May 2013

Gibbes Museum of Art in CharlestonOffers Exhibit Selected by Community

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, will present People’s Choice: A Community Curated Exhibition, on view from May 3 through Sept. 15, 2013.

This exhibition seeks to engage members of the community, inviting all to stake a personal claim in Charleston’s signature museum by voting for favorite works of art on the People’s Choice website at (www.gibbespeopleschoice.org).

In an effort to gather a variety of voices and diverse opinions, we invited notable people from Charleston and beyond including Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., renowned chef Nathalie Dupree, and event designer extraordinaire, Tara Guérard to share thoughts, opinions and feelings about art. We asked questions such as: Why is art important in your life? What is your first memory of art? and, why are museums important to you? The answers have been inspiring and refreshing.

“This exhibition is unlike anything we’ve done before,” says Executive Director Angela Mack. “While many Charlestonians are familiar with the Gibbes, there are people who are unaware of the depth and scope of our permanent collection. Our hope is that People’s Choice will engage members of the community to peruse the works of art and vote on their favorites. Through this process, we expect to learn more about the type of art that matters to our community.”

Voting began on Mar. 1, 2013, and continued through the end of month. Participants were able to select from a virtual gallery featuring 140 works of art from the museum’s permanent collection including a diverse group of paintings, sculpture, works on paper, fine art photographs, and even video art. The selection was intended to represent a broad spectrum of styles, subjects, time periods, and mediums, ranging in time period from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century, and in subject matter from landscapes and portraits to still life and abstracts. Some of the works are mainstays in our permanent gallery spaces—others are on view less frequently.

On March 31 the votes were tallied and top picks will be curated into the People’s Choice exhibition. On May 3, participants will be able to view the community’s top picks on the walls of the Gibbes museum.

The Gibbes will offer several related programing and special events in conjunction with this exhibition including:

On May 2, from 7:30-10pm - IV Annual Gibbes on the Street Party. Enjoy culinary delights from Charleston’s top chefs, an open bar, and dancing in the middle of Meeting Street! Help us celebrate the opening of People’s Choice: A Community Curated Exhibition. Museum Members $100, Non-Members $135. For tickets call 843/722-2706 x 21, or visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org/events).

On May 3, from 10am-5pm - Free admission day in celebration of the opening of People’s Choice.

On May 9, at 2:30pm - Curator led tour of People’s Choice. Free with museum admission.

On June 20, at 2:30pm - Curator led tour of People’s Choice. Free with museum admission.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives that serve the community by stimulating creative expression and improving the region’s superb quality of life. Visit highlights of the Gibbes collection on Google Art Project at (www.googleartproject.com).

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Gibbes at 843/722-2706 or visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

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