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The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts hosted several hundred members, donors, artists and guests for the 32nd Annual Spring Into Art opening gala on April 8. Local artist and Valdosta State University graduate Mary VanLandingham earned the Best in Show for her oil painting, “The Last Day.” For a listing of other award winners, visit turnercenter.org. The exhibition is open for the public’s enjoyment through June 5 at no cost. For more information on Spring Into Art or upcoming gallery exhibitions, contact the Turner Center at 229-247-2787 or visit us at 527 N. Patterson Street in Valdosta.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts was proud to partner with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College for it’s Arts in Education contest on Tuesday, March 26. The first place winner was awarded $150 as well as entry into the Turner Center’s Spring Into Art exhibition. First, second and third place winners also received tickets to the April 8 event. For more information on how to get your tickets to the Spring Into Art gallery opening gala on April 8, please visit our Spring Into Art page at turnercenter.org. You can also call or visit our offices at 229-247-2787, 527 N. Patterson Street in Valdosta.

Nearly two dozen students from Perry High School, Georgia, in grades 10 through 12, visited the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts on March 22, 2019. The AP students and teacher Cathy Heller traveled by bus to Valdosta to view the Youth Art Month exhibition and more specifically the 2019 VSU Invitational High School Art Competition in the center’s galleries. While at the arts center, students were treated by staff to a Black-Out Poetry workshop, which taught the students the concept that art that effectively tells a story is compelling, interesting and engaging. Heller and her students traveled more than 125 miles to visit the art center, evidence of the regional impact the Turner Center has on the local and state arts industry. For more information on local arts, visit www.turnercenter.org.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is preparing for its largest fine art show and sale of the year, on display from April 8- June 5, 2019. The 32^nd Annual Spring Into Art exhibition will feature more than 400 original artworks, in various mediums from regional and statewide artists.

Local businesses that may be interested in supporting the arts in the community are invited to participate as sponsors, giving them the opportunity to have their name prominently displayed on our wall, within the SIA art catalog and on various other printed materials, as well as a 1-year membership at the Turner Center and complimentary tickets to Gallery Opening Gala on April 8 from 6-9 p.m.

For more information on Spring Into Art sponsorship opportunities or if you are interested in purchasing tickets to the Spring Into Art Gallery Opening Gala, please call us at 229-247-2787 or visit turnercenter.org.

Nearly 1,000 student art works are on display at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, representing approximately 50 regional schools for Youth Art Month.

One of three parts, the Valdosta State University Invitational High School Art Competition awarded 14 Honorable Mentions: Sara Grace Skinner (Berrien High School), Hannah McLean (Berrien High School), Anahi Valencia (Brooks County High School), Abigail Sadler (Central High School, Carrollton, GA), Haley Thompson (Central High School, Carrollton, GA), Daniella Cruz (Coffee High School), Devin Cherry (Hamilton County High School), Halle Gandy (Lowndes County High School), Jaliyah Brantley (Lowndes County High School), Jaliyah Brantley (Lowndes County High School), Wenting Ou (Lowndes County High School), Camille DeGuevara (Peach County High School), Megan Schminky (Thomas County Central High School), Charles Kugler (Valwood School), 3 Top Placements: Avery Barnett (Berrien High School), Kenzie Freeman (Lowndes County High School), Ashlynn Runyon (Perry High School), and a Best In Show: Abigail Sadler (Central High School, Carrollton, GA).

The Turner Center for the Arts invites the public to visit the Youth Art Month Galleries, on display until Wednesday, March 20. For more information on the current galleries or other services offered by the Turner Center for the Arts, please call 229-247-2787 or visit turnercenter.org.

The Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) along with local government, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority, the Turner Center for the Arts and the Lowndes/Valdosta Arts Commission board members unveiled the first major piece of public art at the Valdosta Regional Airport on Thursday, Feb. 21. The mural, featuring various iconic events and people within each letter of the word “Valdosta” will warmly welcome visitors and returning community members to the area when they retrieve their luggage. The mural also features the hashtag #ArtsValdosta in hopes that people will be inspired to take a photo of themselves in front of the airport mural, as well as any other art locations in the community, and then post them to the social media site. For more information regarding public art or the PAAC, call 229-247-2787 or visit www.turnercenter.org.

The Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) will meet on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at Noon, at the Valdosta Regional Airport. The meeting will take place in the airport conference room located in the airport’s main terminal.

Following the business meeting, the PAAC will host a Mural Unveiling Reception in the baggage claim area of the airport, at 1 p.m. The mural, painted by local artist Ethan Abbott, features various iconic events and people within each letter of the word “Valdosta.” It’s the first major piece of public art at the Valdosta Regional Airport, and it will warmly welcome visitors and returning community members to the area when they retrieve their luggage.

The PAAC, funded by the City of Valdosta, commissioned Abbott to paint the mural that celebrates life in the city. He is Valdosta homegrown, a graduate of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in graphic arts, a member of the Regional Artists Community, and his works can be seen in various restaurants, businesses and homes across the community.

“This is one of 15 public art pieces that has been placed within the City Central Arts District (CCAD) as well as other community locations for people’s enjoyment and appreciation,” said Bruce Smith, PAAC Chair. “Our committee is pleased to unveil the mural at the airport, which will extend the warm South Georgia welcome that people have come to expect from Valdosta and that will also let our guests know that we are a thriving arts community. We invite the community to celebrate along with us at this Feb. 21 event.”

The mural at the airport also features a hashtag—a user-generated social media tag which makes it possible for people to post and find similarly-themed photos and content in one location using #ArtsValdosta. The committee hopes people will be inspired to take a photo of themselves in front of the airport mural, as well as any other art locations in the community, and then post them to the social media site.

The purpose of PAAC is to further the purchase, creation and appreciation of public art for its aesthetic value to the community. The PAAC also encourages the preservation and protection of works of public art which play a vital role in the economic development of the community. 

For more information about the PAAC, call 229-247-2787.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is honored and excited to host internationally renowned pianist Julian Gargiulo on Saturday, January 26. Gargiulo will perform twice on Saturday with a free student concert at 10:30 a.m. (recommended for ages 8-14) and the evening performance for adults at 7:30 p.m.

Steinway Artist Gargiulo is a pianist, composer, and recording artist who has performed in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Russia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, China, and Australia, with regular performances at Carnegie Hall (US), United Nations’ Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium (US), Moscow Conservatory Hall (Russia) and many more.

Huffington Post once stated that those interested in Gargiulo’s performances may need to “revise any preconceived notions you have about classical music concerts,” and prepare for “”…a marvelous non-stop flow of pure Woody Allen-ish wit.” (Kathimerini)

Reserved ($30) and general admission ($20) seating is available on-site, over the phone or online at 527 N. Patterson Street, 229-247-2787 or turnercenter.org.

For more information, call 229-247-2787.

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PAAC Meets January 17

The Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) will meet on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. The regularly-scheduled meeting will take place in the second-floor board room of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, located at 527 N. Patterson Street.

The purpose of PAAC is to further the purchase, creation and appreciation of public art for its aesthetic value to the community. The PAAC also encourages the preservation and protection of works of public art which play a vital role in the economic development of the community.

For more information about the PAAC, call 229-247-2787.

The Turner Center for the Arts hosted an art-learning opportunity for 20 clients from Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Turner County, on Nov. 14. The department is broken down into six regions; and Lowndes and Turner Counties, among others, fall into Region 4. Art Education Administrator Debi Davis (pictured above) planned and led the group in a holiday-themed painting workshop. “I always try to make sure the students are introduced to at least one art concept per workshop. We have students from Valdosta that have been coming for almost a year that have picked up on a variety of art concepts and are really learning to apply them well,” said Davis. For more information on regional opportunities or local classes and workshops, please contact our offices at 229-247-2787 or visit turnercenter.org.