‘Tideland’ is an exhibition of black and white photographs by Savannah-based photographer Parker Stewart (b. 1992). Taken between 2020 and 2024, these evocative photographs document the coast of Georgia by transporting the viewer into the visceral and primordial atmosphere of the barrier islands and inland waterways.

In 1895, administrators in the art department at the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in New Orleans, Louisiana, a women’s higher education institution that was joined to Tulane University, started a new commercial enterprise so that their students could put the skills they learned in their art and design courses into practice. A group of potters, mostly men, created the various objects out of clays sourced throughout the South, and women graduates of the art program painted them with images of flora and fauna. Newcomb Pottery quickly received praise throughout the US for the quality of its designs and the perceived authenticity of its representation of Southern regional identity, and these strong ties to location remain present today, long after the Pottery’s closure in 1939.

This exhibition focuses on the Newcomb potters’ material and chosen subjects, their relationships to regional identity, and the Pottery’s changing approaches to these subjects over time. Tasked with representing the region through their work, Newcomb designers earned a reputation for turning to their local environment for inspiration. This exhibition explores how designs that featured repeating, semi-abstract, and carefully selected plants such as waterlilies eventually transformed into muted landscapes of moss-draped oaks and cypresses, and the way these images matched romanticized visions of the South that were growing in the 20th century. The Moss Mystique asks visitors to reconsider their ideas about what makes a place unique. In an adjacent gallery, interdisciplinary artist Raheleh Filsoofi’s new multimedia exhibition (Un)Grounded will respond to the complexities of Newcomb pottery.

100 Days of Purpose – June 1–September 8 (ongoing)
Led by Savannah’s only lifestyle medicine physician and coaching team at Purpose & Plants, this 100-day community wellness challenge inspires simple, daily actions tied to your deeper purpose. It’s free, flexible, and designed to help you reset, recharge, and reconnect. Join the private Facebook group to access all of the free giveaways and resources.
→ Join anytime: https://purposeandplants.com/100-days-of-purpose-1

James Benjamin Franklin has brightly reimagined the conventions of painting through a language of process and discovery. His works incorporate repurposed textiles such as blankets, towels, afghans, clothing, and bathroom mats, creating sensually-layered rafts of visual and physical texture which serve as alternative canvases. These surfaces, in turn, are painted, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed with materials which include acrylic paint, sand and glitter. Whereas traditional canvas can be precious or overbearing, Franklin’s tactile surfaces are liberating and playful. They allow open experimentation where his visual lexicon and studio methods can evolve or reinvent themselves.

Franklin’s paintings are housed in handcrafted plaster-molded frames, each one with a unique geometry. Irregular shapes complement and contain the playful chaos of the many-layered painting surfaces. His process of discovery explores how specific media become more meaningful when applied to textiles and other found surfaces. His work is experimental in the best sense of that oft-used expression: it deploys intentional, rigorous investigation while learning from each new result.

The finished pieces suggest an artist who relishes surprise at the unexpected while discovering freedom in technique. This freedom has led Franklin to refine his practice with increasing nuance in shape, edge, color, and texture, and their interactions over time. Ultimately, the artist wishes to communicate something essentially human about the making of his art – the joys of creative experimentation, as evidenced by the work itself.

“There’s an understanding of time that I appreciate,” says Franklin. “You can get a sense of how the art was made, revealing a story or history to the process – the joy, as well as the struggle. Bringing the viewer into the piece and having a shared experience about making and about life.” Creative acts are communicated and felt more urgently than an aesthetics borne of intellectual preoccupations. Within a single work of art, new meanings and additional layers are revealed over time. Franklin’s art is evergreen, relational, and continuously inspiring.

Paintings shown in Visitor feature vivid, bold colors and mark-making, resulting in finishes and atmospheres which are new to Franklin’s body of work. His edges and borders have also evolved, enabling a variety of ways of seeing the painting as an ensemble. The frames create counterpoints to prevailing visual energies which radiate from an alchemical display of pigment, texture, and surface.

