The Madison Artists Guild (MAG) held an opening reception on Jan. 30 for Barbara Mann’s “Land and Sea Georgia, an exhibition scheduled to remain on display through March 7, providing a visual exploration of the state’s extensive ecological diversity.
It includes a wide range of Mann’s work, from wall-mounted pieces to wearable jewelry.
Drawing inspiration from Georgia’s land and coastal environments, Mann’s work references flora and fauna, including pokeweed and pine trees, sea algae, oysters, sea turtles, and microscopic marine life. Using metals, minerals, and gemstones, Mann transforms organic forms into finely crafted, contemporary metalwork to bridge art, science, and nature.
Mann considers her work a form of autobiography and hopes to foster awareness and appreciation of the natural processes that sustain life on Earth.
With more than 50 years of experience as a metal and jewelry artist and educator, Mann holds a BFA and MFA from the University of Georgia, where she taught for many years in the Lamar Dodd School of Art and through the Continuing Education Program. She also taught internationally in Italy and Costa Rica, exhibited her work in many museum collections worldwide, and has been featured in several art books and other publications.
Recently, Mann completed a major body of work, supported by Georgia Sea Grant and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), focused on the marine carbon cycle. Many of these works are featured in the “Land and Sea Georgia” exhibition, sponsored at MAG by Audrone and John Kirschner.
The Madison Artist Guild Gallery (125 W. Jefferson St., Madison) is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Visit MAG online at TheMadisonArtistsGuild.org or call 706-342-9360. To learn more about Mann and her work, visit BarbaraMannStudio.com.