The Gadsden Museum of Art will host an opening reception from 5-8 p.m. on September 1st. As part of Gadsden’s First Friday, the reception will include light refreshments and children’s activities. The opening will kick off the museum’s new shows featuring the work of Wes Bowen, Marcus Tharpe, and Bill Wisenant. It will also welcome the House and Home exhibit with a local twist.

A mixed media sculpture artist from Tuscaloosa, Wes Bowen has had his art displayed across the nation. True Nature will feature driftwood that Bowen has modified to create something “both foreign yet familiar”. According to the artist, “I think of this body of work, True Nature, as the result of a conversation between myself and the materials used.” Using driftwood, Bowen “explores the local Alabama habitat from which it came” and “weaves his response back into each piece.” Bowen’s work will be on display in the Leo Reynolds Gallery on the first floor of the museum.

Originally from Hollow Rock, Tennessee, Marcus Tharpe is a local photographer. Tharpe says he “began developing his passion for photography by taking pictures of nature.” Two will spotlight some of Gadsden’s landscapes, and will represent “the true love” Tharpe has for Gadsden. His photos can be viewed on the second floor of the museum.

Gathered by the National Endowment for the Humanities, House and Home explores the different aspects of home life. Beyond the architecture of houses, it examines the experiences that happen within them, and how they speak of American culture. According to literature on the exhibit, “House and Home capitalizes on the public’s natural interest in the subject of ‘home,’ giving visitors a historical context with which to look at their own experiences.” The museum has also included a regional perspective by including photos of local homes provided through the efforts of Habitat for Humanity. Local artist Bill Wisenant’s replica buildings and homes will also be on display in the main gallery.

The exhibits are free and open to the public. Museum hours are extended until 8 p.m. on First Friday for the reception. For more information, contact museum staff at (256) 546-7365.