Feature Articles
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October Issue 2008

City Art Gallery in Columbia, SC, Features Photography by Donna Ferrato and Edward Shmunes

City Art Gallery in Columbia, SC, will present the exhibitions, Living With The Enemy, featuring works by globally acclaimed photo journalist Donna Ferrato, on view from Oct. 3 - 11, 2008, and Edward Shmunes: South Carolina: An Interpretive Survey, featuring photographic works by Columbia artist, Edward Shmunes, on view from Oct. 16 through Nov. 8, 2008.

Living With The Enemy, is presented in conjunction with the SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA). This exhibition will be central to a line-up of special events planned by the organization to increase awareness and prevention of domestic abuse during Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2008.

SCCADVASA has also made special arrangements for the celebrated photojournalist Donna Ferrato, featured in publications such as LIFE, NY Times and TIME Magazines, to appear in person for the Columbia debut of her traveling exhibition. Ferrato will be available to speak about her domestic abuse work at the sponsor and show preview events.

The exhibition consists of 47 framed and captioned photographs that represent Ferrato's harshly realistic, photographic exploration into domestic violence issues: "the dark side of family life" as she describes. This exceptional exhibition starkly documents many horrors and tragedies surrounding domestic violence with the goal to "educate the public and to enable domestic violence organizations to raise badly needed funds" Ferrato said. The exhibit has so far traveled to over 500 venues internationally, and, SCCADVASA will proudly present Living With The Enemy to the Southern United States for the first time at City Art Gallery.

"The support that is generated for SCCADVASA through this incredible exhibit will allow us to more effectively pursue our relentless work to change the pervasive and serious levels of family violence in South Carolina," said Vicki Bourus, Executive Director. "We believe that this powerful and emotive exhibition is sure to make a difference in this state by raising awareness, educating and encouraging citizens to take action."

The non-profit organization hopes this extraordinary exhibition will increase prevention, protection, shelter, rehabilitation and care for domestic violence victims in SC through education and training. Funds raised will be used to continue creating better environments for victims, benefiting the many member organizations SCCADVASA supports organizations such as Sistercare, SAFE Homes and Sexual Trauma Services of The Midlands.

SCCADVASA represents all the domestic violence programs and rape crisis centers in South Carolina, addresses the critical needs of victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, supports domestic violence and sexual assault member programs, provides education and advocates social reform to help eradicate interpersonal violence in this state.

For more information about SCCADVASA, contact Rebecca Williams at 803/256-2900 or e-mail to (rwilliams@sccadvasa.org).

Ed Shmunes

South Carolina: An Interpretive Survey, features a solo exhibit by Ed Shmunes. His photographic career began in the 1970s when he was given the opportunity to purchase a 35mm camera for work and leisure. However, this was not the retired dermatologist's first venture into his creativity. Having been creative his entire life, Shmunes has always enjoyed painting and drawing. Upon receiving his new camera, he traveled to Charleston, SC, where he proceeded to capture images that the gallery still sells today, some of which will be included in the show.

The work that Shmunes produces is not complete after the shutter of his camera snaps. The artist feels the camera is "a quick means to achieve an image, a starting point from which to play." Before the days of Adobe Photoshop, Shmunes would adjust the camera's settings to shift colors and would add Marshall dyes to photo prints, allowing him to achieve effects similar to those of Photoshop.

Being inspired to photograph is not difficult for Shmunes. Whether he is traveling around the state or to another country (such as his recent trip to Africa) his motto is "When I have my camera with me and I am open to my environment, many objects and scenes cry 'take me'." This exhibition will feature Shmunes' take on South Carolina imagery. Landscapes build the bulk of the show, a fact that he finds humorous because he originally only shot landscapes when he was asked for them. "What started out as an assignment has turned out to be a pleasure in that it is the approach that is the freeing-up process and not the subject entirely."

City Art represents regional artists of all mediums. Separated into three distinct galleries, City Art houses paintings, pottery, metalwork, glass, jewelry, photography, sculpture, lithographs, gourd art, mixed media, porcelain, woodwork, encaustic, etchings and more.

For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 803/252-3613 or visit (www.cityartonline.com).


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Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2008 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© 2008 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.