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February Issue 2003
Sumter Gallery of Art, Sumter, SC, Promises a Grand Debut
Feb. 21, 2003, will mark an important milestone for the arts in Sumter, SC. After more than a decade of dreams, fund raising and hard work, the new Sumter Gallery of Art will have its grand opening at the Patriot Hall Cultural Complex.
The opening gala will center around the Gallery's inaugural exhibition Sumter Collects. This exciting exhibit is comprised of works of art from the private collections of Sumter residents and businesses. The exhibit will be on view through Mar. 23, 2003.
"This show is amazing," says Peggy Chilcutt, SGA's Artistic Director. "We are in awe with the works that our neighbors in Sumter have collected for their own enjoyment, and we are grateful that they are willing to share their beautiful art with the entire community."
Included in the impressive catalog are original pieces by Chagall, Dali, Mose Tolliver, Granger McKoy and Robert Cortright, as well as many other well know artists from around the world.
Executive Director Booth Chilcutt says Sumter Collects is a show not to be missed. "I think people are going to be very surprised at the quality of artwork in this exhibit," he says. "I am sure this show will engage not only residents of Sumter, but will delight art lovers from around the Southeast."
"The wealth of art we discovered while compiling this exhibit was really extraordinary," says Kay Teer, exhibit curator. "We have uncovered enough quality artwork to fill several Sumter Collects exhibits." Although the exhibit committee chose only 127 pieces for the first show, the volume of significant works owned by Sumter citizens shows the community's love and appreciation for the arts, Teer says.
Boasting more than 23,000 square feet of exhibit space the SGA's new home offers a wealth of possibilities for exhibits. In addition to the expanded gallery space, the SGA Art School, located upstairs in the Elizabeth White Educational Wing, has seven classrooms, including a darkroom facility, a pottery studio, and a library/media room. The facility is unlike anything previously available in the area.
"The combination of our education center and gallery space will make this one of the most comprehensive art programs in the Southeast," says Booth Chilcutt.
He also says the new facility will make it possible to bring art into the forefront in the Sumter community. He looks forward to being able to offer a wide variety of arts, from traditional to progressive, as well as hosting several outreach programs that will bring new faces to the Gallery.
SGA Chairman Susan Doherty Osteen agrees with the executive director's vision. "This is a community gallery," she says. "We are excited about working with the Cultural Commission, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Sumter Little Theater and other civic programs to make art a visible part of this community, not only for the elite, but for all of Sumter."
Sumter Collects is just the first in an exciting line up of exhibits and events planned for the new gallery. Mar. 28 through May 11, the Sumter Gallery of Art will feature New Works for a New Space, a collection of contemporary, site-specific and performance arts. Tom Stanley, director of galleries at Winthrop University, will serve as curator for the exhibit. The Sumter Artist Guild Members Exhibit will be on display Feb. 21 through Mar. 23, 2003, and is always a popular show with area residents. May 23 through July 7, 2003, the exhibit will be Diez Años: A Ten Year Retrospective of Marcello Novo, a collection of the artist's work produced over the last ten years since immigrating from Angentina. The Art of Lyon Hill, The Mystery and Mechanics of Marionettes debuts at the Gallery July 15 and will run through Aug. 18, 2003. Both children and adults will be fascinated by the beauty and detail of the marionettes, sketches of their production, and live performances presented by the talented Columbia Marionette Theatre.
Art classes for students of all ages and abilities are ongoing in the Elizabeth White Education Center. Youth Art Camp sessions are scheduled for this summer.
For further info check our SC Institutional Gallery listings or call 803/775-0543.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
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