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August Issue 2004
Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC, Features Paintings by Sue Coley
The Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC,
is featuring acrylic paintings by Sue Coley from Aug. 3 - 31,
2004. The show, entitled, The Disappearing Carolina, is
the artist's quiet, but pointed, response to more roads carrying
more people to more places.
When questioned, the North Myrtle Beach, SC, artist said, "I
moved to this area in the 70s. You could still go shrimping in
the creeks. There were old barns along the highway. And trees,
there were huge beautiful trees everywhere. It makes me sad that
it's changing so drastically. That's something we won't be able
to change back."
Her love for things local is evident in the
quiet peaceful scenes she loves to paint. One painting titled
simply, Tobacco Barn, depicts one of the historical structures,
which used to stand at Nixon's Crossroads in Horry County. House
on Highway 9 is another nearby South Carolina scene.
Coley is primarily self taught, but studied with three artists
whom she credits with helping her develop her style: Alex Powers,
watercolorist; the late Virginia Givens, acrylic artist and Hubert
Mock, oil painter.
Painting both en plein air (outdoors, from life) and in her home
studio, she uses a subdued palette incorporating warm shades such
as burnt umber, yellow ochre and raw sienna. "I've been using
basically the same palette since my first class with Alex Powers,"
says the artist, "I love warm, peaceful colors and I love
the local countryside. They just seem to work together."
Coley is a popular fixture at the local outdoor shows including
Art In The Park at Chapin Park in Myrtle Beach, SC, and
the Waterway Labor Day Show (being held this year at Ingram
Planetarium), where her many repeat customers look for her year
after year. According to Ginny Lassiter, owner of Sunset
River Marketplace, "Sue's work has a calming effect on everyone
who looks at it. Customers tell me that's why they want it hanging
in their homes. . . They want to bring that warm, peaceful feeling
into their homes."
Coley is one of more than 150 local and regional artists who display
their work at the 10,000 square foot Sunset River Marketplace.
For more info check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call 910/575-5999 or on the web at (www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.