The title of the show references a poetic entrance, or visitation, to otherworldly spaces. Franklin is a first-time visitor to Savannah, Georgia, where his work also fills the galleries at Laney Contemporary for the first time. Both artist and audience share an experience of visiting and being visited.

Bio:
James Benjamin Franklin received his BFA from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA in 1999 and his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI in 2017. Recent exhibitions include Cranbrook Museum of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI; KMAC, Louisville, KY; FRONT International, The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH; Broadway, New York, NY; Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit, MI; Reyes | Finn, Detroit, MI; and Proyectos Monclova, Mexico City. Franklin was born in Tacoma, WA in 1972 and lives and works in Detroit, MI.

Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 11-5pm
Saturday, 11-2pm
Free Admission

The exhibition “happening. unfolding.” by Henry Dean showcases the artist’s multifaceted approach to art, combining elements from drawing, journaling, and sketching as its foundation. Dean, known for his work in installations, paintings, sculptures, mixed media, photography, and video, draws inspiration from his interactions with nature and humanity. Through this exhibition, Dean continues to “unfold” his exploration of patterns and meanings, focusing on the importance of attentiveness and context. His art practice is deeply responsive, incorporating elements of history, philosophy, and geography to create a rich tapestry of visual and conceptual narratives.

August 30 – September 27, 2025

Opening Reception: September 6, 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Artist Talk: September 27, 5:30 – 7:00 PM

September 4–7 • Thu–Sat: 7–10 PM | Sun: 5–8 PM
Visit Wexford for four captivating nights with Gabriel Donohue, the Irish-born, Philadelphia-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Athenry, County Galway. Renowned for his mastery across guitar, piano, bouzouki, mandolin, and Irish percussion, Gabriel brings centuries of Celtic tradition to vibrant life. He’s toured globally—including three years with the Grammy-winning Chieftains—and collaborated with legendary artists like Eileen Ivers, Joanie Madden, and the Boston Pops. His music echoes with stories of Ireland and the soul of its people

Savannah Rep is dedicated to championing new voices in musical theatre. With a deep commitment to fostering the development of original works, we are proud to launch the inaugural Savannah Musical Theatre Festival—a premier, three-day celebration of fresh, never-before-produced musicals.

Bringing together writers, composers, patrons, press, and producers, this festival offers an exclusive opportunity to experience the evolution of new musical theatre. Each selected show will be presented in a fully sung, concert-style reading, allowing audiences a rare glimpse into the creative process.

Led by Producing Artistic Director Natasha Drena and Founder/Managing Director Jenn Bishop, the Savannah Musical Theatre Festival is the first of its kind in Georgia’s Lowcountry. It joins the ranks of esteemed new works festivals in cities like New York, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles—solidifying Savannah’s place as a hub for bold and innovative storytelling.

Be among the first to witness the next great musical take its first steps toward the stage!

The Bank of America Museums on Us program offers Bank of America, Merrill, and Bank of America Private Bank credit and debit cardholders FREE general admission to 225 cultural attractions the first full weekend of every month.

For the past 25 years, Bank of America has provided access to some of our nation’s greatest cultural experiences and brought new visitors to partner museums. Cardholders can use the Bank of America Museums on Us Location Finder tool to search for participating cultural institutions. With more than 225 Museums on Us partners in cities across the United States, there is an option for everyone.

Atlanta History Center:
This is the last weekend to see Atlanta History Center’s exhibition More than Brave: The Life of Henry Aaron. The exhibition tells the story of Henry Aaron from his time in Mobile, Alabama, to his record making baseball career and his life as a leader in baseball, business, and charitable causes, featuring images and artifacts from the collections of the Aaron family, Atlanta History Center, the Atlanta Braves, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Emory University, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and personal collections from throughout the United States. The exhibit is set to close September 7.

Georgia State Railroad Museum:
Located in Tricentennial Park, Georgia State Railroad Museum is a beautiful National Historic Landmark located at the old Central of Georgia Railway Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities. With a fully operational turntable, you have the chance to explore historic railcars, experience the handcar and go on guided tours. Be sure to check the train rides that run on the hour from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.

