The Hinesville Area Arts Council will host an art exhibit for the month of August titled “This is What Love Looks Like,” featuring the oil and watercolor paintings of the late artist Betty Hale Grugin.

The exhibit will open with a free community reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at the gallery, 102 Commerce St. in downtown Hinesville.

Grugin became internationally famous for her artwork, holding three solo shows in Europe during 1982 and being selected as an exhibitor at in the Fine Arts Pavilion at the 1982 World’s Fair. Locally, she is known for “The Liberty County, Georgia Historical Print.”

She traveled around the world with her husband, retired Col. William E. Grugin, and didn’t begin really painting until the 1970s. They made their final home in Sunbury, where Grugin was inspired by the surrounding natural beauty of the waterways, marshes and woods.

She owned The Happy Pallette Inc. and was a co-owner of both The Loaded Brush Studio & Gallery and The Signature Gallery, both in Savannah.

“We are so excited to bring you the work of Betty Hale Grugin. The breadth of her talent is amazing to behold, and I think you will be impressed with the pieces that were chosen for exhibit,” said Leah Poole, the chairwoman of the Hinesville Area Arts Council.

Grugin died March 24, 2011, at her home in Sunbury, and this is the first time her work has been shown since her death.
Her works will be on display at the gallery with the permission of her family.

For more information, go to www.hinesvillearts.com or find Hinesville Area Arts Council on Facebook.