North Charleston City Gallery to Exhibit Works by The Summerville Artist Guild

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that works by members of the Summerville Artist Guild will be on exhibit at the North Charleston City Gallery from March 1-29, 2014. A free reception will be held at the gallery on Thursday, March 6, from 5:00-7:00pm. Many of the exhibiting artists will be present and refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend.

The Summerville Artist Guild will present its 38th Annual Judged Show featuring two-dimensional works by 30 of its members in a variety of subjects and mediums. Comprised of artists from Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston counties, guild members from all levels of expertise express their talents in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, mixed media, and more. Ribbons for Best of Show as well as first place, second place, third place, and honorable mentions in multiple categories will be awarded by guest juror, Megan Aline, artist and co-owner of Robert Lange Studios in Downtown Charleston.

The Summerville Artist Guild meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through May. The purposes of the guild are to “present programs of artwork, demonstrations, and workshops for the encouragement of members at all levels of artistic ability and for the awakening of greater interest in the Fine Arts community and environs." For more information, visit summervilleartistguild.com.

The North Charleston City Gallery is situated in the common areas of the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Parking and admission are free during regular Convention Center operating hours, 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The gallery is staffed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday only. Inquiries regarding the artists or purchase information may be directed to the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843)740-5854. For information on additional exhibits, programs, and events, visit the Cultural Arts section of the City’s website at http://bit.ly/culturalarts.

North Charleston City Gallery to Exhibit Works by Barbara Sammons, Carol Beth Icard and Linda Page Hudgins

"Forgotten" by Barbara Sammons

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that photographs by Barbara Sammons and abstract paintings by Carol Beth Icard and Linda Page Hudgins will be on exhibit at the North Charleston City Gallery from November 1-30, 2013.

Dusty Roads by Barbara Sammons
In her latest collection of photographs, Dusty Roads, Barbara Sammons focuses her lens on the classic cars, junkyard jalopies and old trucks she encounters as she travels the back roads of the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky. According to Sammons, the post-processing techniques she applies to her digital photographs work to enhance the soul or story behind the subject, as there is always a story to tell. “I’m often asked, ‘Why do you want to take a picture of that rusty old car?’ I’ll say, ‘Tell me its story, and then I’ll tell you why,”” Sammons explains. In response, the photographer has heard a number of reminiscences about family summer road trips, tales of teenage backseat shenanigans, recollections of successful excursions through bad weather, memories of driving lessons with nervous parents, and more. As both a photographer and writer, it is the people and narratives behind these rusty, old automobiles that inspire Sammons. “I hear the joy and love in their voices,” she says. “And I love a good story.”

Barbara Sammons is an award-winning photographer and published writer with over 30 years of experience behind the camera. Her photographs have been featured in numerous solo, group and juried/judged exhibitions throughout the Southeast. Barbara currently resides in Candler, North Carolina, and is a former professional chef, graphic designer, marketing professional and master gardener. She is a member of several photography organizations in North Carolina, the Photographic Society of America (PSA), the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), CORSA, the Corvair Society of America and CORSA/NC, the Corvair Society of North Carolina.

Works by Carol Beth Icard and Linda Page Hudgins
In their joint exhibition, Carol Beth Icard and Linda Page Hudgins present a collection of nonobjective paintings that capture invisible energy with their own personal color vocabularies. Icard describes her painting style as introspective abstraction, incorporating intuition, emotion and contemplation via color, gesture, line and form. Hudgins’ work may be described as abstract surrealism, with images of nature implied through spontaneous brushstrokes. The two artists live in the same community, six miles apart, divided by a state line. Although they maintain strongly individual approaches to painting, they have developed a compatibility that has become a part of their growth, both as artists and as friends.

Carol Beth Icard began her painting career mid-life, enrolling in the visual arts program at Berkshire Community College (Pittsfield, MA) in her mid-forties. Her focus for the many years since then has been on developing her voice as an abstract painter. Her works have been featured in many solo and group exhibitions along the East Coast and are included in several private and public collections, such as the Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons at Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) and Hospice of the Carolina Foothill (Columbus, NC). She lives and works in Landrum, SC, and is currently represented by Carolina Gallery in Spartanburg, SC, and The Design Gallery in Burnsville, NC.

A native of South Carolina, Linda Page Hudgins studied art at Converse College and later at the Rhode Island School of Design. A lifelong commitment to artistic exploration has taken her to such exotic places as Ghana, Botswana and China. She has exhibited frequently in regional venues throughout her career, including galleries in Chicago, New York City, Richmond, Virginia, as well as NC, SC and GA. In addition, her paintings are included in a number of private and public collections both in the states and abroad, including Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC) and Guangxi Normal University Art School (Guilin, PR China).

The North Charleston City Gallery is situated in the common areas of the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Parking and admission are free during regular Convention Center operating hours, 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The gallery is staffed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday only. Inquiries regarding the artists or purchase information may be directed to the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854. For information on additional exhibits, programs, and events, visit the Cultural Arts section of the City’s website at http://bit.ly/culturalarts.

North Charleston City Hall Turns Art Gallery with Works by International & National Artists

Pursuing New Lands by Reynier Llanes

The halls of North Charleston City Hall have been transformed into viewing spaces for three special visual art exhibitions presented as components of the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival. Contemporary works by an assortment of artists from Cuba, art quilts by African American fiber artists from across the nation, and abstract fiber pieces by the City’s Artists-in-Residence are currently on display and will remain on view through June 20. A reception in honor of the exhibitions will be held at North Charleston City Hall on Thursday, May 9, from 6:00-8:00pm. The exhibitions and reception are free and open to the public.

