Class of 2027 Arts & Culture Day Sponsored by Security Federal Bank and JNSA
Arts & Culture Day: The Heartbeat of Our Town
I know everyone has been anxiously waiting to relive the final official class day of the Leadership Augusta, Class of 2026. We began at the Morris Museum of Art with a quick intro from Gary Dennis, then heard from Kevin Grogan, Director and Curator, and John McBrayer, Curator of Education. Kevin and John shared great information about the museum's history, philosophy, and educational and community-centered programs, and their passion for the mission of the Morris was clearly evident throughout the presentation. We then toured the exhibits, and as a first-time visitor, I was blown away. Three notable exhibitions included the intricate library paintings from Gail Wegodsky, dress sculptures from John Petrey, and the Georgia textile art collection; and one of my favorites was the horserace painting recovered from a New Orleans hotel that was flooded during Hurricane Katrina. I enjoyed the experience so much that I returned with my wife and parents two days later. A true 10/10 experience!
After the Morris tour, we headed to the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, where Gary Dennis and his team shared the school's inspiring mission of improving the qualify of life in our community through the transformative power of the arts. What a jewel we have through this school! We then jumped into theatre games and rehearsals, using percussion instruments and the unforgettable Boomwhackers to prepare a musical performance featuring excerpts from Aretha Franklin's Chain of Fools and Respect. Following lunch and a conversation with Ashley Rogers about staying engaged with Leadership Augusta after graduation, we made our way to Lamar-Milledge Elementary School. There was genuine concern about whether or not we were going to embarrass ourselves in front of a bunch of elementary school kids. But we worked hard to perfect the performance, and it all started coming together. Despite some initial nerves, our class delivered an energetic performance that the students loved so much they asked for an encore. Well done, Class of 2026!
Our next stop was Grantski's Records, where owner Evan Grantski. His shop is much more than just a place to find vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, and other music merch; it’s also a venue to bring in artists for smaller-scale local shows. He shared how his vision grew into a unique space that is both a record shop and an intimate live music venue, with plans for even more growth. The final stop of the day was just a few doors down at Westobou Gallery, where we first heard from Matthew Porter and his staff about the purpose and mission of the gallery to foster a vibrant, culturally-rich community by supporting artists and their ideas to present engaging, creative, and thought-provoking artistic experiences. We also got to hear from Heather Dunaway from The Greater Augusta Arts Council. We wrapped up with a scavenger hunt through the green-themed WestoHUE exhibition.
This day exceeded my expectations and opened my eyes to just how vibrant Augusta's arts scene truly is. Every organization we visited was deeply committed to serving the community, and I left inspired to become more engaged in the arts and excited about the future of arts and culture in our region.
Huge thanks to Gary Dennis for putting together an awesome day for our class, and I would be remiss if I didn’t also take a moment to thank Sarah, Taylor, and Miranda from the bottom of my heart for leading us through an absolutely amazing year. Y’all are truly the best!
A special thank you to our Day Sponsor, Security Federal Bank , for supporting this impactful experience, and to the day’s Transportation Sponsor, Jessye Norman School of the Arts for transporting class members to each destination throughout the day.
Written by Carson Hand, Class of 2026
