The public is invited to attend the opening reception of the “Artists of Montgomery-Past and Present” reception from 2 until 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Johnson Center for the Arts at 300 East Walnut Street in downtown Troy.

The exhibition features more than 180 works of art by 100 Montgomery artists.

Richard Metzger, Johnson Center executive director, said the exhibition provides a historic perspective on Montgomery visual arts through the years.

“The exhibition fills all seven galleries of the Johnson Center and offers a rare opportunity for the entire region to experience South Central Alabama’s diverse culture through the eyes of these Montgomery artists, past and present,” Metzger said.

The exhibition includes oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, 3-D pieces, paper art and found objects.

“There is a wide range of artwork from still life’s to portraits,” Metzger said. “There is a pastel portrait by C. Melton that was commissioned in the 1800s. Some of the places, like the Capri Theater and scenes from Lake Martin and even, perhaps, some of the people will be familiar.

“Several of the artists have Troy connections. Neal Brantley, Judie Hooks and Margie Porter Whatley are Troy natives and it’s exciting to their work on display.”

Metzger said the thing of note about the “Montgomery Artists-Past and Present” exhibition is the vast amount of talent in this region.

“And, also of note, is the diversity of how people see things,” he said. “George Taylor can take something as mundane as a roll of snow-covered hay bales and paint them from a different perspective, in a way that we would not ordinarily see them.”

The scenic views that are so familiar to all people of this region are treated differently by each artist.

“The exhibit features several views of the trees that was pass every day on the road,” Metzger said. “Each artist treats those typical scenes differently. There is room for all sorts of visions and lovely sites and the artists exemplify that idea.”

Everyone is invited to enjoy the Sunday afternoon exhibit at the Johnson Center for the Arts.

The exhibit will run through March 31. Regular Center hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is always free.