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THANK YOU!
Thank you to ALL of the artists involved this year, it is because of your generosity and selfless contributions that we have such exceptional work to auction for the benefit of the Q. The work submitted this year was beyond compare, a credit to the vibrant arts community the Quinlan proudly supports.
 
Thank you presenting sponsor Willis Investment Counsel for your continued support of this, our signature event.
 
A special thank you to Geoffrey and Edith Johnson, and to all of our guests that bid so enthusiastically on Saturday night. It is because of paddles being raised for the Q that we ultimately had such a successful evening.
 
We host this event so that we can get right back to work, providing quality arts exhibitions, education and outreach in support of our mission "Bringing visual arts to life, and to the life of the community".

EVENT PHOTOS

Thank you to our presenting sponsor

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Schedule of Events


WHAT:   Preview Party
WHEN:  Thursday, March 2nd, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
WHO:    Our Gala Artist Guest of Honor; Geoffrey Johnson, all Gala ticket holders, and participating artists
DRESS: Business casual 

​WHAT:   Private Reception with Geoffrey Johnson
WHEN:   Friday, March 3rd,  6 PM
WHO:     Medallion members - JOIN NOW
DRESS:  Cocktail

WHAT:    39th Annual GALA Fine Art Auction
WHEN:    Saturday, March 4th,  6:30 PM
WHO:      All Gala ticket holders
DRESS:   Black Tie 


2017 Artist Guest of Honor Geoffrey Johnson

​Born in 1965 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Geoffrey Johnson graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where he received a number of awards and prizes for his artistic excellence. Since 1995, he has exhibited in galleries and venues throughout the United States. His paintings may be found in many private and corporate collections including those of Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting, BellSouth, and Wells Fargo. 

Johnson draws much of his inspiration from his travel experiences and first-hand observations. Using a monochromatic palette of sepia hues, the artist says he strives to reproduce the places that inspire him. Johnson’s work is strongly evocative of the French Impressionists’ depictions of city life, interior spaces, and equestrian scenes. From Gustave Caillebotte’s steely, atmospheric renderings of foggy Paris streets and dusky rooftops to Degas’ spindly-legged racehorses, the influence of these artists upon Johnson’s painting is readily visible. His manner of distorting the human figure has also been likened to the skeletal, surreal forms of Alberto Giacometti. 

Johnson has established himself as a true innovator, successfully capturing the alluring space between abstraction and realism. A fascination with both the human figure and the powerful architecture of a modern city plays a large role in his work. Through a feeling of anonymity, figures become suggestive shapes and the skyline of New York materializes mysteriously in the background. Johnson’s paintings embody the mood of each urban experience. 

Johnson has “always been attracted to interiors, work spaces [and] personal spaces.” Inspired by a box of vintage photographs, the artist has created many sepia toned interiors, as well as scenes in which he broadens his palette, experimenting with brighter colors to help reveal the detail and beauty of the historic homes of the South. 

In the studio, he tends to work on several paintings at once, to keep ideas fresh and to avoid becoming limited by one particular style. When preparing a scene, Johnson is drawn to high contrast and images with strong light. For Johnson, each painting is the culmination of “a thousand different decisions, thoughts and feelings” that produce timeless works possessing both simple elegance and haunting solitude.

GALA 2016 Photo Album

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Quinlan Visual Arts Center ​

514 GREEN STREET N.E., GAINESVILLE GA 30501
​770-536-2575 | [email protected]

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  • HOME
  • Education
    • Quinlan School of Art
    • Adults
    • Workshops >
      • One Day Workshops
    • Summer Art Camps
    • Educators Resources
  • Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Engagement
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • SUPPORT US
    • INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
    • Donations
    • Sponsor us
  • IN THE NEWS
  • ABOUT
    • Staff and Board
    • YPAC
    • History