[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF SYD BLACKMARR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AUSTIN SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2023

  Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life of Tifton, Georgia's ``Queen of Arts,'' Syd Blackmarr, who 
recently passed at the age of 89.
  Her commitment to promoting the arts in Georgia has left a great mark 
on the cultural landscape of Georgia's Eighth District.
  Her legacy will be remembered in the cultural heritage she helped 
build, from the main stage at Fulwood Park that is named in her honor, 
to the former Tifton Museum of Arts & Heritage that was renamed the Syd 
Blackmarr Arts Center to recognize her contributions to our community.
  She also founded the Art Experiment Station at Abraham Baldwin 
Agricultural College in 1976, which fostered the creation of 8 local 
arts councils. It was Georgia's first rural arts consortium, and her 
work paved the way for collaborations across South Georgia, leading to 
the growth of arts organizations and public art installations 
throughout our state.
  She envisioned arts affirming cultural diversity and helped initiate 
the Arts in Black Festival and the Fiesta del Pueblo.
  Syd's accolades and recognitions, such as the Governor's Award for 
the Arts and Humanities and the Selina Roberts Ottum Award for Arts 
Leadership, are a testament to her unwavering dedication and the 
immense impact she had on the arts community.
  Syd's impact in Georgia's Eighth District will be felt for 
generations to come.

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