Visual Arts - Fall Issue 2009

Aldwyth & Anonymity - at the Halsey

Words: Amy Mercer

Like a traditional Charlestonian young woman, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is having its debutante ball this fall. After years in a small space at the College of Charleston, HICA is moving to her new, larger location with better visibility. The Marion and Wayland H. Cato Jr. Center for the Arts on the corner of Calhoun and St. Phillips Street has been in the planning stages for nearly a decade. Director and curator Mark Sloan says he’s had to delay many shows and as a result, has “a great line up of exhibitions.” The new location will house two gallery spaces, a media room, and a library/resource area.

The opening reception on October 23 will feature collage artist Aldwyth: work v./work n. Collage and Assemblage 1991-2009. The title translates into work verb/work noun. “Work is what all art has in common,” Aldwyth says. This is the first major solo exhibition of collage and assemblage artist Aldwyth.

Now in her seventies, the artist lives and works in an octagonal house at the edge of a salt marsh near Hilton Head Island. “Aldwyth explores the literary and associational possibilities of found materials. For several decades, Aldwyth has been producing important work in relative seclusion… Her assemblages are responses to the physical landscape in which she has positioned herself… It is my hope as curator to bring this work into public discourse—to introduce the world to an important artist who otherwise might have remained undiscovered.” – Mark Sloan, from Out of the Margins: Aldwyth and the Cloak of Anonymity.

The exhibition catalogue includes an essay by author and artist Rosamond Purcell who says, “Aldwyth has constructed a visceral interior world-incorporating, in a highly organized fashion, personal memories of mentors, events and art that have moved her heart and stirred her brain.” Her work is profoundly meticulous, unique, and conversational. In the three dimensional structure titled, re-su-me/re-sume, small boxes listing art awards, fellowships and reviews not received tell the story of rejection from the art world, an “anti-resume.” And in Casablanca (classic version), we have an amazing collage of thousands of eyes, each of which belong to artists throughout history. When asked about the meaning of this piece, Sloan said it reminded him of the famous line from the movie: “Here’s looking at you, kid,” and that the artist may be suggesting that “the art world is now looking back at the viewer.”

The HICA was recently awarded an $80,000 program grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation. The Warhol Initiative is focused on supporting the “creation, presentation, and documentation of contemporary visual art, particularly work that is experimental, under-recognized or challenging in nature.” As one of two other recipients in the South East, this grant represents “significant recognition” for the HICA. Funds will provide additional support for upcoming innovative exhibitions, visiting artist lecture series, film screenings, symposia and gallery talks, all of which focus on issues and images of contemporary art with an emphasis on international works.

With a passion for “art about ideas,” Mark Sloan remains dedicated to bringing adventurous contemporary art to Charleston. Visit the new Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts, 843.953.7891, www.halsey.cofc.edu.

Art & Wine for your Heart

Words: My Nguyen & Taylor Berk

Dance, eat, drink, and bid your heart out at the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Ball. Also locally referred to as the Art and Wine Gala, this important event raises money to raise awareness and prevention of heart disease, the number one killer in the nation.

The gala will consist of a silent auction, a three-course dinner by the Charleston Place, an energetic live auction, and dancing. Guests can expect a vast array of items from luxury trips to rare bottles of wine from private cellars to original art work in the silent auction. But the real hit of the evening is the live auction, where select pieces by renowned artists will be up for grabs. This year’s featured artist is Jill Hooper. Trained in Classic Italian Realism, Hooper already has works in museums and is only in her thirties. She is joined by equally notable artists including: JB Boyd, Chris Groves, Nancy Hoerter, Mark Horton, John Carroll Doyle, Kevin LePrince, Ben F. Long, IV, Robert Lange, Laurie Meyer, Lelie Pratt-Thomas, Shannon Runquist, Shannon Smith, Jennifer Smith-Rogers, and Mickey Williams.

“Jill, being passionate about the work of the American Heart Association, was honored by our request and made room in her hectic 2010 schedule to come on board,” says Meredith Jarvis, director of the Heart Ball. “Our goal this year is to bring even greater awareness and drive even more financial support in the fight against the number one killer of all Americans than ever before in Charleston…the important thing for everyone to remember is that each of us can make a difference, whether it’s volunteering their time, talents or treasures,” Jarvis said. “Every bit makes a huge difference in saving lives right here in our community.”

