The Oglethorpe County Historic Jail recently opened its doors for its first-ever art exhibit. Local artist and retired actor Tom Thon launched this potentially ongoing series of art shows, turning the 1879 jailhouse into a pop-up gallery space.
“It's kind of like a no-brainer,” said Thon, a Lexington resident. “When you think about it, it’s like, ‘Yeah, duh, why haven’t you done this for the last 3½ decades?’”
Attendees walked through the preserved cells and corridors while viewing Thon’s photographs, which featured Lexington landmarks, European architecture, natural scenes and a panoramic portrait of Historic Smithonia Farm — his first major commission and the first panorama ever taken of the property.
The show’s unifying theme was “environmental,” conveyed through bold color and graphic elements.
Thon also debuted a new line of T-shirts printed with his photographs, his latest creative venture since stepping away from acting earlier this year.
“I wanted T-shirts that could be comfortable and feel light and feel like, ‘Oh, I'm wearing art,’” he said. “This is one-of-a-kind. You're not going to find this anywhere else.”
All works on display, including the T-shirts, were for sale, with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to the preservation of the historic jailhouse.
The idea for the exhibit came from fellow artist and jail custodian John Fortuna, who proposed using the space to feature local artists.
“We put some ads on Facebook, and we are just kind of learning more (of how to do this),” Fortuna said.
The plan is to host shows on the first Saturday of each month, depending on community interest and available programming. Their goal is twofold: to celebrate local art and to raise awareness for the jailhouse’s preservation needs.
“We're not going to allow it to be demolished,” Thon said. “We're not going to allow it to be commercialized. It doesn't make sense to us. We're here for a purpose in this county because we love our life.”
Visitors also included Ivan Vlasov and Olga Vlasova, residents who moved from Russia in the early 2000s. Vlasov, a preservation enthusiast, remembered seeing the jail in operation years ago and returned this weekend to document the exhibit for his YouTube channel.
“I just like everything about history,” he said. “I mean, I wish (the jailhouse) is going to be preserved for a long time, and people can see it. It’s just charming. I don't like it when people tear down stuff.”
While local businesses sometimes lend keys for self-guided tours, consistent events could help increase public awareness and provide a sustainable path for maintaining the building, said attendee Linda Parish, tourism and hospitality director for the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce.
“People don't even realize it's a museum, and that they can go and see it,” she said. “They drive through, and they don’t know it's a jail.”
Parish, who also serves on the Lexington Downtown Development Authority Board, said Lexington has struggled to find long-term solutions for preserving its historic buildings, but events like this could serve as a model.
“Anytime you can merge two cultures like preservation and art together, I think that just opens even more people's eyes to what is important in preservation and in the art world,” Parish said. “You know, we're losing so much, and Oglethorpe County is so lucky to not have the kind of development that just eats things up.”