Treasure Inland Exhibition
on display in the Augusta & Co. Gallery
Treasure Inland is a showcase of treasure map-inspired works from local artists Christina Berkshire, Amy Callan, Jeremy Cohen, Nikolas Bryan-Dunaway and Heather René Dunaway curated by the Greater Augusta Arts Council and hosted by Augusta & Co. Mediums range from graphic design to pastels and inks. Each work features a different location, chosen by each artist. In one case, multiple, playable, locations. All maps are of local destinations that are accessible, public and deemed a treasure by the artist. Maps include Augusta River Region locations such as Mistletoe State Park, the Aqueducts, Olde Town and more. This body of work is meant to inspire visitors and locals to visit new and interesting places right here in town. The treasure isn’t something tangible, or anything you’ll have to dig up. The treasure is the Augusta River Region.
Each work is its own unique spin on what a map can be. An example of this can be Christina Berkshire’s take on historical events that happened in and around downtown Augusta, GA. In her Olde Town map she highlights an area that saw great tragedy and destruction in the fire of 1916. The fire was blamed on an unattended iron in a tailor’s shop. It was the worst fire in Augusta’s history and impacted 25 blocks from 8th Street to East Boundary Street, including portions of downtown and Olde Town. Fortunately, no one was on record for having been killed, but Augusta incurred $10 million in damages.
In contrast to this, we see Heather René Dunaway’s Peter Pan inspired work with the borders of Richmond County as Neverland Island. This map leads from the James Brown Statue in Downtown Augusta, GA to the Augusta Museum of History which houses a large exhibit of, The Godfather of Soul’s memorabilia. Legends never die, and Peter Pan never
grows up. So in this piece, Heather merged the two to have a youthful, three-time Grammy Award Winning, Papa’s-got-a-brand-new-bag-of-Pixie-Dust version of Peter Pan flying second star to the right, and straight on til’ morning.
In addition to their treasure map works, artists were allowed to add an additional piece that reflects their works outside of this specialized exhibition or works that allude to current projects. Including a work by Heather René Dunaway as part of a live painting event with the Morris Museum of Art as part of the Morris’s Emerging Artist Council. Also on display is an illustrative, fantasy piece titled “What Lies Ahead” by Nikolas Bryan-Dunaway that was created for the Anime On My Mind exhibition of 2021.
All artworks are for sale with map themed artworks for sale through the framed originals on display in the gallery and/or prints. Art prints are limited in quantity and available through purchase in Augusta & Co’s shop. All were provided by the exhibitions sponsor: Quality Printing; a family-owned-business since 1962 located in North Augusta, SC.
For more information on this showcase or what is coming to the Augusta & Co. Gallery next, visit the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s gallery webpage at www.augustaarts.com/galleries .
This showcase will be on display from July 5th – September 29th, 2022 with an artist’s reception held on August 5th from 4- 6:00 PM. Please plan to attend and support local artists as part of your adventures this summer.
