Black tie occasions are mostly limited to big galas for our local charitable organizations and the many destination weddings here, but there’s no shortage of culture! This area draws a large community of artists and artisan creators inspired by the beauty that surrounds us. In addition to painters, potters, sculptors, woodcrafters, and jewelry makers, we also have prolific writers and talented stage performers.
Black tie Theatre
The Island Players (theislandplayers.com) have been bringing the stage to life with a variety of productions since 1956. The oldest community theatre in the Golden Isles, their annual season offers four shows at the St. Simons Casino Theatre, as well as the Young Peoples Summer Workshop production in July. The Brunswick Actors Theatre (soglogallery.com) is an intimate theatre, seating just over 100 patrons, in SoGlo Gallery on Newcastle St. Their always humorous and often poignant shows are always a real treat and their ticket price include desserts and coffee/tea. The Ritz Theatre in Historic Downtown Brunswick (goldenislesarts.org) is where you'll find the Golden Isles Penguin Project performing their annual summer musical theater production with a cast of children and young adults with disabilities and special needs in all roles, performing with the assistance of on-stage mentors. They also host performances by touring groups like the Peach State opera and others, as well as holiday productions. Both of these theatres also have art galleries with monthly exhibitions.
Photography
The Coastal Photographer’s Guild will be presenting their 15th annual photography exhibit The Big Photo Show at SoGlo Gallery July 7-August 5. Entries will be judged by professionals and there will also be a “People’s Choice” award by votes cast at the gallery through August 4. For fine art, Anderson Fine Art Gallery (andersonfineartgallery.com) is a destination gallery on St. Simons Island for the finest in original representational paintings that encompass landscapes and still life scenes, as well as some nonrepresentational works. The gallery’s roster includes an outstanding group of professional and emerging artists. For more than decade Anderson Fine Art has sponsored workshops taught by professional artists from across the country who are brought here to instruct follow painters in the Artists’ Annex around the corner, which is now known as Anderson Contemporary Gallery, featuring works of abstract and contemporary art. Glynn Visual Arts (glynnvisualarts.org) is at the heart of the art community, with a main gallery on Skylane Drive, and space in the Visitor’s Center on Beachview. They offer more than a dozen exhibitions by local and nationally celebrated artists annually, three major art festivals, and a variety of classes and creative opportunities for adults and children. ArtTrends Gallery (arttrends.gallery) is an artists’ co-op displaying and selling eclectic works by local artists. Under the canopy of live oaks at Postell Park, you’ll find Crafts in the Village each month with 40-50 varying vendors offering everything from fine art and photography to pottery and woodworking, jewelry, and gourmet goodies.