Contributed by the city of Auburn
The Winter Invitational 2021 is being held Jan. 18 through Feb. 26 at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center.
The current exhibition in the Art Gallery at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center features 26 photographs on metal by Frank Uhlig and 14 ink drawings by the late Hugh Williams.
Frank Uhlig is a professor emeritus of applied mathematics. Since retiring from research, writing and teaching in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Auburn University, he has continued his creative interest in photography. The majority of the images in this exhibition were taken in Hale and Perry Counties in West Alabama between 2017 and 2019. Many of them have been shown previously at Pebble Hill, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and elsewhere. A number of works depict Auburn University’s Rural Studio building projects and sites. His book “Alabama Views and Words” also includes Black Belt photographs.
Hugh Williams was an alumni professor of art at Auburn University for many years. While teaching in the Department of Art, Williams received an opportunity through the Fulbright Program to spend time in Africa. His travels and experiences in West Africa served to greatly influence his art. In 2005, a major exhibition of his new work was held at Columbus Museum of Art. It included large multimedia paintings, sculptures, ceramics and drawings. The 14 drawings in this current show were among a group of drawings first shown in Columbus. They present traditional African head dress and market scenes in Kmasi, Ghana. Both the photographs and drawings in the exhibition may be available for purchase.
The Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon. Masks and social distancing are required. For information about the exhibition, contact 334-501-2963.