When people hear the word "farm," the mental images that come up are often based on things they recall from children's books and old movies. A new art exhibit in Madison, Georgia aims to bring those preconceptions up to date with a set of paintings that have a unique pedigree. 

Curated by Mitzi Prochnow, "FARM 2022" put together seven Georgia artists with nine farms to create new works of art that depict modern agricultural life in the South. The exhibition opens Friday, Aug. 26 at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Arts Center with a reception from 6-8 p.m., and runs through Oct. 29.

Artists Keith Bennett, Chris Cook, Lee Harper, Mollye Daughtry, Elizabeth Collins Hanes, Charmaine Minniefield and Teresa Bramlette Reeves were chosen for their individual styles and personal experiences with rural Georgia farms.

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The list of farms depicted in the "FARM 2022" exhibit are Big Sandy Creek Dairy, Godfrey, Hunts Cattle, Levity, Little River, Noland, Pennington, Vason Tree and Yellow Rose Goat. Hanes' sculpture was inspired by a proposed Rivian Automotive Plant site, and Reeves' contribution includes a collection of art and memorabilia from the family that owns The Pastures of Rose Creek Farm.

Athens-based illustrator Bennett and Madison resident Cook both created works inspired by Levity Farms, a first-generation family farm that has been in operation in Morgan County since 2017. Levity has provided fresh produce to restaurant chefs in Athens, Atlanta and Decatur, and is in the process of shifting their business model to include home delivery service.

"The land is just land without those to work it," said Cook, who painted the people, animals, and some structures separately from the environments and attached them together to create the final piece. "There is a beautiful synergy between the two."

For tickets and additional information, visit mmcc-arts.org or call (706) 342-4743. The gallery is located at 434 S. Main St. Madison.