Among other contributions, the American Heart Association reminds us that living a health conscious lifestyle through diet and exercise can prevent heart disease. After all it’s no secret that art, and an occasional glass of red wine, is good for the heart!

Please Call 843-853-1597 or email Meredith.Jarvis@Heart.org for your reservations. This event will sell out!

The SC Green Fair

Words: Amy Mercer

The purpose of the Green Fair is to create excitement and enthusiasm for green products, services and technologies available to the residents of South Carolina using an environmentally responsible forum of education and entertainment.
- Suzie Webster,
executive director

Charleston is going green! This September, join in the fun with four days of green-ness at the second annual South Carolina Green Fair. With over 5,000 attendees in 2008, 2009 will be even bigger and better. This year, there will be a Sustainable Seafood Progressive Dinner, a Green Business Expo, an Environmental Film Showcase, and the main event, the actual Green Fair complete with an eco-art area, a beer and wine garden, green demonstrations, and even a kids’ eco-carnival. Aware of the importance of Charleston’s art community, the Green Fair is also debuting a large artist component to the event this year as well. And Charleston Art Mag is the main sponsor!

The Green Fair Art Walk will include approximately twenty tents showcasing eco-friendly and environmentally-themed art work including jewelry, sculpture, and paintings. Here are a few highlights of some of the artists you can expect to see. Susie Sheftel’s Schnblie® creatures were chosen to be the official mascot of the kids’ eco-carnival area. “Schneblies are happy frog-like critters that put a whimsical face on something that isn’t so funny....the health of our planet. Their goal is to remind everyone to be eco-minded and earth-loving. Lots of little efforts add up to major benefits for everyone, everywhere,” says Sheftel.

Plum Elements artist Lisa Shimko’s paintings of endangered birds perched atop health-conscious fruits remind us of the trickle-down effect our bad choices have on these little guys. The potters from Cone 10 Studios make positive use of the earth by creating beautiful bowls, cups, vases, and more. Painter Pamela Bledsoe has created stunning, colorful tulip paintings for the occassion. SCOOP studios artist Christopher Murphy uses found objects in his “abstract portraits” and artist Ben Timpson creates the most beautiful collages using things like dragonfly wings, little sticks, and other natural objects. Stop by and let them tell you about their fascinating processes.

Green Fair founder Suzie Webster is passionate about her work. Pleased with the continued success of the Green Fair, she wants the ongoing message to be inclusive and reach Charlestonians from all walks of life, because being green will “help the planet and the pocketbook. Anyone can be green.” 843.513.2655, www.charlestongreenfair.com.

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Moja Arts Festival

September 24 - October 4, 2009

Words: Taylor Berk

Reggae block party…Caribbean street parade…art exhibits galore…not to mention poetry readings and theatre productions… these all make up the Moja Arts Festival! Don’t miss out on this celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts in the form of music, visual arts, dance, regional cuisine, and kids’ activities. The Moja Arts Festival is motivated to bring together diverse ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds to promote peace among all people. It’s no coincidence that Moja gets its name from the Swahili word meaning “one.”

The best part? Most of Moja’s events are admission free, and those that do require a ticket are only between $5-$20. Every year, approximately 18,000 residents and tourists come together to enjoy the live reggae music, African drummers and dancers, ethnic foods and international crafts. Call 843.724.7305 or visit www.mojafestival.com for more info.

One of the highlights this year is an art show entitled “I, Too, America” inspired by Langston Hughes’ 1925 poem about what it means to be an American. Artist and curator Karole Turner Campbell has brought together five dynamic artists (including herself) to collaborate on the show: painters Marty Biernbaum and Andrea Hazel, indigo fabric artist Arianne King Comer, and quilter Jacqueline Johnson. The collaboration shows each artist’s view on patriotism, oppression, and hope for a brighter, unified future. “It speaks to our shared, yet diverse, heritages and is an unabashed call to the patriotism and the promise of inclusion that the American dream symbolizes,” says Turner Campbell of the poem’s opening line.

