| 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..." |
December Issue 2007
House of Ahhs in Beaufort, SC, Features Works by Charles Desaussure
The House of Ahhs in Beaufort, SC, will present the exhibit, Fashions of Art, featuring works by Charles Desaussure, on view from Dec. 8 - 29, 2007.
Probably the most exciting art news in years, Charles Desaussure, is back in the lowcountry. Born in Charleston, SC, a decedent of Senegalese slaves once owned by the French Huguenot DeSaussure family, Desaussure will never forget his roots. And like the proverbial son he returns time and again to his heritage as the inspiration for his work.
Always drawing as a child, but never understanding the nature of his gift, it was when he began work as a sign painter that it became clear he was way better then most. Your average sign painter cannot bring life to gardens, churches, bus stops, jook joints and children playing marbles.
Although his paintings cover a broad slice of culture every single one of them traces to the life of a small boy playing under the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston. One of the most fascinating pieces in Desaussure' portfolio is named, Atlantic Beach, the only beach open to people of color in South Carolina at one time. Standing in line to get on the bus to the beach is a cross current of black Charlestonians, pastors to pimps, ladies to working girls, children to grandparents, sweethearts to matrons, all going to the beach, on a hot summer day.
Another piece that speaks is entitled, Beck's Garden. The artist paints his grandmother standing with her flowers, corn, maters and okras. She is big and she is proud. Deserving of special mention are the "jook joints." The jazz clubs, pool parlors and nightlife of Charleston are immortalized by Desaussure. Is it the music you hear when you look at these paintings, or is it the smoke circling your head, or is it the outfits the club goers are wearing? Something takes us to the days when you had to knock to get in and the lights were dim.
"The new work by Charles, featured in this exhibit is exciting," says Kerri Correll, co-owner of the gallery. "Charles is back in his element. Looking at the South through his paintings gives one a sense of the authentic experience, of the real thing, of a connectedness we experience as Southerners at work or play. There is more detail in his work. The palette is always a surprise. Charles can put a green zoot suit on anyone and make it look good. As for me, I like the way he paints shoes. Had he not been a painter, Charles could have been a fashion designer. Maybe he never saw an outfit he didn't like, because he has a tremendous fashion sense. It all comes together when Charles Desaussure puts brush to canvas."
Not to be missed! If you love the South and the people who give us our special sense of place, be sure to drop by The House of Ahhs to meet Desaussure and view the works of art included in this new and wonderful exhibit. The artist will be on hand to greet you and share some of his amazing experiences which come to life in his paintings.
For further information check our SC Commercial
Gallery listings or call the gallery at 843/379-1800.
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing
Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2007 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© 2007 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.