The Greater Augusta Arts Council and Augusta Candle Company are excited to present a solo exhibition featuring Augusta native Stephanie Sunshine Forbes to open at Pontone Gallery in downtown Augusta.

“Divine Armor and the Lowcountry” is a collection of delicately crafted sculptures inspired by armor from the 3^rd and 4^th centuries worn by soldiers of the Ancient 

Roman Army. The collection will feature ten helmets of salvation displayed on gallery pedestals and four Guardian Angel armored busts, all of which were constructed using over 1,000 oyster shells collected from marshes throughout Georgia and South Carolina over the course of the artist’s life. 

Additionally, there will be five oyster paintings and a large-scale installation piece. All oysters used were delicately selected by the artist and composed carefully to honor the Roman uniform as well as speak to Saint Paul’s analogy of facing spiritual battle, as he watched Roman Soldiers gear up for war during his imprisonment by the Roman army.

Forbes, whose birthday coincides with this showing, originally managed gallery operations and hosted monthly showcases at Gaartdensity Art Gallery in Augusta, which she purchased it in 2011. After selling the gallery, she moved to California to gain a diverse experience in photography, graphic design, and freelance work. Stephanie eventually attended The Savannah College of Art and 

Design on a full tuition scholarship, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2019. She currently resides in Savannah where she owns and operates Rule of Three Gallery, which she runs with the intention to provide a space for artists to build their portfolios, gain exhibition experience, and earn curatorial experience herself as a Gallery owner and curator. 

RECEPTION:

FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2022, 5:00 P.M.-8:00 PM

PONTONE GALLERY

1128 BROAD STREET AUGUSTA GA 30901

The artist’s contact info: E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile # (706) 373-9905