Atlanta photographer and arts supporter Virginia Twinam Smith, who died May 6 at age 91, will be remembered during a public reception Wednesday night at the Atlanta Photography Group Gallery.
Smith, who turned to photography at age 60, motivated after serving as a long-time High Museum of Art docent, was known for her digitally manipulated images, many inspired by nature. She didn't call herself a photographer, instead a "picture-maker" and storyteller.
Credit: hpousner
Credit: hpousner
In a 2014 interview with fellow photographer Beate Sass, she was asked her best advice for aspiring photographers. "The first thing would be to not give up your individuality," Smith responded. "I mean it took me a while to figure that out. "
She also sponsored the Atlanta Photography Group's Georgia Print Purchase Award, which boosted the careers of fellow photographers and through which prize-winning prints entered the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia's permanent collection.
"An artist has the same responsibility that everyone else has to their community and that is to be a good citizen," Smith said in that 2014 interview. "What direction that is going to take is a personal one. My goal in sponsoring the Purchase Award was to encourage the APG members to maintain a standard of excellence in their work..."
Wednesday's public reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the APG Galley in Tula Art Center, Space B-1, 75 Bennett St., Atlanta.
More on the Smith reception and her career: atlantaphotographygroup.org.
