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April Issue 2006
Gallery 80808/Vista Studios in Columbia, SC, Presents Group Exhibition for Artista Vista
Gallery 80808/Vista Studios in Columbia, SC, will present the exhibit, The Blues on Lady Street, featuring works by members of Vista Studios and the SC Watercolor Society, on view from Apr. 24 through May 9, 2006. The exhibit will also be open for Artista Vista on Apr, 28 & 29, 2006. Since there is still construction on Lady St., the side entrance to Vista Studios that is accessible from Gervais Street will be open. (Located on down the walkway that runs beside M Craig and the Rhino Room.)
Carol Barks
Why The Blues on Lady Street? Despite the road crews' best efforts, the continuing street construction outside our main entrance has us singing the blues. Joining the exhibiting Vista Studios artists; Carol Barks, Ethel Brody, Pat Callahan, Heidi Darr-Hope, Pat Gilmartin, Robert Kennedy, Susan Lenz, Sharon C. Licata, Laura Spong, David Yaghjian, and Don Zurlo, will be four members of the SC Watercolor Society; JoAnne Anderson, Meg McLean, Ester Melton and Rose Metz. Also included in the exhibition will be a painting by Rueben Gambrell in memorial.
Perhaps the art exhibited that is most closely associated with "the blues" as a musical form is an installation of twenty-four lady blues singers that will be in Studio 4.
Susan Lenz
Susan Lenz writes of her Tapestry in Blue, an Installation Chapel: "Early female blues singers lived in a male dominated society, in a segregated country, and worked in an industry that took advantage of their lack of education and opportunity. Physical abuse, drug and alcohol dependence, and poverty plagued most. They struggled, made sacrifices, and sang of their woes. They helped change the world for today's young, black, female vocalists. Music, candles, and an altar will focus viewer's attention on a wall of mixed media icons. Everyone is invited to pay respects in the transformed space."
Heidi Darr-Hope
Two additional Vista Studios artists will also be exhibiting collage or mixed media constructions. Pat Callahan will be continuing her communication communion series. In addition she has a construction titled, eve songs (in acts), inspired by the coming of evening, the time she often arrives at the studio and has to traverse the road construction. Heidi Darr-Hope takes the blues on an internal turn with her five pieces presenting an assuagement, a type of medicine for the blues. She desires the viewer to reflect inwardly, to search for meaning enriching the soul.
Don Zurlo
The painters of Vista Studios are presenting an assortment of "blue" images. Ethel Brody's are Rhapsody in Blue, a series of blue squares and Nautilus. Laura Spong is tipping her hat to the city engineer who has gone to great lengths to maintain access to the Vista Studios building with her Ode to Engineer Linda. Don Zurlo will present one of his acrylic abstracts titled Claybird and David Yaghjian will continue his series.
The sculptors are taking rather different interpretations of "the blues." Pat Gilmartin has created Blue Adluh in earthenware. It is an abstracted representation of the Vista's landmark, the Adluh Floor building. Sharon Collings Licata has turned to the water for inspiration for her abstracted animal forms with Menace from the Blue Depths and a blue heron titled Blue Repose. Carol Barks has a lapis lazidi abstract sculpture, Under Currents. She invites you to find the swirling motions that suggest a whirlpool and waves of emotion.
The guest watercolor artists will be bringing another dimension to the blues theme. JoAnne Anderson speaks to a traditional "blues" with Blues in the Night, while Meg Mclean takes a more spring like turn with Blue Lacecap. Ester Melton has responded to the construction outside the studios' door with Detour and Rose Metz reaches for the sky with Aurora.
For more information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 803/252-6134 or at (www.gallery80808vistastudios.com).
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