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August Issue 2008
Lowcountry Artists Gallery in Charleston,
SC, Offers Works by Norma Morris Ballentine & Anne Hightower-Patterson
Lowcountry Artists Gallery in Charleston, SC, will present the exhibit, Mount Pleasant/Sullivan's Island/Then/Now, featuring works by Norma Morris Ballentine and Anne Hightower-Patterson, on view from Aug. 1 - 31, 2008.
The two artists first met in middle school when the two East of the Cooper girls began junior high school. That was in the mid-sixties when Ballentine traveled from Sullivan's Island Elementary to Moultrie Junior High to join Hightower-Patterson and the Mount Pleasant kids moving up from Mount Pleasant Academy. Now, over forty years later, these colleagues and friends have come together for a joint exhibition, drawing images from their childhood pasts and images from today.
The year that both artists entered seventh grade, was also the year that Virginia Fouché Bolton began teaching art at Moultrie High School. Both women agree completely, that Bolton had a profound affect on their lives and art careers. Many South Carolinians are aware of Bolton's phenomenal artistic talent, but her students benefited from her gift of teaching.
"In a way," said Hightower-Patterson,
"this show pays homage to Virginia and the seeds she planted
in us as artists."
"Please visit our show and judge Bolton's influence on the
two of us," invites Ballentine. The exhibit will feature
locations in Old Mount Pleasant and on Sullivan's Island, which
will be shown as they were or as they are now. Many images will
be shown with photos of the locations at the contrasting time
and some background information.
Anne Hightower-Patterson
One of the featured images by Hightower-Patterson is the painting of the Old Village shopping area. In talking about painting the watercolor image, she told about the emotions that arose in her as she did the work. "I have never had an emotional response doing a painting until now. I grew up on the corner of Venning and Pitt Streets. My first teenage job was at Pitt Street Pharmacy. I played in that street. Each brush stroke brought back memories of a kind of life that shaped the person I have become."
The wide space in the village was originally the site of the school. When it was moved from the village to Coleman Blvd., the materials were used to build the three homes that are on the corner of Pitt and Venning Streets. In the 50's, the Village was the center of the small town. In addition to the pharmacy, there was a post office, Coleman's Red and White Grocery, Kenny's Department Store, a doctor, Coleman's Hardware, a barber shop, and dress store. A bit later, a dentist joined the mix.
Norma Morris Ballentine
Ballentine has focused on passionately painting
memories of the dunes, beach vignettes, the business district,
and cottages on Sullivan's Island. Painting these scenes has rekindled
a deep respect, love and regard for the island and island life.
Her father was "Bill, the Barber," of the island who
not only enjoyed challenging conversations concerning events of
the day, but also wagered bets of all kinds with his clients such
as "the next song that the radio station would play".
He was a constant winner of his bets.
Ballentine's mother opened the island's fabric and linen shop.
It burned to the ground in a fire that destroyed several business
right on Middle Street where the restaurant Station 22 is now
located. Life was amazing on the sleepy island back in the 50's
and 60's. Along with the beach activities, catching horny toads,
exploring the old forts, gathering wild plums in the bountiful
thickets, we went to the local movie theater and skating rink.
These were all part of growing up on that wonderful island.
"Because of the extensive growth of the area, there are many people who are interested in the history of the area and the stories that surround the places and the people," says Hightower-Patterson. "These were slow, sleepy communities that were the quintessential small places of the mid-twentieth century south."
"Norma and I went in different directions after high school, but we rejoined forces about a year and a half ago. This show is a natural growth from our common roots," says Hightower-Patterson.
For further information check our SC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 843/577-9295 or visit (www.lowcountryartists.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2008 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© 2008 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.