New exhibits to open

By Sandy Morris

The Old Jail Art Center  will open two new exhibitions to the public starting Saturday, Feb. 27 and running through Saturday, May 22.

No public opening is planned because of COVID precautions and limited hours of operation. 

The public is invited to visit the OJAC and view the new exhibitions from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

Penumbra

Billy Hassell’s Penumbra exhibit features large scale paintings offering perspectives and views of animals and nature that are rarely seen or are extinct.

Hassell composes his paintings with a focus on Texas animal behaviors and habitats, while getting his inspiration from images found in books and magazines, on the internet, and plein air sketches.

Many of Hassell’s subjects are now extinct or endangered which is reflected in their title with “ghost” to indicate their current existence.

Cell Series

Austin-based artist Sterling Allen has installed No Visitors No Objects in the second floor galleries of the original jail building.

Allen usually creates his art outside of his studio or the typical gallery or museum setting by locating a building that has been ignored or forgotten. 

The artist will then work with materials he finds on site to create an exhibition that he quickly photographs. 

The artist is bothered by photographs representing his artwork, so visitors to the exhibit will find previous artworks and selected discarded materials utilized in the jail cells.