April Issue 2002
Conn Gallery in Landrum, SC, Presents Turning Wood, Turning Light
Conn Gallery in Landrum, SC, presents a group of very special and very talented artists for their next show, Turning Wood, Turning Light, on view through May 10, 2002. Three photographers and two wood turners fill the bill this time. They all now live in and around Tryon, NC, but most are originally from other locales.
John Alterman has only been in the area for about 8 months. Originally from Miami, FL, he graduated from University of Miami School of Law. He went on to take photography courses at Penland School of Crafts in '71,'72, and '76. More than intrigued with his new love, he went on to graduate with a Master of Arts from San Francisco University in 1979.
Over the next twenty years his work has graced multitudes of one and two man shows and group exhibitions from Seattle,WA, to New York and Florida. In particular; the one man Bank America World Headquarters Concourse Gallery, San Francisco, CA, ("Vertical Walkways", 1983); the two person show in Photograph Gallery, New York, NY 1982; and the group in Centro Cultural Arte Contemperaneo, AC, Mexico City, Mexico, in 1995.
His work is in public collections all across the country. Four photographs from his Daughters series are in the revised edition of Photographing Children, part of the Life Library of Photography. Ansel Adams viewed the Vertical Walkways photographs. This led to Alterman's 1980 Teaching Assistantship at Adams' Yosemite workshop.
Alterman's photos encompass a wide range of subjects in many areas of the country; workmen blasting concrete on a street corner; children playing in a backyard; street scenes in San Francisco; opulent gardens in Palm Beach. Detail, technique, light, negative space are just a few things Alterman plays with in his work.
Kevin Bradley, wood turner, has been turning about five years, and before that helped his father make furniture out of their shop in Tryon, NC. His grandfather was also a furniture maker, which explains Bradley's natural affinity for wood. He took one class of wood turning at the John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, but has learned and developed his own technique to form his own style. Beautiful bowls, plates and boxes, made from all types of wood, are a few of his wares.
Robert Priddy's photographs view nature in wild and scenic locations across the US and Canada. He lives in Asheville, NC, and the mountains and streams of Pisgah and the Smokey Mountains are the main focus of his work.
Priddy is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University and the Rocky Mountain School of Photography. He's studied nature photography with world renowned photographers, including Galen Rowell, Dave Middleton, George Wuerthner, Will Clay and Stan Osolinski. His stunning work is quiet, peaceful, and draws you into the picture as he sees fit.
Carlyn Tucker resides in Tryon, NC, but comes from Philadelphia. She received an MFA from University of Washington in Seattle, where she lived through most of the 80's. Her one man exhibits stayed in Seattle; group exhibits, starting in 1979, moved from Washington, to Iowa, to California and finally settled in the Carolinas. Her work has been in several permanent collections in Washington and she's led or participated in several art workshops throughout the same state.
Her professional activities run the gamut between juror, presenter, instructor; chairperson of various committees; again throughout Washington state, but also in Iowa, Canada, and the Carolinas. Tucker currently teaches at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, SC, and does more of her own photography in her spare time.
Thomas Zumbach lives in Greer, SC, where his shop will also be located come April. He became interested in wood turning in the early 80's, after viewing a walnut wine goblet. Zumbach was a precision grinder at the time, a job he held for 29 years. After reading and studying about wood turning, he eventually bought his own lathe and started in on his own works. Zumbach's favored materials included spalted maple and buns. His work encompasses everything from functional pieces to abstract. He realizes he is only growing as an artist, and continues to take classes and participate in symposiums in wood turning, drawing and painting.
His work is in the Michael McDunn Gallery in Greenville, SC, and he's appeared at Riverplace Art Festival and Art in the Park. Through these venues and word of mouth, Zumbach has added teaching classes in his studio to his career moves.
Turning Wood, Turning Light is an exciting show, incorporating vast talent and experience. Please stop by and see for yourself.
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
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