Madison Artists Guild celebrates Gary Hudson

One hundred Madisonians gathered at Madison’s Town 220 last Thursday evening, for the Madison Artists Guild’s revealing of “Art Lives: Work from the 70’s, California and New York.” The exhibit showcases acrylic on canvas work by Gary Hudson, renown abstract artist and former local, through Oct. 30. Hudson, an abstract painter, was a dedicated artist who found the ability to express himself through his medium at an early age. Hudson’s persistence motivated him to create works worthy of exhibition at establishments like the La Jolla Museum of Fine Arts, La Jolla, Calif. in 1969, and two shows at the Reese Paley Gallery in Soho, New York in 1970 and 1972. Hudson’s work was also showcased in a number of different shows including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Annual Painting Exhibition, 1969 to 1970, the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, “Lyrical Abstractions,” April, 1970; “American Painting 1970,” Indianapolis Museum, Wichita Museum, and Cleveland Museum, 1970; “Out of Sight” Museum of Fine Art, San Diego, Calif., 1972; "Four Painters," Berthot, Hudson, Whitten, Quaytman, Poidexter Gallery, New York, 1973; "Monumental Paintings of the ‘60s," San Diego Museum of Fine Art, Calif., 1974; and "34th Biennial Exhibition of Contemportary American Painting," Corcoran Museum, Washington, D.C., 1975. Gary Hudson was among a group of artists in the 1960s and 1970s who were identified as “lyrical abstractionist” painters.

Printed in the August 11, 2011 edition.

Printed in the August 4, 2011 edition.

Story and photos by Christina Santee

In most of our churches, we support some missionary activity almost always in a distant place. Interestingly we have two young men who are on missions for their church here in Morgan County. They are Elder Christensen and Elder Quaid, both from Utah, who are on a two-year mission to share their faith with Georgians. You may see them about town in their typical white shirt, black slacks and necktie. Always well-scrubbed and ready to share what they believe. They typically leave their homes at about 19 as boys, and return home as young men.
Elder Christensen – from southern Utah where his family raises alfalfa and his dad works for the power company – is from a family of four siblings. Elder Quaid, who is black, has white parents who had one biological child and have adopted 18 more, many of those with special needs. Each missionary is supported by their family and supervised by a Mission President and staff. Here in Georgia there are two mission organizations with approximately 150 missionaries talking to those interested in learning about another approach. Perhaps that is one reason that the Mormons or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) is among the fastest growing Christian denominations around the world.
The Mormons have a long history of being both the quintessential American faith and raising the ire of others, some who have even questioned if they are indeed Christians. Should you visit the LDS center behind Pennington headquarters building and the Masonic Lodge, you will find a worship center with artwork featuring Jesus in his most familiar roles as teacher, shepherd and leader of disciples. Granted, the Mormons are believers in a Book of Mormon that the rest of us have little familiarity with, but that does not make them less believers.