Arts and Culture

Arts & Culture

Elmore County has a passion for the arts

STORY BY ADRIAN LEE BUSH PHOTOS BY JAKE ARTHUR

The Kelly prides itself in supporting artists from the River Region and beyond

From historical, traditional art to elusive and exclusive art galleries, the Elmore County community has embraced the fine arts with a divine appreciation. Whether patrons peruse the many art galleries located around the county or settle in to enjoy one of the many theatre productions, weekends are never boring in Elmore County. THE KELLY

The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery in Wetumpka is an arts organization with a vibrant, multifaceted vision. It is committed to supporting the recognition, documentation and publication of excellent art from the River Region of Alabama and beyond.

The Kelly invites inquiry from the creative endeavors of artists working today and preserves the exceptional results for posterity. It is a hybrid gallery museum, with works varying in theme, though the styles lean towards challenging traditional notions of art.

The gallery is warm and welcoming, with a myriad of pieces to observe, ranging from abstract and whimsical to American traditional. Art enthusiasts are encouraged to stop in. In addition, there are often events, luncheons and even speakers at the gallery. And for those who are in the market to buy art, well, the Kelly is definitely worth a look. Visit thekelly.org for more information. DAC

The Dixie Art Colony Foundation, a non-profit organization, was spawned by a 2014 exhibition about the Dixie Art Colony. The foundation was created to emphasize the legacy of the Dixie Art Colony through research and preservation.

DAC was a cohort of artists, tracing back to 1933, wherein the artists could convene on the lakes in central Alabama in

various housing arrangements over the years until the mid-1940s. Frank Applebee, head of the Art Department at Auburn Polytechnic University (now Auburn University), joined founders Kelly Fitzpatrick and Warren Carmichael LeBron as part of the teaching staff. In addition, they gathered other folks to help them sustain roles such as cooking and hosting everyone. Nine other artists joined in, as well.

According to Lynn Barstis Williams Katz, Ph.D., “Although it is clear Fitzpatrick wanted his students to develop their own personal style, Fitzpatrick’s influence is apparent in examining the work of other colonists. His influence is particularly visible through brushwork and the use of color and light; some colony descendants commonly refer to this distinction as the colony style. The colonists’ choice of subject matter could be classified as one of regionalism, an artistic focus that shunned city life in favor of common rural scenes.”

Mark Harris, DAC’s director, said, “The colony’s legacy is broad and varied. Some of the colonists were instrumental in founding some of the South’s finest regional art museums, including the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Mississippi Museum of Art, while others left their mark as prominent educators on both the primary and secondary levels. Colonist Frank Applebee left his most prominent mark in Auburn. Applebee was responsible for the 1948 acquisition of the core collection of Auburn’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, which is today estimated to be worth millions.”

Harris went on to explain, “We do not sell art. It’s not just about art but also about supporting Alabama’s art history. We are really interested in collecting this artwork, preserving it, and making sure it’s available for future generations.”

With more than 700 works of art and the largest collection of DAC works in existence, there is much to see at Dixie Art Colony. To visit, check out dixieartcolony.org. ECAG

The Elmore County Art Guild was organized in 1985 exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The object of the guild is to promote original art by offering art competitions and to stimulate interest in and encourage a greater knowledge of fine arts in Elmore County and Central Alabama. As a non-profit organization, the guild engages in community service and education. Membership in the Guild is open to anyone in high school and older that is an artist, an art appreciator or is interested in supporting and promoting the arts.

Membership is $35 for an individual; $45 for a couple.

In February of 2022, ECAG will hold its annual juried art show, and in June, they will have a juried art show in conjunction with the Tallassee NOW event. ECAG’s website has all the information that anyone would need to join the Elmore County Art Guild and participate in exhibits at numerous non-profit businesses in Elmore County. Visit elmorecountyartguild.com to get involved and to stay informed. THEATRE

From high school to the community, theatre is alive and thriving in Wetumpka Depot Players Elmore County. Youth Academy in action The Wetumpka Depot has been entertaining, educating and reaching out to the community since 1980. What started in a broken-down train station quickly became part of the community that everyone loves to enjoy. They have several shows scheduled for the remainder of 2021. Most notably, the Wetumpka Depot Players will be performing the tall-tale that helped put Wetumpka on the map, Big Fish. This performance will take place beginning Sept. 16 through Oct. 2. Join the Wetumpka Depot Players for an epic show and then take a stroll through downtown Wetumpka, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the beautiful streetscapes. For more information or to purchase tickets for Big Fish or any other production visit, wetumpkadepot.com.

Millbrook Community Players are simply entertaining. In 2006, a group of people in the Millbrook community decided that the town needed a community theatre. So they gathered the most talented people from the tri-county area and formed the Millbrook Community Players.

The theatre group is known for being quirky, funny and extraordinarily talented. Their most recent production, Steel Magnolias, hits the stage on Aug. 5 for opening night. For more information on future shows or to purchase tickets, visit millbrooktheater.com or follow them on Facebook.