The Averitt Center for the Arts is excited to host The Greenhouse Project, a multimedia exhibit featuring artwork that has traveled all the way from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah to Statesboro, Georgia.
The exhibit, which includes painting, drawing, printmaking, textiles, book arts, 3D works, animation, and photography, explores themes inspired by time spent in a greenhouse. It will be on display from November 8th through January 3rd. The opening reception was held on November 8th.
Kimberly Riner, gallery director at the Averitt Center, shared her enthusiasm about the exhibit: “The Greenhouse concept is a very interesting idea, and I appreciate the diverse interpretations.”
Curated by Joseph Ostraff, The Greenhouse Project features work by 18 artists in total. According to the ACA Gallery Guide, the artwork explores themes such as the greenhouse as a space for cultivation and research, as well as its symbolic meaning.
Other themes include the tension between growth and confinement, spaces of control and manipulation, the relationship between humanity and the environment, and greenhouses as metaphors for cultural norms and human desire.
Brenna Cooper, one of the participating artists, traveled to Statesboro to present the exhibit during the opening reception. She spoke about her creative process and the collaborative nature of the project, explaining that the group of artists first came together in an advanced art course at BYU.
“The students were leading the project and could pick whatever they wanted to focus on. One of the students worked at a greenhouse, and as a class, we decided to all go and visit the space. We all walked around and spent time in there for a few hours, and that’s how the project came to life,” Cooper explained.
Cooper also highlighted the unique collaborative aspect of the project, saying, “Part of what made it such a unique project is that we got to experience firsthand how one distinct space can inspire each individual differently and influence such diverse art pieces. I loved getting to see how we all approach things uniquely and still find one theme.”
Here, Cooper stands with her contribution to the exhibit: a photograph showing the corner of the greenhouse’s roof. Reflecting on the inspiration for her piece, Cooper shared that the class took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the greenhouse reminded her of how her parents coped by becoming "plant parents" and turning their home into a greenhouse.
“The class took place during COVID. It reminded me of how my parents coped with that time by becoming plant parents, and the greenhouse reminded me of how my parents turned their own home into a semblance of a greenhouse. We all had the choice to grow through that. My parents are overall calmer now, and I attribute that to the way they chose to handle that time and move forward,” Cooper said.
She concluded by reflecting on the exhibit’s journey and its impact. “For me, I’ve since graduated, in Spring 2024, and now work as a staff member at the university. To see how this exhibit has traveled to galleries all over and promoted all of this work, that’s one of the greatest parts. It has been incredible to see all of this come to life from our idea. Who knew it could grow into something like this?”
The Averitt Center for the Arts is located at 33 E. Main St. in downtown Statesboro. The main gallery is open weekdays from 9am-4pm.
