This coming weekend, The Averitt Center for the Arts and the Statesboro community are celebrating one of Stateboro’s own, renowned artitst and Professor Emerita of Art, Roxie Remley. A collection of Remley’s recent paintings will be combined with the artwork of her great-niece, Susan Hodgin, in “A Family Affair” opening April13 in the main gallery of the Averitt Center.

            Remley grew up in Indiana and received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Peabdoy College and later a Master of Fine Art degree from the Pratt School of Art in New York. After moving to Statesboro, Remley began teaching at Georgia Southern in 1950 and continued to teach art until her retirement from the university in 1976. Over her many years, Remely has exhibited her works across the south and mid-west in juried and one-person shows, receiving numerous honors for her achievements. Her works are included in many private and public collections throughout the country. In 1997, nearly eighty paintings were lent by their owners to the Georgia Southern Museum for a 50-year retrospective exhibition of Remley’s art.

             Remely has been very active in the community over the years serving on the Visual Arts Committee at the Averitt Center, the stained-glass committee during the building of the First United Methodist Church where Remely is a member, and has received the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award as well as being the first Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from the arts center. The artist credits her love for creation to her grade-school art teacher back in Indiana and continues to use her creative energies now.

            “Morning walks and travel are great stimuli for ideas to paint, but the brain and the hand always criticize, improvise, invent, remove and create new thoughts,” says Remely. “It’s like and exciting adventure from start to finish.” Remley is ecstatic about showcasing her work alongside her great-niece. The exhibition will highlight the similarities, and differences, of both artists.

            Remely’s great-niece, Hodgin, also grew up in Indiana and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Montana in 2001. Living in downtown Indianapolis art district, Hodgin is immersed in the community arts, much like her great-aunt. Hodgin teaches at the local art center and has exhibited her paintings across the country in juried and one-person shows. Her works too are part of many private and public collections.

            “Plant forms are the vehicles for the bright colors I paint. These organic forms are flexible and easy to manipulate visually. Color is my primary interest,” says Hodgin of her work.

            Along with working in her studio, Hodgin is a permanent substitute teacher for children at the Indiana School for the Blind. In 2004, she was awarded a Women in the Arts Artistic Freedom Grant by Women in the Arts and Riley Area Development in Indianapolis. The artist exhibits extensively and has received several commissions and awards, including the Award of Excellence from the Skokie Guild of Art and in 2006, she was selected as the Featured Artist by the Commission of the Mayor of Indianapolis. She has also traveled to Honduras to teach art for orphaned children; she also completed a mural on the walls of the orphanage. Hodgin is working to expand the orphan art project.

            “A Family Affair” will remain up at the Averitt Center for the Arts until May 25 and an opening reception will be held for the public on April 13 at 7 p.m.