Carolina Arts Unleashed

Back in the day, let’s say the mid to late 1980′s, a review of the visual art offerings during Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto Festival would not be complete without mention of the annual exhibit of Francesco Licciardi’s works. Even after his death, his wife would still outfit some space in the downtown area of Charleston – wall to wall – up only during the festivals. Licciardi was our taste of old world modern art.

This year, festival goers looking for visual art offerings will find a taste of that old world or better yet, worldly art, at the Saul Alexander Foundation Gallery at the Main Branch of the Charleston County Public Library on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston. The exhibit Fantasy, features works by local artist, Peter Scala, on view through June 30, 2009.

Having Fun

Scala declares himself a self taught surrealist painter, who was influenced by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. He was raised in Greenwich Village, in New York City, where his father, Victor Scala was a cubist artist. His father shared studio space with the abstract expressionist, Franz Klein. Peter also credits his early interest in art with classes spent with Margot A. Gregor. Between 1981 and 2002, Peter Scala traveled, lived and painted in some of the world’s most exotic locals in Africa and Asia including Zanzibar, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Angola, and Calcutta, India. Now he calls North Charleston, SC, home.

So here’s a warning. If you’re looking for typical scenes of the Lowcountry – you won’t find them in this exhibit. Although, Scala does have a pretty interesting painting of “South of Broad” in this exhibit.

South of Broad Street

I suggest you start your viewing of this exhibit by checking out a sample of some of Scala’s daily sketches from his journal. These are simple images which could later be incorporated into finished paintings. He likes to get his creative juices flowing with a morning sketch. The first pattern you might pick up on is that Scala likes to add images of animals – birds and cats – and sometimes some “what’s that?” creatures. At times you have to look hard, but the animals are there most of the time. And, once you start looking for these animals who knows what you’ll discover that you didn’t see at first glance.

If you’re looking for something different – this show delivers.

Scala’s work can also be viewed at the Lowcountry Artists Gallery in Charleston and the Portfolio Gallery in Columbia, SC.

While at the library there was also an unannounced exhibit, at least unannounced to us at Carolina Arts in the library’s lobby. This happens a lot during the Festivals – exhibits come out of the woodwork. This exhibition of 15 photographs on five text panels is entitled, A People of the Land – Lowcountry Portraits, featuring works by Vennie Deas Moore and will be on view through June 15, 2009. It’s a Traveling Exhibition from the McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.

This statement about the exhibit was offered: “This exhibit captures the multigenerational families who live in this coastal region and are stewards of place. Over the past two decades, they have witnessed the rapidly diminishing environment where they live and work.”

There are five panels representing five regions including: Highway 17, McClellanville, Georgetown-Tidewaters, Santee Delta, and Sandy Island – all areas on South Carolina’s coast.

I’m sure these images were part of a larger exhibition at one time – at least I hope there were more images, as it is hard to really get a sense of anything when only three photos represent each of the five regions. But while you’re going to see Peter Scala’s exhibit – why not check-out this show?

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