By Colleen Miller
Government buildings have built a reputation of long lines, serious faces and drab walls. Contrary to popular belief, many are actually home to beautiful architecture, rich history and even art. Savannah’s own city hall, built in 1906, falls firmly in the latter category.
Upon entering this historic building from its entrance on Bay Street, visitors are greeted by beautifully tiled floors, mosaic patterns, statues and a towering, stained glass dome above. Rather than seeing only the traditional colors of professional workspaces, brown, gray and cream, surprising splashes of color are immediately noticeable. This is because the Savannah City Hall has displayed incredible pieces of art for almost ten years.
“People don’t really think of City Hall as a gallery,” said Luciana Spracher, the Municipal Archives and Records Management Director at City Hall who helps curate the space.
Despite this common misconception, artwork depicting the city of Savannah or highlighting local artists is hung in the rotunda. City Hall is proud to support the local art community by providing this gallery opportunity and offering free admission to the public. This year’s exhibition, titled “Abstracts and Animals”, contains the vibrant quilt art of Savannah artists Donna Stankiewicz and Jody Beth Wigton.
Stankiewicz’s pieces depict colorful animals that are brought to life with small details like beads and paint.
“I create what I enjoy and am drawn to what speaks to me, as the process is part of the fun,” says Stankiewicz’s artist statement. “Occassionally, my work is not planned at all. I may start with a vision and it takes off from there.”
Like many artists, Stankiewicz uses a unique process when creating her work. “I begin my Art Quilts with a drawing usually from a photograph personally taken,” she said. “My experience with Sketching and Painting are what drives me to transfer this medium to fabric, ultimately creating an expression of art on my quilt. I have been Creating my entire life, it is a part of my DNA. It is always in my heart and part of my soul” says her artist statement.
Wigton’s quilts, on the other hand, depict abstracted colors and patterns. Her fascination with sewing and fabric began early in life. “I began sewing as a small child making doll clothes with my grandmother which eventually led to the construction of most of my own clothing,” says Wigton’s artist statement. “In the mid 1990’s I started quilting. I started with traditional styles and as I grew and educated myself in new techniques I quickly turned to art quilts and mixed media which have no boundaries and are very freeing.”
Students in any degree program can appreciate Stankiewicz and Wigton’s precise details and unique compositions. Those in fashion or fibers programs may be especially interested in their free motion and hand stitching techniques as well as the artists’ use of dye and paint to color their fabric.
“People are sometimes quick to dismiss [quilting]” said Spracher, but “there’s a lot of detail and a lot of layers [to appreciate].”
City Hall invites SCAD students to experience this exhibit for themselves. “Abstracts and Animals” is free and open for the public to view during City Hall’s regular hours of business. This exhibit will remain on display through December 2019. For more information, visit savannahga.gov.
