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March Issue 2004
Gallery 2 in Columbia Offers Works by Robert
Smith
Robert Smith has
ventured from his roots in traditional oil portraiture to a whimsical
new style that is dreamlike and evocative, both in color and imagery.
Smith's new work will be shown through Mar. 20, 2004, at Gallery
2, in Columbia, SC, joint curated by Paul D. Sloan Interiors.
Smith is a native of Florence, SC. He attended Ringling School
of Art in Sarasota, FL, where he trained extensively in life drawing.
His work is included in collections in Canada and throughout the
US, from California to the East coast. In 1994, Smith moved to
the mountains of Western NC, where he currently works and lives
with his wife, daughter, and dogs Fred and Molly.
When Smith describes his artistic awakening, he tells a story:
"It was Christmas morning, 1960, and I was five. My older
brother opened a box and tossed it aside. The box had a picture
of a man with a goatee and shiny, combed-back black hair, and
I was sure it was filled with magic tricks. I opened it and discovered,
instead, lots of white paper and a few charcoal pencils. One of
the magician's drawings was printed on the inside of the box.
I was fascinated with the idea of turning a blank sheet of paper
into magic. I was hooked-and I have been trying to make magic
ever since."
Recently, Smith has moved from strict realism to work that can
only have originated in his imagination. In his new series of
oil paintings, Smith's figurative precision is combined with surprising
imagery that is mystical and delightful to the eye. His current
collection of approximately twenty paintings comprises his inaugural
showing of the work. The exhibit at Gallery 2 will also feature
some of Smith's earlier portraiture.
For more info check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call
803/771-6123 or e-mail at (gallerytwo@aol.com).
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.