Posted on Friday, February 20, 2026
Associate Professor of Art and Design Carolyn Ford plans to give the LaGrange College 3D Journeys audience a bit of “Ooh La La” in her Feb. 23 lecture, “The Art of France.”
The 3D Journeys lecture and travel program is in its 16th year of offering local audiences an opportunity to “Discover, Discuss and Develop” through free lectures and optional travel. The current series focuses on the “charm and beauty” of France.
“Certainly the beauty of France is reflected in its art, making this a fascinating lecture topic. Whether you plan to travel or not, we encourage you to join us for an enriching and stimulating morning,” said Carolyn Wynens, a LaGrange College alum who co-chairs the volunteer 3D Journeys committee with Dr. Lauranne Buchanan.
This time last year, Professor Ford could not have imagined that she’d be a presenter for the 3D series. A shocking misfortune put her on the path to the podium.
Ford was happily settled in her 22nd year as an art professor at Limestone University in Gaffney, S.C. She had chaired the art department, managed the gallery and earned both tenure and a reputation as a gifted ceramicist. In late April, Limestone trustees, citing “insurmountable financial difficulties,” voted to close the university. Ford and more than 450 other college staff and faculty suddenly were unemployed.
“I was devastated,” said Ford, who was deeply involved in the Gaffney community, where she lived with her husband and dog in the historic district, near the historic campus, founded in 1845.
The opportunity to join the LaGrange College faculty was an answered prayer.
“I was hoping for a place to fall in love with again,” she said.
The beautiful campus, excellent art facilities and hospitable welcome impressed her from day one. Known for her energy and outgoing personality, Ford has embraced her new teaching responsibilities and thrown herself into the life of the college and community.
“I love to constantly mix and mingle,” said Ford. And she appreciates that LaGrange is small enough to “really get to know people.”
On her first visit to LaGrange, she was impressed to see the community is involved with the college.
“And since I’ve been here, I have found a booming arts community, with vibrancy and participation.”
The 3D Journeys program fits squarely into her belief system.
“Shouldn’t we all be forever learners?” she said.
It also jives with her lifelong interest in travel. A Tennessee native, she studied abroad while pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Middle Tennessee State and Master of Fine Arts at Washington State, where she earned a full scholarship. Her specialties are drawing and ceramics.
During her years at Limestone, Ford led multiple study abroad trips for students, once going so far as to make and sell mugs to help support the trip.
Ford loves that travel expands horizons and promotes appreciation of other cultures.
“But it also makes you appreciate home,” she said.
A lover of history, Ford often draws on “home” for her artwork. She uses folklore, regional slang and colloquialisms for inspiration and searches out “the origin story” of old sayings and customs, incorporating them in her work. Like a storyteller, she’s inclined to “enrich and embellish” and to infuse a bit of humor—sometimes nostalgic, sometimes spicy—in her art.
She hopes to do the same in her lecture.
“We will think about the entertainment aspect of art,” she said.
Self-described as adventurous and energetic, Ford is a producing artist whose works have been widely exhibited, including a current show of low relief ceramic pieces at the Dodd Center.
“I am a better mentor when I am creating work,” she said.
“Lost Souls of Tennessee Williams”
Friday, Feb. 20-Sunday, Feb. 22
6 p.m. (Friday and Saturday), 2 p.m. (Sunday)
SMILE LC Presents: A Conversation on Mental Health
Tuesday, Feb. 24
11 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Graduate programs information session
Thursday, Feb. 26
11:15 a.m., Room 307/308, Smith Hall
Women's Basketball
The Panthers ran their conference record to 13-2 this past week with wins over Covenant (Lookout Mountain, Georgia) and Agnes Scott (Decatur, Georgia). They will get their final tune-up of the season on Saturday when they head to Asbury for their regular season finale that will determine their placement in the Collegiate Conference of the South playoffs next week. Currently, LaGrange holds the number one spot.
