A smart-phone exhibit, "For the Love of Athens County", will open on Thursday evening at ARTS/West.
At the end of last year, residents of Athens County were called upon by ARTS/West to take out their smart phones and tablets and snap some pictures of what they thought defined Athens County.
From Thursday until March 2, ARTS/West will be displaying those pictures at its new exhibit titled For the Love of Athens County.
“The people who submitted photos aren’t necessarily artists,” said Kelly Lawrence, an events coordinator at ARTS/West. “The most important aspect of the exhibit is that it is a community exhibit.”
She added the goal of the exhibit is to show how beautiful and unique Athens County is, through the eyes of those who live there.
Eight people submitted photos for the exhibit, all taken on either a smartphone or tablet. All 25 photos submitted will be shown.
The photographers who have their pieces featured in the exhibit range from children to adults. Each photo shows a different aspect of what makes Athens County so important to the people who live in it, Lawrence said.
Jennifer Hinkle, an elementary school teacher and whose pictures will be on display, was prompted by a friend to enter.
“I love Athens and one thing I really like to do is to go take pictures when I have free time,” Hinkle said.
Hinkle added the exhibit is a great opportunity to bring people together and be creative while also showing how passionate people are about the community.
“It’s going to be really special for Athens,” Hinkle said.
The exhibit is very much community-oriented, and what makes it great, Lawrence said, is that residents of Athens County took the photos featured.
Lawrence hopes to continue the exhibit in future years and keep building it, gathering even more submissions.
She added that she encourages “anyone and everyone who wants to see the beautiful side of Athens County” to come visit the exhibit.
Opening night of the exhibit is this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at ARTS/West. Refreshments will be available.
Community members can view the exhibit at no cost every Monday through Thursday until March 2.
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