“I, Too, American” will be on display on the second floor of the Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun Street, from September 25 to October 30. Call 843.577.7400 for more info.

“I, Too”

I, too, sing America
I am the darker brother,
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed---

I, too, am America.

- Langston Hughes, 1925

Tips from the Pimp

Get Your Work Professionally Photographed!

People come to me with all kinds of issues and questions about how to market their art. One of the simplest and most inexpensive things you can do is to have your work professionally photographed. Seriously.

An Inexpensive Way to Look Professional
The small amount of money you’ll spend to have a high-resolution, color-corrected, professionally-lit shot is absolutely worth every penny. Before you even think it, no, your own photography probably is not good enough. Why? Because you have to have the right equipment, lighting, and experience to end up with a professional result. If you are working with sculptures or jewelry, go directly to a professional. Period.

A Strong Selling Tool
You’ve spent so much time on your artwork and you’d like to sell it for a significant amount. Unless the potential buyer will be directly in front of the piece, you’ll need to provide a photo. And wouldn’t it be smart to give that potential buyer a nice photo to take home so they can fall in love and buy the real thing? Don’t you think the photo needs to be an accurate representation of the actual piece of art?! If the photo is not a good one, do you realistically think you have a chance of selling that piece? Don’t you think your buyer would take you more seriously if you presented a more professional image?

Oh, the Things You Can Do with Your Photos
Once you have professional photos, you can use them for so many things. You’ll be using them for websites, social media outlets, advertising, pitches to the media, porfolios, coffee table books, insurance reasons, etc. By making a small initial investment in professional shots, so many more possibilities are now open to you.

The Media will Love You
The media places a strong focus on good quality, high-resolution images. Provide them with these and your chances of getting your work into a magazine or newspaper has automatically doubled.

The Difference Between Photos for Print and Web
There is a huge difference between photos that are used for these two very different outlets. For images in print to look good, they need to be high-resolution images that are at least 300 dots per inch (dpi) in a CMYK color mode. Images for web are in an RGB color mode, require less pixels (around 72 dpi) and thus can, and should be, much smaller in size so they load faster. If you are not sure how to check your image’s actual pixels and resolution, you can typically look at the file size and it should be at least 4 megabites (MB) in size for print purposes. For web, your images should typically be under 150 kilobites (KB).

Art Pimp specializes in consulting, marketing, public relations, and event planning for artists. Schedule a one-hour consultation appointment.
olivia@theartpimp.com, 843.568.7738.

Summerville's Blooming Art Scene

Words: Amy Mercer

White picket fences, hot pink azaleas, old plantation homes, and the kindest people you’ll ever meet... Summerville is as steeped in Southern charm as their iced tea is cold and sweet. Y’all might feel inclined to sit a spell.

Downtown Charleston is renowned for its art community; from galleries to museums, events and schools, art is deeply ingrained within the city walls. However, often overlooked is the creativity that reaches beyond the cobble-lined streets of downtown, such as the vibrant community of art in Summerville. Experience the softer, greener, and more peaceful side of Charleston’s art community.

Creative people, things, and places attract one another. With its lush oaks, beautiful parks, talented artists, a thriving art guild, and super quaint, historic downtown, it comes as no surprise that Summerville has become one of Charleston’s creative hubs. With a wealth of charm, beauty, and nature surrounding them, artists find inspiration at every turn.

Art Central
One great example is Art Central, a co-operative gallery located in the historic area, surrounded by boutiques and gourmet restaurants. The gallery offers a selection of paintings, photography, jewelry, wood carvings, prints and pottery. In addition, Art Central supports local artists through a variety of events like their Scrumptious Summerville Kitchen TourOctober 11, 1-5pm. This annual event is a lovely combination of delicious food, beautiful homes, and stunning artwork. And on October 15, join the Gallery as they celebrate their 11th Anniversary. During the warmer months of March through September, check out the Summerville Summer Art Walks taking place every Thursday from 5-8pm. Over 30 local artists & craftsmen exhibit in booths along the street, with live entertainment, late night shopping and a wine and cheese reception.

