PAST EXHIBITS: JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2025
“We Are Artists”
On display: January 3 – February 28, 2025
In recognition of Black History Month, curator Soynika Edwards-Bush has invited African American artists from the Mobile area to participate in this impactful exhibit.
“Assembling these artists wasn’t a hard task, knowing that we are all different creatives, but we are all connected by our passion our craft. We are artists and come from creatives who had to endure, and we celebrate those who came before us. This group shows different avenues, on how we express lived experiences, history, our environment, culture, and what we have deep within.
This exhibit celebrates the beauty of where we come from, exploring the deep history and cultural significance of a land that remains a source of strength and resilience. It is a love letter to my father’s land, honoring its enduring beauty and the roots that have shaped who we are.”
-Soynika Edwards-Bush
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Artists include:
Monica Beasley
Robert W. Goler
Margaret Richey
June Reddix-Stennis
Herbert “Mannie” Pair
Soynika Edwards-Bush
“Almost Human and Yet…”
Works by Paulette Dove
On display: January 3 – February 28, 2025
Biloxi Artist Paulette Dove is an oil painter drawn to the almost-human qualities of rabbit hares. “These creatures, with their expressive faces and movements; serve as symbols of emotion, vulnerability and instinct. Through my art, I use them to explore the blurred line between human and animal – where our shared connections to nature and each other become clear.”
By painting rabbit hares, Dove aims to reflect the emotions we often see in ourselves while reminding us of the wild, instinctive nature that lives within us. “My work invites viewers to consider what it means to be human – and how much of that is tied to our animal like nature.”
“Art for All”
On display: January 15 – February 28, 2025
“Art for All” is a free and inclusive arts education program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The goal of the program is to bring people of all abilities together to express their creativity and develop their skills in a variety of art mediums including acrylics, graphics, watercolors, and more! ESAC has partnered with Art For All to promote the artistic expression and increase access to the arts.
For more information and to reserve a spot, contact Carolyn Greene at carolyndgreene04@gmail.com
PAST EXHIBITS: NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024
6th Annual Plein Air Fairhope
On display: November 1 – December 21, 2024
Join us for a community celebration of painting in the great outdoors! 60 painters will be taking it to the streets – and the bay front pier!!
From sunrise to sunset, artists will set up throughout the city with portable easels, chairs, and umbrellas. Work created during the “paint out” will be on exhibit and available for purchase at ESAC. Wet Room paintings on display and available for purchase during the event week. Reception First Friday Art Walk November 4th. Exhibit November 1 – December 21, 2024.
Annual Members’ Open Show
On display: November 1 – December 21, 2024
This annual exhibit showcases various work from Artist Level members and above of the Eastern Shore Art Association. Artists are encouraged to enter ONE original work done in any media. Works should not exceed 40 inches in any direction including frame. No theme.
Over 60 Entries!
PAST EXHIBITS: SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2024
LAND & SEA HERBARIUM
Work by Bryant Whelan
On Display: September 6 – October 25, 2024
Bryant Whelan’s artwork reflects her fascination with natural forms, their shapes and intrinsic beauty. Her mixed media process combines drawing and painting with stitching, botanic ecoprinting, photography, collage and printmaking on paper and fabric.
Eastern Shore Camera Club
14th Annual Photography Exhibit
On Display: September 6 – October 25, 2024
Providing members, from beginners to professionals, with educational and skill building opportunities in the art of photography. Membership in the Eastern Shore Camera Club is open to anyone with an interest in photography and all skill levels are welcome.
https://www.easternshorecameraclub.com
Congrats to the 2024 Exhibit Award Winners!
Best in Show: Mike Monlezun “Dressed to Thrill”
Best Color: Georgia Sims “Red-eyed Tree Frog
Best Black & White: Susan Buschfield “All Those Who Wonder…”
Fauna
First Place: Kathy Hicks “Raccoon”
Second Place: Mike Monlezun “Feeding the Future”
Third Place: Kathy Hicks “Bobcat”
People
First Place: Susan Powell Dupree “The Gathering”
Second Place: Jennifer Magli “Purveyor of Americana”
Third Place: Kenneth Yeaglin “Little Girl in Notre Dame”
Flora
First Place: Mona Denton “Woodland Bliss”
Second Place: Susan Powell Dupree “Milettia reticulata”
Scenic
First Place: Elmo Priest “Jenny Lake Vista”
Second Place: Debbie Godard “Colorado: Idaho Springs Waterfall”
Third Place: Elmo Priest “Reflections”
Other
First Place: Susan Buschfield”Madonna”
Second Place: Phyllis Crosby”2 ½ lbs”
Third Place: Lynn Oldshue”Pretty Wicked”
Thank you to this year’s Judges!
