Posts Tagged ‘North Charleston SC’

North Charleston Artist Guild in North Charleston, SC, Offers $5-$50 Gift Market! – Dec. 3 and 4, 2011

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Looking for one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts this holiday season? With the $5 to $50 Gift Market, the North Charleston Artist Guild brings affordable art to the community just in time for holiday gift giving. The $5 to $50 Gift Market is Dec. 3 & 4, 2011, from 11am to 3pm at the Meeting Place, located at 1077 East Montague Avenue in Park Circle. All items for sale will be $50 and below, and each day features different participating artists. Admission to the market is free, and there will be plenty of free parking available.

The North Charleston Artist Guild is an arts organization hosted by the The Olde North Charleston Merchants Association operating out of the Old Village of Park Circle North Charleston. The purposes of the guild are to network local artists, promote their works through alliance with Park Circle area businesses, advance artist communities in the area, organize and promote events in all art disciplines, and educate the public about the arts. To find out more about the guild, visit our website at (http://www.northcharlestonartistguild.org) or e-mail us at (info@northcharlestonartistguild.org).

In October I attended Parktober Fest held in this same area. Together with the Olde North Charleston Merchants Association, the North Charleston Artist Guild presented this outdoor arts festival along East Montague Avenue. I ran out of time working on our November 2011 issue of Carolina Arts, to make a timely posting on that event, but I thought I’d show you some photos from that day – which was wonderful – in hopes that more people would travel to this changed part of North Charleston – which is turning into a very nice community. I assure you, if you haven’t been there in over ten years you’ll be surprised and amazed at what you’ll find there.

Here’s some photos:

For further information contact guild member Liv Antonecchia at (livanton@comcast.net) or visit (http://northcharlestonartistguild.org/).

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A Trip to the 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival on May 1, 2011 and Art Walk on May 4, 2011

Friday, May 6th, 2011

After a very crazy Saturday, April 30, 2011 – the day we have to pull everything together to launch the May 2011 issue of Carolina Arts before midnight – Sunday was a day of relief. That last day of the month for us is the day of reconciliation. That’s the day we see if my layout matches what Linda, my better half, has as far as ads go – some I’ve never seen. As things go, just before the end, we found one ad was missing. My mistake – this time. But lately I’ve been leaving a few escape hatches to bail me out, just in case, and I was saved with just a little rearranging. You would think that after 24 years I’d pick up a few tricks and I have.

After a jammed packed week we had some places to visit in North Charleston on Sunday, which reminded me that the Main Event would still be going on for the North Charleston Arts Festival. I had made a little joke on facebook after sending out e-mails, and posting notices of the new issue on our blogs, that I was going to the Festival. Like when they ask the winning quarterback in the Super Bowl what he’s going to do after winning the big game.

Anyway after a morning of waiting, waiting and disappointment – which I won’t go into, and then lunch – we finally get to the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex just before 2pm. Once in the door we were greeted with the sounds of a beehive of children’s art activities. As we wade through what looks like the largest children’s birthday party in the world, we finally get to where some of the exhibits were on display.

As I’ve said many times before, the hallways of the Convention Center are not the best places to display art or even for looking at art, but the North Charleston folks do with what they have. And there are no possibilities for taking decent photos, so I don’t even try in most cases. In some cases you even have to get on your hands and knees to see the name of the artist on the tags placed at the bottom of images.

I could bitch, whine, and raise critical cane, but when you think about the fact that they took in hundreds of artworks just a few days before the two-day event begins, get it displayed and judged, before the doors open – it’s an amazing feat.

At this point I’ll reveal that they gave Linda and I Festival T-shirts, as good supporters of the arts in North Charleston, but it would take a lot more to change my views on what I saw that day. I’m full of suggestions on what they should do to make things better, but since I can’t make a major financial donation to the Festival or pitch in physically and help – I take the exhibits as they are, with one exception.

As we worked our way down the hallway toward the space where the City of North Charleston Art Gallery is I noticed that it was pretty dark down there. It looked like a lot of the lights were burned out – which is the case in all art facilities – even major museums have lights burn out in the middle of the day, but once I got up to them – the lights were off. I went to the gallery desk and reported this fact to Olga Bixby, who looks after the gallery space, and she tried turning them on, but they wouldn’t come on. She said the Festival was having some electrical problems. A few minutes later we ran into Marty Besancon, director of the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, and told her about it and she went off – later the lights were on. It was probably just one of the fires she had to put out that weekend I’m sure.

Even with the gallery lights on, they were having a hard time illuminating the large works by Pedro Rodriguez, winner of the 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival Design Competition, which are on view through May 31, 2011, but they looked better.

Anyway, in viewing the fine art show we started to notice that there was a new sheriff in town- so to speak – named Denise L. Greer. She had won the Best of Show award for a mixed media work, the First Place award for another of her works in the mixed media category, and First Place in the watercolor category. Charleston artist Bob Graham, who I call the king of the North Charleston Arts Festival fine art show, did win a First Place in the drawing/pastel category and a Second Place in watercolors, but who was this new queen? And, to top it off she was doing abstracts – my favorite kind of art. More about this later.

I also liked works by Kathy Clark, who won a First Place in the oils category. I was agreeing with Michael Haga of the College of Charleston, this year’s judge – almost 100% – most unusual. I don’t often see eye to eye with jurors of these kinds of shows. But, I know Haga has a good eye for art. But, I have to say, I hope he was carrying a strong flashlight when he was viewing this show, as it was pretty dark in some areas of those hallways.

Although this show had some great works in it – it by far in no way represented the full scale of works by artists from the Charleston area. I couldn’t begin to compare it to the works you can see in a few weeks at the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Arts Show and that show is just a sampling of local talent.

We headed off to the SC Palmetto Hands exhibit which is in better lighting – not great, but better. The first problem here is there was no handout listing the participants and their works. So, out comes my notebook. Again, for some reason, there was no time this year to print up the handout. If it wasn’t for exams, I wish the College of Charleston could throw their hands into this effort with the help of their Art Management students. This would be good experience for them – working against a ticking clock.


Bird of Prey, Best in Show by Matt Wilson


Fiber piece by Judith Heyward

Except for a few out of town entries, the SC Palmetto Hands show is down to being a competition between local artists, due to the fact that the work has to be delivered to North Charleston. For what was once organized to be a state-wide exhibit, it is now a local exhibit – by most of the same people every year. The show is still full of works by very creative artists, but it doesn’t seem to draw from much of the state’s craft artists. I’m not sure what the problem is, but I can think of a few – high gas prices, the show’s short length and venue, artists afraid of having their works selected for the Traveling Show and being bounced from one end of the state to another for a year, or just a lack of notice – many may not even see the call of entries. SC doesn’t have a craft guild or a statewide organization dealing with craft artists. The SC Artisan Center in Walterboro, SC, helps with this event, but they don’t represent the best craft artists in this state either.


Work by Susan Lenz – one of the hardest working artist in SC


A closer look at Susan Lenz’s work.

Of course there is the SC Arts Commission, but their focus is on holding on to their funding and keeping their jobs long enough to retire. Plus they have no real way of making contact with the craft artists of this state. No one knows who and how many artists we have in this state.

I took a few photos of some of the works that caught my eye, but there were others that I wanted to mention but I just couldn’t get a decent photo of them.


An up close look at a basket by Mary Jefferson

I loved two works by Arianne King Comer: Haitian Mardi Gras Festival and Peace; the clay works by Dede Vergot; and the inlaid wooden bowls by Kenny Teague.

Again, the photography show and competition seems to get better every year, which wasn’t always the case. There was a time when it seemed they put everything and anything they got on display. I assume they are being more selective and it really makes a difference.

