October Issue 2000
Grand Opening of the Rutledge Street Gallery in Camden, SC
The official opening of Rutledge Street Gallery, a new fine art gallery in Camden, SC, will take place Oct. 5, 6 and 7. The gallery, already open for business, is located at 508 Rutledge Street and is part of a resurgence that is taking place in downtown businesses in historic Camden.
Rutledge Street Gallery is the inspiration of Columbia native Maci Catalano Scheuer. Now living in Camden, Scheuer felt the time was right to "make quality art more accessible for Camden and the surrounding area. The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County has engendered an interest and an appetite for art here and has been very supportive of the new gallery. "We have on consignment a wide range of art works including oil paintings, photography, sculptures, mixed media, pottery, drawings and watercolors," says Scheuer.
One of the artists whose works are in the gallery. Mariah Kirby-Smith urged Scheuer to open the gallery. Scheuer said, "In trying to decide whether to undertake opening a new business in Camden, I asked Mariah what she thought about my half-baked idea and if she would put some of her work in it to sell. She said, "I love half-baked, quarter baked... have fun ideas.' We feel fortunate to have her work and 22 other talented artists."
Scheuer is always on the lookout for "new and exciting art to bring to this area. I am constantly searching for new artists. I hope people will not be so serious about art and have fun with it. Art is so subjective-it either appeals or it doesn't. You can't predict what people will like so we have brought in a wide variety of art for all tastes."
There is a broad range of prices, styles and subject matter including animals, portraits, landscapes, photographs of sports and Nascar events, Raku pottery and stoneware. "We have tried to bring to Camden some of the most accomplished, contemporary artists from GA and SC not shown in this area. Along with established artists we have included newcomers to the art world," adds Scheuer.
Scheuer has completed extensive renovations
both inside and out of 508 Rutledge Street, featuring a distinctive
bright red door and copper awnings. The interior has been especially
designed for the display of both two and three-dimensional works.
Rutledge Street Gallery's staff includes gallery manager Monica
Catalano Laschanzky, marketing consultant Liza Van Horn and Karen
Biggins, "a design consultant for prospective buyers, advising
them on how to coordinate a piece with their home décor."
During the weekend of the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival,
sponsored by the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, Rutledge
Street Gallery has extended hours from 11am-9pm. The gallery will
highlight works of Betty Franco Handmacher, whose "acrylic
paintings are vibrant and exciting, playing to the Blues theme."
For further info check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call 803/425-0071.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
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Carolina Arts
is published monthly by Shoestring
Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2000 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© 2000 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved
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