Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, Announces Winners At 2013 Annual Meeting Celebration

On Monday, May 13, 2013, the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, welcomed nine new Board members and announced the winners of the 2013 Mary Whyte Art Educator Award and the 2013 Philanthropy Award at the museum’s Annual Meeting Celebration.

Mary Whyte Art Educator Award – Established in 2007, the Mary Whyte Art Educator Award is designed to highlight a high school visual art teacher in the state of South Carolina who demonstrates superior commitment to their students and to their craft. The award is accompanied by a cash prize of $2,500 and is administered and presented annually by the Gibbes. This year’s winner is Ashley Webb from Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Webb accepted her award along with her family and principal. She submitted a lesson plan to encourage students to reflect on their family unit and to create compositions that were organizationally sound as well as visually symbolic of their family unit. This was a very personal lesson for the students and in some cases, the students dealt with deep rooted issues from childhood to adolescence. Upon completion of the lesson, students participated in a formal class critique. Webb says, “This critique was one of the most powerful critiques I have experienced in her ten years of teaching. There were moments of joy and laughter and moments of sadness and empathy.” Webb earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Clemson University, BFA (cum laude) in 2001, and her M.Ed in Secondary Administration (suma cum laude), from The Citadel in 2008. She is a Member of the Alumni Association, and holds an Advanced Placement Studio Arts Certification. In 2009, she earned a National Board Certification in Secondary Art and has a Master’s + 30.

The Mary Whyte Art Educator Award is named for renowned Charleston watercolorist and donor Mary Whyte. Additional support comes from the Cynthia Schell Charitable Trust.

James S. Gibbes Philanthropy Award – Each year the Board and staff of the CAA bestows on an individual or group the James Schoolbred Gibbes Philanthropy Award. Gibbes was deeply devoted to the betterment of Charleston’s young creative minds in the aftermath of Reconstruction. Through his 1885 bequest of $100K, which in today’s dollars is valued at $2.5M, Gibbes launched what we know today as the Gibbes Museum of Art. His generosity and vision set the state for the visual arts in Charleston by providing the funds to build the oldest art museum in the South.

Caroline and Tom Vreede are recipients of the 2013 James Gibbes Philanthropy Award. The Vreedes are known for their support of contemporary visual artists and are passing their philanthropy to their daughter and her family. Their generosity to the Gibbes began in 2001 with a contribution to help purchase the “Bombardment of Fort Sumter” by William Aiken Walker, and in 2007 they made possible the purchase of a major work by Mary Whyte entitled “The Artist”. Since 2004 they have made repeated gifts to build The Vreede Collecton of James Whistler prints at the Gibbes, and this year they provided us with two more. This is all in addition to their many financial contributions, their service on the Board of Directors and Collections Committee.

Dr. Anton Vreede – Graduated from Medical School at the University of Amsterdam in 1957. He was a Medical Officer in the Royal Dutch Navy, from 1957-59. Vreede immigrated to the United States in 1959. He finished specialty training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and practiced General and Vascular Surgery in Binghamton, NY, from 1967 until retirement in 1995. He served as Chairman of the Surgical Department and was Vice President of the Medical Staff of two area hospitals; a member of the Board of Directors of United Health Services for 10 years; was President of the Broome County Medical Society; member of the Advisory Board of Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Central New York, and Clinical Professor in Surgery at SUNY Binghamton. Vreede married his wife Caroline in Binghamton, NY, in 1968, and moved permanently to Kiawah Island in 2001 in order to be close to their daughter Janneke, her husband and two grandchildren.

The Board of Directors of the Gibbes Museum of Art welcomed eight new members to their ranks. New members are David Adams, Ann Burnett, Esther Ferguson, Shannon Gillespie, Leonard Hutchison, Lucinda Lenhardt, Catherine Smith, and Andrea Volpe.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives that serve the community by stimulating creative expression and improving the region’s superb quality of life. Highlights of the Gibbes collection can now be viewed on Google Art Project at (www.googleartproject.com).

For more info call the Museum at 843/722-2706 or visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

Charleston Center for Photography in Charleston, SC, Offers Second Monday Lecture Series with Chris Smith – May 13, 2013

On Monday, May 13, 2013, at 7pm, the Charleston Center for Photography in Charleston, SC, will welcome Chris Smith. The Second Monday Lecture Series are FREE to attend and are open to the public.

“Being a full time photographer, it’s easy to get into a creative rut,” says Smith, of Chris & Cami Photography. “A trip is the best way I know how to regain my creative edge and fulfill my artistic soul.” Smith displays the artistic results of a trip to Belize.

His focus is on three main techniques he uses to bend the light in his favor:  OCF (Off-Camera Flash), HDR (High-Dynamic Range), and Natural Light (not to be confused with Available Light).