Some people think that putting not so good work next to good work makes the good works stand out, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, really bad work in a show can bring one’s perception of the exhibit down a notch or two. I have always felt that a good juried show is one that is very selective so that anyone who gets in can think of themselves as a winner for making the cut. Winning an award or cash prize is a bonus. But that’s me.

So, who is this Denise L. Greer? Before we left the Main Event, Linda went and checked out the gem show, which gave me lots of time to do some checking. I found the folks who had the check in sheets for the various competitions and when we located Greer’s entry form in the first category – her address was left blank. It was the same thing in the other category she entered. That was strange and they were a little concerned as that would make it hard to notify her of her winnings, but then she has to pick up her works in a few days – they’ll find out then. But, before I left the convention center, I went and looked on the back of one of her works and saw that the tag showed she was from Rembert, SC.

When I got home I did a Google search and was I surprised what I found there. This artist was on fire in competitions all over South Carolina. She won First Place in the 22nd Annual Friends of the Florence Museum Miniature Art Competition; Best in Show at the latest Trenholm Artist Guild show at HoFP Art Gallery in Columbia; and she won the second top award at the SC Watermedia Society’s annual show last year in Rock Hill.

Juried competitions around SC – keep a look out for Denise L. Greer!

The only puzzle was that address or lack of one. I also found that it’s a little fuzzy as to where Greer lives. In one reference to the Sumter Artist Guild they say she’s a long time Sumter artist. Write ups about her victories in Florence and Columbia say she’s from Boykin. Her tag on the back of her works showed she was from Rembert. Boykin and Rembert are towns next to each other and like most places Sumter probably wanted to claim this rising star as its own. Also, when you live in a small town that most people don’t know where it is – it’s easy to say the name of the largest town they might recognize – mystery solved.

I know Rembert, because you have to slow down to 35mph in going through it – for a whole minute – if that. It was on my delivery trail at one time – passing through on the way to Camden.

Before I finish this posting, I’m going to throw in a few words about our trip to the North Charleston Arts Festival Art Walk, held on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Why Wednesday? Well, perhaps the best choice, I guess. If they tried to have it Friday, they would be in competition with one of the biggest art walks of the year in Charleston. Saturday would put them in competition with the Festival’s finale at the North Charleston Riverfront Park – just down the street. That leaves Thursday – still a workweek day – toss a coin – I guess they got Wednesday.

It was a perfect and rare May evening in South Carolina. A cold snap had come through that morning making the temps around 73 degrees at 5pm, when it could have been 90. The Olde Village area of North Charleston has gone through a lot of changes in the last two decades, from a hang out for sailors from the old Navy Base, to what is kind of a mini main street for the 2nd or 3rd largest city in SC. There are lots of little pubs and restaurants offering all sorts of fare. Music was in the air – what a great night for an art walk.

I wish I had photos to show you, but I like to look before I start taking photos so I was holding off. At one point we’re walking from one place to another and we came to a spot where a stage was set up for a band, The Lime and the Coconuts, who were playing. As we get alongside to pass by, one of the band members says, “Hey Mr. Starland”, and when I look up it was Mary Edna Fraser playing a banjo. That’s Mary Edna Fraser, Charleston’s famous batik artist. We were there for the visual arts, but who could pass this by. We sat and listened for a few numbers, watched Fraser play several different instruments and sing a few songs. Some people have all the talent.


Mary Edna Fraser – not sure if she’s the Lime or one of the Coconuts

You never know what you’ll see at an art walk. I took a few photos, which I soon learned would be my last of the night. My camera had been getting a workout lately and the batteries decided they had given enough right then and there. Extra batteries were way back in the car. So I grabbed some images off the internet of works by artists who were there that evening, but not the same works – but just as good.


A work by Madeline Dukes. She was showing at the Meeting Place


Works by keller Lee. He was showing at Charlestowne Stained Glass


Work by Kelly Thiel, showing at Village Hall


Work by Liv Antonecchia, also showing at Village Hall


Work by Arianne King Comer, showing at 1st Citizen’s bank

By the time we left, there were still just a few people here and there that looked like they were doing the art walk, which might have been what you would expect for a Wednesday evening.

Art lovers in the greater Charleston area have to get over their perceptions of North Charleston, there is more to it than shopping centers and malls – if you look hard enough. No one is promising you things on the scale of downtown Charleston, but not all gems are found in just that city. Give North Charleston’s art community a chance sometime.

Events are still going on and some exhibits will be up into June. For info visit (www.northcharleston.org) or visit Pages 6 & 7 of our May 2011 issue of Carolina Arts found at (www.carolinaarts.com).

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29th Annual North Charleston Arts Festival in North Charleston, SC – Begins Apr. 29, 2011

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Now in its 29th year, the North Charleston Arts Festival will take place throughout North Charleston, SC, from April 29 through May 7, 2011. The nine day event is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, providing thousands of residents and visitors with a fabulous array of performances, exhibitions, and activities featuring national, regional, and local artists and performers.

Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the festival strives to maintain the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced. Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival truly offers something for everyone. For detailed event schedules and venue information, visit (www.northcharleston.org).

Info about visual art offerings:

Judged Fine Art & Photography Exhibitions (Apr. 30 – May 7, 2011) – Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston. View entries in Fine Art and Professional & Amateur Photography. Fine Art Juror: Michael W. Haga, Art History Adjunct Faculty and Associate Dean at the College of Charleston’s School of the Arts. Photography entries judged using the Photographic Society of America Print Guidelines. Hours: April 30 & May 1, 9am-6pm; May 2-6, 9am-5pm; & May 7, 9am-noon.

Work by Kim Keats

9th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition (Apr. 30 – May 7, 2011) – Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston. Fine craft artists from across the state will display inspiring objects in the media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and three-dimensional mixed media in this 9th annual juried competition and exhibition. Juror: Denise Butler, co-founder and former Executive Director and Board member of the South Carolina Artisans Center in Walterboro, SC. Hours: April 30 & May 1, 9am-6pm; May 2-6, 9am-5pm; & May 7, 9am-noon.


Strings by Pedro Rodriguez

North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: Works by Pedro Rodriguez ( Apr. 30 – May 31, 2011) – Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston. Pedro Rodriguez, winner of the 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival Design Competition, will display a variety of works in oil, including his winning design, Strings. Hours: April 30 & May 1, 9am-6pm; May 2-31, 9am-5pm.


Work by Jenn Garrett

6th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition (May 1, 2011 – Mar. 31, 2012) – North Charleston Riverfront Park, 1001 Everglades Avenue, North Charleston. View thought provoking, large-scale sculptures by established and emerging artists from across the nation in this 6th annual juried competition and exhibition. Juror: Sylvie Fortin, an independent curator, art historian, critic, and editor-in-chief of Art Papers. Hours: daily during daylight hours.


Work by Madeline Dukes

Spring Art & Fine Craft Co-Op Gallery & Sale (Through May 28, 2011) – The Meeting Place, 1077 East Montague Avenue, North Charleston. View a collection of works by this local artist cooperative. A wide range of pieces including paintings, prints, sculpture, fine crafts, jewelry and more will be available for sale. The public is invited to a free reception hosted by the artists on Wednesday, May 4, from 5-8pm during the North Charleston Arts Festival Art Walk. Hours: Fri. & Sat., 11am-7pm.

Art/Humanity – 5th Annual Quilt & Fiber Art Exhibition (Apr. 29 – June 13, 2011) – North Charleston City Hall, 1st& 2nd floor, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. Inspired by a quote from Brock Peters, “In art there is compassion, in compassion there is humanity, with humanity there is generosity and love,” African American art quilters from across the nation will explore and depict themes of Art, Humanity, Compassion, Service, Generosity, and Love, in cloth through traditional and non-traditional fiber techniques, including innovative and original wearable art. Hours: daily from 8am-8pm.

