Our History

HISTORY OF THE

STATESBORO REGIONAL ART ASSOCIATION

Compiled by Betty O’Berry

Beginning as early as the 1950’s there were people who wanted to establish an art community in Statesboro.  Several unsuccessful attempts were made, until the Statesboro Art Association was formed in 1974.  

There were two renowned artists living in the Statesboro area at that time: Gardell Dano Christensen and Bronislaw “Bruno” Bak.  Bruno Bak, an art professor at what is now Georgia Southern University, and Gardell, being so passionate about art, set up a studio in Statesboro and began teaching art classes at the “Frame In” on East Main Street.

SRAA 

With encouragement from Bruno, Gardell and nine other artists began meeting regularly at Gardell’s studio.  These monthly meetings soon gave birth to what is now the Statesboro Regional Art Association.  The name change included “Regional” because many of Gardell’s students came from surrounding towns.  The meetings were held at many different locations including local restaurants.  

We no longer have names of the charter members, so we are including all the early artists that can be remembered!  Gardell Christensen, Bruno and Hedi Bak, Laura Aziz, Larry Smith, Lila Blitch, Emily Franklin, Flo Petorious, Roz Regan, Hallie Hickman, Diane Black, Beth Muldrew, Pansy Allen, Nancy Bush, Ann Collins, Fostine Davis, Dean Bowman, Barry & Althea Durden, Eloise Hart, Richard Tichich, Connie Ellis, Glenda Wells, Sylvia Harville, Edith Dell Deal, Frank and Marian Stapp, Janet Oliff, Olivia Rittle, Ron Lyles, Margaret Martin, Watrelle Wilkens, Jim Gensheer, Glen Spell, Velita Jackson, Ann Hendrick, Gwen Rogers, William Holton and Eva Brown, Merrye Brunson, Nicky Scarboro, Wana Stanley, Dee Jackson, Roxie Remley, Marie Smith, Arlene Spivy, Barbara Akins, and possibly others.

Over the next two decades, this small group would at times grow and then at times it would flounder.  Dr. Walter Brown helped hold it together for many years.  One of the club’s highlights during this period was their annual “Art in the Park” held at GSU’s Botanical Gardens.  During the early years they visited several museums including The Telfair in Savannah, GA, and the Art Museum in Columbia, SC.  In 1976, to commemorate the Georgia Bi-Centennial, the SRAA was called on to provide artwork for two projects.  There were nine or ten paintings depicting historical happenings donated by the artists to promote interest in the state’s history, and the paintings were hung at the Bulloch County Tax Assessor’s Office.    Myrtice Akins, Bulloch County Home Extension Agent chaired a project to publish a cook book, and the SRAA provided the artwork.  The association gave an art scholarship award to several high school students to help further their interest in the arts.  The Statesboro Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis-Ogeechee Fair sponsors, provided the SRAA a building to display their work, and provided a generous cash award for the best painting, which then became Kiwanian property.  The Kiwanis Club eventually donated the winning paintings to the Bulloch County Agricultural Agency.  Dozens of paintings now grace the Agricultural Building walls.  The Statesboro Regional Library gave a board to display a local artist each month.

In the past twenty years we have worked diligently and devoted much time and effort to provide our local artists with informative and fun programs at our monthly meetings.  We bring in artists to conduct workshops in every medium at least four times a year, and other months we have paint-ins where we just get together and enjoy painting.  We bought display racks and have used many area locations to showcase our work.  The Averitt Center hosts the annual SRAA Roxie Remley juried art show, and we have participated in the annual ArtsFest on GSU’s Sweetheart Circle for many years.  We have shown our work during First Friday’s in Statesboro and the Farmer’s Market.  Each month, members have the opportunity to place a painting in local businesses, rotating to a new business each month.

It was a desire of the SRAA to have an art gallery to showcase our work.  Dr. Walter Brown spearheaded a group to look into the possibilities.  He contacted Mayor Hal Averitt about what is now the Averitt Center for the Arts, and asked him the possibilities of our getting the building.  When we saw the interior of the building, there was so much work to be done, we were not able to carry the idea forward.  The Mayor told Dr. Brown to wait, because there was a possibility of making it into an Art Center. 

The SRAA approached the Chamber of Commerce to see what we could do to become more widely known.  The idea to have our artists paint pictures for a calendar to commemorate Statesboro’s Bi-Centennial was born.  Out of twenty to twenty-five paintings, thirteen were chosen.  

We also did a fund raiser for the Ogeechee River Keeper’s Organization.  It was a huge success, raising $6,000.  Not only did we raise a lot of money, but the artists enjoyed working together in an amazing way.  Our show was wonderfully accepted by the community.

One of our last projects was copying the Old Master’s. It was a great show at the Honey Bowen Building and also at the Averitt Center.  

Past presidents of the last twenty years include: Eddie Cowell, Betty O’Berry, Phil Hicks, Frank D’ Arcangelo, Marie Smith, Wanda Woodcock, Penny Marz, Shari Morris.