On Tuesday evening, Jan. 24, downtown Augusta’s Sacred Heart Cultural Center hosted an art reception and gallery opening for the Merry Street artists’ exhibit.
After gathering for several years, four local artists displayed some of their paintings, met with the public to discuss their pieces and enjoy refreshments.
Each older adult contributed 10 pieces to the exhibit, and a portion of each art sale will go towards the continuing cultural center’s mission to support community art efforts.
Prior to being moved out of the Merry Street studio by Augusta’s Parks and Recreation, featured artists were a part of the former group known as the “Ageless Artists of Merry Street” – including Mary Madeline Harrison, Del Jordan, Mary K. Rufo and Nancy Tokarska. Although they have all painted together for many years under the watchful eye of instructor Regina Trueblood, every artist’s style and pieces differed in some way.
For instance, Tokarska said she is typically heavily inspired by nature scenes, places and landscapes, and she is often inspired by her travels abroad to places like the Netherlands and seeing amazing sights such as the Rhine River. Also dabbling in ceramics, sewing and crocheting, Tokarsha said it is all about keeping her hands moving.
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“It’s being able to create something … I have to like it and be inspired by it” she said. “I don’t like to not do something. At night when I’m watching T.V., I like to be doing something with my hands.”
For those who might find painting daunting, Tokarsha and Jordan said it is all about learning how to see things from an artist’s perspective.
“It’s about looking at the light and the dark, and what the light is focusing on,” said Tokarsha. “You bring the light and dark to life, and that’s painting.”
The center’s Program and Marketing Manager Sabrina Dickson said she believed artist receptions are important because they allow audiences to associate a name and painting with an actual face. She said it also allows artists to explain pieces and their motivations behind them.
“There’s usually a story behind each painting, and it’s very meaningful to them. So, it’s really important for the artists to share that with other people, and to feel as though their art is understood,” she said. “It also makes people more interested in purchasing the piece when they hear the story.”
Dickson said her personal favorite part of the exhibit was the variety among all 40 pieces. With materials such as watercolors, oils and acrylics, despite the fact that the artists paint together, Dickson said there is an enormous range of emotions, and highlighted subjects throughout the artworks.
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“They’re all mixed in together, but you can still pick out their style,” she said. “Some is more abstract, and there’s more realistic nature scenes – just a whole variety.”
Like Harrison, who Trueblood said was one of her first art students back in 1989 at the Senior Center, the Merry Street exhibit is highlighting some of the community’s more experienced and older painters.
“It supports local artists and at the same time supports Sacred Heart,” said Dickson. “I think it’s really important for every aspect of art to be supported – whether it’s visual, photography or music. Any type of art form should be celebrated.”
Along with Dickson, Trueblood said art is wrongfully being removed from schools, which makes galleries and exhibits all the more necessary to fill that educational gap.
“They should not be removed from schools,” said Trueblood. “They are an outlet and sometimes that’s what connects people to others.”
Trueblood highlighted how not all are privileged to have art supplies and lessons at home, which makes art departments at schools that much more special.
In cases such as Jordan’s, who served in the military for 16 years prior to retiring and trying his hand at painting, he explained why he deliberately chose to refrain early on in life.
“I used to create graphics for the military, and I had a friend who painted for them – portraits and things – and I saw how hard it was on him,” he said. “It’s hard to have all that pressure and stress on you; I didn’t want to have my art be restricted with that kind of pressure.”
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Frankie Jordan, wife of fellow artist, said she and Trueblood often criticize Jordan’s pieces, and give him advice as this causes him to grow as a painter and become more skilled over time. Although it is a constant and tedious process of repainting things until they are just perfect, Jordan said it is satisfying in the end to have a piece he is happy with.
“I’m dyslexic, so sometimes I don’t see things the way [Trueblood] and my wife do,” he said. “It’s good to know that you created something from your own head … it doesn’t matter when you do it, just as long as you start.”
Spectators wandered amongst the paintings featuring horses, tigers, windmills, everyday people and beautiful sights at the exhibit that truly featured something for everyone to enjoy and smile at.
The Merry Street exhibit will be open to the public at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center from January 25 at 9 a.m. until February 28. Located at 301 Green St. in Augusta, each painting sale will not only support the artist’s passion, but will also help fund the center’s ongoing operations.
For more information about the gallery, visit: https://sacredheartaugusta.org
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
