Each month a local artist is named Artist of the Month. The City has collaborated with the Newnan-Coweta Art Association on this project.

The collaboration gives local artists the opportunity to display their work in City Hall and the chance for the City to support the arts.

Artist of the Month, March 2023

 Chelita Freeman

The Newnan-Coweta Art Association (NCAA) has selected Chelita Freeman as its featured “Artist of the Month” for March. Ms. Freeman’s art will be featured in the entry way of Newnan City Hall (25LaGrange Street) throughout the month.

Born in West Virginia and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Ms. Freeman moved to Georgia in 1964. She married Walter C. Freeman Jr. and had three children. Ms. Freeman started oil painting in the late 1960’s. She currently teaches art classes at the Harriet Alexander Art House every Wednesday.

Artist of the Month, February 2023

Ruth Whitaker

The Newnan-Coweta Art Association (NCAA) has selected Ruth Whitaker as its featured "Artist of the Month" for February. Ms. Whitaker’s art will be featured in the entryway to City Hall (25 LaGrange Street) until February 28th. 

Ms. Whitaker has enjoyed painting classes from noted artist Kay Stanley and drawing classes for the last 12 years. She has also participated in lifestyle drawing classes from well-known artist Martin Pate for 8 years. For the last 7 years Ruth has followed celebrated pastel artist Karen Margulis, through her blog, Patreon page, and assorted workshops. She also has demonstrated with both the NCAA and SOFA associations in Georgia. Ruth has been a member of the NCAA (Newnan Coweta County Art Association) for 10 years, a member of the Appalachian Pastel Society (APS) for the past 5 years and a member of the Douglasville Cultural Arts Center for 2 years.   She has shown her art in the NCAA Juried Art Show at The Center for Performing Arts in Newnan for over 8 years.  Ms. Whitaker participated in the Old Town Sharpsburg Art Show in October of 2015 and again in April of 2017. Her work may be found in Christy’s Diner, the Carnegie Building, ANM Styles Hair Salon. Her art has formerly been displayed in Peachtree City and Heard County libraries. She has participated at the NCAA Christmas Market at the Newnan Fairgrounds for over 7 years. Ms. Whitaker’s mediums are acrylic and pastel painting.        

The NCAA's general meetings are held the third Monday of each month (from August through May) at the Harriet Alexander Art Center on Hospital Road at 7:00 p.m. An art demonstration is presented each month. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

Artist of the Month, January 2023

Alicia Rainwater

The Newnan-Coweta Art Association (NCAA) has selected Alicia Rainwater as its featured "Artist of the Month" for January. Ms. Rainwater's art will be featured in the entry way to Newnan City Hall (25 LaGrange Street) until January 31.  

Ms. Rainwater began seriously painting at fourteen years old.  Her mother, Gwen Gazaway, was a professional artist, and Alicia had a paint brush in her hand at a very early age. As a teenager and early adult, she studied oil painting under Atlanta renowned artist, Joe Segars.  While in college at Clayton State University, Alicia studied under Art Professor Tommy Doughtery. She later became interested in watercolor and acrylics and added to her studies. Today, she paints in watercolor, acrylic, mixed mediums and oils. 

Largely self-taught in watercolor and acrylics, she has continued her art education taking workshops throughout the years under world famous artists such as John C. Pelew, Rudy DeReyna, Franklin Jones, Houser Smith, Ani Kramer, and Alison Christie.  She has also studied from renowned Georgia artists Ralph Taylor, Clint Carter, and Betty Norton.

Ms. Rainwater and her husband, Ed, who is a wood craftsman, reside in Newnan where they are members of the Newnan-Coweta Art Association. Alicia has served as Secretary, Show Chairman, Exhibit Chairman, and Publicity Chairman. She once served as Exhibit Coordinator of the Artist of the Month Exhibit at City Hall in Newnan. Ms. Rainwater served on the Board from 2000-2002 and from 2021-2022  

She exhibited in the Annual Spring Courthouse Show in Newnan for over 20 years, the Aberdeen Artists in the Woods show in Peachtree City, the Newnan-Coweta Association’s Annual Christmas Art Show, Grantville Days Arts and Crafts Festival, the  Power’s Crossroads Arts and Crafts Festival, the Possum Hollow Country Fair in Dexter,  and the Fayetteville Courthouse Show  She also exhibited in the Moss Oak Plantation Country Crafts Festival and the Harvest Festival on the Marietta Square, Hogansville’s Hummingbird Festival, and Art in The Park at the Marietta Square.

Ms. Rainwater also illustrated a cookbook that was published and released in December 2001.

Alicia Rainwater is a current member of NCAA.  NCAA's general meetings are held the third Monday of each month (from August through May) at the Harriet Alexander Art Center on Hospital Road at 7:00 p.m. An art demonstration is presented each month. Visitors and new members are always welcome.