Portraits dedicated to the Johnson Center for the Arts
Published on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 20:31
- Huck Treadwell | The Messenger The family of the late Mack Gibson, from left: his brother Wayne Gibson, daughter-in-law Katey Schekton, his son Andrew, his wife Mary, his daughter Melanie, his niece Gayle and his grandson Chase.
Huck Treadwell | The Messenger
Members of the Johnson family at the dedication ceremony were, from left, Manley and Mary Johnson and Jo Harville.
On Sunday afternoon, the Johnson Center for the Arts honored individuals who were instrumental in its founding.
The late Mack Gibson and Holman and Ethel Johnson were honored with dedications of portraits that will hang in the Holman and Ethel Johnson Center for the Arts.
The Johnson and Gibson families have been instrumental in the founding of the Center, donating their time, talent and treasures from the inception of their dream of an arts center for the people of the City of Troy and Pike County to the present day.
Andrea Pack, director of the Johnson Center for the Arts, said the portrait of Gibson was painted by Mack Moseley and the portrait of Holman and Ethel Johnson was the work of Ruth Walker.
At the inauguration ceremony on Sunday afternoon there was standing room only.
Al Head, a Troy native and 33-year member of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, delivered a brief speech at the ceremony.
Head also said that during his years at the State Council on the Arts, people often asked him what made communities thrive. Head said he often told people that communities thrive because of people who are involved and active in the community.
“All of you here today have stories about Mack Gibson, Holman and Ethel Johnson,” Head said. “What is your story?” is something we all have to ask ourselves. As we stand here today, this building is one of the best stories we can tell about Mack Gibson, Holman and Ethel Johnson.”
Manley Johnson, the son of the Johnson family, said his father spent his entire life photographing the people of Troy and Pike County, but he also enjoyed photographing old buildings and was interested in historic preservation.
“I don’t know how many times he photographed this building,” Manley Johnson said. “But he must have been pleased that this building was serving as an arts center and that it was saved.”
