Collective art of local artist opens at Carnegie

"Going Home" by Sammey Dina Smith (Courtesy photo)

Carnegie Heritage & Arts Center of Greene County is proud to showcase the collective art of local artist Sammye Dina Smith.

I am fortunate to personally own an amazing painting of Sammey's that I call "Going Home." It stirred a deep emotion in me when I saw it and decided I had to make it my own. It sits on my mantel above the fireplace where I see it everyday. I think of it as.... all of us are on our own separate journey.... in a boat navigating this life and one day we will sail on home.

Sammey's art has the ability to evoke emotions, or to bring back a familiar feeling inside. It is what great art does....it makes us feel.

The solo show will be in the east gallery with an opening reception at the Carnegie Saturday, Feb. 6 from 2-5 p.m.

Sammey attended the Art Institute of Chicago, ISU, Waldron Art Center, studied under Rod Crossmen, Jackie Frey, Bruce Kell and works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, yupo and pastel chalks.

Her paintings have been widely exhibited at Bellevue Gallery, Bloomington Library, Monroe Bank, Gallery North, Baker Place Gallery, the Venue in Bloomington, Shawnee Theatre in Bloomfield, the Enwright Center in Ellettsville, Franklin Gallery of Fine Art in Franklin, Artworks of Martinsville, the Paint Box, Brown County Art Guild in Nashville, Ind. and in a permanent collection at the Sportsman's Pub in Linton.

Several of her works were published in the Sketchbook of Bloomington, chosen as the cover of the Chamber of Commerce directory in Bloomington 2002 and also featured as the Show Poster for the Bloomington Playwrights Project of Bloomington.

Past memberships include the Hoosier Salon, the Bloomington Watercolor Society and she is a 20 year patron of the Brown County Art Guild.

Her commissioned works also hang in Loogootee, Bloomington, New York, NY, and Salsburg, Austria.

Don't miss this amazing show of a very talented local artist. Come to the opening, meet the artist, take in the art and maybe be inspired to make one of her creations your own.

Hope to see you there.

The Carnegie Heritage & Arts Center is located at 110 E. Vincennes Street in Linton. Regular hours are Wednesday noon -3 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 812-847-0165 or www.carnegiegreene.org.

Donna is president and founder of the Carnegie Heritage & Arts Center of Greene County. She can be reached at www.mcklues@gmail.com.