Structures – Works by Liz Whitney Quisgard (Apr. 29 – June 13, 2011) – North Charleston City Hall, 3rd floor, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. Liz Whitney Quisgard presents sculpted columns, towers, obelisks, and wood turnings in brilliant geometric patterns reminiscent of pointillism, ancient Moorish architecture, Islamic decorative art, Navajo textiles, and Byzantine mosaics. Liz is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Pollack-Krasner Award. She has had solo shows at galleries and museums nationwide including the Andre Emmerich Gallery in New York, NY; Franz Bader Gallery in Washington, DC; Gallery 707 in Los Angeles, CA; Tiffany’s Windows in New York, NY; the Art Museum in Richmond, IN; the Carnegie Art Center in Leavenworth, KS; the Art Museum in Asheville, NC; the Savannah College of Art and Design; and the Jefferson Place Gallery, in Washington, DC, among others. Hours: daily from 8am-8pm.


Work by Timothy Pakron

From Chaos – Works by Timothy Pakron (Apr. 29 – June 13, 2011) – North Charleston City Hall, 3rd floor, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. Timothy Pakron creates mysterious portraits in hand painted silver gelatin prints and oil paintings through loose brushstrokes, splashes, and drips, resulting in portraits that are created “from chaos.” Pakron is one of Charleston’s up and coming artists to watch. Hours: daily from 8am-8pm.

Heavens – Works by Deborah Meyer (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – North Charleston City Hall, 3rd floor, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. North Charleston’s 2010/11 Artist-In-Residence, Deborah Meyer, will display large scale skyscapes and “heavens” paintings in oil inspired by Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Hours: daily from 8am-8pm.

From Our Cities to Our Seas – Works by Karson Photography (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – Golf Club at Wescott Plantation Clubhouse, 5000 Wescott Plantation Drive, North Charleston. Kip Bulwinkle of Karson Photography presents a two dimensional exploration of our man-made and natural surroundings in this dynamic photographic series. Hours: Mon.-Wed., 8am-7pm; Thur.-Fri., 8am-11pm; & Sat.-Sun., 7:30am-7pm.

Flavor Cutz – Works by Conrad Guevara (Apr. 29 – May 6, 2011) – 10 Storehouse Row, 2120 Noisette Boulevard, North Charleston. View colorful, innovative paintings and sculptural objects achieved through experimentation with nontraditional materials. Found objects, card stock, yarn, and other disposable products are cut and reconfigured to take on the quality of moving paint. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9am-6pm.

Info about visual art installation:

Ascension by Cade Kaufman (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – Traffic Circle at Wescott Blvd. & Oak Forest Blvd., North Charleston. Repeating doves move with the wind and are meant to evoke a sense of peace. Hours: daily during daylight hours.

Harry Potter by Corey Rodriguez (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – Northwoods Park, 8348 Greenridge Road, North Charleston. Originally inspired by the challenge to set goals and reach for one’s dreams, this rebar sculpture was later named after the popular boy wizard as it resembles him reaching for the golden snitch. Hours: daily during daylight hours.

Namaste by Sarah Carlisle (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – North Charleston & American LaFrance Fire Museum & Educational Center Grounds, 4975 Centre Pointe Drive, North Charleston. This interactive installation is a whimsical interpretation of the Sanskrit greeting. Namaste is a symbol of gratitude and respect toward others. Hours: daily during daylight hours.

Pouring Cup by George Thalman (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – Green space at intersection of East Montague Ave. and Spruill Ave., North Charleston. The pouring cup simulates the magic and hospitality of the Lowcountry. This piece reminds us to slow down and enjoy life. Hours: daily during daylight hours.

Shoes by Lauren Rackley (Apr. 29 – June 13, 2011) – North Charleston City Hall Lobby, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. A visual representation of fashion and female beauty taken to the extreme. Hours: daily during daylight hours.

Wind Fish by Coreyanna Moore (Apr. 29 – May 7, 2011) – Palmetto Gardens Park, East Montague Avenue, North Charleston. Whimsical fish from Prehistoric history come to life in a natural setting to form a sea of fish swimming in the air. Hours: daily during daylight hours.

Info on other visual art related events:

May 2, 2011 – Fiber Art Lunchtime Lecture – North Charleston City Hall, Montague Conference Rm. (2nd fl.), 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. Quilt and fiber art enthusiasts are welcome to bring a lunch to this lecture on Art/Humanity, led by Torreah “Cookie” Washington, curator of the 5th annual quilt and fiber art exhibition. Cookie is a textile artist with over 25 years of experience, specializing in quilted fiber art murals, elegant wedding gowns, unique soft accessories for special occasions, and Goddess blessing dolls. She has also designed costumes for theater and film. Hours: noon-1pm.

May 3, 2011 – Visual Artist Lunchtime Lecture – North Charleston City Hall, Montague Conference Rm. (2nd fl.), 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. Bring your lunch to this fascinating talk led by emerging local artist, Conrad Guevara. Topics will include his artistic process, current works, and sources of inspiration. Conrad has participated in several group exhibitions in Charleston and is a youth art instructor for area arts organizations such as Redux Contemporary Art Center, the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, and the Gibbes Museum of Art. Hours: noon-1pm.

May 4, 2011 – North Charleston Arts Festival Art Walk – Olde Village area, East Montague Avenue, North Charleston. Take a stroll down East Montague Avenue through businesses, pubs, restaurants, studios, and salons to see works by local artists and fine craft artisans in a variety of subjects and mediums. Lime & the Coconuts (Ukulele/Swing/Folk) and Lane Gregory (Bluegrass/Folk/Old Time/Americana) will provide musical entertainment throughout the evening. Be sure to stop by the Art & Fine Craft Co-Op Gallery reception at the Meeting Place. Other attractions include children’s activities and live artist demonstrations. It’s an evening of art and culture for the whole family! Hours: 5-8pm.

May 5, 2011 – Quilt & Fiber Art Exhibition Reception – Art/Humanity – North Charleston City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston. The public is invited to join curator, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, for the opening reception of this unique quilt and fiber art exhibition. Enjoy piano jazz, blues, and spirituals by Jessica Minahan throughout the evening. Hours: 6-8pm.

For more information about the 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival, including detailed event schedules and venue information, visit (www.northcharleston.org), e-mail to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org), or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843/740-5854.

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A Trip to the First Park Circle Studio and House Tour in North Charleston, SC

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Sometime before Thanksgiving I received an e-mail from Madeline Dukes about the Park Circle Studio and House Tour in North Charleston, SC, sponsored by the North Charleston Artist Guild. My first question was – since when has there been a North Charleston Artist Guild? I was glad to find out that the group was newly formed and this was one of their first events.

I posted a blog about it that same day at Carolina Arts News, but as usual for us, by the time that date would have come around – tons of other events would have come across our radar and have been posted on our various blogs and catalogued into our system for future publishing. Luckily, we received a timely e-mail from Peter Scala’s wife Patricia Buckley, a great supporter of Carolina Arts, about the event and we decided to go.

The only problem was that we had already scheduled to have a yard sale that day (Dec. 11, 2010) and in the evening, dinner with a neighbor, so we had a short window of opportunity to run down to North Charleston and get back home before 6pm. The yard sale ended at 2pm. The Tour took place from 2-6pm. It was a good thing that North Charleston is not that far away from us.

