After a bit of a fight with my GPS (don’t trust Google Maps) I managed to find Heritage Hall Museum in Talladega for the opening reception of ‘Journeys,’ a selection of artwork by Anita Stewart. The exhibition consisted of a beautiful and inspiring selection of photography, altered books, and cigar box assemblages. I always enjoy Anita’s photography but this was my first time seeing her work with altered books and I was very impressed. I particularly liked how she removed part of the cover to create a shadowbox-like appearance in some. In many of her altered books she cut away to reveal imagery inside the books, creating collages made up from the contents of the book itself. I can’t imagine the planning and patience this required.

The exhibit will be on display at Heritage Hall through the end of May, and the museum is hosting a Box Assemblage Workshop with Anita Stewart on May 9th from 10-3 ($35 Members / $40 Non-Members. It’s a lovely exhibit so I highly recommend checking it out, but don’t use Google Maps or you’ll end up circling the square. Apple Maps finally got me to the right point, but if in doubt call the museum for directions.

Anita’s Artist Statement and Exhibit Information — borrowed from the Heritage Hall website.

Anita Stewart is a native of Anniston, AL. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Jacksonville State University in printmaking and her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Alabama in photography. She currently shows nationally with work in the permanent collection of the University of Texas at Tyler. She works primarily in photography but aslo in printmaking and small-scale sculpture, and mixed media. All of these works reflect her interest in time, collecting, and the recombination of form.

 

Update: The Anniston Star published a nice write-up on Anita ‘10 questions with Anita Stewart, artist‘ in the Sunday paper (April 12th).