Watermarks exhibit on display at Campus Gate Art Gallery

by Steve Esser

Young Harris, GA (09/13/2024) — A blend of many different media looking at the rivers and streams of Southern Appalachia is on display at the Young Harris College Campus Gate Art Gallery through September.

The art exhibit - "Watermarks" - is the creation of Ted Whisenhunt, chair of the Young Harris College Art Department. An avid "paddler," also known as a kayaker, Whisenhunt focused on the waterways of Appalachia as part of his second Masters of Fine Arts degree, which he completed in 2023 in Graphic Design, from The Vermont College of Fine Arts.

"I'm an avid paddler, so I wanted to look at the different watersheds in the area and study them from different perspectives," Whisenhunt said, at the exhibit's opening Aug. 29 at the Campus Gate Art Gallery. "I studied the different signs you see in the water, depending on the background and interpretation - a hydrologist versus a biologist versus a chemist."

The exhibit is open through Sept. 26 at the gallery, which is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"The waterways around us shape the landscape and culture of Appalachia, so I wanted to study that and reflect that here," Whisenhunt said. "I wanted to capture what is seen and unseen, from chemical data to spiritual meaning to cultural meaning."

Whisenhunt's exhibits include a wide variety, ranging from metalwork and video to photography and water samples. One part of the display shows various water samples taken from each of the waterways.

"There are signs in all the work relating to the water, from signs on the side of the road to index signs, like the level of the water in the river, speaking to the health of the river," Whisenhunt said.

Whisenhunt focused on the rivers and streams of Southern Appalachia researching on, and interpreting semiotics - the study of signs and symbols and their use.

"It was a great opportunity to look into semiotics - the study of signs and symbols," Whisenhunt said. "In studying the various waterways, I could see the particular ecosystem through a different set of eyes. Whether it was a chemist or hydrologist, or fellow kayaker."

So, come see the waterways from your own point-of-view at the Campus Gate Art Gallery. The exhibit is free and here until Sept. 26.

About Young Harris College

Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master's degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.

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