So like with all tours or art walks we had to make a decision of where we would try to go – knowing that I would probably end up talking too much at someplace – or everywhere – blowing our plan up in our faces.


Peter Scala

I had never met Peter Scala, so that was number one on the list. I’ve met his wife, Pat, once at the SC Arts Commission Canvas of the People held at North Charleston City Hall – almost a year ago. She’s very active in the North Charleston arts community.

Meeting Pat was about all I can say attending that meeting was worth. Anybody see or hear any results of the great Canvas of the People?


Amelia “Mimi” Whaley

We also wanted to make sure we dropped in on Amelia “Mimi” Whaley, a fellow blogger and artist we have known for years. She keeps people informed about daily activities at the Outdoor Art Show in Marion Square each Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

So on a day that was supposed to be 60 degrees and partly sunny, we did our yard sale in the middle of a constant rain and a bone chilling 40-50 degree weather, packed it in around 1:30pm, and then cleaned up and headed to North Charleston for a cultural event. Not Charleston. As far as I know there wasn’t much going on – as far as the visual arts goes – in Charleston.

You see, North Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Berkeley County – they are all ugly step-children in most people’s eyes in the Charleston area. Not mine. For most others in this area, their first thought is that nothing good could ever be going on there. And, that’s too bad, as with that attitude – they often miss out by never leaving the boundaries of Charleston – unless they are going to New York City.

Don’t get me wrong – Charleston is a great cultural city. More goes on there than in most cities twice its size, but it’s not the end-all to culture. Other good events are being offered by its neighbors. People just need to venture out of their cultural safety zones to see.

OK – stepping off the soap box. We downloaded the map offered on the North Charleston Artist Guild’s website (www.northcharlestonartistguild.org) and headed to Park Circle, an area I drive through at least a couple times a month. And I can tell you – the area they called Old North Charleston isn’t your parents version of old North Charleston. The Navy Base has been gone for many a year now and the joints the sailors and shipyard workers used to hang out in are gone. The area is now known as Olde North Charleston Village and it offers neighborhood pubs and bistros, a film society, a theatre group and much more. East Montague Avenue is the focal point of Park Circle.

First stop, Peter Scala’s home and studio, just off East Montague Ave., near the shopping and dining district. We were greeted by Pat Buckley (who is not the artist – a little joke), and everyone visiting got to take home a free drawing by Peter Scala, who starts out every day with a drawing session. In fact, when Peter Scala pays his bill each month (for his ad in Carolina Arts) he sends it wrapped in a drawing, instead of a plain sheet of paper like most people do. So every month we get a little art and money in the mail from him.

Scala’s work is not typical to the Charleston area. Back in June of 2009 in a blog posting I did about an exhibit he had at the Charleston County Public Library I referenced his work as – a taste of old world modern art. You can read that posting at this link.

We finally got to meet Peter and a few other nice folks doing the tour and see his workspace. There was a steady flow of people coming and going – not like the hoards that do the art walks in Charleston, but during this event you could actually talk to an artist, look at their work, see the space that they work in and not joust for food with the hoard. But like always, the clock was ticking and we had to move on.


“Where To?” by Peter Scala

We said good-bye to Pat on the way out as she was greeting more visitors. I wish we had more time to talk about numerous subjects.

Next stop was the Mixson project, just off of East Montague Ave., on the other side of Park Circle. The folks at Mixson provided several artists, who didn’t have studios in the Park Circle area, including Amelia Whaley, space to show off works in a few of their model homes. This was a good partnership deal for Mixson and the North Charleston Artist Guild. It showed off the Mixson project and individual homes and the participating artists’ work at the same time. Here, you had the feeling of a neighborhood block party – music and the smell of good food was in the air.

We soon found Amelia Whaley’s location and that of J. Carol Gardener, who was partnered up with her. I made the mistake of asking Mimi if she was going to blog about this event and the conversation turned quickly to talk of computers and problems with computers. She had recently left the Dark Side and come over to the Force when she purchased her first Apple computer. Apple computers don’t have many problems.

Apple computers is one of our favorite subjects. We’ve had one since 1983. Of course we also touched on the recent problems we’re having with the robots at Facebook. I made a mistake and apparently Facebook has no humans you can send an e-mail to or talk to. But that’s another blog I hope I never have to write.


“Landscape Dream” by Amelia Whaley

We did eventually view the art, but before you know it that darn clock was calling. On the way out we had a short chat with David Springer who had a great display of metal sculpture outside. The way his works looked outside the complex, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mixson folks purchased one before he packed them away after the event.


Work by David Springer

I also want to mention that there was a group of nice young – I don’t know if you would call them docents or tour guides who had volunteered to help the North Charleston Artist Guild during this event. That’s something the folks in Charleston could learn from – some of those galleries could use some help when it comes to crowd control.

If we had more time we would have loved to visit the studios of Arianne King-Comer and Madeline Dukes, or visited the Mixson sites where Pedro Rodriguez and Keller Lee were located. Or for that matter, discover the other artists who we did not know of, but I’m betting this Studio and House Tour will become an annual event if not more often. And, it’s a good reason to look forward to the next offering of the North Charleston Artist Guild.

The North Charleston Artist Guild is an arts organization hosted by The Olde North Charleston Merchants Association operating out of the Old Village of Park Circle North Charleston.

The purposes of the guild are to 1.) network local artists, 2.) promote their works through alliance with Park Circle area businesses, 3.) advance artist communities in the area, 4.) organize and promote events in all art disciplines, 5.) educate the public about the arts.

If you’d like to join them visit (www.northcharlestonartistguild.org).

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5th National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition on View in North Charleston, SC

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

I went into North Charleston, SC, to turn our July 2010 issue of Carolina Arts into the printer, so I decided to go over to the North Charleston Riverfront Park at The Navy Yard at Noisette (former Charleston Naval Base), even though the temps were in the mid-90’s. It was a little overcast so I figured it would be a good day to photograph the 11 sculptures that were part of the 5th National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, on view through Mar. 2011. The exhibit and competition is organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department. The competition was juried by Stuart Horodner, Artistic Director of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. The exhibit features eleven sculptures by eleven artists from seven states.


Two Headed Ass (steel) by George Long


Mass Murder Machine (steel, iron, and aluminum) by Doug Barton


Prism Arc SC (painted steel) by Carl Billingsly

When I arrived at the parking area it was almost full, which was a surprise considering the heat, but it was lunchtime so maybe folks were enjoying their lunch in the park, but as it turned out all the cars were there for either the aftermath or preparations for filming of the Lifetime drama, Army Wives. They do filming all over the former naval base and shipyard.


Cube (corten steel) by Dana Gingras


Fools Buoy (steel and concrete) by Roger Halligan

It’s been a year since I was in this park and a lot has changed. The landscaping is further developed giving the park a not so new feeling – which is a good thing. There are some new additions – a covered picnic area and a children’s playground next to it. There were also some new additions to the memorial to the Charleston Naval Yard – which I think is finally finished. It also looks like a new restaurant is in the works, which will be good – especially if you can get drinks there.


La Fleur da Vie (steel) by Teresa Howachyn


Boat Nest, Elevation of Divergence (steel) by Corrina Mensoff


End of Time (recycled metal) by Jim Shultz

There was a nice breeze at the park and it wasn’t until I finished and returned to my car that I felt hot – really hot without the breeze.

I hope you enjoy the photos. It seems that this year’s primary color is – rusted brown.


