THE QUAINT city of Cowan has welcomed the spring season with colorful and meaningful art exhibits that can be enjoyed by all at the town’s local art hub, The Artisan Depot. The gallery premiered its latest community exhibit, “Cacophony,” on March 31. This show features original works by several new local artists as well as returning area artists, according to gallery volunteer Margie Gallagher. The show will run through May 29.
The depot is also showcasing works from the local nonprofit, Arts Inside. The local organization offers art classes for incarcerated individuals in Grundy, Franklin, and Maury counties as well as other community projects.
According to the organization’s website, AmeriCorps volunteer Hilda Vaughan founded the program in 2017 in response to the lack of art programming in the Grundy County Jail in Altamont. For the last five years, Vaughan and her volunteers have taught classes in creative writing, painting, and other art forms to local inmates. Each year, the organizations hold public art exhibitions for artists to celebrate their creative achievements and connect with friends, family, and the community.
Gallagher stated that the show opened to the public on March 31 and will run through May 29. The public is invited to come and check out what Gallagher states as “inspirational works of art.”

BEHIND THE ART
No strangers to the love of art, the depot is an extension of the Franklin County Arts Guild, an organization of local artists and members who are interested in promoting fine arts and crafts in Franklin County and the surrounding areas. According to the guild’s website, the primary focus of the guild is to advance and provide arts education and awareness to youth and the public.
Along with guild artists’ exhibits, the depot holds a community exhibit where the community is encouraged and invited to participate. All artistic levels and ages are welcomed to submit works of art to be on showcase for six weeks at the center.
Art classes are also available at the depot. Artists of all levels are welcome to participate in “Art Wednesday.” The weekly event is held from 10 a.m. to noon at the depot. Local artists can bring their current project to work on while enjoying working with other artists. The class is free to attend.
The depot also features several items and works of art made by local artisans. Items such as jewelry, handmade books, cards, pottery, and more, can be purchased. The purchases will benefit local artists along with other community projects of the guild.

IF YOU GO
The depot is open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday and is located at 204 Cumberland St. East in Cowan. For more information on The Artisan Depot and The Franklin County Arts Guild, visit online at franklincoarts.org. For more information on Arts Inside, visit online at artsinside.org. -GN