Born to missionary parents in Zaire, Africa, Chris Smith developed a passion for photography in high school. By 10th grade, he was winning photography awards. He continued to study the craft in college, receiving his photography degree from the New York Institute of Photography.   Classically trained, Smith has been doing photography of all types for quite a while — weddings, commercial, travel and sports. An avid tennis player, Smith has been a leading photographer for Family Circle Cup for many years.

Smith, with his wife, Cami, has photographed politicians (former president George Bush), celebrities (Steve Harvey, Misty May-Treanor, and Serena Williams). Their work has been featured in “Family Circle Magazine”, “Sports Illustrated”, “Charleston Magazine”, and “Tennis Magazine”.

Travel is a passion for Smiths. They photograph out-of-country weddings, and wildlife in South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Smith conducts popular Lightbending 411 Workshops in Denver, Colorado.

For info call 843/720-3105 or visit (www.ccforp.com).

Coastal Community Foundation Based in Charleston, SC, Calls for Applications for Expansion Arts Program – Deadline July 12, 2013

What is the Expansion Arts Fund? The Expansion Arts Fund is an endowment. The income it earns is used to make grants that promote emerging artists and arts organizations. With this Fund, the Community Foundation seeks to expand the traditional definition of “art” and encourage the perpetuation and development of artistic assets indigenous to the Lowcountry. Because endowments can provide grant funds only from a portion of their earnings, it takes two years to accumulate enough money to conduct the program, and so the Expansion Arts Program is conducted only every other year. In 2011, the Fund accepted grant applications from the “southern four” counties served by the Coastal Community Foundation – Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper.  This year the Fund is accepting grant applications only from the “northern four” counties served by the Foundation – Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, and Georgetown.

What are “Expansion Arts”?  “Expansion Arts” include the works of new and emerging arts groups and artists, especially those from minority, rural, or disadvantaged communities. Preference may be given to artists and arts organizations that develop and promote excellence in art forms or media unique to the Lowcountry – work that draws upon and aims to preserve the cultural heritage of our region. While we would like the arts to be a significant part of the lives of everyone in coastal SC, this Fund is not intended primarily to provide the arts as a social services or educational program; rather, it seeks to support individuals who want to make a career through their art, and groups or organizations that intend to be recognized as professional arts companies.

CATEGORIES OF FUNDING

Organizations. Small and emerging “expansion arts” organizations may apply for grants up to $5,000.

Individuals.  Individual “expansion artists” may apply for grants up to $2,500 (which we must report to the I.R.S.).

SCHEDULE

April 2013 – Guidelines and applications posted on the Foundation’s website and mailed to those who have called to ask for them since the last Expansion Arts funding cycle.

April-May – Foundation staff searches for qualified applicants and provides application instructions.

April -July – The Foundation welcomes questions from applicants regarding the guidelines, eligibility, or the application itself. Feel free to contact Edna Crews with questions via e-mail at (Edna@CoastalCommunityFoundation.org)  or by phone at 843/379-3400.

July 12 – Applications are due by July 12 at 5pm. Hand-delivered or e-mailed applications are accepted up to this time, but no fax applications, please. Mailed applications must be postmarked on July 11th or before. The Foundation staff will confirm the receipt of your proposal within 10 days of the application deadline.

July 15- 18 – Staff prepares materials for Committee’s Orientation.

July 22-26 – Committee’s Orientation meeting to discuss applications, view CDs, DVDs samples, and receive notebooks.

July 27 – Aug 11 – Committee reads and evaluates applications, on their own.

Aug 12-15 – Committee meets to discuss applications, view and score CDs, DVDs, samples, etc., and determine funding recommendations.

Aug 28 – Funding recommendations presented to Coastal Community Foundation’s authorizing body for approval.

Aug 29 – Applicants are notified of funding recommendations.

By Sept 13 – Grantees return signed “Grant Acceptance Forms” to Coastal Community Foundation. The Community Foundation sends 80% of the approved grant amount to each grantee.

2013-2014 – Grantees send progress reports to the Community Foundation. When complete, the Community Foundation sends the 20% grant balance to each grantee.  One important part of the end-of-grant reporting requirement is that grantees must send Coastal Community Foundation receipts or paid invoices for all expenses paid with grant funds.

Guidelines and applications can be downloaded at (www.CoastalCommunityFoundation.org).

Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, Presents Eclectic Interiors: A Mix of Antique and Contemporary Furnishings with Susan Sully – May 20, 2013

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, is pleased to present the next event in the Art with a Twist series, a lunchtime lecture with author Susan Sully. In her latest publication, “Houses with Charm: Simple Southern Style” (Rizzoli International Publications, Spring 2013), Sully explores southern antiques and architecture. During her lunchtime lecture at the Gibbes, audiences will enjoy a virtual tour through the 18th to the 21st century properties featured in the volume.

