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October Issue
2008
Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton
Head Island, SC, Offers Works by Roy Rupy & Susan Knight
The Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, will present two exhibitions including, Scenic Moments, featuring oil paintings by Roy Rupy and The Spirit of Hilton Head, featuring 3-D works by Susan Knight. Both exhibits will be on view from Oct. 13 through Nov. 8, 2008, at the Art League Gallery at Pineland Station.
Roy Rupy
Roy Rupy renders his Lowcountry landscapes in astounding detail. His delicate realism lends a vibrancy to his compositional elements that remains unparalleled on the local art scene. Often he depicts sunsets right from his Island residence or views, such as picturesque old shacks, the marsh and the majestic oak trees, from forays into the local surroundings. Hardly ever does he feel the need to leave Hilton Head Island for locations in the county. Rupy has developed a local following and his works are being collected all over the country.
Rupy's childhood in New York City was spent with pencil and paper. An artistically gifted boyhood friend helped him to appreciate the beauty found in nature on the marshy shores and winding creeks of Jamaica Bay. His skills were honed on long subway rides to Manhattan's High School of Music and Art. However, during Rupy's career with New York City's Finest his artistic progress was put on hold. Upon his retirement from the police force Rupy moved to Arizona and returned his focus to the art world. Working in oil and watercolor, he landed a position as a painting instructor, won awards and began a successful career as an artist.
In 1996, the marshes called Rupy to a new home on Hilton Head Island. The beautiful tree framed shoreline brought the artistic subjects of his boyhood past back in all their beauty and here with unceasing inspiration, he feels at home.
Susan Knight
As a featured artist Susan Knight enjoys the opportunity to introduce her newest creations in three-dimensional art. Using her love of fabric and clay (paper clay or polymer clay), Knight has created one-of-a-kind figures of irresistible appeal.
"It may be the local fisherman or a bird in human form that I use to embody the Spirit of Hilton Head," explains Knight. "I could not do this without the help of my husband, Don, who builds the armature of wood and wire along with a polished hand-turned base of local woods," she admits. Their whimsical charm and intricate characteristics are only paralleled by their precious accessories and Knight's eye for attention to detail.
As an interior designer in earlier life Knight enjoyed the challenges of layering the textures of fabric, furniture and color. She has artfully transferred these skills to creating her mixed media works: "Each day as I bike through our Lowcountry scenery I am inspired to translate my love of nature, textures and color into my mixed media artwork."
Several of the figures sport a piece of silver
work to lend expression to Knight's love of silver. Her silver
creations began in 1998 when she took her first class at the John
Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. She has recently
created a wonderful studio to work in and could spend all her
time there creating one-of-a-kind neck pieces and, yes, some great
silver and clay bugs. Knight's neck pieces reveal her knack
for design and hand forging (hammering), chasing and repoussé
the process of giving metal texture. The precious bugs
result from Knight's playful side introducing color with polymer
clay and the challenge of silver.
For more info check our SC Institutional Gallery listings,
call 843/681-5060 or visit (www.artleaguehhi.org).
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.