Lee Co. Chamber of Commerce announces winners of 18th annual Under the Oaks Art Fest
LEESBURG, Ga. – The Lee County Chamber of Commerce sets the stage for a creative escape where art, culture and community blend seamlessly.
For the 18th year, the Lee County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Under the Oaks Art Fest, bringing the community together for an evening of creativity and connection.
At the Art Show & Business After Hours residents enjoyed appetizers while taking in the vibrant display of local artwork.
“It started as just kind of a small art show. But, over the last 18 years, we’ve grown it into a Business After Hours with networking. It’s also a juried art show, but we have People’s Choice Awards. So, the crowd that’s here really gets to get involved, which is fun,” said Jessica Zurheide, Chamber’s Events, Membership, & Marketing Director.
The art fest featured nearly 40 pieces, including photography and mixed media, creating a rich tapestry of colors and textures.
“Some of them are framed, some of them are on wrapped gallery canvases. And, then, we’ve got anywhere from a pen on paper drawings to watercolor to acrylic and oil. I mean, all different sorts of art in there, it’s really cool,” said Zurheide.
Jessica Zurheide, the Chamber’s Events, Membership, and Marketing Director, emphasized the importance of events like this – providing local artist with a platform to showcase their talents while enriching the cultural landscape of the Good Life City.
“It’s such a hidden talent for so many people. Arts in general. I feel like it’s such a dying industry that is really so important to us as a community, us as a country. So, we’re happy to have this art show to just kind of display some local artists. Some of them, it’s their first time entering the art show. They’re not super confident. They’ve never done it before. And, this gives them a chance to just display some of their work and see all the awesome reactions to it,” said Zurheide.
The Under the Oaks Art Fest showcases incredible local talent, here’s the full list of award-winning artist and their featured pieces:
Paintings & Mixed Media:
1st Place: #5, Green Grape Agate – Madye Carter
2nd Place: #11, Under a Rock – Lisa Cosper
3rd Place: #30, Tranquil Sunset – Hyekyung Hannah Seo
Honorable Mention: #12, Gracie – Kathie Entz
People’s Choice: #31, Impromptu – Mary Sumners
Photography:
1st Place: #40, Lightyears and Fathoms – Doug Wolfe
2nd Place: #26, In Living Color – Eden Morris
3rd Place: #23, Swamp Sandhill – James Malphrus
Honorable Mention: #39, Grove Life – Doug Wolf
Peoples Choice: #22, Cypress 19 – James Malphrus
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
Copyright 2025 CBS 44 News South Georgia. All rights reserved.
