Off the Coast of Paradise at Telfair Museums
Written and Photographed by Emma Morris.
In the past year, I’ve come to realize that there are parts around Savannah that get missed by tourists and locals alike. My latest discovery has been the beauty of Ossabaw Island, located about 20 miles from Savannah. Ossabaw has previously been privatized and preserved for artist residencies and now belongs to the state of Georgia. The island is charming yet complex with its lush nature and dark history, which has served as inspiration for many artists over the past 65 years. Now, the island is experiencing an unexpected influx of publicity due to Telfair Museums.
On March 13th, the Jepson Center opened its newest exhibit to the public, focusing on 32 artists and their interpretations of Ossabaw Island. Curated by Erin Dunn and Beryl Gilthowest, Off the Coast of Paradise: Artists and Ossabaw Island 1961-Now highlights 65 artworks by artists who have visited the island during their careers.
Preservationist Sandy West inherited the 26,000-acre island from her family in 1958, turning the land into a residence for artists and other professionals. West had no expectation that visitors would produce any work during their time, but rather that they would just enjoy the island and see what came of it.
Off the Coast of Paradise consists of a variety of media including photography, painting, sculpture, and a short film commissioned by Telfair Museums solely for the exhibition. The exhibit was divided into two main galleries that showcased primarily sculpture and two-dimensional artwork, with video and audio integrated in smaller spaces.
Some pieces, such as Michael Mazur’s Palmetto, focus on the majesty of the island’s flora and fauna as the land is overrun with abundant wildlife. Other artists focus on the juxtaposition of the island’s wildlife and its history of slavery and violence, such as Sally Mann’s photos of deteriorating gates or the aforementioned short film by Allison Janae Hamilton entitled Venus of Ossabaw. These works celebrate the island’s beauty but also acknowledge it as a mask to a convoluted past.
The various and complex interpretations show how the island affects each individual in different ways, whether it’s environmentally, spiritually, emotionally, or in some other way. Off the Coast of Paradise will be on display until Sept. 6, and Ossabaw Island is accessible via tour through the Ossabaw Island Foundation. Take the time to explore and discover the island’s beauty and complexity, and become enlightened to Greater Savannah’s history.