Summerville Artist Guild
With monthly meetings September through May, the Summerville Artist Guild offers art shows, exhibits and art/educational programs for its 45 local artist members. Past Guild president and current marketing director for Art Central, Alix Kassing says she enjoys the community of artists at Art Central and the European feel and thriving art community of downtown Summerville.

Sculpture in the South
Over the past eleven years, Sculpture in the South has received recognition as one of the south’s premiere outdoor art events. Held in historic Summerville’s beautiful Azalea Park, this unique event offers collectors and first time art enthusiasts a chance to mingle with fine art sculptures. One piece is selected each year to be part of the permanent collection. This year’s event will be held the weekend of May 15th-16th 2010. Visitors can stroll through the park and enjoy the permanent collection throughout the year.

Arleta's Wonderland

Words: Amy Mercer

Realism artist Arleta Pech has been creating magic and wonder in her paintings since she was a child growing up in a farming community. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Pech paints images of suspended reality in her latest series, Allegory in Alice; A Novel Approach. The genre of these works is realistic, yet each painting raises questions about time, reality and the very nature of “still life.”

Pech first came to Charleston during the 1998 Southeastern Wildlife Exposition as an artist represented by Mill Pond Press, an international publisher of Fine Art Prints. “I fell in love with the historical homes, as well as the many elegant antique shops.” The Mary Martin Gallery of Fine Art will feature several examples of these earlier published works along with the new oils based on Alice in Wonderland. “You can imagine how excited I am to return to Charleston, enjoying the exceptional hospitality, and searching out Charleston’s rare antique treasures, which are likely to inspire my creativity yet again.”

From September 30 to October 3, she hopes to also inspire others as she conducts an oil painting workshop called the “Transparent Oil Seminar,” and this one is exclusive to Charleston! This class is great for artists transitioning from watercolor to oil, or those who want to learn more about glazing. Pech works with thin dilutions, using oil paints to create a “lit from within” quality. The classes will focus on techniques such as: composition, background, block-in, building glaze with color theory, building value and finishing details.

“People are flying in from all the over the country for Arleta’s oil seminar. Her glazing techniques are those of the Old Masters; she layers color upon color with the glazes. She has even manufactured her own color wheel that assists artists in layering transparent glazes to achieve their desired colors,” explains gallery owner Mary Martin.

On Sunday, October 4, from 10am to 12pm, artists interested in learning how to better market their works are invited to join Pech and Martin for a special 2-hour inspirational marketing discussion with a Q&A to follow. Pech will also be present for the opening exhibition of Allegory in Alice on Friday, October 2 from 5:30 to 7pm. The reception is free and open to the public.

To sign up for Pech’s special “Transparent Oil Seminar” taking place at The Courtyard by Marriott, 35 Lockwood Drive, call 843.723.0303. The seminar costs $480 and the marketing discussion is $50. For more info, go online at www.marymartinart.com or www.arletapech.com.

Creative Synergy:
Redux Contemporary Art Center

Words: Amy Mercer

The great artwork of our time has been made by artists spending time together (i.e. Van Gogh & Gauguin, Picasso & Braque). What you get from artists working around other artists is a friendly competitive environment. Groups of like-minded artists have always produced more dramatic creative results through a process of sharing ideas. When two or more artists get together they typically create more,
and it’s usually of a higher caliber. Synergy.
– Karen Ann Myers, executive director, Redux.

Redux Contemporary Art Center in downtown Charleston is a non-profit gallery, studio and education center. Founded in 2002 by five College of Charleston students, Redux is a 6,000 square foot, 24-hour studio facility that includes fifteen private studios, a dark room, and print shop. A unique space, Redux is home to some of Charleston’s most creative young artists. Let’s take a peek at how two very different artists like to make their creative nests and how they feel about being part of close creative quarters.

“Artist Sally Benedict is energetic and spontaneous in her studio. She paints standing up with her palette set up on a table behind her” causing her to physically move to reload her brush and step back from her work says Myers. “I think her work reflects her general energy and enthusiasm.” In her studio, small tables crowded with paints, brushes and books line the walls. “I like being a pack rat and having stuff everywhere,” she says.