The lecture explores the two themes of the book—the South’s “Pure and Simple” vernacular architecture and the “Simple Elegance” with which homeowners combine fine antiques with relaxed surroundings. Ranging from a Creole plantation house in Louisiana, a Greek Revival row house in Savannah, a neo-vernacular country house in Mississippi, and a “cottage-Gothic” residence in Atlanta, the featured residences offer insights into the architectural history of the region. Integrating time-honored lessons of the past, a number of homes also incorporate contemporary design sensibilities, making them especially appealing for today’s sensibilities. Many designed by the South’s leading architects and interior decorators, these houses reveal the inspired approach to tradition and gracious simplicity that define Southern charm. “Susan will engage and educate our audience with fascinating details about the history of southern antiques and architecture,” says Angela Mack, Executive Director of the Gibbes Museum of Art.

A leading authority on Southern architecture and design, Susan Sully is the author and photographer of many books published by Rizzoli International Publications, including “The Southern Cosmopolitan” and “The Southern Cottage”. She has also co-authored books with leading Southern architects and interior designers including Bobby McAlpine, Phoebe Howard, and Norman Askins (forthcoming). A graduate from Yale University with a degree in art history, she has contributed articles to “The New York Times”, “Veranda”, “Martha Stewart Living”, “Southern Accents”, “Town & Country Travel”, and other publications. Her books have appeared in magazines including “Architectural Digest”, “Town & Country”, “House Beautiful”, “Traditional Home”, and “World of Interiors”. Sully lectures frequently on the subject of Southern architecture and design at organizations including Sotheby’s Institute and the Smithsonian’s National Building Museum. She also writes a blog called (www.southerncosmopolitan.com).

Monday, May 20 at 12noon: lecture and lunch
$20 Members, $30 Non-Members (includes boxed lunch)
For details and to purchase tickets please visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org/events) or call 843/722-2706 x 21.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives that serve the community by stimulating creative expression and improving the region’s superb quality of life. Visit highlights of the Gibbes collection on Google Art Project at (www.googleartproject.com).

Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, Offers Lecture by Cathy Horyn – Mar. 15, 2013

The Women’s Council of the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, presents “Art of Design”, a benefit for the museum on Friday, Mar. 15, 2013. Renowned New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn will be the featured presenter at the auxiliary group’s annual spring luncheon. Guests will dine in the fabulous setting of the tented Gibbes courtyard while Horyn shares stories of life in the fashion fast lane. The gathering will be designed by Christina Baxter of CiBi Events and catered by Caroline’s Market and Catering. A silent auction featuring fine art, jewelry, fashion, and other unique items will take place in the Welcome Gallery of the Museum prior to the luncheon.

Throughout her career, Cathy Horyn’s unflinching reviews of fashion’s top designers have generated both journalistic praise and criticism. She began her career in fashion journalism in 1986, writing for the Detroit News, and has contributed to Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, the Washington Post, and the International Herald Tribune, among other premier fashion publications. In 1999, she became the fashion critic for The New York Times and also maintains the popular blog, On the Runway. Fueled by a mixture of passion and intelligence, Horyn’s opinions of the fashion world are never dull!

Tickets for the luncheon are $125 and must be purchased in advance at (www.gibbesmuseum.org/events) or by calling 843/722.2706 x22. Check-in for the seated gathering will begin at 11am, bidding for the auction items will be open from 11am – noon, and the luncheon and lecture will begin promptly at 12:30pm

A limited number of $1,000 sponsorships are available by contacting Lasley Steever at (lsteever@gibbesmuseum.org) (843/722-2706 x24). Sponsorships include tickets to “Art of Design” as well as acknowledgement at the event. Croghan’s Jewel Box, Production Design Associates (PDA), Stems, Studio R, and Event DRS are the first major corporate sponsors to sign on for “Art of Design”. Charleston Magazine is the media sponsor for the event.

Founded in 1950 as the Gibbes Art Gallery Auxiliary, the Women’s Council currently boasts 120 active members in addition to association, sustaining, affiliate, guest, and honorary members. For over sixty years, members of the Women’s Council have donated their time, talent, and financial support to the museum.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located along Charleston’s Museum Mile in the heart of historic district, the museum is dedicated to collecting and presenting Southern art from the Colonial period through today. The Gibbes’ permanent collection consists of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection.  The museum offers an impressive roster of special exhibitions and public programs throughout the year.

The Museum is located at 135 Meeting Street in Charleston.

