VSU Celebrates “Painting En Plein Air at The Crescent” Exhibit

Artist: Hannah Gandy Artist: A'Niecia DeFour

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University announces the opening of “Painting En Plein Air at The Crescent,” an exhibition of paintings created by eight Department of Art and Design students and their professor.

Located at 904 N. Patterson St., The Crescent was built in 1898 by Col. William S. West. The grounds are home to a three-story, neoclassical residence with 23 rooms, a crescent-shaped front porch, and 13 two-story columns representing the original American colonies; an octagon-shaped schoolhouse; a quaint chapel; and some must-see gardens.

Julie Bowland, professor of art at VSU who specializes in the plein air style of painting, said she and her students enjoyed spending time at The Crescent and attempting to capture moments in time “and the play of sunlight falling on the buildings and grounds.”

“Plein air means ‘open air’ in French,” she added. “The paintings were created outside in the open air of the beautiful grounds and gardens of The Crescent. They display spontaneity, freshness of color, and boldness of brush stroke.”

Bowland said the late 19^th Century Impressionists, including Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, were the first to make this style of painting popular. 

The “Painting En Plein Air at The Crescent” exhibit is located in the third-floor ballroom of The Crescent through December. Admission to the exhibit is free of charge. An optional tour of the home and grounds is available for $5 per person, with proceeds supporting the ongoing restoration of this national treasure.

The Crescent is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.  

“Painting En Plein Air at The Crescent” features works by Bowland, Karen Badillo, Tiffany Blunt, Kelsi Canfield, Arianna Clark, A’Niecia DeFour, Hannah Gandy, Carrie Grimes, and Rachel Mathis.

On the Web:

https://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/arts/art/

http://thecrescentatvaldosta.com/