ARTHUR STEWART shown with two of the 14-foot murals which will be the backdrop for the upcoming Dixie Art Colony Foundation exhibition to be held at Trustmark in downtown Tallassee. In 1953 Stewart completed four large murals conceived and started by Kelly Fitzpatrick prior to his death.
Four exciting exhibitions will take place during this year’s annual "Tallassee NOW" event to be held on June 9 and 10, 2017 in downtown Tallassee, Alabama. All four art exhibitions will take place at the 304 Barnett Boulevard branch of Trustmark located just west of the Fitzpatrick Bridge. The exhibitions will open on Friday, June 9 at 6:00 pm with an opening reception in the banking lobby of Trustmark. All of the exhibitions will also be open from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 10.
• Dixie Art Colony a Look at its Lasting Legacy | will take place in the main banking lobby of the downtown branch of Trustmark. The centerpiece of this exhibition will be four large, oversized murals designed and painted by well-known Elmore County artist Kelly Fitzpatrick and his protégé Arthur Stewart. The three larger murals measure 14 feet in length. The murals commissioned in 1952 by Bank of Tallassee president Roberts Blount depict important milestones in the history of the city of Tallassee. Also included in this exhibition will be other original artwork by Dixie Art Colony artists Kelly Fitzpatrick, Arthur Stewart, Warree LeBron, Carlos Alpha “Shiney” Moon, Genevieve Southerland, Walter Keith, Karl Ferdinand Wolfe, Mildred Nungester Wolfe, Anne Wilson Goldthwaite, Louise Smith Everton and more.
The exhibition will also include a 16-minute documentary-style video about Elmore County’s unique and historic Dixie Art Colony and the influence the colony had on the development of Southern Art during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Included in the video are vintage photographs taken from the Colony Scrapbooks. The DAC Foundation has documentation indicating that more 137 artists participated in the colony from 1933 through 1947. | Press Release
Below are a few of the paintings that will be included in the exhibition.
• Dixie Doodles: The Lighter Side of the Dixie Art Colony | This exhibition will take place in the bank Annex located on the east-side of the downtown branch of Trustmark. The highlight of this exhibition will be a series of painted tin panels rescued from the Nobles Ferry site of the Dixie Art Colony. The panels show playful scenes painted by Arthur Stewart, Warree LeBron, Mildred Nungester (Wolfe) and numerous others. Also included in this exhibit will be a series of caricature type sketches of some of the colonists, silkscreens, watercolors sketches, and pencil sketches by Richard Coe, Austin (Rudy) Martin, Frank Applebee and Kelly Fitzpatrick. Local artist Carol Barksdale is expected to be at the event on June 10 to draw caricatures of event visitors.
• Tallassee Now & Then: Art Show | This exhibit conducted by the Elmore County Art Guild will take place in the bank Annex located on the east side of the downtown branch of Trustmark. The theme, “Tallassee Now & Then,” encourages artists to focus on historical scenes of Tallassee’s past and scenes that represent present day Tallassee. First, Second and Third Place awards and numerous Honorable Mentions will be awarded at the reception to be held on June 9 from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm. Up to three entries per artist will be accepted. The competition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older. Both Elmore County Art Guild members and non-members are invited to participate. Up to three entries per artist will be accepted. ECAG members will be charged a $5.00 fee for each entry. Non-members will be charged a $15 fee for each entry. Work must delivered to the Trustmark Annex no later than 1:30 pm on May 3. | ECAG Prospectus
• Tallassee Community: Art Show | This exhibit conducted by the McCraney Cottle Arts Council will take place in the bank annex located on the east-side of the downtown branch of Trustmark. The exhibit will feature Tallassee area artist. No fees will be charged to enter and all mediums will be accepted.
All exhibitions will be open June 9 from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm and June 10 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. "Dixie Doodles" and "Tallassee Now & Then" will also be open June 14, 17 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Sponsors for the exhibitions include Trustmark bank and the McCraney Cottle Arts Council.
Dixie Art Colony Foundation, Wetumpka, Alabama