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Local photographer Jessica Whitehead placed in the Georgia Council for the Arts contest Art of Georgia - Landscapes and will have her photograph hung in the capitol for a year.
“The Georgia Council for the Arts has been hosting contests around different themes or topics since 2012. I’ve always been interested in them and I am very shocked and honored to have been selected for the exhibition of this year’s contest,” said Whitehead.
Whitehead found her passion for photography about two years ago and now has an established photography exhibit in downtown Milledgeville named Seeking Asylum. Known for her environmental shots and decay photos from around the Central State Hospital, Whitehead sells prints, hosts an exhibit, and is working on a photography book all dedicated to the preservation of Central State Hospital.
However, in her free time, Whitehead takes photos for her own personal gallery and enters art contests. In May, she placed third in the local Oconee Arts Exhibit hosted by Allied Arts with her photograph titled “Sheep Family,” which was taken at Comfort Farms in Milledgeville.
For the Landscapes of Georgia contest, Whitehead was selected for her photo of Tallulah Gorge located in Tallulah Falls.
“The photo was a part of my personal collection and was taken during a vacation in the earlier half of 2022,” said Whitehead.
“I put a filter over the picture to help amplify the blues and reds of the photo, which brought out the beauty of the natural landscape.”
Out of 281 submissions, Whitehead was one of 81 participants selected to have their pieces exhibited in either the Governor’s Mansion or the capital.
According to Whitehead, she initially submitted her photo through email to the contest but was required to drop off the artwork in person at the capitol building. On this visit, she presented her photograph directly to Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife alongside her daughter, Izabella, who attended the visit with her.
“It is an honor to have my art displayed in such a public forum. Gov. Kemp and his wife were very kind to my daughter and I during the visit and complimented my art,” said Whitehead. “I’m also very grateful that he spent so much time talking to Izabella and listening to her during the exchange as well. It was an honor for both of us.”
To learn more about her photography, order prints, or see when her Seeking Asylum exhibit is open visit the Seeking Asylum Facebook and Instagram pages.
“I am humbled that so many have been so supportive of me through this journey. I’m still in shock that I was selected when I still feel so new to photography,” said Whitehead. “I’m very excited to see what continues to come out of my photography journey.”