Selma Art Guild show starts Thursday

Published 9:19 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Sally Jordan walks from room to room pointing out watercolors, oil paintings and drawings that hang on the walls of the little, white house at 508 Selma Avenue. She stops in front of a floral watercolor by local artist Joanna Nichols and points out the bright colors, soft lines and layers of paint. Jordan said these types of paintings are some of the more popular works featured by The Selma Art Guild.

“It’s feminine. She has an interesting way of laying on the paint,” she said. “People like to put these in their houses.”

Nichols is just one local artist whose work will be part of The Selma Art Guild’s Christmas show and red-tag sale, which takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Work by other local artists such as Jack Reed, Althea Martin and Cam Walker will also be on display.

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Works of art with a red sticker are 10 percent off. The guild accepts cash or check, and often, artists will let patrons take their work home for a trial run, Jordan said.

Jordan, The Selma Art Guild president, said the event is a way to get the community involved with the arts, as well as a way for the artists to showcase their work. But this is just one of many events the art guild hosts throughout the year.

The guild also hosts an art walk every few months and a juried summer show. Cam Walker, an art guild member and teacher at Morgan Academy, also teaches art lessons every Thursday night at the guild.

The Selma Art Guild is usually open the second and third weekends of every month. Membership is $35 per year. There is an additional $10 monthly hanging fee for artists who choose not to sit in the guild during open hours.

Nichols said The Selma Art Guild helps local residents meet people with similar interests.

“It’s a wonderful way to get to know people,” she said. “And because we have our own gallery, it gives people who enjoy painting the chance to show their work. It’s extremely satisfying.”

The art guild wants to do more than just provide a place for local artists to gather though.

Ultimately, the guild would like to become more involved with local schools. Jordan said there is a lack of art programs in the state. She wants to help students develop a love of art, and teach them how to analyze and discuss it. The guild also hopes to establish a scholarship that will help send students to art school.

“They see the same red and khaki all day,” she said. “They need to be creative. They need to get their hands in and try out things without being criticized.”

Art provides a creative outlet for the students.

“I think it’s truly important,” she said. “You can’t ask for more.”

Nichols also said she would like to see the art guild impact local students.

“Unfortunately, the arts and music are always the first things to be dropped,” she said. “Art is a wonderful way of making them feel good about themselves.”