Caked in Ink & Dirt - Artist Sarah Ellis
How do we recognize success in ourselves?
Is there a title that could encompass every aspect of “you”? Do sweeping superlatives capture the complexity of individuals? Or, should we appreciate the peaks and valleys throughout our lives as their own markers of growth?
The colorful plants and botanical elements in this space document my development of patience and new habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had never had a green thumb, but I found that house plants provided a sense of comfort and stability at a time when it was hard to come by. While one plant might not be a garden, it is still blooming with unlimited potential.
Caked in Ink and Dirt explores the continual state of change and self-actualization that human beings experience. In our most naive days, how could we possibly know what will make us feel whole? The times in which we are bursting with all the promise in the world may look limited in hindsight. I firmly believe that the notion of “success” is relative and societal pressures to perform in certain ways should not be the metric by which worth is measured. To be kind is its own triumph, to be loyal is an accomplishment, and to truly know yourself is something to strive for.
I argue that “success” can be whatever you please. Fulfillment is not complacency, happiness is not settling, and the small things do matter.
Celebrate yourself.
Martin-Lett Gallery of Art
The Martin – Lett Gallery, named for two founding members of the Oxford Arts Council, opened in July 2014. The gallery, located off the main lobby, exhibits different displays throughout the year. Artists may be local or may be represented by out-of-state galleries. Most art is for sale.
Gallery exhibits help to support the visual arts and expose our audiences to new artists. The Martin – Lett Gallery is an educational and entertaining extension of the arts offered at our venue.
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and during all OPAC events.
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Past Exhibitions
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July 2014 J.J. L’Heureux
October 2014 Hawaiian Quilts: "A Family Legacy" by Charles Remington
November 2014 The Art of Jerry Marks
February 2015 Oxford: At the Crossroads of History
June 2015 "Into the Woods" by JSU Students
July 2015 Chy Rose Arts by Lynn C. Phillips
October 2015 From the Back Yard to the Tropics by Larry K. Martin
April 2016 The Art of Lothar “Jack” Hadder
August 2016 "Cast of Blues" by Sharon McConnell-Dickerson
November 2016 "From the Artic to the Tropics" by Larry K. Martin
March 2017 Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster
May 2017 Oxford City Schools Artwork
June 2017 The Art of Jerry Marks
July 2017 The varied works of Sandy Sparks
September 2017 Second Time Around: Hub Caps as Art
November 2017 "Artistic Treasures" by Ann Bradberry Robertson
January 2018 "Images of the South" The Varied Artworks of Dr. Arthur "Art" Bacon
March 2018 The Varied Artworks of Barbara Davis
May 2018 Oxford City Schools Student Artwork
September 2018 A Photo Album of Ireland
November 2018 The Artwork of John Denney, III
January 2019 The Artwork of James Brantley
May 2019 Oxford City Schools Student Artwork
August 2019 The Artwork of David Cummings
October 2019 The Artwork of Mila Hirsch
November 2019 Borderlands | Zonas Fronterizas - Paintings of Juan Lopez-Bautista
January 2020 Oxford City Schools Student Artwork
April 2020 Highlights in Low Light - Photographer CJ Foster
September 2021 Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad
November 2021 Art of the Aloha Shirt: Keoni of Hawaii
January 2022 Oxford City Schools Student Art Show
April 2022 Young at Art: A Collection of Caldecott Illustrations
May 2022 A Salute to Our Own: A Collection from the Talladega Hall of Heroes Museum
February 2023 Oxford City Schools Student Art Show
March 2023 Dragons: An Exhibit from the Berman Museum
August 2023 Small Wonders: Insects in Focus
November 2023 Kinship Bonds: Family and Slavery in Calhoun County
December 2023 1968: A Folsom Redemption
February 2024 Oxford City Schools Student Art Exhibit
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Upcoming Exhibitions
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Fall 2024 Thrift Style
November 2023 1968: A Folsom Redemption
Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of a landmark event, 1968: A Folsom Redemption is a collection of photographs and memories of two journalists lucky enough to be among a handful of eyewitnesses to the historic Johnny Cash concerts at Folsom Prison. This candid and personal photography exhibition covers a critical juncture in the career of Johnny Cash, one of the twentieth century’s most beloved performers.Winter/Spring 2024 Student Art Show featuring Oxford City Schools
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Martin - Lett Gallery of Art Board Members
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- Crystal Hancock
- Marilyn Lipscomb-Clark
- John Longshore
- Amanda Wentzel, Gallery Director - awentzel@oxfordpac.org