Over the weekend of November 10th through 11th, St. George’s Independent School hosted its annual art exhibition, which was open to the public for viewing and purchasing.

The art show has been a tradition for over 10 years, according to Ms. Allison Webb, the upper school art teacher. Ms. Webb finds joy in creating art pieces but has been unable to partake in this activity for the past few years. She said,“I have not had the opportunity to be in the art show for the last three or four years just because having two kids keeps you super busy.”

She admits creating art can be a time-consuming and demanding process, making it challenging to find the necessary space for it. “Making time to create art is not always the easiest thing to do when you’re sort of just in that [young kid] stage of life,” Ms. Webb explained. However, she was thrilled to be able to participate in this year’s show and was honored to work alongside such esteemed artists.

“A lot of artists that make artwork for sale, will seek out events like this where they can put up their work and be present and speak to people that are walking around and appreciating artwork,” she said. The exhibition features a diverse range of artwork, including jewelry, decor, pottery and paintings. Painters such as Carol Duffy, Anna Holt, and Kate Oates, from the Memphis area are invited to showcase their work.

The work the artist must put in often goes unnoticed—it is not something that you can sit down and finish in one sitting. It requires time and precision. It requires passion and knowledge. The artists who participated in the show did not lack any of these qualities.

The displayed art was stimulating and inspirational, and it was evident that the artists had invested a significant amount of time and effort into their creations. The level of dedication and craftsmanship showcased in the pieces was truly spectacular.

The show featured artists of all ages, from children as young as ten years old to seasoned artists like local Memphis artist Ms. Cindy Howard, who has been working with art for over 30 years.
Howard specializes in jewelry-making and uses sterling silver, brass, 14-karat gold filled build and copper. She also incorporates vintage pieces and beads collected from flea markets and other shows.

Collecting various pieces and incorporating them into artwork is something that she takes pleasure in.

“I stockpiled for years; I just used pieces from like 1990 that I bought at a flea market or at a show,” Ms. Howard explained.

Her artistic approach involves these pieces to craft one-of-a-kind creations that are truly unique. She continued,“It might take me 40 years to find a use for it or find the perfect spot for it, but I will eventually do so.”

Ms. Howard’s work is a testament to the fact that art is a gift that originates from the imagination and requires dedication, passion, and expertise. Art is a state of mind, the figure of someone’s imagination. Ms. Howard completely displays this gift, and her pieces completely embody the concept of emulating creativity.

She loved participating in the art show and found it to be super welcoming. She explained,“[the art show] was so insanely well organized, put together and run. Everybody was so nice,… encouraging and supportive.”

The St. George’s community is committed to providing a constant stream of opportunities like this. It was truly remarkable to witness the creation of art that not only showcases talent but also generates revenue.

The art show was a platform that provided an opportunity to display the hard work and skill that goes into producing art that is both aesthetic and commercial. The event was a terrific success, with a large turnout of attendees from all over the community.

The event was a culmination of months of hard work and planning by the organizers and artists, who left no stone unturned to ensure that everything ran smoothly. From the setup of the venue to the coordination of the different booths, every detail was meticulously planned and executed to deliver an enjoyable experience.

The success of the event was evident in the overwhelmingly positive feedback received, who expressed their satisfaction with the event’s organization and hospitality. The excitement and anticipation for next year’s edition of the show are already building up!