Between Hope and Despair (steel and stone) by Philip Smith


Ball Joint (cast iron and bronze) by Kristy Summers


Inside the Vee (steel and recycled materials) by Bob Turan

The results of the competition are as follows: Division I – Best in Show went to Two Headed Ass (steel) by George Long of Roswell, GA; and 2nd Place went to Mass Murder Machine (steel, iron, and aluminum) by Doug Barton of Athens, GA. Honorable Mention awards were given to: Prism Arc SC (painted steel) by Carl Billingsly of Ayden, NC; Fools Buoy (steel and concrete) by Roger Halligan of Chattanooga, TN; and Ball Joint (cast iron and bronze) by Kristy Summers of Carbondale, IL. Other works in this division include: Cube (corten steel) by Dana Gingras of Moorseville, NC; Boat Nest, Elevation of Divergence (steel) by Corrina Mensoff of Atlanta, GA; Between Hope and Despair (steel and stone) by Philip Smith of Columbia, MD; La Fleur da Vie (steel) by Teresa Howachyn (TEKLA) of Black Mountain, NC; and Inside the Vee (steel and recycled materials) by Bob Turan of Earlton, NY. Division II – End of Time (recycled metal) by Jim Shultz of North Charleston, SC.

I’ve also included some wide views of the park and a few images of the shipyard memorial, which includes a lot of art also.

You can see last year’s entry about this exhibit at this link.

For further information contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854 or visit (www.northcharleston.org).

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North Charleston Arts Festival Offers Many Visual Art Offerings and More in North Charleston, SC

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

This info is in our May issue of Carolina Arts, but we wanted readers to have a jump – as distribution of the paper does take time and some of these events are time sensitive.

The North Charleston Arts Festival in North Charleston, SC, starting on Apr. 30 and continuing through May 8, 2010, is organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and numerous volunteers. The festival was launched as a one day community celebration at Park Circle in 1982 and has evolved with the addition of new facilities throughout the City. The festival moved to the North Charleston Coliseum in 1995 and expanded to two days. In 2000, the opening of the Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston Performing Arts Center, and other new venues, provided the springboard for the festival to expand to nine full days of performances and activities for residents and visitors throughout the City. In 2008, the Arts Festival was recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event.

Today, the festival maintains the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a comprehensive, multidiscipline event schedule that provides an array of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. The festival is accessible to all with numerous free and moderately priced events.

The Festival’s Main Event, takes place May 1 (10am-4pm) & 2 (2pm-5pm), 2010, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center & Charleston Area Convention Center. Bring the whole family to enjoy over 40 stage performances on 4 separate stages and many of the following exhibits. Check out the details at this link. The event is free with free parking.

The North Charleston Arts Festival offers many visual art exhibits and installations including:

The annual North Charleston Arts Festival Fine Art and Photography Exhibits will take place at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston, from May 1–2, 9am–6pm; May 3–7, 9am–5pm & May 8, 9am–noon. View entries in Fine Art and Professional & Amateur Photography.

The annual SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition takes place at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive, from May 1-2, 9am-6pm; May 3-7, 9am-5pm & May 8, 2010, 9am-noon. The state’s only juried fine craft competition and exhibition includes works in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and 3-D mixed media. The competition was juried by Brian Lang, Associate Curator of Decorative Arts at the Columbia Museum of Art.


Colors of the Wind by Muriel Lanciault

An exhibit of works by Muriel Lanciault will be on view at the North Charleston City Gallery, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive, from May 1-2, 9am-6pm and May 3-26, 2010, Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm. Muriel Lanciault, winner of the 2010 North Charleston Arts Festival Design Competition, will display a variety of subjects in watercolors and oils, including the winning design, Colors of the Wind. Meet the artist at the gallery during the Main Event, May 1 & 2.

The 5th National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition takes place at the North Charleston Riverfront Park, located at 1001 Everglades Avenue (on the former Charleston Naval Base) from May 2010 through March 2011. The public park is open daily. Selected pieces from this annual juried competition are installed throughout the picturesque grounds of Riverfront Park. The competition was juried by Stuart Horodner, Artistic Director of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

The Art & Fine Craft Co-op Gallery & Sale will take place at The Meeting Place, located at 1077 East Montague Avenue through May 29, 2010, Fri.–Sat., 11am–7pm. This venue presents paintings, prints, sculpture, fine crafts, and jewelry by local artists – all available for sale.

The exhibit, Honoring Zora: Stitching Wise Words, Art Quotes and Art Quilts, will take place at 10 Storehouse Row (Noisette Blvd), at the Navy Yard at Noisette (former Chas, Naval Base) through June 13, 2010, Mon.–Fri., 8am–8pm and Sat., 10am–7pm. The quilts and fiber art works in this unique exhibition explore and depict themes and images of the Harlem Renaissance, garnering inspiration from quotes by Zora Neale Hurston, considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century African-American literature. A short film about local African-American quilters will be presented during the exhibition. Co-presented with the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs & the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

Works by Robert Maniscalco will be on view on the 2nd floor of the North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane in North Charleston, through May 8, 2010, from 8am-8pm. The City’s 2010 Artist-In-Residence and nationally known portrait artist, Robert Maniscalco, will display classical portraiture in the tradition of Rembrandt, Velazquez, and Sargent.

An exhibit of collage works by Sriharsha and Siddhartha Sukla will be on view on the 2nd floor at the North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane through May 8, 2010, from 8am-8pm. Sriharsha and Siddhartha Sukla, are hearing impaired artists from Orissa, India. They will display intricate portraits and landscapes in paper collage.

The Festival will also be presenting a number of art installations including:

Family Tree, an indoor installation presented in the lobby at the North Charleston City Hall, 2500 City Hall Lane, through May 8, from 8am-8pm. Artist Julie Klapper, owner of Artistic Spirit Gallery, located at 10 Storehouse Row, at the Navy Yard at Noisette, explores the parallels of her feelings on family and nature in this installation of photographs and fabric wrapped tree branches.

Confluence: Mary Edna & Rocket, an indoor installation will be presented on the 3rd floor at the North Charleston City Hall, 2500 City Hall Lane, through May 17, 2010, 8am-8pm. Mary Edna Fraser’s large scale batiks on silk and Rebecca Rocket’s fabric and found-object jellyfish transform North Charleston City Hall. This installation features Fraser’s 21′ x 9′ adaptation of Buckminster Fuller’s 1930s Dymaxion Map, as well as aerial and underwater batiks. Fraser’s dreamy monotypes surround Rocket’s floating jellies. Viewed from above and below, the combination is a confluent dance of surface design.

Ant, an outdoor installation by Lauren Rackley will be presented on the grounds of the North Charleston & American Lafrance Fire Museum and Education Center, located at 2975 Centre Pointe Drive, in North Charleston, through May 8, 2010, on view daily. This interactive installation is a whimsical interpretation of an often overlooked creature. Created by College of Charleston sculpture student, Lauren Rackley.

An untitled outdoor installation by Hudson Hamrick will be presented inside the traffic circle at Wescott & Oak Forest Boulevards in North Charleston, through May 8, 2010, on view daily. The four metal figures in this piece represent the stages of life, from childhood to wizened old age, with the tallest figure reaching 10 feet high. Created by College of Charleston sculpture student, Hudson Hamrick.

The Luminous Forest, an outdoor installation by Corey Anna Moore will be presented at Palmetto Gardens Park, located on East Montague Avenue in North Charleston, through May 8, 2010, on view daily. Constructed of 7 foot tall pipe “stems” topped with acrylic orbs, this forest glows with solar lighting at dusk. Created by College of Charleston sculpture student, Corey Anna Moore.

