Savannah senior art lovers have a number of exciting opportunities this summer to visit Coastal Emire art galleries and museums.

Art appreciation is always an enjoyable Savannah senior activity at the Jewish Educational Alliance, currently featuring the works of artist Deborah Raines.

Originally from Huntington, WV, artist Deborah Raines received both her BA in Art Education and Masters in Sociology/Anthropology from Marshall University.

She recently retired from thirty-one years of teaching art education, both in Georgia and West Virginia.

Raines has worked on state and national committees for the support of fine arts and was instrumental in co-founding a support system for Appalachian artists

Despite her personal success as an artist and art advocate, Deborah Raines is most proud of the four STAR Teacher awards she received while teaching art in Georgia.

Her art work has been exhibited in local, regional and national exhibitions.

Deborah’s art has evolved over the years until it comes as a surprise to her when she describes herself as a painter.

In the past, she worked with
pencil/Prismacolor and in clay. Even with these media, she would apply them in layers, cut the paper or clay and add other elements. A few years ago, she found herself more and more intrigued by complex, textural surfaces.

She began using magazine collage materials, added painted elements, cut the paper and layered more paper behind and on top. Then she began experimenting with textural elements on canvas, slicing the surface and weaving raw-edged fabric through it. She continued to add other things like raffia, cord, scrapbook paper and foil, and then began beading the surface. The beading took on a life of its own, growing from an added accent to an integral part of the painting.

What she wants the viewer to gain from her work is a sense of mystery and intrigue. She wants her work to become a personal experience for the viewer.