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October Issue 2004
Southern Art to Reflect Diverse Spirituality During Exhibition at SC State Museum in Columbia, SC
Having earned the nickname "Bible Belt," the South long has been associated with religious culture. Now artisans of the south who depict religion in their art will display their works at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, SC. Thresholds: Expressions of Art and Spiritual Life, a new art exhibition displaying spiritually-centered art, will be on view through Oct. 17, 2004 in the Lipscomb Gallery.
Michelle Van Parys
William Thomas Thompson
From Southern Baptist to Greek Orthodox, the
exhibit will present artists with a variety of different religious
backgrounds, some of whose art is based on spirituality more so
than religion. With the artists' diverse spiritual backgrounds,
their creations range from traditional to contemporary. Florida
artist Eileen Brautman takes a more traditional approach and creates
Ketubot, Jewish marriage contracts, made with the use of subtle
patterns and calligraphy written in Hebrew.
Dr. Leo Twiggs
Herb Parker
Whether keeping traditional themes or experimenting
with contemporary ideas in their artwork, South Carolina artists
in the exhibit display a wide range of thoughts and ability. One
of many state artists featured is Leo Twiggs of Orangeburg. Twiggs
credits his upbringing in a spiritual, African-American society
as the influence for his art. Hartsville artist Jean Grosser also
will have work shown in the exhibit. Her work is influenced by
religious persecution and some pieces deal with topics like the
turmoil between Palestinians and Jews.
Artists who utilize clay to make art are working with a symbolic
medium in this exhibit about spirituality. "Pottery is one
of the oldest crafts, dating back to the Bible and used as analogies
in many ways to teach biblical lessons," says Chief Curator
of Art Paul Matheny. "Isaiah 64:8 says 'But now, O Lord,
thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and
we all are the work of thy hand.' "Romans 9:21 says 'Hath
not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour.'"
Peter Lenzo of Columbia is one artist who will
have his ceramics displayed in the exhibit. His face jugs, self-portraits
dealing with a personal illness, have qualities extracted from
regional ceramic applications. "South Carolina has one of
the richest pottery traditions in the US; it has been made here
continuously for over 4000 years and is still produced today,"
says Matheny. "While face jugs were made in some form or
another throughout time, the southern face jug tradition which
Peter draws from is based in Edgefield."
Thresholds was curated by nationally recognized independent
curator and critic Eleanor Heartney of New York. As a part of
the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the exhibit features
artists from South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida,
and Tennessee. The exhibit will tour all states where the artists
reside and also will be displayed in New York. In addition to
the traveling portion of the show, Matheny says the museum will
"include additional work that was in offsite exhibit spaces
when it was originally shown in Charleston" .
For further infomation check our SC Institutional
Gallery listings, call the Museum at 803/898-4921 or at (www.museum.state.sc.us).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.