What is a Garden?, is an outdoor installation by JR Kramer, located at the intersection of East Montague & Spruill Avenues, in North Charleston, on view daily through May 8, 2010. This plant-based installation will explore our perception of ‘Greenwashing’ in a culture where buzzwords trump reality. Created by landscape architect JR Kramer, with assistance from Southern Lumber & Mill Work Corp., Green Acres Landscaping, Todd Brazell Painting, Fieldstone Center, Fisher Recycling, Cottage Garden, and Stone Casting.

Check the Festival’s weekly schedule for related events offered in conjunction with these exhibits and installations.

For further information contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/745-1087 or at (www.northcharleston.org).

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Another Canvas of the People Event – This Time in North Charleston, SC – March 29, 2010

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

I was extremely disappointed that less than 30 people showed up for this Canvas process in the greater Charleston area. Most of the crowd was from the North Charleston area and north of there – including some folks from Dorchester and Berkeley Counties, but very few from Charleston – the great arts city of South Carolina. Such are the politics of the area. If art doesn’t happen in downtown Charleston – it’s not art – in some people’s minds.

But those who didn’t come missed a great opportunity to see the new North Charleston City Hall and I got a fast tour of the new offices of the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department – which were first class. I know some folks in Charleston can only dream of ever having facilities like this, but that’s another story.

And again, the folks who did show up to this Canvas of the People had a nice discussion of what’s good, what’s a challenge and what opportunities might be out there, but again I saw no plan for future solutions – as if talking about these things once is all people need to get them energized or inspired. Of course all that happens after the final report is made by the SC Arts Commission. Right!

It’s too bad someone from the Palmetto Project wasn’t there to give us all stickers to wear to show we participated – like when we vote in SC.

Of course, perhaps most people are participating by doing the online Canvas survey. Here’s the link.

I don’t think I have anything relevant to say about the meeting – most of it is a blur now anyway, but I did want to say something about the first 15 minutes of every one of the Canvas gatherings where Ken May, acting director of the SC Arts Commission talks about some questions the Arts Commission paid to be included in the South Carolina State Survey taken in 2009.

If anyone cares, you can download the final survey report at this link. I found it highly amusing, sad, contradictive, and detached from reality – at least the reality that we at Carolina Arts have been going through – and I think most artists, art businesses and arts organizations.

May starts off his speech about the survey with this good news: “Almost 67% of adult South Carolinians participated in the arts at least once during the last year.” That’s slightly down from 2007, but we all can understand that considering…

This is what participation in the arts was defined as in the survey. This statement was read to give people an idea of what participation could mean before they gave their answer:

“Participation in the arts may include a wide variety of activities including attending music concerts and live performances of dance or theatre; attending a performance or play at a child’s school; visiting museums and galleries; reading literature or attending a book club; singing in church choir or acting in community theatre; creating art yourself, such as painting, writing poetry, or playing a musical instrument; or serving as a volunteer or board member for an arts organization or arts events. During the last twelve months, approximately how many times have you participated in the arts in any way?”

Under this broad definition you could assume that going to the movies, listening to public radio, humming in the shower, doodling on a piece of paper while you’re on hold when calling your cable company or watching cheerleaders at a USC football game could be considered participating in the arts. And, with that broad definition – “Almost 67% of adult South Carolinians participated in the arts at least once during the last year.”

Oh happy day! The arts have a bright future in South Carolina.

“The average frequency of participation was 14 times during the year.”

Here’s the reality of being in the arts in South Carolina. The results of this survey show how many people in various category breakdowns had no participation in the arts – even under such a broad definition:

Total (2007) – 38.2%
Total (2009) – 33.2%

Sex
Male – 36.1%
Female – 30.6%

Age
18 – 29 – 35.9%
30 – 44 – 17.9%
45 – 64 – 33.2%
65 and over – 55.6%

Education
Less than High School – 59.7%
High School Diploma – 43.8%
Some College – 31.6%
College Degree – 16.5%

Income
Under $25,000 – 48.6%
$25,000 – $49,999 – 31.5%
$50,000 – $74,999 – 15.9%
$75,000 – and over – 16.9%

Type of Area
Urban – 30%
Suburban – 27.3%
Rural – 39.5%

Region
Upstate – 33.7%
Midlands – 36.2%
Lowcountry – 29%

These numbers are staggering to think that under such a broad definition – these folks had no participation in the arts – none! What sad lives they must live. Under this broad view I can imagine some days when I have 14 different contacts with the arts and surely every week I go way beyond that level. It also shows how ignorant people are as to how much the arts or artistic expression touches their lives – every day.

We in the arts are doing a poor job of pointing that out. Do you think kids would like to go back to the days of Pong or stay with the high level of art presented in today’s video games? I’d give more examples but I’m sure my readers are at my level or higher. I don’t need to preach to the choir.

For those in the visual arts, they might be interested in one part of the survey where respondents were asked if they had purchased original art in the last 12 months. No definition was offered as to what original art was – which was a surprise after the participation definition was offered.

If I had a nickel for everyone who claims to have an original Steve Jordan, Jim Harrison or Bob Timberlake hanging on their wall at home – I’d be a rich man. But, nonetheless we have to take these survey results for what they are worth (not much in my book). For all I know it could include framed images of dogs sitting around a table playing poker.

These are the results for those who responded “Yes” to having purchased original art in the last 12 months:

Totals (2007) – 15.1%
Totals (2009) – 13.3%

Say, all you artists and art gallery owners out there in South Carolina – do you believe that your sales are just down 2% from 2007? Of course this could be the Wal Mart factor – more people might be getting their original art there these days.

Sex
Male – 11.8%
Female – 14.8%

Race
Black – 10.4%
White – 14.3%

Age
18 – 29 – 10.6%
20 – 44 – 15.3%
45 – 64 – 15.6%
65 and over – 9.7%

Education
Less than High School – 3.1%
High School Diploma – 7.9%
Some College – 10.8%
College Degree – 24.2%

Income
Under $25,000 – 6.2%
$25,000 – $49,999 – 13.8%
$50,000 – $74,999 – 18.5%
$75,000 and over – 20.4%

Only 20% of people making over $75,000 are purchasing an original piece of art in a year. Folks, this is the group we have to work on. What are they spending their money on? Oh that’s right – these are the folks who are probably supporting the performing arts in South Carolina.

Type of Area
Urban – 14.1%
Suburban – 14.7%
Rural 12%

I guess this shows that people living in rural areas have figured out that they can drive to an art gallery or flea market in the urban areas to buy art.

Region
Upstate – 8.8%
Midlands – 14.8%
Lowcountry – 17.6%

And are we to believe that folks in the Lowcountry buy twice as much original art as folks in the Upstate? I guess this proves that availability is the answer here. The more art offered in an area – the more chances are that people will buy it.

OK – here’s the real kicker for me – showing how much people in South Carolina are interested in the arts or in taking a survey about the arts:

“The response rate for the landline component (people with a phone connected to a wire in their home) was 40.5% and for the cell phone component it was 27.5%. The overall response rate was 37.2%.”

The survey report does not state how many calls were made, it only states that 828 people completed or partially completed the survey, but the response rate was only 37.2%. I guess if you do the math to come up with a 37.2% rate – 2,200 calls would have to have been made to get that percentage. We don’t know if no one answered the phone during the survey period (one month) or refused to take the survey – making up the other 62.8% who did not participate in this survey. We don’t know if return calls were made. We don’t know a lot about surveys in general.

Some people just won’t take time out of their busy lives to do a survey. And, the cell calls could have been made to those folks who never have their cell phone anywhere but up to their ear. Who they are talking to constantly – I don’t have a clue.

So, 67% of those adults in SC who completed the survey (only 37.2%) participated in the arts – at least on the average of 14 times in a year. That’s a lot less than the first statement implies.

