May Exhibitions: Cat Pope, Nancy Milford, & Sarah Rutledge Fischer

Dates: May 3rd – 30th, 2019

This May at MAC, see a collection of colorful narrative paintings from Cat Pope, a series of striking portraits by Sarah Rutledge Fischer, and an exhibit of Gulf Coast nature in oils and acrylics by Nancy Milford.

Mobile painter Cat Pope uses her brush to tell a story on every canvas. With a painterly style and a focus on nostalgic, pastoral subjects, Pope captures the vibrant soul of the Gulf Coast’s past and present. Her May show in MAC’s Skinny Gallery focuses on a world of Pope’s own creation, which in her words tells a story of “love for place and home, and a dedication to a way of living that values this love.” Cat Pope is a native of Clearwater, Florida, and moved to Mobile in 2015. She received her B.A. in Painting from Judson College in 2011. Her work is held in private collections across the US.

The subjects of local artist Sarah Rutledge Fischer’s drawings are anything but wallflowers. Her collection of figure drawings in the Danielle Juzan gallery is a celebration of the human form, stripped of clothing and unabashed. Fischer states that, in a state of undress, the individual “bear[s] nothing that can distract us from empathy and connection. They claim their space and invite us to see ourselves reflected in their lines and shadows.” A self-taught artist, Fischer lives in Fairhope and has acquired her skill through figure study groups and dedicated practice. She devotes special attention to the human form, and her art represents her belief that “all bodies are good bodies.”

Baldwin County native Nancy Milford sees herself as a visual preservationist. Once an engineer, Milford turned to drawing and painting as a way to express her creativity and share her love for the unique natural environment in Lower Alabama. Now she uses her art to preserve the landscapes, flora, and fauna of our coastline, recording memories with the hope that future generations may enjoy our way of life, too. Now a municipal planner in Fairhope, Milford attends classes to build upon her artistic skills and draws her inspiration from naturalist artists like Beatrix Potter and Keith Brockie. Her show in MAC’s Small Room this month will feature works in oils and acrylics.

These exhibitions will hang from May 3rd – 30th, with a special reception from 5 to 9 p.m. on LoDa ArtWalk night, May 10th. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekdays.