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Local artist Gerrells displays artwork in Dahlonega
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Kalie Gerrells, of Dawsonville and a senior at North Georgia College and State University (NGCSU), is one of the featured artists whose quilting pieces are displayed in the NGCSU Senior Capstone Art Exhibition.

The two quilts make-up the series entitled, Five Smooth Stones, illustrating Gerrells favorite Bible story, David and Goliath. The series title is a reference to the five stones David chose for his sling as he faced Goliath.

This story has such a simple meaning, said Gerrells of the quilts story.

I love it because its so inspiring. Even if you dont look at it from a religious standpoint, it still has an underlying theme that we all know and love.

The project was part of Gerrells senior portfolio class and was completed within a semester.

I spent weeks dying the fabrics and maybe 80 percent of the fabric is hand-dyed, Gerrells stated.

Gerrells said she has always possessed a creative sense but had never participated in art classes until she became a student at NGCSU. She started college as an education major and decided to change her major after entering her sophomore year.

I planned to go into an advertising and design route but I took one textile class and fell in love with the sewing machine. I guess Im just an old woman or sentimental at heart, she added. Gerrells said her great grandmother passed down the art of quilting to her grandmother.

My grandma is actually the one who taught me how to sew and gave me my first sewing machine, Gerrells said.

Gerrells is the 2008 Dawson County High School Valedictorian, and started NGCSU in the fall semester of 2008. She will graduate this May with a major in Art Marketing, a combination of studio art with a minor in business marketing. Gerrells also minored in Spanish while living in Costa Rica.

When Gerrells thinks about her future plans she says the doors are wide open. But there is one permanent fixture in her future, I just want to quilt. I have thousands of ideas that keep popping in my head and maybe one day Ill find time to finish them all, she said.

The Capstone Exhibition will run through Friday, April 13. An artists reception will be held on Thursday, April 5 from 5-6:30 p.m. The reception will offer a question and answer session with the artists. The Library and Technology Center Gallery is located at 82 College Circle, Dahlonega, GA 30597. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sundays 2-8 p.m.

For more information, contact the gallery at 866-597-0002.