Aiken Center for the Arts Exhibition: Grounded

Ashbrook Gwinn

April 6, 2021

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch, the Aiken Center for the Arts (ACA) presents a collective exhibition of works to celebrate the splendor of historic Rye Patch and Hopelands Gardens as shared spaces of community, connection, and inspiration.

Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch have provided a quiet and peaceful haven for citizens and visitors as well as inspiration to write, paint, sculpt, and photograph. Since 1971 the nonprofit Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch has worked to raise funds for the preservation, improvement, and use of these historic properties as treasures of the Aiken community. Now in their 50th year of service, Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch invites you to join in honoring these spaces as local artists provide different perspectives and reflect upon these Aiken treasures. The artwork presented will feature mediums as diverse as the beauty of the natural landscapes inspiring them.

Art has a unique way of enabling us to communicate beyond words and to rejoice in the beauty of our shared experiences, making it the perfect vehicle to drive our celebration of Hopelands and Rye Patch and all that Friends has done to allow us to enjoy these beautiful natural assets. Aiken Center for the Arts hopes that, as we reflect on the gift of natural space in this community, we will also discover a deeper connection to this place and those who share it with us. It is a tremendous honor and opportunity to continue to share these historic areas, and our experiences within them, with one another. Just as art can help us find ourselves, it can also help us find one another. Aiken Center for the Arts hopes that we will do just that.

From March 25 – April 30, Aiken Center for the Arts brings together watercolorist Dwight Rose and local artists in an exhibition entitled Grounded. In doing so, the ACA extends an opportunity for exploration and appreciation of these historic areas that connect us to this place and to one another. Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, March 25, 6 – 8 pm. The exhibition will remain in our main gallery throughout the month of April.

Let the celebration begin!

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Ashbrook Gwinn

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