Benedict says she’s inspired by Mark Rothko’s movement of color and Pablo Picasso’s linear progression. Her paintings are bright and experimental. “I usually start with a palette in mind… a certain shape or form. It’s more about mood, emotion and color.”

Artist and yoga instructor Lesley Wamsley’s work is influenced by the mind-body connection. “Lesley is meditative and thoughtful in her studio practice. She sits on her floor on a pillow with her materials spread out around her. She hovers over her work, meticulously layering and adding to the complexity of each piece,” observes Karen Ann Myers, executive director of Redux.

Beginning with a collage of text and images, Wamsley compares her process to the layers of an onion. After the collage is assembled on the canvas, she applies heavy layers of oil paint and thread. “Sewing is the thread of thought, mental bondage, and although meditation is considered to be a tremendously liberating practice, this work acknowledges that it can be extremely painful and challenging to look at one’s self and accept the bondage that is created by our own thoughts.” With scissors, Lesley cuts away at the canvas, peeling back the layers.

As different as these two artists’ personalities and styles are, it is clear that they both benefit from Redux’s creative environment. Wamsley has found that the community of artists has forced her to let go of inhibitions. “When I work in this type of atmosphere, it makes me want to push more. It’s nice to be in a community with other people who like to talk about art.” As an extrovert, Benedict says she thrives on the community of artists at Redux. She and colleague Kate Long Stevenson cut a hole in the wall separating their studios. They often peek through the hole to share books, resources, and to critique one another’s work.

Each of the 15 artists at Redux (and the whole world!) has their own idiosyncrasies and methodologies, but one thing is certain: all great artists learn from other great artists. Visit the artists at Redux at 136 Saint Phillip Street, 843.722.0697, www.reduxstudios.org.

Photo Safari

Ever wonder how expert photographers capture such brilliant images of Charleston? Here is your chance to learn and even take home “professional” souvenir photos of your own while on vacation!

The Charleston Center of Photography has put together a Photo Safari for beginners and above to take, edit, and print pictures of some of the most sought after areas in town. Beginning at the Battery Point, instructors will give a quick course on how to better use your digital camera. The safari will begin exploring the High Battery area, wind around to Church Street, and on the famous Rainbow Row.

Concluding at the Center for Photography, each student can experience editing and printing techniques first hand as well as receive one 8”x10” print of his or her choice. The cost per person is $100, and there must be at least five people participating. Additional prints can be purchased for $12.
843.720.3105, www.ccforp.org.

The Ark of Compassion

Words: Olivia Pool

To be completely honest, the first time I saw Randall LaGro’s work, I said, “hmmm” and then moved on to look at other things that were more immediately gratifying. In retrospect, I think, “silly me.” I often liken this all-too-quick judgement of mine to the initial stomach flutter of meeting a cute, outgoing guy who doesn’t have much substance, only to realize that the quiet, handsome one in the corner was really the one I’d rather spend my life with.

As time went on, I would find myself more and more drawn to this particular LaGro painting every time I saw it. It was called “The Ark of Compassion II.” It moved me. It was like a dream that lingered throughout the day. It stirred something deep within me that I just couldn’t figure out. Sometimes, I would even talk myself out of liking it because I didn’t understand it. But somewhere in me it made sense. It’s a bit like falling in love. It just happens to you. It doesn’t always make sense, but the feeling is undeniable, and then you eventually just have a need for that in your life. I needed that painting.

I’ve been around a lot of art in my life, but nothing, nothing has ever moved me like this. I didn’t really have the money for it but I got it anyway. When I finally got it home, I was overflowing with school girl giddiness knowing that this would be with me for a long, long time. I stared at it for hours.

One day, I had the opportunity to meet Randall LaGro in person and asked him to tell me about my painting. He described these three regal figures who continually sail the seas in this ark, delivering compassion over and over, wherever it is most needed. All of a sudden, it all clicked. It had come into my life at a time when I had needed an enormous amount of compassion. That painting had made its way to me.

What more is there to say, really? It’s truly a powerful thing for an inanimate object such as a painting to have such a profound effect on someone. My subconscious knew what I was looking for before I did.

