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By SASHA JOHNS | Community Columnist

The Shelby County Arts Council has come up with a great opportunity to get out of the house safely and enjoy all the culture our county has to offer.  Thursday, July 16 they unveiled their latest art show, Fine Folk Art VII in the Ebsco Fine Arts Gallery.

Folk art is a style of art usually done by the regular common “folk” of any given region. It’s typically done by “unschooled” locals but carries great value in the culture of the area that the artists are from.  Five celebrated Alabama Folk Artists, Jon Osborne, Marian Baker, Debra Riffe,  Xander Booker, Don Sawyer and Teresa Wamble, the curator of the show, will be displaying their works there through Aug. 20.

The body of work on display will include genres such as block printing, gourd art, mixed media painting, and 3D art made with found objects. A grand opening was held on July 16 with a reception to celebrate the opening.

Education Coordinator Lyndsay Dyess, shared with us the importance of folk art in the world of fine art. “I think folk art is important because it is a genre that is steeped in southern tradition. It is not often recognized as “fine” art.” She went on to say, “Usually it is treated more as crafts than as fine art. This show will highlight some of the talented artists this region has to offer and will recognize them for their talents.”

Why should you go? Well aside from the art, the show is a great indoor activity that can help you beat the heat. Masks are required statewide now, and the social distancing is easy in this facility where the art is displayed in a spacious area with great lighting. Plan ahead, and come out to see this great body of work anytime Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Arts Council moved into their new facility last fall and also just christened the beautiful new fountain on the grounds as well. Guests are encouraged to make a day of it by visiting the grounds and by even taking the very short walk to Main Street to visit the local businesses in town.

To find out more about this show and other upcoming shows not only in the Ebsco Fine Art Gallery, but in the Black Box Theater, be sure to follow SCAC on Facebook, or just look up their website at Shelbycountyartscouncil.com and click on “gallery exhibits” underneath the “happenings” tab.