Southern exposure

Although Kelly Dennard is calling his retrospective art show “Scenes of the South” on Saturday night, he could call it something else.

“Looking Out My Back Door,’’ said Kelly, who runs the Main Street Art Gallery in Gordon.

The scenes are right out of Norman Rockwell. Or Andy Griffith. Take your pick.

“I’ve never done anything like it,’’ he said. “There will be paintings, pastels and photography of everything from old gas stations to rural landscapes to trains.’’

There is one image of a local barber and his grandson sitting on a bench, working on a crossword puzzle.

Most of the images were taken around Gordon and his native Wilkinson County.

“When I think of the South, this is what I think of,’’ Kelly said. “I want to let people know what a great place it is to be.’’

I admire what Kelly has been trying to do for the past several years – to offer the arts and cultural entertainment to this tiny community of 2,150 folks, many of whom rely on the large kaolin plant in the center of town as their lifeblood.

I’ve heard him say “living in a small town doesn’t mean we have to think like a small town.’’ He’s taking baby steps, but at least they’re coming. He takes pride in mentioning that a friend opened a dance studio in Gordon a few months ago.

Over the past few years, he has held poetry readings and film festivals at Main Street, a large Victorian house built in 1869.

Saturday’s event starts at 7 p.m. It is open to the public and there is no admission charge. The gallery is located at 129 Main Street in Gordon. For more information, call 478-628-1682.