J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic literary fantasy work “The Lord of the Rings” is getting an elaborate tribute from Augusta’s arts community.
“Art of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Art” kicked off at Le Chat Noir on July 1. The group exhibition features pieces inspired by Tolkien’s novel trilogy and its film adaptations.
Last year, several of the artists whose works are in the show attended a themed get-together celebrating the birthday of Bilbo Baggins — the protagonist of Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” — which ultimately led to Heather René Dunaway organizing the exhibit.
“We just got to talking, like, ‘Oh, it would be so fun if this was an art show,’” said Dunaway, a curator with the Greater Augusta Arts Council. “So, it kind of just came from us really goofing off at a party, pitching ideas back and forth.”
The show includes more than 20 works by several local creators such as Francie Klopotic, Debra Estep, Jacki Mayo Van Dyke, Jeremy Cohen and Dunaway herself.
Most of the artworks are two-dimensional — paintings and drawings — but there are also digital and mixed-media pieces.
One of the artists, Christina Rice, is known for texturing her portraits with fabrics, paper, beads and even hair. Another, Aaron Bailey, drew from the animated “Lord of the Rings” adaptation by Ralph Bakshi in the 1970s, rather than the films released in the early 2000s.
“I think there’s a good variety of different mediums, different styles,” Dunaway said. “Everyone put their own spin on things, which is great.”
Dunaway has coordinated many themed art-shows throughout Augusta, including the Halloween-themed “Annual October Spooktacular,” the “Lucky 13” show for Le Chat’s annual Black Cat Carnival, and the “Anime On My Mind” show at the 600 Broad Gallery.
Many of her showcases are designed to speak to fandoms to unite artists and art-lovers through similar interests.
The “Art of the Rings” exhibition is to culminate in a free reception at Le Chat Noir on July 21, to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the release of Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” (which was published July 29, 1954), complete with cocktails, food, a free screening of the 2001 “Fellowship” film and costumes — which, Dunaway notes, are more than encouraged.
“If anyone shows up not wearing costumes, I think they’re going to be judged a little bit,” she said.
The Art of the Rings, Fellowship of the Art exhibit will continue at Le Chat Noir, 304 Eighth St., through Aug. 5. The free reception, the event page for which is at https://bit.ly/ArtoftheRingsRSVP, will be there on Friday, July 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
