As I have mentioned before in a review of exhibits held during the 2008 Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the exhibit space at the Charleston County Public Library’s Main Branch, while small, is an excellent opportunity for any artist in SC to mount a small exhibition. It is located in one of the highest traffic areas in downtown Charleston, SC. This gallery also has the longest open hours for viewing in Charleston. Free parking for the first hour too.
Apparently over the years Charleston’s local visual artists have decided that the space is too small or not suitable – as more and more artists from outside the area are being featured there each month. Folks at the library say they are just not receiving a lot of applications for exhibitions. So, I guess that leaves open another opportunity for artists throughout South Carolina.
I rarely miss an exhibit taking place in this space as I have to visit the library several times a month. I have to – I can’t do without my public library fix.
I have to admit that we don’t always receive info about these exhibits to include in our printed version of the paper – artists do have a habit of dragging their feet in getting info to the library staff for publicity, but even so, the volume at the library provides a very large viewing audience. A high caliber audience too. Well rounded people put libraries on their regular schedules. These are people who will stop and look at art.
So below is the library’s call for application ideas for exhibitions.
The Saul Alexander Foundation Gallery in the Charleston County Public Library’s Main Branch in downtown Charleston, SC, announces a call for entries for monthly exhibitions, solo or group, beginning Dec. 2008 through Dec. 2009. Preference is given to work reflecting experiences and viewpoints of South Carolina residents. Deadline for completed applications is Sept 5, 2008. Applications are available at the Main Library, in the Administrative Office, or on our web page at (www.ccpl.org) under the heading About Us, Saul Alexander Gallery. For further information, contact Becky Melancon at 843/805-6951.