Not often is an artist caught with his “paintings” down, but Jerry Siegel found himself in just that situation Monday.

Siegel delivered the artwork for his upcoming exhibition, “Responding to Home: In the Heart of Alabama,” to the Johnson Center for the Arts Monday morning. Although Siegel worked behind closed doors to unwrap the photographs that will be exhibited, people popped in for sneak previews of his work.

“Jerry Siegel captures the essence of times gone by and uncovers extraordinary moments in the ordinary,” said Vicki Pritchett, Johnson Center executive director. “He is an extraordinary photographer and his work stamps who he is as an artist and as a Southerner.”

Siegel journeyed through the photographs for the upcoming exhibit as if he were guiding a tour of the streets, the old stomping grounds and back roads of home.

Siegel is a native of Selma and he and his siblings continue to maintain the homeplace that was built by their parents in 1956. Siegel is a product of the place and he has a strong affection for the rural South – the places and the people – and, of course, the artists who make visual “recordings” for generations to come.

Siegel paid tribute to Southern artists in his first book, “Facing South: Portraits of Southern Artists.” His latest book, “Black Belt Color” documents the unique, cultural landscape of Central Alabama where he grew up.

“‘Responding to Home’ will include both color and black and white photographs,” Siegel said. “Some subjects are better captured in color, others in black and white.”

Siegel said his photographs are “just me, driving around” or “hanging out.”

He pulled a landscape photograph from the framed photographs leaning against the wall.

The photograph could have been taken along hundreds of rural Alabama roads where blackbirds roost.

Siegel admitted that he had not scoped the place nor did he sit for hours waiting for just the right moment. He didn’t change the settings on his camera time after time.

“I was just driving down the road and saw the birds in the tree,” he said. “I stopped and they flew off. Then, they settled back in the tree so I blew the car horn and they flew off. They came back to the tree and I blew the horn again. And, I got the photograph.”

When he’s riding the roads, Siegel said he usually presets his camera to be ready to seize the moment.

Pritchett said Siegel has the rare ability see something unique in the ordinary and then the talent to capture it as art.

“We all see these things but Jerry sees them with an artist’s eye and captures them for all the rest of us,” Pritchett said. “‘Responding to Home’ will be a popular show because we can all relate to it. We’ve been there and seen that but Jerry Siegel allows us to see it all in a different way.”

Siegel’s exhibit will open on February 24 in the Johnson Center’s lower gallery. Mike Howard’s exhibit “A Journey Home” will be featured in the upper gallery. Thus, bringing together two artists who are deeply rooted in the Southern culture.

Scott Meyer’s exhibit, “Crucibles and Icons of High Heat” will close on Saturday. Pritchett said the public is encouraged to visit the JCA and view this outstanding exhibit.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.