That’s the thing about LaGro’s artwork. It isn’t the typical “pretty” kind, although much of it is extremely beautiful. He paints intuitively, with true natural talent shining through. And his work strikes a chord with people. It is the type of work that will last centuries because it appeals to more than your eyes; it finds its way into your heart.

“His work is pretty serious art and is already in museum collections. Other artists strive to be like him and have referred to him as an ‘artist’s artist.’ He has dedicated his entire life to his art. He has no fear, always paints by feeling and intuition, and strives to produce art that will endure past his lifetime,” says gallery owner Mary Martin.

Meet LaGro in person on December 1-3, 2009 as he hosts a workshop on painting and monotype techniques called “Vision and Expression with Mixed Media” and focuses on “finding your voice.” The cost for this is $350. To register or for more info, call the Mary Martin Gallery at 843.723.0303 or visit www.marymartinart.com.

Artist Profile: Robert Lange

Words: Samantha Test

Robert Lange Studios
151 East Bay Street
843.805.8052
www.robertlangestudios.com

We fell in love with Charleston.

“It’s a nice marriage between the two,” Robert Lange said. He was referring to the contemporary artists represented at his gallery (including himself) and the charm and history of the new space he is renovating. The sentiment, though, has broader strokes.

When he moved to Charleston five years ago, Lange debuted his work at Charles II Fine Art. Just out of the Rhode Island School of Design, he was the new oil painter on the block.
“I showed up in Charleston, fresh out of college with my fiancée (now wife). We got scared that we would go into this system and get spit out really fast. So our idea was stay on the east coast and find somewhere you could be see yourself being a painter for 50 years,” Lange said. “We fell in love with Charleston.”

Since then, Lange’s paintings of stark lights and darks highlighted by dramatic color have been relished by many. With every show, his talent and imagination seem to entice viewers even further into a world only he can create.

Crediting his wife and fellow artist, Megan Lange, with doing the “real work” of their gallery, Lange himself creates full time. The two artists have successfully balanced their passions with being gallery owners. Painting “morning, noon and night,” as Lange described himself, he looks for the same work ethic in new artists.

“The idea behind the artists we represent are people who have something to contribute that is only theirs,” Lange said. “Every time they do a show, we challenge them after and we expect them to grow and evolve. Step on your own shoulders and make something great.”

Ironically coming full circle, Lange is currently moving his gallery down the street into the old Charles II space. The space is being completely transformed into a mixture of the old and new. Having uncovered antique hardwood flooring and original arched brick windows, Lange is intermingling the space’s existing aesthetic with a modern, lounge style. The space will be “as artistic as the art on the walls.”

The new Robert Lange Studio opens October 2, celebrating its fifth anniversary and Nathan Durfee’s annual solo show.

Whether it be his own marriage, or his painting style mixed with the city’s style, or his artistically renovated new space; it is a nice marriage, indeed.

Artist Profile: Rick Reinert

The Wells Gallery
125 Meeting Street
843.853.3233
www.wellsgallery.com

Nature and sunlight have provided me with the ultimate reference library. I believe that it is possible to study painting for a lifetime and never have to venture more than one square mile for constant challenges and a wealth of subject matter. Every day offers unique and exciting opportunities for the artist who follows the light.

Rick Reinert has a distinctive style and tries to “say as much as possible with the least amount of brushstrokes.” His large scale oil paintings focus on expressing light and shadow in landscapes, figures and buildings. Imagination is an important component in his work, and Reinert makes choices to push the basic form to create something whimsical. “Who says you can’t do that in art? Who says you can’t do whatever you want?”

Reinert went to art school in the seventies and worked in a more abstract style. After college he traveled to Germany and eventually moved across the border to Canada where he raised a family and grew a business. After nearly twenty years away from painting, Reinert moved to Charleston and began again. “It finally dawned on me what I want to do when I grow up,” he says with a laugh. “I don’t want to do anything else, and I feel fortunate to make a living making art.” Reinert refers to himself as mostly self-taught and says that he doesn’t believe in going to workshops or taking classes because, like Bagger Vance, he wants to remain true to his “natural swing.”

