Art groups celebrate anniversay with performances
Columbia County Arts Inc. recently celebrated its fourth anniversary at an annual meeting Monday by having many of its associated arts organizations perform.
Jack Roy, a member of the Columbia County Artist Guild, helps hang an art display for the groups fourth annual meeting which included performances by the Columbia County Choral Society and Stage III Productions.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Ballerinas from the Augusta Dance Theatre twirled for the crowd, and the Columbia County Choral Society's voices filled the Brandon Wilde Clubhouse.
The Children's Musical Theater made the crowded room ripple with laughter with a scene from Neverland.
"Arts in the community always enhance the community as you have seen tonight," the arts group's outgoing president Ron Jones said.
But it is the group's newest spinoff that excited local artists - The Artist Guild of Columbia County.
"There is not one in Augusta," said Bev Smith, Columbia County Arts Inc. board member. "We are proud of (the guild), and Columbia County Arts looks forward to working with that group."
The guild, led by president Nancy Cannon, began meeting in February and boasts about 15 members, who are mostly county artists of varying media.
"This is a very interesting group and we can learn a lot from each other," Cannon said.
Exchanging creative ideas and business information is one of the guild's main goals.
Since the guild began meeting, the group of artists have elected officers and a board of directors and adopted a constitution and by-laws, said Christina Rice, the guild's secretary who also creates charcoal portraits. She added that at an upcoming meeting, the guild hopes to begin collecting dues and establish a firm membership.
"It's moving fast," Rice said. "I am surprised at how quickly it has organized. We have had a lot of interest."
As officers begin the process of applying to make the guild a nonprofit organization, they are also trying to plan several events including an annual members' exhibition, art workshops, studio tours, creating art on location, critique meetings, wet paint parties, art exhibits and developing art Internet sites.
"The guild has a lot of plans," Rice said. "You will soon see our work in various places around the county I hope."
Artists of any kind are welcome, Cannon said.
Monthly meetings alternate between the second Tuesday and Saturday of each month. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, at the Gibbs Library on Belair Road.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Cannon said.