Local Artist Garland Farwell Begins Residency at UWA's Julia Tutwiler Library, Showcasing Unique Folk Art

Garland Farwell, a visual artist, has started a year-long artist-residency at the University of West Alabama’s Julia Tutwiler Library. The residency began with a folk-art exhibit featuring hex signs, a Pennsylvania Dutch art form, interpreted from an African American, southern, and rural viewpoint. These symbols, thought to bring good luck or ward off misfortune, originate from the area's German ancestry.

Farwell, a Los Angeles native, has a background in the New York theater scene where he worked as a designer and director using experimental puppetry and masks. He now resides in York, Alabama, where he has been influenced by local art and design traditions like quilting and hex sign painting. In Alabama, Farwell has worked as a teaching artist and muralist in local schools and communities, exploring painting, sculpture, and mixed media in a traditional studio setting.

Christin Loehr, a public service associate at the Julia Tutwiler Library, expressed her enthusiasm about Farwell's residency. She mentioned that Farwell's individual and collaborative works have been displayed in New York, South Africa, Brazil, and Europe. As the artist-in-residence, Farwell will curate new exhibits for the gallery wall every few months.

Loehr also emphasized Farwell's community-focused approach to his work. He primarily uses reclaimed wood and metal from historic homes in Sumter County. The library is eager to see his future exhibits.

The Julia Tutwiler Library at UWA is open from Sunday to Thursday, with varying hours, and also on Friday and Saturday. Farwell's work will be exhibited throughout his residency, allowing visitors to experience his unique take on traditional folk art.

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