Here’s a press release we received at Carolina Arts.
Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street in Charleston, SC, will present Blues on Broad in conjunction with its monthly artwalk held the first Friday of each month and the annual Lowcountry Blues Bash, on Feb. 5, 2010, from 5 – 8pm.
Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street is thrilled to become an official venue of the 20th Annual Lowcountry Blues Bash, during the First Friday on Broad artwalk. Four Galleries on Gallery Row will be official hosts for the festival, featuring 3 blues performers and numerous “Soulful Artists” exhibiting their work throughout the galleries.
“We are delighted to become a part of Charleston’s tradition of preserving and perpetuation of the blues as a true American art form”, says Stephanie Hamlet, owner of Hamlet Fine Art Gallery.
The Edward Dare Gallery will feature Blues inspired works by two artists; painter/ musician Jim Darlington and fine art photographer, Ron Anton Rocz.
Local photographer, Rocz, began his “Delta Blues Collection” series of photos in 2000. These photos give glimpses into the life and time of the early 1900’s, when names like Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters and B.B. King had their start in the Delta. With their mutual zeal for the blues, Darlington and Rocz have planned for years to collaborate in a joint show of their work. Darlington’s latest series of figurative works, “Muses and Musicians” work in harmony with Rocz’s Delta Blues photos. Together they provide the perfect backdrop for the soul shaking, foot tapping blues that will be provided by the harmonica and guitar duo, Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner.
COCO VIVO Fine Art and Design will feature new works by Angela Trotta Thomas. Her works for this show evoke the strong southern character of the blues, but with an underlying, reflective quality. Her show is titled,Midnight Hour Blues. Gallery Director and artist Danny Laran will display a new collection that reflects his life as a young boy growing up on a Carolina tobacco farm. Laran says, “Music is just a part of my soul…my artwork is a direct result of the experiences with my friends that I worked with each summer of my youth…those were days of fun, laughter, and, most of all, music…” The show title is, I Still Sing. Wine portrait artist, Rodney Huckaby, will unveil his new work 57 Strat, a wonderful still life piece. Entertainment will be provided by Juke Joint Johhny, “the harmonica beast of the southeast” and veteran guitarist Drew Baldwin with his 1915-vintage harp-guitar in his arsenal.
Hamlet Fine Art Gallery is delighted to present a new exhibition, titled,Everbody Have the Blues, of jazz and blues singers by Floyd Gordon, a critically acclaimed artist and a South Carolina treasure. Floyd is widely recognized for his vivid, potent acrylics celebrating the daily humanity in life. With brilliant color and layered textures, his canvases are said to dance with captivating vibrant colors of the blues singers. Hamlet Gallery and the Ellis-Nicholson Gallery will have entertainment by bluesman Davis Coen who is currently enjoying heavy airplay on satellite radio.
Mary Martin Gallery and Spencer Fine Art will also have entertainment and a wonderful variety of soulful art for art lovers and collectors.
Participating merchants include: Ellis-Nicholson Gallery, Hamlet Fine Art Gallery, Edward Dare Gallery, COCO VIVO, Mary Martin Fine Art, UTOPIA, Atmah Ja’s, Spencer Galleries, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Martin Gallery, SCOOP Studios, Jake’s, Blind Tiger and the Oak Steak House.
For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call Stephanie Hamlet at 843/722-1944 or visit (www.charlestongalleryrow.com).