Former Georgia First Lady Betty Foy Sanders, a Buckhead resident, will present her final exhibition this fall at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, where the college’s art department bears her name in her honor.
Sanders, whose late husband Carl served as governor from 1963-67, has spent more than half a century making art.
As part of the Betty Foy Sanders Georgia Artists Collection 50th anniversary events, the exhibition, “Fluid Structures,” will be presented at the Center for Art & Theatre’s University Gallery Sept. 28 through Oct. 13. It will be on view during the Georgia Artists Collection 50th anniversary celebration, a special event, beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 28.
“‘Fluid Structures’ would be a top-tier exhibition under any circumstances, but the fact that it marks the culmination of a love of art-making that dates back to the mid-century, post-war era makes this fresh and exciting exhibition all the more impressive,” gallery Director Jason Hoelscher said in a news release. “The suite of drawings, or Doodles, as Mrs. Sanders calls them, looks as contemporary as anything on exhibit at the most contemporary galleries, anywhere. This recent body of drawings, combined with a selection of other recent paintings and mixed media works, makes this is a must-see show by one of the Southeast’s most vibrant artists.”
At age 91, Sanders has never stopped looking for ways to challenge her artistic skills. From watercolors to oils, to ink, rocks and minerals, her work spans a range of mediums and reflects a variety of influences. While “Fluid Structures” will focus on her newest body of work, work from each of her eras — including Native American, wildflowers and rocks and minerals — will be highlighted in the Georgia Artists Collection 50th anniversary exhibition.
Sanders, a Statesboro native, has a deep love of art and her home state, which has driven her work both in and out of the studio. In her own artwork, Sanders has explored Georgia’s flora and fauna, geology, history and coastal regions. During her time as first lady, she and Carl contributed greatly to arts programs across the state, creating the Georgia Council for the Arts and Humanities, establishing community arts organizations, and building arts facilities for public institutions, such as Georgia Southern’s Foy Fine Arts Building, named for her father. Sanders is the founder and curator of Georgia Southern’s Betty Foy Sanders Georgia Artists Collection, which celebrates notable artists across the state and will mark its 50th anniversary this year. She and her husband have given generously to the university’s art department.
For more information about the Georgia Artists Collection, visit www.georgiasouthern.edu/cat. To RSVP to the special 50th anniversary event, call 912-478-6667 or email cstoddard@georgiasouthern.edu.
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