November Issue 2001
Conn Gallery in Landrum, SC, Emerges from the Past to Today
Who would have thought
the building housing Heavener's Clothing Store would eventually
be an art gallery? Certainly no one in Landrum, SC, including
the Conns! Richard Conn bought the empty building twelve years
ago; he and his brother-in-law gutted the empty shell, put in
two complete apartments upstairs, and opened the entire downstairs
as a work space for himself, an artist and wood worker. Two years
later, Conn married, and he and his wife, Rachel, moved into the
upstairs apartment.
Conn ran his business (Living Works Studio) out of the downstairs for ten years. His work was mostly commissioned, as people wanted his murals in restaurants, private homes, and restored plantations all over the Southeast. He dabbled in his fine art work, putting it in the occasional show, but slowly grew bored with murals, and after eight successful years decided to put more time into his studio work.
Throughout this period, people wandering through Landrum would peek into Conn's studio wondering if there was anything for sale. A few brave souls would weave their way through the easels, drawing tables, chairs, paints and actually come in. Quite a few bought some of his work, and often became regulars in stopping at the studio. Thus came the idea of having a space open to the public. But how to go about it?
Rick and Rachel Conn designed a space, including building more wall space, a new bathroom, and a cool lighting system. They hired a contractor, Yvette Downs, herself an artist, gave her an impossible deadline to meet, and ten weeks later opened for business with a bang.
Conn Gallery on July 28, 2001, had a well attended opening. Over three hundred people came through the new space, drank wine, ate good food and met up with friends both old and new.
Fast forward to Sept./Oct. and a whole new show was presented - Six Women Painters from Asheville. Huge acrylic canvases exploding with color, medium sized watercolor abstracts and landscapes, figure studies in oils- the work leaped out at you from the white walls, and could be seen from all angles from the street through the floor to ceiling front windows.
The next exhibition opens Nov. 3, and will again feature artists from Asheville, this time all guys.
Roddy Capers, a glass blower, whose work is also in Lynn Strong's Gallery in Greenville, SC, as well as others in Asheville, NC, will have works in the exhibition. The show includes works by Richard Robinson, a new talent, who creates beautiful wood and steel sculptures and Stephen Lange, another young face, who paints abstracts, landscapes and mixed media on board and canvas. John Hooks' will present cityscapes and landscapes which will appeal to those who like perspective. And Richard Conn's landscapes and mixed media sculptures will also be in the show.
The show will be up until Dec. 14, at which point a whole new chapter will open.
For more information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 864/457-5050.
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
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Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
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