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January Issue 2004
Sumter Gallery of Art in Sumter, SC, Offers Works by Ray Davenport & SC Watercolor Society
The Sumter Gallery of
Art in Sumter, SC, kicks off the year 2004 with what may be the
most anticipated show of the season. Ray Davenport: A Retrospective,
on view from Jan. 7 through Feb. 14, 2004, follows the artistic
career of one of Sumter's best-loved artists. Also on view at
the Gallery from Jan. 7 - 31, 2004, will be the 26th Annual
South Carolina Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibition.
Ray Davenport: A Retrospective, features work beginning
in 1942, which Davenport produced while a freshman in high school.
It continues by exploring the commercial art he produced in the
fifties and sixties while working in advertising, and it carries
through to his present works in acrylics and oils. The variety
of work and styles incorporated in the show highlight Davenport's
dynamic career in the arts which spans more than 58 years.
"The subjects that interest me most are scenes and things from a former time," Davenport says of his paintings. "They have a mellow patina and show signs of wear and use."
Davenport graduated in 1948 with a degree in graphics and design from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He did not begin experimenting with "fine art" until 1966. Three years later he entered a piece in the State Fair, which was rejected. "It takes moments like that to prod one into action," says Davenport. Not deterred, he honed his craft and in 1973 his painting, The Window, was awarded the Ralph Fabri Award in the National Society of Painters exhibition in Casein and Acrylics category. Many awards followed, and in 1975 he quit his day job to pursue a career in painting.
Today Davenport is one of the more recognized names in art in the Midlands. His talents have won him the admiration of generations of art lovers in Sumter. He is listed in the Who's Who in American Art.
Running concurrently with Davenport's exhibit is the 26th Annual South Carolina Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibition. The exhibit features the top 30 award winners from the Society's 2003 Annual Exhibition. The traveling exhibition which travels thoughout SC is sponsored by First Citizens Bank.
For more info check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call 803//775-0543, or e-mail at (holderh@sc.rr.com).
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