OUR TOWN - a show about community

One of the goals for my show OUR TOWN was motivating people to visit Public Works Art Center who have never been there, or at least not in its current form. Originally it was a post office, then the water department, and through foresight and tremendous effort, the structure became a gem of the community. PWAC has four gallery spaces, one of which is a vault, studio space for artists to work and collaborate, and classrooms for teaching all ages. The original Works Progress Administration mural, created in the 1930's, still graces the wall.

A draw for the show were small quick gouache paintings I called Snap Shots of the homes and buildings I see on my morning walks. People enjoyed seeing familiar spaces and a number of visitors came back and brought friends and family with them and they shared their stories. A previous blog had more images of the show and all the paintings can be seen under the AVAILABLE tab. 

The littled embroidered book gets another call-out. I wanted to create a piece visitors could pick up and hold that had a sampler, or keepsake vibe. Years ago I knew a woman named Mimi Kaye who had a "Book of Lies" she kept in her desk drawer to keep straight the stories she told customers. I tucked that idea away for safe keeping. 

​Well this small town has big aspirations, and people who live here say some of those claims, like it's an easy commute to Charleston from here, belong in Mimi Kaye's Book of Lies.

​I wish I may, I wish I might...  

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