It’s sad – very sad – if true. And the speech about the survey was a wasted 15 minutes of the hour and 15 minutes allotted to each Canvas of the People gathering.

I can’t wait for the final report and to read the goals for the next ten years. Of course I’m being sarcastic. It’s a good thing no one is keeping score on how well we did over the last ten years, but my guess is – not very well. Like they say – those who ignore history are doomed to repeat their mistakes.

We need a better process for dealing with our challenges and opportunities, we need better leadership for this process, and we need to do something for the next year or two – or most of us won’t be here at all – much less the next ten years.

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Thinking of Judith McGrath Down in Western Australia

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Yesterday, after another sweltering trip to Charleston, SC, I returned home to check my e-mail. While sorting through the days’ list of junk, outlandish offers, jokes about our Governor (no name offered) and even a few directed for Carolina Arts – I found myself gazing at a few e-mails I leave on my incoming list as a reminder of things – things to do, people to get back with, e-mails that I shouldn’t forget about, and e-mails kept for legal reasons. That’s right, I have to occasionally deal with some people who are down right nuts, so I keep their e-mails.

Among those e-mails was the last one I received from Judith McGrath down in Kalamunda, Western Australia, near Perth. This one is saved as a good reminder and as I looked at it I wondered about what it would be like to be there right now. You see, while we’ve been going through 90+ temps for several weeks, thunder storms, and near 90 percent humidity, Australia is going through its winter season. I know – the grass is always greener…

McGrath was a contributor to Carolina Arts for almost ten years, until the economy hit the fan and we had to cut back on expenses (even small ones) and space in the paper, but I miss her words about the visual art community in her corner of the world and most of the time about the visual art community in general. Through her writing we learned that it is a small world and things are not that different – no matter where you are.

So, I sent her an e-mail and woke up this morning and found the following response about what has been going on with her. She’s been teaching an Art Appreciation class at the local Learning Centre in her area.

Here’s part of her e-mail:

Talk about great minds thinking alike! I was just on your site the other day and enjoyed reading your blog about the National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition in North Charleston. Also appreciated viewing the excellent pictures and deciding which ones I’d like to have in my own garden – when I’m rich and famous! I particularly liked the gentle flow of Pattie Firestone’s Thoughts Running Like a River, the contemplative aspect of Corrina Sephora Mensoff’s, Where I have come from, what will I leave behind?, and James Burnes’ Rich Sis which had me thinking of a retired race horse, worn out but still majestic. However, all were excellent presentations.

We have two similar sculptural exhibitions Down Under, both presented on the white sands of the beach, albeit each with a different ocean as a backdrop. One is on Bondi Beach along the Pacific Ocean near Sydney on the Eastern side of the continent, the other is held on Cottesloe Beach by the Indian Ocean near Perth in Western Australia. I always enjoy attending the latter and seeing families lounging on the sand, under the sun and in the company of monumental works of art in all manner of material. It reminds me that art should always be for the general public, not just the literati.

You may have noticed that I’ve been slack about posting reviews on my own site. My only excuse is that I’m finding precious little to write about when meandering through commercial galleries and local public venues. What I have found is how the rhetorical “there’s nothing new in art” has become the reality of “seen it all before”? As such I fear for the future of the visual arts due to the lack of inspirational and/or practical artistic education.

In my capacity as an art reviewer I have no problem with giving polite “corrective” criticism to aspiring artists who are happy to take it on board as they may benefit from it. However, I am not in the habit of writing “negative” reviews because, as an ex-art history lecturer, I am aware that anything written, be it positive or negative, is archived and available to future generations. My logic runs along the lines that if I name a practitioner in an article, whether I condemn or praise their work, it is proof that at one time, he or she existed as an “artist” therefore according them a place in future art history. With that in mind, I have banned myself from writing “bad” reviews, as there is already sufficient “equine manure” in print validating the artistic underachiever.

The ban became a real hurdle for me when viewing the latest exhibition of works by newly graduated art students. While walking through the exhibition the thought that if this is the “best” the schools have to offer had me fighting an urge to sit down and cry. The craft work was excellent while only a few sculptors considered their 3D constructions from all points of view. But it was the painting that brought tears to my eyes as they lacked an understanding of color usage and underlying compositional structure. It was so depressing I was sorely tempted to break my long held “ban on the bad” as I felt something had to be said publicly. And I would have overcome the temptation and ignore the show until I spotted one exhibit that was very familiar. I had seen something very much like it twenty-odd years ago in a different gallery. I knew who the artist was then, and I knew he was now a lecturer in the art school being represented by this student. As I stood in front of the work, I asked the gallery manager if teachers were exhibiting too. He knew what I saw, smiled enigmatically and shook his head.

There’s a saying in the art world in my town that goes; “Them that can, do. Them that can’t, teach.” It’s no wonder there is nothing new for me to say about art in my town. I do hope in your town, each year brings new and exciting aspects in the wonderful world of the visual arts.

Cheers

I’m hoping as the economy recovers and we get through this long summer, I’ll be able to offer McGrath’s writings again in Carolina Arts. You can still find the articles McGrath sent us archived on our website here, dating back to 2000.

Judith McGrath lives in Kalamunda, Western Australia, 25 minutes east of Perth. She received a BA in Fine Art and History from the University of Western Australia. McGrath lectured in Art History and Visual Literacy at various colleges around the Perth area, and was an art reviewer for The Sunday Times and The Western Review both published in the Perth area. McGrath is currently a freelance writer, reviewer for various art magazines in Australia and teaching. She also co-ordinates the web site Art Seen in Western Australia.

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Photos of Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit in North Charleston, SC, – Hot Off the Press

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

As I mentioned before on June 20, 2009, the weathermen were calling for 100+ degree temps in the Charleston, SC, area so I headed out to take digital images of this year’s crop of sculptures at the Riverfront Park, located at The Navy Yard at Noisette (former Charleston Naval Base) in North Charleston, on the Cooper River. The 4th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition will be on view through Mar. 25 – 2010, but no better time than the present to check it out. Really?

I guess by the way some of us talk every year we tend to forget that it gets hot here in South Carolina during the summer and projections of 100+ degrees the day before summer starts is no big deal – life goes on – you just wear less clothes. Besides I was at least smart enough to go in the morning when the temp was just 85 degrees.

Here’s a commercial announcement from the City of North Charleston: Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this unique exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures throughout the stunning, picturesque Riverfront Park. Set on the banks of the gorgeous Cooper River, visitors enjoy ten acres of walking paths, a fishing pier, an oversized sandbox and children’s play fountain and the new Naval Base Memorial. A magnificent contemporary Performance Pavilion and expansive lawn provide a wonderful outdoor setting for small and large-scale events. Future park additions include a pedestrian bridge across Noisette Creek to the Hunley Submarine Museum. The historic site is centered in the Noisette District, the largest urban redevelopment project ever undertaken in the United States.

The 2009 National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition juror was David Furchgott, President and Founder of International Arts and Artists, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally through exhibitions, programs and services to artists, arts institutions, and the public. For over 16 years, he was the Executive Director of the International Sculpture Center, which he developed to become the largest organization for sculpture with 15,000 members in over 70 countries. It was there that he began and published Sculpture magazine. Previously, he was with the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Gibbes Museum of Art and a consultant to the Spoleto Festival USA.

