The artwork of Mary Padgelek, award-winning author and UGA alumna, is on display in the College of Education’s Office of Information Technology through Aug. 31.
The Southern Memories exhibition features a series of paintings inspired by Padgelek’s memories of her mother-in-law, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 90. Some of the featured works include paintings of her garden, where she grew flowers and vegetables and images of Athens store fronts that are slowly being replaced by more modern fixtures.
“Through this exhibit I have sought to hold on to and to honor the past,” said Padgelek.
Padgelek earned her master’s degree in art education in 1988 and her Ph.D. in art from the Lamar Dodd School of Art in 1998. She taught art in public schools for 10 years in Richmond and Oconee counties and was a teaching assistant and instructor in UGA’s department of art education from 1996-2000. Her book, In the Hand of the Holy Spirit: The Visionary Art of J.B. Murray, earned Padgelek the Georgia Author of the Year Award in the biography category in 2000.
Padgelek exhibits her art locally in several public collections, including the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel, where her work is on permanent display.
The Southern Memories exhibit is on display in Room 232 of Aderhold Hall. More information about Padgelek and a selection of her work can be found at www.padgelek.com.