Reinert’s paintings can be found at the Wells Gallery on Meeting Street and at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island. A prolific artist, Reinert creates deadlines for himself, painting every day and completing about 24 pieces each month. “I put myself under an extreme amount of pressure with deadlines. I try to do 4 or 5 at a time so I don’t get bogged down in the details. It keeps me fresher that way.”

This fall Reinert will take part in a four person show for the 10th anniversary of the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association Annual Art Weekend on November 4-7. The artists will paint in Washington Park, and the pieces competed will be sold to benefit Charleston County High School art programs.

Artist Profile: Peter O'Neill

Peter O’Neill Gallery
108 North Market Street
843.408.4165
www.oneillgallery.com

If I have to tell someone what my art is about, then I haven’t done my job.

Peter O’Neill wants his paintings to tell a story. A self-taught artist, O’Neill’s life experiences contribute to the emotional range of his work. Thirteen years ago, with just a few hundred dollars in his pockets, a career in art was born on the streets of St. Augustine, Florida. Working his way from the ground up, O’Neill sold sketches on the sidewalk. His paintings now sell for as much as $25,000 on the same streets where his talents were once dismissed. His gallery is one of a few artist-owned galleries in both St. Augustine and Charleston. “The galleries give me the freedom to paint what I like.”

From the Kentucky Derby to the streets of New York City, and as a recent ‘artist in residence’ on a Disney Cruise, O’Neill says, “It’s amazing where the paintbrush can take you.” Working from photographs and models, and painting in oils on mostly large scale canvases, Peter’s work varies from figures, still lifes, landscapes, beach scenes, and florals. Much of his work focuses on the female form in her ‘genuine sensibility.’ Of his models, he says “I can tell when they walk in what kind of mood they’re in, and that’s the mood I want to capture. I don’t want to capture somebody trying to look angry, or happy or sad, or thoughtful, I want to capture people in their natural state.”

O’Neill believes in spending time at his galleries and talking to people who walk in off the street. “Our customers become like family,” he says. He believes the public is the true judge of his work. “If a painting doesn’t sell then I need to do a different one, one that speaks to someone.” O’Neill offers a wide range of originals and reproductions, including giclee prints and postcards. A collection of his work is also available in a hardcover book titled, “Mixed Emotions.”

O’Neill gained national recognition after creating an image of a New York City firefighter from 9/11. “Two Minutes of Silence made me realize how powerful art can be. When that image became iconic, when a grown man came in and sat down at my desk and cried, it was a powerful lesson.” The painting depicts a kneeling New York City fireman, his head resting on his shovel against the backdrop of the collapsed World Trade Center. He donated all his earnings from that image to the Firefighter Relief Fund as well as to fire, police and emergency service stations across the country.

O’Neill has plans to open another gallery in New Orleans and looks forward to continuing on this journey. “I’m not where I want to be yet, but I do what I love.” He’ll keep telling stories and letting the public judge his work.

Artist Profile: Betsey Carter

Words: Amy Mercer

Cone 10 Studios
285-C Meeting Street
843.853.3345
www.cone10studios.com

I love the idea of merging practicality and beauty, so I always try to think of that when I’m making a piece. How can I make it useful as well as something that you would be proud to display? I don’t want to make something so precious that it is kept behind glass. I want my work to be approachable.

Betsey Carter uses her hands to merge practicality and beauty. She shares the philosophy of William Morris, from the British Arts and Crafts movement, that it is important to “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” After working at The Citadel as the Associate Professor of Library Science for twenty years, Carter has recently retired and is working full time to create functional and beautiful objects of art.

Working primarily in porcelain “fired to cone 10” in reduction, Carter explores the “strength, fluidity and whiteness of the porcelain, striving for clean lines and simplicity of form.” Her work consists primarily of vases, platters, bowls, serving pieces, cups and touchstones in celadon, vibrant purple, turquoise, deep reds and a glassy white. She uses small stamps to imprint lettering onto touchstones to spell out words like Grace, Peace, Love and other bits of wisdom. Imagining how her customers will use the pots, Betsey makes decisions about glazing based on how a spoon will scrape across the inside of a bowl, or how deep the bowl needs to be to hold a basket full of fresh strawberries.

