March 2011

USC- Beaufort in Beaufort, SC, Features Works by The Art Beyond Tradition Group

USC- Beaufort in Beaufort, SC, is presenting the exhibit, New Vibrations, featuring abstract works by 12 members of The Art Beyond Tradition group, on view through Apr. 30, 2012.

The artists, who reside on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort and Columbia, SC, are known throughout the area for their unique style and exquisite artwork. They include painters: Deanna Bowdish, Cindy Chiappetta, Marilyn Dizikes, Jo Dye, Vickie Jourdan, Mary Jane Martin, Mary Sullivan, Joan Templer, Arla Crumlick Wible, Caroll Williams and Irene K. Williamson; and sculptor Sharon Collings Licata.

Vickie Jourdan’s Attitude, where bold reds and blended hues ring true to their title, is a painting that says as much about the artist as the observer. Far from subtle, it asserts itself dramatically.

Sharon Licata works in stone. Her sculpture entitled Thunder shows an amazing flexibility of design. The stone seems to swirl and wrap around itself forming an open space that defies credibility.

Mary Jane Martin has produced a painting titled Java. Colorful patches appear to be escaping from the muted background, whereas in Grounded, a muted palette is used, playing to texture and text.

Following some of the concepts of color-mass abstract painting, Arla Crumlick Wible has produced studies in Brown, Browns and Greens, while Irene K. Williamson brings a collage entitled Interrupted as well as an abstract painting titled Out of Control. In this second painting, the vigorous swirls of color and mad splashes and dashes of paint appear to be out of control, yet the total environment is that of a carefully controlled painting.

Caroll Williams describes her art as 2-1/2 D. Her wall mounted artwork uses found objects and “turns them into something quite different from their original use”. Her philosophy is to do as little as possible to these objects: “In that way, the qualities that originally attracted me to them - the weathering, the patina of age, the quirkiness - continue to shine through.” This can easily be seen in her pieces titled Transported and Grids, Boxes and Drawers.

Williams says, “In the late 70s, I began the study of graphic design which led to a satisfying 30 year career. After my husband’s retirement to Hilton Head Island, and my own semi-retirement, I finally had the time to experiment with making art from the kinds of materials I’ve always loved and collected: peeling, painted boards; rusty objects; staircase spindles; ephemera of all varieties.”

The Art Beyond Tradition has been together and showing its work as a group since 2008. It has held two successful shows at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and most recently at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island, SC.

“We are so pleased to be holding our current show at the University of South Carolina Beaufort,” says Irene K. Williamson, manager of the Art Beyond Tradition group and one of its artists. “It is important to find venues that enhance the boldness of the art and provide the space for the 12 members of the group to display their work.”

“We welcome Art Beyond Tradition and their current show, “New Vibrations,” says Bonnie Hargrove, USC-Beaufort gallery director. “The university is pleased to present this fine body of work.”

Located in the heart of the Carolina Sea Islands, the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) is a senior institution of the University of South Carolina system serving the southeast coast of Georgia and South Carolina. USCB has been the fastest growing baccalaureate institution in the USC system since becoming a four year university in 2002. The university has two campuses which serve a diverse student body of more than 1750 students. The Historic Beaufort campus, located on Beaufort’s downtown waterfront, houses an innovative baccalaureate studio arts program in close proximity to Beaufort’s many art galleries. The Hilton Head Gateway campus in Bluffton, S.C., offers cutting-edge Computational Science and Nursing laboratories and is the home to Sand Shark athletics. USCB offers students an exceptional place to learn and live in an environment focused on growth, preservation and opportunity.

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call 843/208-8030 or visit (www.uscb.edu).

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