May 1-29, 2024 - Courtney Trowman
Courtney C. Trowman, aka CC Bella Collage, is an expressive and whole-hearted artist on a mission to create eco-conscious pieces that move the viewer through a journey filled with magical intentions and surprise details. Her whimsical 3D collage art was born out of an inherent need for expression, a passion for art, and the discovery that her art didn’t flow through traditional forms such as painting or drawing.
“Most of my pieces feature at least 50% found, upcycled and/or recycled materials. In the last decade especially, I have developed a stronger desire to do as much as possible to reduce my carbon footprint. I love rescuing items that would otherwise go to landfill, giving them a second life in artwork. This not only fulfills a very practical and necessary purpose for our planet, but I find that these random items give new meaning and bring a special kind of energy to my work.”
Through her creations, she invites us to get curious, to open our hearts and minds to the layers within each piece, to see without needing to understand, and to embrace our own creativity without judgment. “Art doesn’t need to be understood in order to be appreciated - it’s about how a creation makes you feel.”
June 1-30, 2024 - Dell Belew
Returning artist Dell Belew stated this about her upcoming show: "This year, 2024, marks 49 years since I began my art journey. For most of those early years, I was reveling in my newest accomplishments in oil painting on canvas. Until I started taking classes at Armstrong toward a degree in art, I did not want anyone to mess with my “style.” That entire attitude changed due to a professor who pushed me to work with a wide variety of styles and materials—still with my own flare. In the process, my fascination and passion for all media, genre, and styles grew. By the time I graduated in 1985, I was possessed by whatever I was doing at the time.
That has not changed. The internet exposes us to zillions of possibilities to use and manipulate the endless materials at our reach. Although I have exhibited various styles in past shows, referring to myself as the chameleon, this year I am exhibiting only the newest of my works that are primarily abstract.
Every time a paint-loaded brush or other marking instruments touches a surface, a new and original work emerges. Although many people do not like abstract painting, the paintings do have a message/a life; it is usually a message unspoken to the artist at its inception. I randomly apply paint or whatever substance I have chosen, and I keep moving paint around until it tells me what it is. A fundamental example is my painting in this year’s exhibit titled The Organ Recital. I hung the 4’x 5’ painting on a wall in my living room to complete it. Even though I liked the colors, I could not be satisfied with the final result—that is, until the day it introduced itself to me. I had worked on it during the 2 weeks prior to impending cancer surgery. My spirit, as it turns out, had been painting my subconscious thoughts about the upcoming invasion of my body by surgeons who would be removing the cancer. My spirit was looking into the beauty of the human body and marveling at the fact that even though our bodies are invaded, the body has an awesome recuperative quality because it is 'fearfully and wonderfully made'
(Psalms 139)."
July 1-31, 2024 - Joanna Silver
Opening Reception: July 11, 5-7pm
In her creative practice, she delves into a nostalgic realm untouched by digital intrusion—a time when children's toys were portals to boundless imagination, free from the grasp of algorithms and screens. This exploration is fueled by a fascination with artifacts from this era, which often become the subject matter of her paintings and prints. In the joy of reminiscence, she confronts the sobering reality of how these objects often have perpetuated gender stereotypes, prompting reflections on themes of family, home, and the intricate narratives of aging and beauty.
Simple yet evocative blocks of color and shape capture the essence of bygone innocence, creating a visual landscape that oscillates between the excitement of childhood discovery and the potential influence these objects wield. The vibrant palette pays homage to the architectural and design aesthetics of her upbringing in Miami, infusing each piece with a sense of place and nostalgia. The art becomes a vessel for reclaiming lost moments, piecing together fragments of memory like a puzzle.
Through her practice, Silver invites viewers to join her on a journey through layered narratives where universal themes intersect with personal reflections. Amidst personal struggles and societal pressures, this work serves as a vessel to confront societal norms sold to young girls in the form of play houses, vanities, and other domestic-themed items. Each artwork embodies a convergence of hope and disappointment, highlighting the contrasts and complexities embedded within seemingly innocent objects.
August 1-31, 2024 - Adam Levinson
Opening Reception: August 8, 5-7pm
What seems obvious from a distance, upon closer inspection, may reveal intricacies and beauty beyond expectation.
This body of work, composed collectively of hundreds of thousands circles, indicates texture and movement that perhaps is only perceived, inviting the viewer to consider one's repeated actions toward a desired result, and visualize both cohesion and structure in unity.
Grandson of beloved JEA member, artist and community advocate, Rene Lehrberger, Adam Levison is an artist based in Savannah and the founder of Circle House Sav, a new community and event space near Daffin Park.
Inquiries for murals and commissions: circlehousesav@gmail.com