“Handmade may be more expensive but it’s that individuality, that connection to the artist; pottery is accessible, affordable and useable. I like knowing that my customers are going to take the bowl home and make a big salad, or a dessert. That connection with people is really special.”

As one of the owners of Cone 10 Studios, Carter works among a dozen or so potters in a shared workspace on Meeting Street. Members enjoy a fully equipped studio, individual and group workspaces and a gallery. Participation as well as the type of art varies among the members at Cone 10. The studio offers wheel throwing and clay sculpture classes, outreach and partnership with arts organizations, as well as member and invitational exhibitions. “A lot of what we do is education,” Carter says of Cone 10.

Carter is a member of South Carolina’s Women’s Caucus for Art, and will be showing her pottery in a juried member show at the Real Estate Studio on King Street in September 2009. The show will run from September 21 to October 30, with an opening reception Thursday, September 24 from 5-9pm.

Artist Profile: Susan Colwell

Words: Amy Mercer

Susan Colwell
Waterfront Gallery
215 East Bay Street
843.722.1155
www.waterfrontartgallery.com

I’ve always lived by the water. I paint, then I jump in the pool and then I paint some more.

Susan Colwell never colored inside the lines. She began painting as a child and hasn’t stopped. Today she lives in Mt. Pleasant and spends her days filling large canvases in her studio behind the house. Her laugh is contagious and she makes the life of an artist sound ideal. Her studio is small and her paintings are large, so when Colwell wants to observe her paintings from a distance, she jumps into her pool. Using the pool as a place of contemplation, she invites friends over to swim and critique her works-in-progress. “After a glass or two of wine,” she laughs, “everyone thinks the paintings are wonderful!”

Friendly critiques aside, Colwell paints for herself, even when working on a commission. She creates two images, one that follows the request of the client, and another she allows to move off in its own direction. “I always show both paintings.” Most often, the client chooses the painting that was done without following a certain criteria. “I love the freedom of painting on my own and I love it when a painting goes in its own direction, when it leads me.”

When Colwell moved to town in the 1970s she was one of a few artists painting abstracts. Her work has evolved over time and she now considers herself a colorist. “I start a painting with a color, and it evolves as the color speaks to me.” Her titles frequently reference colors: Butterscotch Dawn, Tangerine Cloud, and Emerald Retreat to name a few.

Working from sketches and using photographs as a reference point, Colwell creates abstract impressions of marsh scenes, landscapes and still life. Recently back from a trip to Costa Rica, she is excited about painting “the feeling of Costa Rica... the greens were lusher and the blues were more vibrant.”

Colwell’s paintings are shown locally at the Waterfront Gallery on East Bay Street (co-owned by 18 different artists) and a gallery in Raleigh, NC. She also shows her paintings annually during Piccolo Spoleto in Marion Square where she enjoys interacting with clients and on-lookers. With a lifetime of experience behind her, she remains passionate about her work. “I continue to evolve; my biggest fear is that I’ll remain static.”

Arist Profile: Zin Lim

Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art
58 Broad Street
843.722.3660
www.ellarichardson.com

Words: Amy Mercer

What I want to express through my work is the reality that is mutually experienced between me and the object.

Born in Seoul, South Korea in 1974, Artist Zin Lim paints figures in oil. After studying both representational and non-representational painting, Lim’s work reflects the creative promise between these two realms. He believes each of these opposing structures complement the other. Lim’s figures are often set against abstract backgrounds, while the figure or portions of the figure will be done with the precision of a Classic Realist. With a combination of heavy brushstrokes and flat color, his figures appear to melt into the background.

Lim explains his artistic process as a journey, “Before rational formalization, to me, the process of perceiving an object is like the process of a journey. My painting is like recording the process. I observe and experience an object and the total of fragmental impression which is ever changing and redefined...”

Lim received a MFA from the esteemed Academy of Art University in San Francisco where he is now an instructor. He has received several prestigious awards from The Salon International, The Portrait Society of American and The Oil Painters of America. Lim’s latest work will be shown with fellow artist HyeSeong Yoon at Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art from October 2-31, with an opening reception on October 2 from 5-8pm.