Written by Carrie Beth Wallace
Images courtesy of Columbus Collective Museums

 

If you’re the type to seek out the quirks and character of a city, Folk Art Junction is your spot to #GoAllOut in Columbus, Georgia! Tucked away inside of Columbus Collective Museums on Hamilton Road, this colorful haven is where imagination runs wild and the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Here, you’ll find bold paintings, quirky sculptures, and one-of-a-kind creations that blend storytelling with a heavy dose of Southern flair.

This is not your typical white-wall gallery—Folk Art Junction hums with personality, celebrating the raw, unfiltered energy of local and regional artists. This isn’t just a stop; it’s an experience that will leave you inspired and awestruck by the sheer kaleidoscope of creativity that makes Columbus, Georgia a place we’re proud to call home.

Sound like something you’d like? Here are our top 5 reasons to visit Folk Art Junction!

1) The Owner, His Family, and the Hospitality You’ll Receive

Columbus Collective Museums, home of Folk Art Junction, was founded by Allen M. Woodall, Jr. In 1987, Woodall purchased two vintage lunchboxes at an antique show in Atlanta, and the rest is history!

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and Woodall’s collection has developed into the Columbus Collective Museums. The site is still owned and operated by Woodall and several members of his family – including some of his grandchildren. In fact, the curator of Folk Art Junction is Columbus artist Kaitlynn Etheridge, Woodall’s granddaughter.

Known as “Grandpae” to those he loves, Woodall’s passion for his collection and hometown shines from the moment you meet him. Upon entry to the Columbus Collective Museums, it’s not uncommon for at least one member of the family to greet you with open arms. It’s clear Woodall’s love of history and good old fashioned Southern hospitality has been passed down to his family. Trust us. You may enter as a visitor, but you’ll leave as family!

2) Folk Art Junction has TONS of Original Art at Accessible Prices.

 

Folk Art Junction houses a large collection of original work made by artists from across the Chattahoochee Valley. Inside the eclectic gallery space, you’ll find pieces of all sizes, mediums, and price ranges. This is an intentional effort, as accessibility to lots of different kinds of art is important to Folk Art Junction’s curator Kaitlynn Etheridge. She works tirelessly to ensure the space is full of art at all times, and that the collection rotates in and out depending on what’s available from each of the numerous artists in the gallery. This ensures a constant variety in sizes, prices, and mediums for visitors to see and shop.

3) The Artists

One of our favorite things about Folk Art Junction is their eclectic & impressive roster of artists. Kaitlynn Etheridge curates the gallery and works with the following artists year-round.

Ned Berry
Jarrod Turner
Kaitlynn Etheridge
Edwin Roberts
Jacqueline Grant Brown
Ken Newsome
and more!

Artists deliver work and exchange pieces from within the Folk Art Junction often, so you never know which artist you’ll run into while you’re there! When we visited, ceramic artist Ned Berry was restocking his wall of sculptures and jewelry and made time to have a visit with us. That same day, curator Kaitlynn Etheridge was restocking some of her paintings and rearranging the space. Walking into Folk Art Junction an adventure every time!

4) Their Mission to Make Folk Art Accessible to All.

“We’re working hard to bring folk art to the forefront of Columbus, Georgia and our region,” said Kaitlynn Etheridge. “Folk Art Junction is really helping to make that happen, and it’s very exciting to see.” Etheridge is passionate about artists and their work, and it shows. Though her grandfather founded Columbus Collective Museums, Folk Art Junction is a space she’s been encouraged to develop and curate herself. Now, after nearly a year, Folk Art Junction has become a welcoming gallery for artists of all ages and experience levels. It’s also a perfect place to encounter top folk art whether you’re an experienced buyer or it’s your first time seeing folk art in person.

Etheridge is both a gracious and knowledgable guide to the space. As an artist herself, Etheridge shows a passion for increasing public access to folk art, and makes the time to stop and answer questions about artists and their work. This dedication and sharing of the genre as a whole is what makes Folk Art Junction a perfect place for visitors and locals to experience folk art of all kinds from across the Chattahoochee Valley. (Have we mentioned the prices are great, too?!)

 

5) Getting to Experience the Rest of Columbus Collective Museums.

Folk Art Junction sits inside of Columbus Collective Museums. The property, located at the intersection of River Rd. and Hamilton Rd encompasses 8 world-class museums housed in a former tile and marble company warehouse and showroom, originally built in 1946. The museums focus on highlighting local legends, parts of local history,  a vast collection of artifacts ranging in everything from vintage cars to spools of thread, and everything in-between.
Columbus Collective Museums has been compared to House on the Rock in Wisconsin and appeared in Smithsonian Magazine for being home to the world’s largest Lunchbox Museum.

This ever-growing attraction is an essential must-do for visitors to the region. Its unique, fun, and educational every time you go, because it’s never the same twice. Artifacts are always changing, and Grandpae is always collecting, so make sure to stop by often and #GoAllOut!

Columbus Collective Museums
3218 Hamilton Rd.Columbus, Georgia 31904
https://www.columbuscollectivemuseums.com/

This article was originally published by our partners at The Columbusite and has been shared with permission.

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Family-friendly / History / Shopping