Contemporary Artists of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba - International Group Exhibition
The third floor of City Hall features the international group exhibition, Contemporary Artists of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, is an area steeped in rich culture and history that has been the birthplace and home of many of the country’s most outstanding writers, musicians, and visual artists. In this group exhibition curated by Reynier Llanes, nine professional contemporary artists from this westernmost province of Cuba present a collection of post Cuban Revolution art in a variety of mediums and styles that capture their unique culture and heritage as is relates to the land, life, and the essence of community. Featured artists include Javier Ampudia, Arquimides (Nelo) Lores, Juan Suarez Blanco, Livan Ricardo Hernandez, Reynier Llanes (curator), Yaciel Martinez, Juan Carlos Morales Lemus, Danys Milo Ozuna, and Juan Miguel Suarez. These artists are not tied to the historical 1940’s early modern traditions of pre-revolution artistic expressions, or the 1960’s revolution presentations of ideological social realism, or the politically sanctioned and government supervised expressions of art of the 1970’s and 80’s. Rather, these artists are products of the 1990’s, creating work based on the ideas of freedom of expression and experimentation in both mediums and styles. Featured works include representational landscapes, figurative expressions, magic surrealism, and abstract expressionism styles of contemporary art in Cuba today that are a clear testament to the artists’ creativity and imagination, advanced education, rich cultural bonding, sense of humor, and vitality. Llanes will give a brief lecture during the reception at 6:30pm. For additional information on the artists featured in the exhibition, visit ReynierLlanes.com.

Once Upon a Quilt: Welcome to My Quilted Story Book – 7th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition
City Hall’s first and second floors feature the 7th annual African American fiber art exhibition, Once Upon a Quilt: Welcome to My Quilted Story Book. Curated by award-winning and nationally exhibiting textile artist, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, this annual exhibit showcases African American fiber artists from across the nation creating works through a variety of traditional and non-traditional fiber techniques. The 7th installment features pieces inspired by the artists’ favorite story; written or oral, fiction or non-fiction. Through this exhibition, these quilts are able to tell their own stories with messages that encourage, inspire, comfort, and enchant. Featured artists include Cathy Alvarez (Marietta, GA), Yvonne Anderson (Laurelton, NY), Pauline Barrett (Killeen, TX), Carolyn Brackat (Conway, SC), Lenora Brown (North Charleston, SC), Angela Ferguson (Austel, GA), Cookie Keeling Patterson (Decatur, GA), Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC), Catherine Lamkin (Charleston, SC), Aisha Lumumba (Atlanta, GA), Bridgett Murray (Walterboro, SC), Laquita Tummings (Vallejo, CA), and Torreah “Cookie” Washington (SC). Washington will give a brief lecture during the reception at 7:30pm.

Wash Over You – Works by Kristy Bishop
On City Hall’s second floor, opposite the art quilts, viewers will find fiber works of another kind. In her exhibition of abstract textile pieces, titled Wash Over You, Kristy Bishop presents intricate pieces composed of hand-dyed silk that is cut, gathered, and sewn. Thousands of tiny pieces of fabric are manipulated to create color transitions and gradients that translate human emotions. The featured pieces are left untitled so that the emotions the artist experienced while making each piece do not necessarily influence the interpretation of the viewer. Ultimately, the artist hopes that individuals viewing this series allow themselves to feel whatever emotion it is that the colors elicit. Bishop currently offers residencies to North Charleston schools and community groups as the City’s Artist-in-Residence. Her work has been featured in the pages of Charleston Magazine and presented in a number of group exhibitions, both locally and nationally. She will give a brief lecture during the reception at 7:00pm.

North Charleston City Hall is located at 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406. Exhibition viewing times are 8:00am-8:00pm, daily through June 20. Inquiries regarding the artists or purchase information may be directed to the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854. For full details about the North Charleston Arts Festival visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. For information on additional exhibits, programs, and events organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts.

Annual North Charleston Arts Festival set for May 4-12

Mayor Summey talks about the Arts Festival on 1250 WTMA

Now in its 30th year, the North Charleston Arts Festival will take place May 4-12, 2012. The nine day event draws thousands of residents and visitors each year and is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, highlighting national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature.

Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the festival strives to maintain the spirit of a public celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performances, exhibitions, and activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced. Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival offers something for everyone.

My Muse by Elena Barna, winner of the
2012 Arts Festival Design Competition.
Elena's work will be used to promote the festival.

“The Arts Festival is truly a point of pride for the City of North Charleston,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “It provides our residents and thousands of visitors with a myriad of opportunities to experience high quality entertainment, exhibits, and programming from every arts discipline in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings.”

The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over forty performances on four themed stages: General Audience, Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, and Bands.  Other features include judged fine art and photography exhibits; the 12th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; youth art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Society show and sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children's activities at Box City and Creation Stations; art & craft vendors, a food court, and much more. 

The Festival continues with over fifty events throughout the week at various locations.  An exciting array of free and ticketed events include concerts, street dances, theatre presentations, film screenings, art workshops and demonstrations, an art walk, children’s programs, an Art & Fine Craft CoOp Gallery & Sale, the 7th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful North Charleston Riverfront Park. This year’s Grand Finale on May 12 features a Tri-County school showcase, dance performances, a slam poetry show, children’s activities, and an evening concert by The Shem Creek Boogie Band. The event concludes with a fantastic fireworks display over the Cooper River.

Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, Art Walk, Opening Processional, and Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition. Volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Applications can be found at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

For more 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including event details and venue information, visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854.