Allied Arts opened its Haunted Milledgeville exhibit last Thursday, Oct. 5 in the Marlor House.
The exhibit showcases a variety of mediums telling the history of Milledgeville. From the Voodoo Murders of 1887 to a small section dedicated to Georgia College & State University, visitors can learn a bit more about the darker side of Milledgeville and Baldwin County.
Each historic story has its own place within the exhibit and a QR code to scan to read more about the pictures and art being displayed. Whether it's learning about the history of a location or a murder, Allied Arts put together a Haunted Milledgeville booklet to expand upon the art that was submitted for the exhibit.
“We gave the artist the freedom to choose what they wanted to capture and how they could make their medium spooky or tell a story,” said Kristin Allen, program coordinator for Allied Arts. “From their submissions, I researched and created the booklet that is inside the exhibit and can be read through the QR codes. It’s an interactive way to add to the work displayed and teach visitors about our community’s history.”
This exhibit is a first for Allied Arts, and Allen hopes it may become a staple for a seasonal exhibit. Though, she noted, it may change each year to make the exhibit unique.
“We noticed there was a lack of October-themed events to visit before Halloween, so we wanted to provide something for our community,” said Allen. “I hope we can provide this exhibit or something similar for years to come, if people enjoy it.”
Part of the Allied Arts mission is to connect the community with local artists, showcase art from around central Georgia, and provide a chance for visitors of the Marlor House to learn and develop their own interest in art. When asked how this exhibit is unique, Allen stated that the “spooky” feeling was captured in a spectrum of different ways that they haven’t seen before.
For example, Allen referenced a photo from Memory Hill Cemetery where the photo is in black and white and has an edited silhouette of a woman in a flowing dress standing near a grave. It’s a respectful display of a beautiful ghost awakening and wandering through the graveyard at night.
“Our artists chose a variety of ways to connect back to Milledgeville’s history and create a haunted feeling or spooky vibe to pictures of buildings or newspaper cutouts and more,” said Allen. “One of the most unique entries we had was a digital media submission that paired Scooby Doo with Central State Hospital to create a graphic that looks like it was from a Scooby Doo Where are You? episode.”
The exhibit will be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Oct. 31.