The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is preparing to open three new art exhibitions on Monday, Sept. 21, at its facility located at 527 N. Patterson Street in Valdosta. The center announced it will hold a free public reception from 5 to 7 p.m., which will feature light refreshments. The exhibitions will showcase works by artists Alex Berdysheff, Flavia Lovatelli, and John E. Bayides, and will remain open for public viewing through Nov. 4.
Alex Berdysheff, whose exhibition is titled “Edge,” was born in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. His artistic career officially began in Scotland, where he participated in a post-graduate exchange program at the Glasgow School of Art, also known as the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Building. Following several solo and group exhibitions in Scotland, the Edinburgh School of Art hosted a major show of his work during the Edinburgh International Festival in 1997. In 2000, Berdysheff received the John Murray Thomson Award for his contributions to the Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition. Since then, his work has been featured in numerous shows worldwide. In the United States, Berdysheff’s art has been exhibited in Florida, Arizona, and New York. He also participated in a group exhibition of six surrealist artists at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art in 2022, and a recent solo exhibition took place at Avery Gallery in Marietta, Georgia. In 2024, his work was exhibited for the first time in Houston as part of the “Life Perspectives & New Beginnings,” ELC Fine Art group exhibition.
Flavia Lovatelli, whose exhibition is titled “Cycles of Change,” is known as a sustainable paper manipulation artist. Her works are described as elaborate and immersive, transforming recycled paper into intricate, dimensional environments. Lovatelli’s art has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. In 2025, her work was selected for several significant events, including the South Carolina Biennial at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art, the Shanghai International Paper Art Biennial in China, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Art Exhibition in Charleston, and the 36th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper at McNeese State University. She has also participated for two consecutive years in both the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show and the Smithsonian Craft Show, establishing her presence in both contemporary art and fine craft contexts.
John E. Bayides, presenting his exhibition “The Art of a Sailor in Southwest Georgia,” began his life in the Brighton section of Boston, Massachusetts. He was one of five children born to Greek immigrants. Bayides graduated from Brighton Highschool and attended classes at Massachusetts Art School. He frequently visited the Massachusetts Fine Arts Museum, where he studied and sketched the works of established artists. Bayides soon began to paint, dedicating himself to studying the works and techniques of masters such as Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Dali. He read books, practiced their techniques, and emulated their styles to develop his own distinctive methods over time.
The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts noted that all exhibits will remain open in its galleries for public enjoyment through Nov. 4. For more information, the public may call 229.247.2787 or visit turnercenter.org. Patrons requiring special assistance are encouraged to contact the center to make necessary arrangements.