High Museum of Art:
This Family Saturday, the High Museum of Art is collaborating with the Korean American Cultural Center in honor of “Kim Chong Hak, Painter of Seoraksan.” Featured programs include a Korean traditional Fan Dance, a Korean fashion show, a Jindo Drum Dance, a Beokku Dance (a traditional small drum dance), Korean Sword Dance, a Korean brush painting demonstration from artist Teresa Moonsook (Yerang) and more! From 2-3 p.m., the High will also host a public conversation, Korean Traditions and Creativity Now, with Minhwa Spirits Cofounder James Kim, chef Jiyeon Lee, artist Yubi Lee and the High’s Wieland Family Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Michael Rooks.

Morris Museum of Art:
Artrageous! Family Sunday: Let’s Go LEGOs! The Morris Museum knows how to put the A in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)! Build and decorate a LEGO car, then experience its kinetic energy as it flies down the racetrack in the lobby. Sunday, September 7th 2–4 p.m.

Old Fort Jackson:
Old Fort Jackson is a National Historic Landmark offering daily cannon firings and exciting interactive programs for adults, kids, and families. It features historical weapons demonstrations and interactive programming for families. Daily cannon firings occur at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Pin Point Heritage Museum:
At the Pin Point Heritage Museum located in the old A.S. Varn & Son Oyster and Crab Factory, visitors can experience the Gullah/Geechee culture first hand. For nearly 100 years, the community of Pin Point was quietly isolated on the banks of the Moon River just south of Savannah. Now, you can explore the refurbished museum complex and experience multimedia presentations, exciting exhibits, and unparalleled views of the marsh.

Savannah Children’s Museum:
Located within the Central of Georgia Railway Carpentry Shop, Savannah Children’s Museum features over a dozen exhibits designed to expand the imaginations of children including an exploration maze, a reading nook, and a sensory garden.

Savannah History Museum:
Located in the former Central of Georgia Railway Passenger Depot, Savannah History Museum takes you on a journey through time from Savannah’s earliest days to the present, with unique exhibits and interactive experiences for the family. Exhibits include an early 20th century steam locomotive, archaeological finds from Savannah’s Revolutionary War history, and much more.

SCAD Museum of Art:
Tomokazu Matsuyama ‘Liberation Back Home’
Displaying works both within and on the façade of the SCAD Museum of Art, Tomokazu Matsuyama presents large-scale paintings and sculpture that blur distinctions between interiority and exteriority, Eastern and Western, and past and present. A first-generation Japanese American, the artist was born in Japan, moved to Southern California with his family at age eight, and has spent more than two decades in New York, channeling these experiences of cultural change and learning into his work. Now through January 4, 2026

Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7 (the first full weekend of each month)

Learn something new this month with a visit to these and many more Museums on Us partners in Georgia and across the country:

Atlanta
• Atlanta History Center
• High Museum of Art

Augusta
• Morris Museum of Art

Savannah
• Georgia State Railroad Museum
• Old Fort Jackson
• Pin Point Heritage Museum (Saturdays only)
• SCAD Museum of Art
• Savannah Children’s Museum
• Savannah History Museum

Bank of America believes the arts have a unique ability to connect people and communities and help local economies thrive. Through Museums on Us, Bank of America provides its cardholders with free access to artistic and cultural experiences across the United States at celebrated institutions ranging from art, children’s and history museums to aquariums, botanical gardens, and science centers.

We encourage those interested to use the Bank of America Museums on Us location finder tool to search for participating cultural attractions, understand any applicable Museums on Us admission protocols, and check with museums directly for their operating hours.

Present your Bank of America, Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain free general admission to any participating institution during the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of each month. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. Program excludes fundraising events, special exhibitions, and ticketed shows. Not to be combined with other offers. Museum participation varies.

Take a train ride at Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah.

Train Rides in August are: Fridays-Sundays. Train rides are at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm.

Schedule and locomotives subject to change, please call ahead. (912) 651-6823

Come beat the heat, crowds, and see Bonaventure in one of its more pristine hours as we celebrate a daily morning overview with a casual 60-75 minute walking tour in all of the right shady spots! Ideal for locals & their guests! Amazing photography light, too! We’ll behaved dogs welcome!