Milledgeville/Baldwin County Allied Arts is hosting two exhibits this month focusing on landscapes and the beauty of nature.
The “Welcome to my World” exhibit features landscape artist Robert Jorns from Monticello and how he sees the beauty of the world around him despite his difficult health journey. The second exhibit features the three winners of Allied Arts’ “I Love Georgia” Plein Art contest.
The majority of the exhibit focuses on Jorns’ work. Jorns is a painter, photographer, printmaker, and drawer. He began painting when he was around seven or eight years old in Texas, using extra and leftover paints to mix his own colors and paint on box lids or paper.
At such an early age, Jorns went door to door selling his work, which led him to pursue graphic design at the University of Georgia and eventually start his fine arts career.
“I have been painting outside since the early ‘70s,” said Jorns. “For the last two years, I have begun to take trips in the spring or fall to paint in new areas. This year, I went to Darien, Georgia, and in the fall, my wife and I will visit New England. I’ll take a watercolor sketchbook and camera to capture the coastline, covered bridges, and more before returning to my studio to create.”
Jorns explained that trips like these were every day for him before his health began to decline in 2013. Jorns has been to Alaska, Hawaii, and many other states, recreating the landscapes in his artwork. In 2016, Jorns was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and creating became extremely difficult for him. Despite the hardships, he painted at home or traveled with a caretaker, continuing to develop.
“In December of 2019, Christ saved my life and healed me of my terminal disease. I have used that blessing to continue painting and drawing for the rest of my life,” said Jorns. “I paint in my studio as well as outside attached to oxygen. I go outside and take pictures, sketch, or get out my easel and paint. Despite everything, I will not quit. My life goes on, and I hope through my pieces that each individual gets a glimpse of my world through my pieces.”
For Jones, art motivated him to continue fighting and living despite any diagnosis, deteriorating health, or circumstance. Through God and his inner desire to create, he said, he's able to preserve the vision of not only his world but also the beauty of the world God created around him.
Jorns' form of painting is known as “plein air,” which is a French expression for “out in the open air” and is an art form of painting outdoors.
In addition to Jorns’ many plein air paintings, the back wall of the exhibit features the three winners of the Allied Arts Plein Air event.
Audrey Crumbley was first placed with her art depicting two adults shopping at a farmer’s market. Krista Kugaraj placed second with her piece depicting a deer peeking out of a vibrant wooded area. In third place was Ansley Browne, whose piece depicted the sparkling pond in front of her childhood home as a thunderstorm began rolling in over her neighbor’s house.
Each piece depicted the artist's personal interpretation of their love for Georgia, from the connections made at a local, home-grown market to the beauty of a childhood home.
“The artists showed tremendous gratitude for the Plein Air event and the opportunity to get outside of their comfort zone for a challenge outside,” said Kristin Allen, program coordinator for Allied Arts. “Each submission was gorgeous, and we extend a heartfelt congratulations to our three winners.”
The exhibits will be on display until Aug. 22 at The Marlor House located at 201 N. Wayne St. in downtown Milledgeville.