| For more information about this article or gallery, please call the gallery phone number listed in the last line of the article, "For more info..." |
November Issue 2003
Open Studios Tour Creates Opportunity for Collectors to Visit Artists in Greenville, SC
Art collectors who have a passion for upstate artists will have an opportunity to work on their collections during the second Greenville Open Studios in Greenville, SC, which will be held on Nov. 21-23, 2003. Open Studios is a self-directed studio tour featuring Greenville visual artists at work in their studios and is presented by the Metropolitan Arts Council. Admission is free.
This year's project will focus on helping people to begin art collections or enhance existing ones. In addition to showcasing their artistic process, participating visual artists will have works for sale.
During these shaky economic times, art can prove to be a valuable investment. In addition to providing the owner with something that they enjoy, there is always the chance that the work will increase in value over the years. Greenville Open Studios provides collectors with that rare opportunity to meet and purchase artwork from well-known artists like Carl Blair, Phil Garrett, and Diane Kilgore Condon.
"Artists like Carl and Phil are creating museum-quality work that is going to be a financial asset down the road," said Julie A. Richard, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Arts Council. "The beauty of Open Studios is that not only do you have the opportunity to purchase their works, but you also get to meet and spend time with the artists which adds even more value to your experience and purchase."
That opportunity to meet the artist is something that is usually reserved for openings or high-level museum donors. Both of these options have their drawbacks openings are often crowded and noisy and donors often have to ante up thousands of dollars in donations before they get the privilege of meeting an artist.
Open Studios allows the collector to visit the artists that he is interested in and often provides significant one-on-one time with the artist. For first-time collectors, the educational aspect of the project is invaluable.
"We want people
to realize that Open Studios is not just for people who have a
long history of appreciating art," said Richard. "At
the heart of the project is the desire to open up the world of
visual artists to everyone from the seasoned collector to
the first-time art buyer to the curious general public."
First-time collectors can also attend a lecture by Irene Morrah
of Irene Morrah Fine Art Gallery entitled "Becoming A Collector"
on Nov. 16 at 2pm at the MAC Gallery. The lecture is free and
open to the public.
Hours for Greenville Open Studios are: Fri., Nov. 21, 6-9pm; Sat., Nov. 22, 10am-6pm; and Sun., Nov. 23, noon-6pm.
Open Studios will feature 57 area artists with studios located within a 15-mile radius of downtown Greenville during the free weekend event. Samples of each participating artist's work will be available for viewing at the Metropolitan Arts Council Gallery, located at 16 Augusta Street. A Studio Study will be up from Nov. 10, 2003 through Jan. 5, 2004. Gallery hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Event catalogues featuring maps to the individual studios and samples of the artists' work will be available at the MAC Gallery and from the Greenville News.
This year's participating
artists are: Randolph Armstrong, Els Balsa, Eric Benjamin, Carl
Blair, Patti Brady, Jane Todd Butcher, Jim Campbell, Sharon Campbell,
Bob Chance, Steven Chapp, Bill & Pam Clark, Daniel Cvammen,
Greg Flint, Paul Flint, Tom Flowers, Phil Garrett, Suzanne Greene,
Lynn Greer, Glenda Guion, Diane Hopkins-Hughs, Rebecca Jonas,
Erin Jones, Diane Kilgore Condon, Dabney Mahanes, Joanna McCauley,
Michael McDunn, Glen Miller, Erin Moore, Russ Morin, Alice Ballard
Munn, Ken & Janet Ries, Judy Sahms, Grace Scherer, Janet Searfoss,
Julie Shabkie, Donna Shank, Kim Sholly, Ric Standridge, David
Starzec, Barbara St. Denis, Guy Stevens, Rebecca Stockham, Jo
Ann Taylor, Alexia Timberlake, Carole Tinsley, Barbara Van Gelderen,
Jason Waggoner, Katie Walker, Zan Wells, Janette Wesley, John
West, Jean Wilder, Joel Wilkinson, Lu Wixon, Frances Woodside,
Douglas Young, and Thomas Zumbach.
The Metropolitan Arts Council was formed in 1973 to stimulate
and support artistic expression and to provide programs that enrich
all citizens, artists, cultural organizations and communities
of the metropolitan upstate.
For more information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, visit the MAC website at (www.greenvillearts.com) or call the MAC office at 864/467-3132.
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing
Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2003 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© 2003 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.