JASPER, Ala. – The Walker County Arts Alliance invites the community to celebrate the final evening of 3 1/2 Hours in the Sipsey Wilderness, a solo exhibition by Alabama artist Shannon Bourn, with a Closing Reception on Friday, August 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The exhibition has been on view in the Walker County Arts Alliance Gallery this summer and will close following the reception. For those who have not yet visited the gallery, the closing reception offers one final opportunity to experience the work and learn more about the inspiration behind the exhibition.
3 1/2 Hours in the Sipsey Wilderness is inspired by Bourn’s first visit to the Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forest, a landscape known for its natural beauty and significance to generations of hikers, campers, and explorers. Drawn by a long-standing interest in Alabama’s geology and native flora, Bourn set out on what was meant to be a simple introductory hike. What followed was a vivid and immersive experience. Rock walls, dripping water, lush ferns, and towering magnolias and hemlocks shifted in tone and color as the landscape moved through rain, mist, and sunlight. The experience left a lasting emotional impression, one that Bourn continues to explore through this body of work.
“This has been such a wonderful exhibition to have in our gallery,” said Kat Murray, Director of the Walker County Arts Alliance. “We want to make sure our community has a chance to see it before it comes down. The closing reception is an opportunity to spend time with the artwork and give the exhibition a proper send-off.”
Shannon Bourn is an artist based in Hoover, Alabama. She earned her BFA in painting with a minor in drawing from the University of Evansville and her M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. After years working in art education and administration, Bourn returned to a full-time studio practice focused on painting and printmaking. While much of her work has centered on observing people in public spaces, this recent body of work reflects a shift toward landscape and personal experience.
The Closing Reception will be held Friday, August 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Walker County Arts Alliance Gallery, located on the Bevill State Community College Jasper Campus. The event is free and open to the public.
The Walker County Arts Alliance is dedicated to bringing the arts to Walker County through arts education, exhibitions, community events, public art, and opportunities for local and regional artists.
