material elements and visual culture, collage creates an exploratory and evocative process for both the artist and the viewer.

Pictured L to R: Cynthia Frigon, Jane Kelley and Ellen Kierr Stein. Not pictured: Jeff Rackley and Aaron Whitmoyer.

www.AtlantaCollage.org

It's the Journey! Fine Art Pastels
by Marsha Hamby Savage

Art Gallery
September 2, 2024 to October 31, 2024

Artist Statement:

I have created art for over 50 years being inspired by and painting mostly landscapes! My love of nature comes naturally because of the era I grew up in. Mom always said don't come back inside until I call you for dinner! That meant go several houses down and play in a creek, or create forts, climb trees, etc. So I paint trees, and rocks and water, just to name a few things that always inspire me!

Play and experimenting with still life, flowers, figures, animals, and some abstract work is key too. An artist is on a journey that never ends, a journey to learn more. That means I have loads of studies and half-finished artwork to return to for trying new ideas.

I participate in several regional plein air events each year. Artists depend on friendships of our fellow travelers in this artistic journey for understanding and discussions about being an artist. That is as much why I attend these events as for the painting part of it.

I have been represented by many galleries, and feel lucky to currently have three great galleries in Georgia. Invitational shows, art competitions, personal solo and group shows have always been part of my journey. I am honored to have won awards in some, gaining Signature Status and a few Master Status designations. I say those things for you to know I work hard to keep learning by putting my pieces out there for input. With these experiences I have knowledge to share when giving talks, demos for art organizations, and teaching private students and workshops.

I also say those things for the potential collector of my work. You may connect with a piece of art because of your own life experiences. But, I have found that most collectors are interested in the artist and their life. You can learn a bit about me by reading the descriptions I have for each painting here on my website. And, of course, there is the "About" page.

As we all know, things were in upheaval for the last two to three years. I had hopes 2022 would be a better year for workshops and classes. I did get to teach two workshops for two different art organizations in my general North Georgia area. That was good.

Native American History Photography Exhibit:
The Mississippian Era Around Us
by Smyrna Public Library & Smyrna Museum

Art Gallery
November 5, 2024 to December 31, 2024

Exhibit Overview:

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Smyrna Museum and Smyrna Library bring you a photo exhibit showcasing two Mississippian Era sites in Georgia: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site. The exhibit runs from November 5 through the end of December and is located on the second floor of Smyrna Library.

The Mississippian Period in Georgia archaeology stretches from A.D. 800 - A.D. 1600 and is characterized by complex societies that built large, earthen platform mounds. Museum Manager, Jennie Eldredge and Library Associate Jennifer Moore visited Ocmulgee Mounds in May of 2024 and Etowah in October 2024 and captured views of the structures around these spectacular parks. The images are presented here with informative signage to introduce viewers to the monuments built by Native Americans in the Georgia area over hundreds of years. Both the Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Creek Nation who later occupied the Smyrna area are descended from these Mississippian peoples.

About The Smyrna Museum:

Smyrna Museum is a city-owned and run history museum that is housed in a reconstruction of the train depot near at 2861 Atlanta Rd, Smyrna. Beginning with the Native American period of Smyrna history, visitors are taken on a chronological tour of Smyrna's history with over 100 objects on display. Museum Manager and Cobb native, Jennie Eldredge, has been overseeing the museum. She holds a master's degree in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. Learn more about Smyrna Museum at https://www.smyrnaga.gov/your-city/history-points-of-interest/smyrna-history-museum.