So here are the sculptures in this year’s exhibition:


Big Water Bottle Basket, steel, enamel by Jonathan Brilliant of Charleston, SC


Rich Sis, steel, wood by James Burnes of Santa Fe, NM


Boxes in a Box, aluminum by Samuel Burns of Chattanooga, TN


Orion’s Pyramid, steel by Stephen Chilingirian or Zirconia, NC


Cathedral Arch, steel by Bob Doster of Lancaster, SC


Thoughts Running Like a River, aluminum by Pattie Firestone of Chevy Chase, MD


Suffering Passes, Having Suffered Never Passes; In Living, Loss and Rebirth Enfold One Another, oak by James Fuhrman of Glenmoore, PA


Wave Form #5, reclaimed dock boards by Gary Gresko of Oriental, NC


Ollie’s Buoy, steel and concrete by Roger Halligan of Chattanooga, TN


Personal Space, steel by Hanna Jubran of Grimesland, NC


Where I have come from, what will I leave behind?, steel and cast iron by Corrina Sephora Mensoff of Atlanta, GA


Triangle Tango, steel by Bob Turan of Earlton, NY


Ker-Plunk, steel by Adam Walls of Red Springs, NC

The results of the competition for the 2009 National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition are as follows:
Best in Show went to James Fuhrman for Suffering Passes, Having Suffered Never Passes; In Living, Loss and Rebirth Enfold One Another; 2nd Place was given to Roger Halligan for Ollie’s Buoy; 3 Honorable Mentions went to Jonathan Brilliant for Water Bottle Basket, Corrina Sephora Mensoff for Where I have come from, What will I leave behind?, and Bob Turan for Triangle Tango.

See images from the 2008 exhibit and 2007 exhibit. There are also a few sculptures still in the park from previous exhibits.

We don’t have many contemporary public sculptures on display in the greater Charleston area, in fact there are next to none on display in the City of Charleston, which is amazing for such an arts city. So, besides this exhibit in North Charleston and the 19 works on display in Azalea Park in Summerville, SC, part of the permanent outdoor collection donated by the Sculpture in the South organization, you won’t find many sculptures here.

This display in Riverfront Park seems a little thin in that it is a large park and most of the sculptures in this year’s exhibit are small or it might be better to say – they are not monumental. I’m not complaining, in fact I’m amazed that the City of North Charleston has mounted their fourth sculpture exhibit. It’s a major effort for the artists, the City, and the Cultural Arts Department. After all, this park is to be used by people – it’s not a museum. And, there were a good number of people using the park the morning I went there – some also taking photos of the sculptures. But, always wanting more of a good thing – I’d like to see bigger sculptures, more of them, and more sculptures by different artists (there is a group of artists who seemed to have had works in all four exhibits).

But here’s the catch – I don’t have any money to give North Charleston to expand their efforts, and arts money is in short supply these days. So, it’s hard to expect more – even when you want it.

In conclusion – the City of North Charleston is doing a great job with this program – better than their so-called artsy cousin Charleston. Hopefully more sculpture lovers from Charleston and elsewhere will go visit this exhibit and park. And, hopefully these  summer temps won’t last forever. But you can take it if I can – I’m a transplanted Yankee.

For further info or details about the next sculpture competition contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/745-1087 or at (www.northcharleston.org).

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Piccolo Spoleto Festival Exhibitions Slip Away Again

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Even with the best of intentions on my part, once again many of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival visual art offerings have slipped away before I could get by to see them. Even some of the exhibits I did get to see are over before I could post a blog about them. I have always said that the Spoleto and Piccolo Festivals were not designed to fit my schedule. I have to have my June issue turned into the printer before the festivals even start and then once they have started I’m delivering papers and then preparing for the July issue. It’s just not a good time for me to get out and see all that is being offered. This blog helps some, but not enough. But, I did get to see some and a few will still be on display for some time to come.

This year I did not get to visit the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit 2009 but once and that was not a long visit at that. I got reports about what was going on from various sources, but that’s not the same as being there and getting a first hand impression from artists and visitors. Sixteen days sounds like a lot of time, but it’s not. I have always said that this show is the marathon of all visual art events and that the artists who go through it in South Carolina’s “what next?” weather challenges are the toughest folks around. Not to mention putting up with the viewing public’s repetitive questions. It can also be a roller-coaster ride of emotions – watching your neighboring artist make sales while you don’t; making sales while others don’t and not being able to feel good about it or at least brag about it; wondering what else you could have done with these 16 days; and promising yourself this is the last year you’ll do this. But, in the end it all turns out all right and most return – year after year. And, they end up meeting some wonderful new customers and a lot of old customers who are now friends – that return year after year.

If you want a little taste of what it’s like being one of the 100 + artists down in Marion Square Park in Charleston, SC, during this exhibition visit Amelia “Mimi” Whaley’s blog. You can review her 16-day journal of being there.

While delivering the June issue I did get by to see the exhibit, From Quilts in the Attic to Quilts on the Wall: Exploring Textile Art by African Americans, on view at 10 Storehouse Row at The Navy Yard at Noisette (on the former Charleston Naval Base) in North Charleston, SC. This exhibit ended on June 7, 2009, like many of the Piccolo Spoleto exhibits. This exhibit was also part of North Charleston Arts Festival which took place early in May. The artists in this exhibit explore and depict their African heritage through quilting – some traditional, some non-traditional. Here’s a few images of some of the quilts.


Sophia Rising by Torreah Washington


Sacred Letters by Dorothy Montgomery

Here’s a little commentary for the folks developing The Navy Yard at Noisette. If they don’t do something about the main roads there – people will never come there and I’m going to stop coming and tell people not to go there. Paving over those roads is long overdue.

I also got to see the exhibit, BREAKING OUT, a Piccolo Spoleto art exhibition for adults with intellectual disabilities, sponsored by the Hulsey Law Group and presented at Charleston City Hall at 80 Broad Street in downtown Charleston. At the four corners of the law to be exact. This show also ended June 7, 2009.

The exhibit was coordinated by: Special Olympics of South Carolina, City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, VSA Arts of South Carolina and SC Arts Commission. It provided an opportunity for artists with intellectual disabilities to speak using the vocabulary of art. The artists communicate through their paintings and pottery and in so doing break down the walls raised by their disabilities. But the location of this exhibit wasn’t going to break down the walls of competition for viewing exhibits during these busy Festivals. The lobby at City Hall is not made for exhibitions and people don’t expect to find exhibits there and other than the Spoleto Festival’s opening ceremony – nothing else happens in that part of the city – as far as Festival events go. This show could have been placed at the Charleston Visitor Center.

Without knowing the particulars of this exhibition most viewers might not know these people were not your average artist guild novice, folk artists or visionary artists, but considering their disabilities, the works can take on an exceptional quality.

Although there were people (I don’t want to use the word artist) here from Beaufort, SC, and Spartanburg, SC, it would be nice if this was an exhibit which was the result of a statewide competition among adults creating works with intellectual disabilities. That would add an extra level of accomplishment for the participants.

Some might ask why is this work being presented at these major art festivals? Well, creating something is a powerful action. The arts are used by many, other than artists, for expression, therapy (physical and mental), and for relaxation. Why shouldn’t that side of the arts be seen at an arts festival?

It also should be noted that beyond the exhibit’s main sponsor many contributions were made by some of Charleston’s commercial art businesses and commercial art galleries. These people contribute to a lot of non-profit efforts, but when it comes time to think about who should receive public funding or public help in tough times, these same folks are left out of the picture. It’s not all about making money for these folks – it’s about being part of the greater art community and community in general. It’s time they should get some credit for that.

And, Mayor Joseph Riley (Charleston’s Mayor), you better do something about your streets too. Stop saying it’s the SC Highway Department’s duty to keep your city’s streets decent.

Well, although I couldn’t draw any visitors to these exhibits, by reviewing them before they were over, beyond our pre-coverage of these events in Carolina Arts and on our website Carolina Arts Online, we have given them a little recognition and life in cyber space. That’s the best we could do this year.

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