Fall Exhibition 2020
The Gift Of Art Gallery & Hall
October 28 - January 4
October 28, 2020 - January 4, 2021
Reception: November 5 | 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Artistry Marketplace
one of a kind, unique gifts featuring
50+ Local Artists & Artisans
400+ New Pieces of Artistry
Supporting Local Art Community
Ruston Artisans Gallery, announces multi exhibition 'The Gift of Art', featuring works from over 50 artists and artisans with more than 400 pieces of visual art and artisan products. Exhibition opens October 28, 2020, and an Artist Reception will be held on November 5, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., in conjunction with the downtown Ruston “Shop and Stroll.” Refreshments will be served, and entertainment by Bruce Gay will be provided.
It has been a difficult year for everyone in our communities. This has been true for our artists as well. They have had nowhere to showcase their work and few art markets to sell in. To address this, we opened our doors and invited local artists to take a place in our gallery and create that marketplace. We now invite you to stop in, support your local community and local artists, and celebrate the holidays with us.
The artistry spans from artworks to merchandise items, including art gift sets; artistic maps and drawings; books; CD’s; clothing and accessories; cheese boards; commission works; essential scents; garden flags; glassware/cups; hand and grocery bags; handmade teddy’s; home goods; jewelry; luxurious bath products; magnets; masks; note cards and pads; ornaments; painting; paper works; pens; photography; naturally dyed silk pillows; pottery; prints; puzzles; sculptures; stickers; wall and desk plaques; woodworking; and wood and concrete furniture. More items are being added throughout the holidays.
'The Gift of Art' will be on display through January 4, 2021.
Featured Artists & Artisans
North Central Louisiana artists and artists, include Angela Yarborough; Beauty From Within, Caroline Youngblood, Celia Carr, Dean Dablow, Donna F McGee, Jack Gates, Janine Hill, Jean DeFreese Moore, Katey Coates Plummer, Keldrick Dunn, Kit Gilbert, Linda Dwyer; Joy Works, Madeline Marak, Marion Folk, Marlen Waters, Noula Rodakis, Peter Jones, Sandy Bennett, Tim Hayes, Tori B. Lyons; Artesque, and Vincent Golshani
Angela Yarborough, Beauty From Within
Angela Yarborough of Ruston, Louisiana has been designing jewelry for over two decades and currently is the lead designer of Beauty From Within hand-crafted jewelry. Beauty From Within's slogan is Jewelry With Heart, and goal is to employ women who are leaving the sex-trafficking industry. The company will provide a better life for these women by equipping them with a job skill and resources to lead an abundant new life. Proceeds from the sales of Beauty From Within products benefit in assisting women transition into a brighter future.
Caroline Youngblood
Monroe artist Caroline Youngblood, sole proprietor of J.Caroline Youngblood Fine Art, LLC grew up surrounded by cotton fields on Breston Plantation, located in Riverton, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting, graduating Magna cum Laude. Youngblood pursued graduate work at Syracuse University, New York, and received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana Tech University with a concentration in Drawing and Painting. Youngblood completed her 200 hour RYT training at Shrimath Yoga (Bihar School) near Bangalore, India. She is also a Usui/ Holy Fire iii Reiki Master Teacher, a Karuna Reiki Master Teacher, and a Professional Member of the International Center for Reiki Training.
Caroline has served as Louisiana Public Broadcasting's 2019 and 2020 Louisiana Legends Portrait Artist. Her work was featured in the LPB's "North Delta Ramble" and “ArtRocks!”. Caroline's "Scenes from Riverton, 1937" (2012), "Louisiana Oyster" (2015), and "Carrie Jo Eating Fried Chicken with Group Seated in front of Cotton Field" (2017) have been featured at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans as part of the "Louisiana Contemporary" exhibit. She has frequently been a participant in The Art Melt, a state-wide juried competition in Baton Rouge at The Louisiana State Museum..
Celia Carr
Celia Carr is a Louisiana native with a diverse cultural background. Growing up included Friday night Cajun family get-togethers on south Louisiana bayous to Sunday afternoon matinees at the opera or ballet. It was a blend of rural and city, zydeco and classical music, farming communities and corporate offices.
Celia strongly believes that it is experiences that connect people. Her art is a reflection of the full spectrum of her personal experiences and perceptions. Every person goes through joy as well as grief, love and hate, boredom and intrigue. This is her life view. Celia's motto is "always embrace the experience". It is her hope that you feel a connection when viewing her work.
Celia's work is inviting, passionate, and, relatable.
Dean Dablow
Ruston resident and former Louisiana Tech University professor, Dean Dablow designs and creates woodworking visual art and artisan In addition to woodworking art, he is known for his black & white landscape and nature photography featured in past exhibitions throughout North Central Louisiana, and published book of photography art.
Dean Dablow's visual wood artwork is hung in the gallery room, and his artisan products are located in the Collections boutique.
Donna F. McGee
Painting en plein air is a way of gathering information, both perceptual and emotional; another means of understanding and enjoying nature for en plein air artist Donna F McGee of Ruston, Louisiana.
Donna is a nature artist specializing in oil and fluid acrylic paint. Donna features 'Explorations of Nature' with artwork of west north American landscapes. She is naturally drawn to water as it sculpts, reflects, and nourishes life, and believes it is the most powerful energy on earth. In nature she searches for meaning in life and understanding of self, having found mystery and darkness, and sometimes humor and light. She sees paintings as portals inviting us to wander on a visual journey. Nature offers her an antidote to the stress and stimulation of our modern environment where we are constantly bombarded with information, expectations, and frustrations. "Art, like life, is a journey always intriguing, always changing."