Duo expands arts in Bainbridge with new studio at the Kirbo Gallery

Published 2:53 pm Friday, January 17, 2020

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Vickie Bailey has returned to Bainbridge after living five years in Spartanburg, SC, and she has reunited with an old high school friend, Lisa Mitchell DeSilva to open their own artist studio in the Kirbo Gallery of the Firehouse Arts Center. 

Lisa has retired from her business as a promotional marketer for such businesses as Disney, and moved back to Bainbridge to help care for her parents.

The goal of the two women is to work with the Gallery Director, Phyllis Lucas, to keep the Gallery open more consistent hours so people can view the ever- changing displays of well-known area artists, as well as some who are new to the Bainbridge art world.

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“We needed someplace to paint, and they needed someone to keep the Gallery open,” explained Vickie.

The exhibits change regularly as different artists are featured.

The Gallery worked alongside the SWGA Artists show on Thursday evening at the Firehouse Arts Center by featuring the work of several artists. One display is from the hands of Diana Kirbo, who takes old pieces of jewelry and remakes them into new creations.

A new artist on the scene is Dene Ross, who has an unusual exhibit of several paintings she calls embedded pulp paintings. She lives in New York in the summer and spends the winters in Attapulgus working in the studio of Roger and Pat Campbell. She paints on paper she makes from cotton, linen and denim.

Attendees also had the experience of watching Vickie work on her latest painting, an abstract painting in shades of blues and greens, a style Vickie is currently exploring.

Lisa displayed a rooster painting she created primarily by using the paint tubes rather than brushes, a style recommended by her instructor to loosen up the lines.

The Gallery promises to continue to feature new artists and concepts and will be open daily as well as weekends. The clue is to watch for the Gallery Open sign on the sidewalk.