Allied Arts hosted a multi-gallery reception Feb. 14 featuring “My Abstract City” by the Boys & Girls Club and “Life of a Flower” by Georgia College’s Ceramics I students.
“My Abstract City” explores the beauty of historic locations throughout Baldwin County and artistic expression through abstract art. Local artist Christina Mansfield taught a class to about 35 Boys & Girls Club members that showed the youth photographs of historic places in Baldwin County and allowed them to pick one to explore abstract art with. Mansfield briefly went over the historic significance of each location before allowing her students to select a location and create art around the photographs with no limitations on color or what they could draw.
“I have been teaching art classes in multiple cities and states for about 20 years. I partnered with Allied Arts to host the class in hopes of building community awareness and teaching youth how they can express themselves through art,” said Mansfield. “Abstract art allows for an ease of expression and is a medium open to any experience level.”
Mansfield’s class taught about different types of mediums, art appreciation, art fundamentals, and local history.
“Lots of communities lack different monuments and historic scenes but we have an abundance,” said Mansfield. “I hope they took away awareness for their community and the importance of local history and culture. I want to boost a sense of pride in their community.”
Mansfield has plans to host the class for the community again and expressed an interest in one day completing a mural with the Boys & Girls Club to allow her students to have an art piece they can continue to appreciate throughout the years.
“Murals can last years and they could see the historical impact of their art as they grow,” said Mnasfield. “Art is a form of preservation and the community is very involved in the social and physical creation of it. That is what I want them to ultimately understand.”
“Life of a Flower” showcased many ceramic pots with live flowers inside throughout the Marlor House. The exhibit explores the life cycle of a flower from its start as a seed to its death. In the main room of the home, ceramic pots were aligned to visually showcase this life cycle while smaller displays of students’ best work were displayed throughout the home.
“Ceramic flowers were the first thing we created for our assignment but they were not made a part of the display at Allied Arts so we could exhibit live flowers to the audience,” said Diana Cazacu, a student in Ceramics I. “Each student bought the flowers they wanted to exhibit in their pots. For my pots, a friend of mine shared her flowers and I selected flowers that complemented the colors of my pots.”
Cazacu pointed out a singular vase that had a red dripping effect in its design. Inside the pot was a rose that she selected because “a rose has thorns that can prick you and make you bleed” and because the rose itself “complimented the shade of red.” According to Cazacu, it took her about one class session to create the form of each pot. Students were required to make five pots.
“This exhibit is an annual event in partnership with Allied Arts,” said professor Sandra Trujillo. “It showcases what students learn in Beginning Ceramic (Ceramics I). What students learn to create each vase can be used to create many things and lays the foundation for more complicated works of art in the future.”
Both exhibits will be on display through the end of February at the Marlor House.