When Duty Calls: Art Exhibition

A visual art exhibition celebrating National Armed Forces Day was held at Montgomery’s Court Square Performance Park on Saturday, May 17th. Anthony Thomas, an artist who is the founder and operator of Urban Dream Fine Arts Center at 3680 S. Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36105, set up the exhibition. Art was exhibited by the artists, Anthony Thomas, Aneshia Turner, Michael Reilly and Shawanda C. STAR Peaces. Thomas states, ”The military community is a major component to Montgomery’s social structure. As a citizen and a member of the local fine arts community and as a businessman, my goal is to simply make a kind gesture to express the phrase,’Thank you.’

The National Armed Forces Day was established in 1949, and yet today few people celebrate this day. Many recognize Veterans Day and Memorial Day for the heroes of America’s armed forces, but what about the ones who currently serve, the ones that answer when duty calls everyday? Hopefully, more people will celebrate this day in the future.

The artist, Anthony, has been interested in art since the age of five. He states, “Dreams come true when one puts forth the effort to follow one’s heart.” Since 2018, he has led operations at Urban Dream Fine Arts Center featuring the art of local artists in a deprived neighborhood. It is a place that recognizes, embraces and cultivates fine art (visual, musical, performance, digital and culinary). One of the higher prioritized goals of the Arts Center is to seamlessly provide efficient and affordable studio space, some marketing services and access to a one of kind event space, and this is what sets the operation apart. The Center’s commitment to providing access to urban fine art is what truly makes the operation unique. During each week, Monday through Friday, 9:00-5:00, there is an opportunity for artists to display, promote their work and often sell them to the public. On Mondays, there are art talks. On Tuesdays, artists can create art with supplies provided by a small fee of $15.00, and on Wednesdays there is a free youth art class.