In rural towns like Moultrie, the arts aren’ t merely background noise. They’ re not just weekend entertainment. The arts are lifelines of imagination and connection...
A close-up view of this year’ s winner of the Southern Arts Invitational, a juried show held at the Arts Center of Moultrie. The mixed media piece,“ The Dying Cowboy“ is by Margo Ruffin Hamilton of Thomasville. Photo by Jill Stringfellow Photography
Jimmy Carter’ s mother, Lillian Carter. Once owned by Warhol’ s manager, Fred Hughes, the piece carries not only the weight of global art history but also a deeply personal tie to Georgia itself. The piece was acquired by the Arts Center in 1986, as a gift from Mr. Tom Beard and Mr. Frank Fowler.
Patrons look through the show’ s program to learn more about the artists during the
Southern Arts Invitational opening.
And the surprises don’ t stop there. The Arts Center Collection is also home to a nearly four centuries-old etching titled“ Christ Disputing with the Doctors,” created by Rembrandt in the year 1630, in addition to many pieces created by local and regional artists. Just last year, the collection grew with the acquisition of two pieces that were submitted for the 2024 Southern Arts Invitational Exhibit: Harlee Powell’ s“ Dead Zone- Leopard Shark” and Ramiro Santillan’ s“ Urn Study,” both of which are on view in the Center’ s Contemporary Gallery. Photos of these pieces can be found in the Arts Center of Moultrie Permanent Collection photo spread on pages 18-22.
These pieces, created generations and oceans apart from one another, sit together in the Arts Center Collection – a reminder that art is both global and local, timeless and immediate. And when visitors walk through the galleries to view the 2025 Southern Arts Invitational, they aren’ t only seeing an exhibit – they’ re stepping into a larger story.
14 MoultrieScene SEPTEMBER 2025