Men's Basketball
LC went 1-1 this past week, winning at Covenant before coming up short at Piedmont (Demorest, Georgia). On Thursday, the Panthers defeated Warren Wilson (Swannanoa, North Carolina) at their final regular season home game. The team will be looking to clinch their spot in the CCS playoffs when they travel to Asbury (Wilmore, Kentucky) on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Senior Devin Dowell was named CCS Player of the Week. For the season, Dowell is leading the Panthers with a 14.5 points per game average.
Track & Field
The Panthers competed at the Samford Bulldog Invitational and Open in Birmingham, Alabama, this past weekend, setting numerous school records in their inaugural season. They will travel to the University of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina) on Saturday, Feb. 21 for the USC Invitational.
Baseball
LC’s three game series against Millikin (Decatur, Illinois) this past weekend resulted in a 4-3 loss on Friday and then a 13-8 win and a 9-5 loss on Saturday. The Panthers host the LaGrange College Classic this weekend, where on Sunday, Feb. 22, they will host teams from Endicott College (Beverly, Massachusetts) and the Mississippi University for Women (Columbus, Mississippi).
Softball
The Panthers will open their 2026 schedule on Sunday, Feb. 22, when they play host to Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Women's Beach Volleyball
LC opened its season last weekend with a 2-1 record at the Truett McConnell University (Cleveland, Georgia) Tournament, coming up short to the host Bears before pulling out 3-0 wins over Spartanburg Methodist (Spartanburg, South Carolina) and Florida Memorial (Miami Gardens, Florida). The Panthers will travel to the Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama) Tournament this weekend for four more scheduled matches.
Flag Football
It was a new era as the Panthers held their first home games of their inaugural season on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Callaway Stadium. Although the Panthers fell short to Thomas University (Thomasville, Georgia) and Reinhardt University (Waleska, Georgia) in both contests, these two games represent the true beginnings of the program becoming a part of the LC campus community. The Panthers compete next on Friday, Feb. 20, when they travel to Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama) for a tri-match against the host Hawks as well as Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, Kentucky).
Men's & Women's Tennis
LC opened its spring season on Friday, Feb. 13, with two losses against Mississippi University for Women. On Thursday, the women’s team fell to Piedmont. The teams will travel to Huntingdon College on Feb. 27.
Freshman Michaela Krajcovicova was named CCS Rookie of the Week.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, Feb. 20 – Women’s Flag Football at Huntingdon College, 2:30 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Friday, Feb. 20 – Women’s Flag Football vs. Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, Kentucky) @Huntingdon, 4 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Track & Field at USC Invitational, Columbia, South Carolina
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Beach Volleyball vs. Loyola University (New Orleans, Louisiana) @Huntingdon, 2 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Beach Volleyball vs. Southern Virginia University (Buena Vista, Virginia) @Huntingdon, TBD, Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Women’s Flag Football vs. Cumberland University (Lebanon, Tennessee) @Huntingdon, TBD, Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Women’s Basketball at Asbury University, 2 p.m., Wilmore, Kentucky
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Men’s Basketball at Asbury University, 4 p.m., Wilmore, Kentucky
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Women’s Golf at Point University Spring Invitational, LaGrange, Georgia
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Baseball (Home) vs. Endicott, noon, Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Softball (Home) vs. Emory University, 2 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Baseball (Home) vs. Mississippi University for Women, 3:30 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Monday, Feb. 23 – Women’s Golf at Point University Spring Invitational, LaGrange, Georgia
Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Women’s Golf at Point University Spring Invitational, LaGrange, Georgia
Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Men’s Basketball (First Round CCS Tournament) vs. TBA, 7 p.m., TBA
Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Baseball (Home) vs. Emory University, 6 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Softball (Home) vs. Berry College (Mount Berry, Georgia), noon and 2 p.m., LC Softball Complex
LaGrange College Theatre to perform Tennessee Williams one-act plays, LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 18
Secretary Raffensperger hosts “MoneyTalks” Programs for High School and College Students across Georgia, Georgia Secretary of State, Feb. 13
Category: Arts and Culture, College, Community
Keywords: Education, Travel
