North Charleston City Gallery to exhibit works by digital photography pioneer Bill Helms

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that works by photographer Bill Helms will be on exhibit at the North Charleston City Gallery from April 1-30, 2013. The exhibition, titled FADS: Fine Art Digitals, is on loan from the South Carolina State Museum’s Traveling Exhibitions Program.

South Carolinian Bill Helms (1927- 2008), is considered to be one of the pioneers of digital photography. A well respected commercial ‘food photographer’ by trade, Helms’ creative work includes transformations of personal visions and re-combinations of the world as he saw it. FADS: Fine Art Digitals features 42 photo montages and digital manipulations that range from a kind of modern impressionism to various degrees of abstract realism. They are entirely new visual experiences that fuse elements from multiple photographs to create images that exercise both the eye and the mind.

Bill Helms was probably the youngest combat photographer when he boarded the USS Yorktown in 1944. He specialized in flight deck combat photography during WWII and later attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California, where he received his Bachelor of Professional Arts Degree. In his post-military career, Helms established himself as a leader in food, interior design, and travel photography. His editorial work was featured in House Beautiful, House & Garden, Better Homes and Gardens, Metropolitan Home, the New York Times Entertaining Magazines, Los Angeles Magazine, and Los Angeles Times special sections. His book credits include the Time-Life Foods of the World series and Metropolitan Home's The New American Cuisine.

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 Friday, Saturday, and Monday 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.