CHAIN REACTION: The Gallery@Hotel Indigo’s newest exhibition, “Chain Reaction,” reflects relationships within the local artist community through seven trios of work. Seven artists were selected to participate by gallery curator Didi Dunphy, then asked to choose another artist who in turn invited a third. Installed in a playful way that utilizes wall graphics to lay out each sequence, the lineup of trios includes Benjamin Britton, Eric Mack and Bojana Ginn; Jaime Bull, Abby Gregg and Logan Shirah; Joe Camoosa, Kojo Griffin and Lane Ketner; Michele Chidester, Joey Weiser and David Mack; Jennifer Hartley, Larry Anderson and Seana Reilly; Katherine McGuire, Will Holland and Elizabeth Williams; and Spence Townsend, Julia Townsend and Vivienne Varay. An opening reception with the artists will be held Thursday, Jan. 21 from 6:30–8:30 p.m., and the exhibition will remain on view through Friday, Apr. 1.

CELEBRATING A HISTORY: The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation will unveil two new shows this week. In the main gallery, “Celebrating A History: A Black History Month Exhibit” explores the cultural heritage of African Americans through the works of 18 artists, including Harold Rittenberry, John Ahee, Broderick Flanigan, Par Ramey, Yvonne Studevan and Abner Cope. In the side gallery, “Mind-Paint-Prayer: Artwork by Scott Pope” is a collection of abstract landscape paintings that evoke emotional responses to their vastness and balance between darkness and light. An opening reception will be held on Friday, Jan. 22 from 6–8 p.m., and both shows will stay up through Friday, Feb. 19.

JACK DAVIS: Thirty miles outside of Athens, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center is presenting works by one of the most recognizable artists to graduate from UGA, Jack Davis. Launched into the spotlight for his role as a founding cartoonist of Mad magazine in the early ‘50s, Davis has illustrated everything from comics, record jackets, movie posters, corporate advertisements and the iconic bulldog football character for his alma mater. Collaboratively organized among representatives from UGA and members of his family, the exhibition reflects on his long and illustrious career. An opening reception will be held Friday, Jan. 22 from 6–8 p.m., and the works will be displayed through Sunday, Apr. 17.

CHEROKEE BASKETRY: Showcasing the craftsmanship of a centuries-long tradition, “Cherokee Basketry: Woven Culture” at the Georgia Museum of Art includes 45 objects dating from the early 19th to late 20th centuries. The works range from historical pieces to those created by modern Cherokee basket makers, mirroring the perseverance of a culture that, while often romanticized by Americans, was exiled from its native land and nearly destroyed. Typically constructed out of river cane, a now nearly-extinct plant, the functional and decorative works often incorporate complex patterns dyed with natural materials like walnut, butternut and bloodroot. The exhibition is on view Saturday, Jan. 23–Sunday, Apr. 17. Related events include 90 Carlton: Winter on Thursday, Feb. 4, tours on Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Wednesday, Mar. 9 and Family Day on Saturday, Mar. 26.

smalltownBIGCITY: The Athens Institute for Contemporary Art’s first exhibition of the new year is an exploration of the Southern vernacular aesthetic through the perspectives of two artists, Kelly Celeste Porter and Brandon Donahue. Porter, an assistant professor of graphic design at East Tennessee State University, recalls the small town charm of rural backroads and mom and pop shops through her work. Donahue, a Nashville-based artist with a MFA from the University of Tennessee, draws inspiration from the traditions of folk art, hip hop and graffiti art to create pieces that often employ airbrushing and scavenging abandoned materials. While the separate bodies of work reflect each artist’s individual upbringing and cultural heritage, they share a strong connection to place and are visually united in the way they repurpose found objects into sculptural and tactile forms. A closing reception will be held Friday, Mar. 18 from 6–8 p.m.

PICTURES OF US: Part of a city-wide, multi-venue exhibition series sponsored by the Global Georgia Initiative of the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, “Pictures of Us: Photographs from The Do Good Fund Collection” at the Lyndon House Arts Center presents 20 portraits by Southern photographers. The Do Good Fund, a charitable foundation based in Columbus, aims to build a museum-quality collection that encourages community-based programming while elevating the profiles of contemporary photographers in the region. The exhibition will be on view Tuesday, Jan. 26–Saturday, Mar. 5 with a reception on Thursday, Feb. 18. The following day, three artists represented in the collection will offer 20-minute portfolio reviews from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and appointments can be reserved by emailing [email protected] or calling 706-613-3623. Afterwards from 3–4:30 p.m., the reviewers will be joined by several more artists for a photography panel.