Nancy Raia
Artist in Residence, United States Sports Academy
Vincent Lawson
Photography Instructor at University of South Alabama, Professional Photographer
Rose Ann Haven
News Anchor at WKRG
ESAC STUDENT SHOW
On Display: September 6 – October 25, 2024
Work comprised by adult students within our 2024 Photography, Pottery, Oil Painting and Sumi-e classes. Curated by Sculpture Instructor Kim Bernadas, this show exemplifies the creativity and talents of our Academy.
Interested in taking a class? Fall Classes begin mid September! CLICK HERE
ARTSQUARED
24 ARTISTS. 12 X 12 ARTWORKS.
Online Art Auction & Exhibit on Display: September 6 – October 4, 2024
All proceeds benefit the Eastern Shore Art Center! CLICK HERE to see the full gallery and start placing bids.
Thank you to our exhibit and auction sponsor, Barr Group Mortgage!
PAST EXHIBITS: JULY - AUGUST 2024
WORKS BY JOHN ARMISTEAD
On Display: July 5 – August 29, 2024
“When I was a child growing up in Mobile, I often went with my family to my grandmother’s hometown, Linden, Ala., in Marengo County. On one of these trips when I was five, I looked out the backseat window and saw an old house, quite dilapidated, on a hill in the distance, and, being a city boy, I thought how wonderful it would be to live in an old house like that, surrounded by open fields and woods. That image made a template on my brain that would inform my painting for many decades to come.
My grandmother was an artist and when I was eight arranged for me to take art lessons from John and Jane Shaw in Mobile. The class was composed of high school and middle school students and I was by far the youngest. The Shaws had me work in charcoal and pastel for my first year. Then they started me painting in oil when I was nine. Our classes met every Saturday morning, most of the time in the studio behind their house, but occasional we made plein air trips, like to Spring Hill College or to farms in the countryside. I have no doubt my orientation toward representational painting was shaped by the Shaws.
This show at the Eastern Shore Art Center demonstrates my continued love of the old house sitting lonely in a field motif. Most of the paintings are of places in Mississippi and Alabama, but some reflect my travels, especially to Italy, and other places I have lived such as Hawaii. And then there was a few figures. I’ve always loved painted people.”
“IMPROVISATION: CONTEMPORARY QUILTS”
NANCY GOODMAN
On Display: July 5 – August 31, 2024
A collection of improvisational quilts. These works were constructed without the use of patterns or templates. They are unique works which express Nancy’s ideas about color, form and design.
ESAC STUDENT SHOW
On Display: June 7 – July 27, 2024
Work comprised by adult students within our 2024 Watercolor, Sculpture and Drawing classes. Curated by Sculpture Instructor Kim Bernadas, this show exemplifies the creativity and talents of our Academy.
Our next ESAC Student Show will take place September-October and will feature pieces by our Photography, Pottery, Oil Painting, and Sumi e’ classes.
Interested in taking a class? CLICK HERE
PAST EXHIBITS: MAY - JUNE 2024
WOMEN’S ART COLLECTIVE
On Display: May 3 – June 29, 2024
The Women’s Art Collective began as a group of Hattiesburg artist friends wishing to establish a community of support for themselves, their professional growth and their aesthetic development. During our monthly meetings we create a safe space for intellectual discourse on art, offer supportive critique and reflection on each others’ current work, and schedule regional exhibitions of WAC members. Established in 2011, we are 15 practicing artists whose work consists of ceramics, drawing, mixed-media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and fiber art.
Website: https://www.womensartcollective.com
WATERCOLOR & GRAPHIC ARTS SOCIETY OF MOBILE
On Display: May 3 – June 29, 2024
The Watercolor & Graphic Arts Society is probably the oldest arts organization in Mobile and one of the oldest in the state of Alabama. The Society began as an outgrowth of the celebrated Bayou Painters group on June 5, 1948. It was then known as the “Watercolor Society of Mobile” and was open to artists throughout Alabama. There were originally twenty-two members including Genevieve Southerland, Edmond deCelle, William Bush, and the late Bea Q. Tucker. Since then, many well known and well respected artists have become members. Records indicate that the graphic arts addition began in 1954. Today there are nearly one hundred members.
As a non-profit organization, the object of the Society is to create, through education, more interest in the media of watercolor and graphic arts, and to promote finer watercolor and graphic arts exhibitions by Alabama artists. The Society holds a minimum of two exhibitions annually, at least one of which is always juried.
Congratulations to the 2024 Exhibit Award Winners! Thank you to Lucy Gafford for judging this beautiful show.
Best of Show: Joann Cox “Clearly”
2nd Place: Melissa Root “Waterline #1: Alligator Bayou”
3rd Place: Anne Brooks “Cinnamon Fern”
Merit Award: Lydia Host “Portrait Study #1”
Best Color: Lisa Harrell “The Glory of Nature”