Local artist to be featured at Tuscaloosa arts center

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, Ala. is set to host an exhibit by the renowned Starkville artist, Joe Macgown, at The Arts Council Gallery in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center.

The exhibition, which is titled “Explorations of Alternate Realities,” will run from August 4 through September 14. The exhibit will officially open during the First Friday Art Walk on August 4 at 5 p.m., where Macgown will be present to provide commentary about his work.

The display will showcase an array of Macgown's ink works in black and white as well as color, all of which will be available for purchase.

Macgown, a seasoned artist and naturalist, has been creating art for over half a century. He is renowned for his scientific illustrations, detailed chaotic assemblages of strange, mutated creatures, surreal landscapes, and mandala-like designs. Macgown's artistic process, which he describes as "Subconscious Meandering," involves letting ideas flow freely, resulting in intricate drawings and mixed media paintings.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Macgown has a rich scientific background. From 1988 until his retirement in 2020, he worked as a research technician and scientific illustrator at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State University, specializing in ant research. He later rejoined the museum part-time to continue his research on native and exotic ants. His scientific knowledge has greatly influenced his surreal art pieces.

Macgown's work has gained international acclaim, having been featured in books, magazines, and other media. His art has been displayed in numerous local and regional exhibitions, as well as international group shows in cities across the globe, from San Francisco to Moscow, and from Toronto to Venice.

In recent years, Macgown and his son, Joseph A. Macgown, have been developing an art compound called the Macgown Art Retreat and Studio, situated 10 miles from the MSU campus. A unique feature of this compound is the Macgown Art “Artist-inresidence” program, funded by the Del Rendon Foundation. The program hosts 2 to 4 visiting artists annually, providing a stipend and a guest cabin for 2 to 4 weeks of artistic creation and collaboration.

To find out more about Joe Macgown and his art, visit his website at http://joemacgown. com or his social media pages at www.facebook.com/macgownart and www.instagram.com/ macgown_art/.

The Arts Council Gallery is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. It is located at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 620 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa, Ala.