This exhibition will mainly cover agricultural practices and beliefs in Burkina Faso and Mali, which are within the savanna and forest areas of the Western Sudan region (South Saharan). Most of these lands can be difficult to cultivate, to control, so the farmers in these regions have to continuously strike a bargain with the spirits of the uncultivated terrain. This happens through unique festivals, ceremonies, and agricultural societies, which will be the topic of this exhibition.

The wilderness is significant in many African cosmologies because it is the inverse of culture – so by describing its characteristics, the ideal characteristics of African society can be defined. Many communities are organized into three realms, the spiritual, the physical, and the in-between. The physical realm is the controllable realm – it is orderly, governed by laws, and includes cultivated fields and domesticated animals. The wilderness is beyond human control so it is unpredictable, potentially dangerous, but there are powers to be harnessed as it can also be a source of medicine, sustenance, and wisdom. This exhibition will present a brief overview of the beliefs associated with the wilderness and the agricultural practices that follow, to show how these concepts translated into social experiences and visible form through selected artifacts from the Savannah African Art Museum.

Silver Torah scrolls once smuggled past pirates glint in the heart of Savannah’s moss-lined streets. This self-guided audio tour unlocks secret stories and hidden corners that most travelers never find.

What bold act inside Congregation Mickve Israel rattled Savannah’s elite? Who left behind a cryptic message in the Juliette Gordon Low Historic District that still stirs unrest? Why did art students at Savannah College of Art and Design suddenly vanish after midnight in 1996?

Move through shady squares and sunlit facades as whispered scandals, lost rebellions, and eccentric legacies unfold at your every stop. Each turn brings a new clue or lingering question, revealing Savannah not as an old postcard but as a restless crossroads pulsing with intrigue.

Ready to hunt for the glint beneath the Spanish moss? Press play and let Savannah’s secrets pull you in.

The competition is open to Chatham County kids of all abilities and skill levels. Participants are encouraged to let their imagination soar and create a comic book that reflects their unique style and vision. Entry is free, and all submissions must be received by April 7th. Participants are invited to submit their original comic book artwork, which will be judged based on the categories of most creative, most inspiring, and most artistic. Prizes will be awarded to the top entries in the age brackets of 1st – 4th grade, 5th – 8th grade, and 9th – 12th grade.

Submission guidelines are as follows: • Can be Digital Books (PDF) or Paper Books • Digital Books sent to scargile@chathamcounty.org • Paper Copies can be dropped off at The Front Porch (2203 Abercorn St.) • Minimum: 5 pages, Maximum: 20 pages. For more information, please contact Shawnessey Cargile at The Front Porch, by calling (912) 652-6518 or e-mailing scargile@chathamcounty.org.

DECADES is a new art exhibition designed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Location Gallery and a decade of creativity from 36 local artists who have been featured by the gallery over the years. Spanning a wide range of mediums, these captivating pieces of art are united by a shared 10″ x 10″ format. This cohesive and dynamic exhibition highlights both individual voices and Savannah’s vibrant creative community.

This special anniversary exhibition will remain on view from March 15-23 at the Preservation Center at Historic Kennedy Pharmacy. Gallery proceeds from the run of the exhibition will be donated to Historic Savannah Foundation and support the nonprofit organization’s mission to preserve Savannah’s historic places and stories. The exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing.

Participating artists include Stacie Jean Albano, Sandra Attales, Claire Barrett, Adrienne Berkland, Angela Burson, Julia Christian, Len Ciliento, Kipling Collins, Brian Condon, Joy Dunigan, Tate Ellington, Maxx Feist, Stephen Garrison, Mary Hartman, Ahmad Jackson, Farnaz Jahani, Tobia Makover, Rubi McGrory, Deborah Miller, Bellamy Murphy, Bernard Nolan, Jennifer Nolan, Anisa Nonya, Lisa Ocampo, William Pagano, Michelle Perez, Melody Postma, Jose Ray, Peter E. Roberts, Katherine Sandoz, Kurtis Schumm, Shea Slemmer, Shelley Smith, Lisa D. Watson, Rose Marie Woulfe and Heather Young.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum—an acclaimed museum dedicated to celebrating and preserving America’s maritime legacy—is delighted to present “Beyond the Plate: Sea and Sky,” an exciting new solo exhibition featuring nautical-inspired, mixed-media art by Rob Strati, from September 25, 2025 through April 12, 2026.

“Beyond the Plate” will showcase new work by one of America’s hottest contemporary artists. Strati has recently enjoyed sold-out exhibits at Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis and FREMIN Gallery in New York and has sold work to top international art collectors in New York, London, Hong Kong, Dubai and beyond. Strati’s art incorporates broken porcelain plates that have been embellished and adorned with creative details. The exhibition features the artist’s latest bold, kinetic mixed-media works and limited-edition prints as well as an ambitious site-specific installation that will be suspended from the ceiling of the Ships of the Sea atrium.

Strati’s latest series was inspired by a porcelain plate from his wife’s late mother, which accidentally fell and broke into fragments. In order to preserve the shards of the shattered plate, and the memory of someone vitally important to both him and his wife, the artist began working on his “Fragmented” series, using pen and paper to “explore the possibilities of things broken and the stories that can evolve from the pieces left behind.”

Each piece of Strati’s art starts with the breaking of a porcelain plate and takes approximately two weeks to complete. Although the artist is rigorous about his creative process, he always allows space for spontaneous ideas to emerge from the fragments. Over time, he has learned important lessons about art and life by creating new works of art from broken shards.

Strati describes his work as a “mix of chaos and control” that is constantly evolving. He hopes his upcoming exhibition at Ships of the Sea will inspire visitors to think about time, creativity and beauty in fresh, new ways. All of the art in “Beyond the Plate” will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.

ABOUT ROBERT STRATI: Originally from Boston, Strati grew up in Columbus, Ohio and earned a B.A. in History of Art from Ohio State University. His art has been exhibited at leading international museums and art galleries and has been featured in The Art Newspaper, Whitehot Magazine, Reclaim, Beaux Arts, Sculpture Magazine, Vice and The Village Voice. Strati’s work and “Beyond the Plate” will also be featured in ARTS Southeast’s fall issue of IMPACT Magazine in October 2025.

Train rides in March 2026 are at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm Wednesday, March 18th through Sunday, March 22nd; Wednesday, March 25th through Sunday, March 29th.
Train ride tickets are on a first come, first served basis.
Schedule and locomotives subject to change, please call ahead. (912) 651-6823