For more info visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

2013 Piccolo Spoleto Festival Outdoor Art Exhibit in Charleston, SC, Calls for Applications – Deadline Mar. 15, 2013

The old-world European charm and rich history of Charleston, South Carolina, set the stage for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the official outreach arm of Spoleto Festival USA. Presenting more than 700 events during its 17-day festival season, Piccolo Spoleto transforms Charleston into a city celebrating performing, literary and visual arts. Focusing primarily on artists of the Southeast region, Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect complement to the international scope of its parent festival, Spoleto Festival USA.

The Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit has a goal of presenting the work of South Carolina artists in a free open air venue the entire community can enjoy.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 15, 2013

Download a copy of the application at this link (http://www.piccolospoleto.com/?p=13500).

For further info contact Vicki Ellis by e-mail at (south111@knology.net) or Leslie Johnson at (ljohn16123@aol.com) or visit (www.piccolospoleto.com).

2013 Piccolo Spoleto Craft Shows in Charleston, SC, Entry Deadline Extended to Feb. 12, 2013

Fine Crafts Shows Charleston, LLC is extending the call for artists for the 2013 Piccolo Spoleto Craft Shows, which will be held May 24 – 26 and May 31 – June 2, 2013. This will be the 34th year for these shows, which are part of the 2013 Piccolo Spoleto Festival taking place in Charleston, SC.

The venue for the shows is the picturesque Wragg Square, a raised and fenced park located at the corner of Meeting and Charlotte Streets in downtown Charleston. Approximately 95 exhibitor booths will be available for each weekend show. Our paid admission averages 7000 – 9000 dedicated fine craft patrons, designers, and gallery representatives per weekend.

Applications are available online through ZAPPlicationTM  (zapplication.org). The application fee is $30, and booth fees are $250 per booth per weekend. The application deadline has been extended to February 12th. Artist selection is based on jury scores and media.  For more detailed information about the shows, visit the official web site at (www.finecraftshowscharleston.com), e-mail to (piccolo@finecraftshowscharleston.com), or call Kasey at 843/364-0421.

The Piccolo Spoleto Festival, produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and the College of Charleston School of the Arts, is the official outreach festival of Spoleto Festival USA. The craft events are two of the several hundred visual and performing arts events available to more than 250,000 people during the seventeen day festival. The festival begins on May 24 and concludes June 9.

Fine Craft Shows Charleston, LLC is a partnership formed by three women, all working craft artists, for the management of the Piccolo Spoleto Craft Shows.

Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, is Calling for Entries for Annual Lowcountry Artist’s Award – Deadline Mar. 15, 2013

The Griffith/Reyburn Visual Arts Fund (“the Fund”) was created in 2003 by Michael Griffith & Donna Reyburn as a component Fund of Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.  The Fund intends to provide an annual “Lowcountry Artist’s Award” to support the creation of a work of visual art that represents an aspect of the South Carolina Lowcountry’s unique life, culture or environment – its “look and feel”.  The financial award is intended to support the artist during creation of a work of art which will then be the personal property of the artist, to keep, show or sell at his or her discretion.

The mission of Coastal Community Foundation is to foster philanthropy for the lasting good of the community.  The Foundation pursues its mission primarily by managing endowed grant making funds created by donors.  Currently, approximately 550 separate Funds, each established by different donors, are managed by the Foundation.  The Griffith/Reyburn Visual Arts Fund intends to provide annual awards while building an endowment with the Foundation so as to perpetuate the awards program.

In 2013, one award of $5,000 will be provided to one winning applicant, payable in two increments ($3,000 and $2,000) during the time that the work of art is being created.  I.R.S. regulations require that the award be reported by the winner as income.

The winner will be determined based on a written application and on samples of past work, both of which will be considered by members of a Review Panel. The primary criteria are artistic talent, seriousness of purpose, a clear vision for the work to be produced, and the appeal of that vision. The work of art to be produced must depict something unique about the Lowcountry of South Carolina. In the collective opinion of the Review Panel, the work of art to be created will impact the viewer emotionally, intellectually or spiritually. The winning applicant will propose a subject, style or approach that is innovative, not already available in galleries or studios. There is no preference for something “profound” over something “fun”. The applicant’s apparent need for the Award money will be a factor.

Applicants must be citizens or residents of Charleston County in South Carolina; must be at least fifteen years of age; and must be able to demonstrate talent, based on submission of images of their work. In submitting images of past work, the applicant must demonstrate past interest in creating art reflective of “the look and feel of the Lowcountry”. Through a written application, applicants must be able to communicate a vision for the work of art to be produced. Applicants must be able to demonstrate some degree of financial need for the award, which is intended to provide a living stipend for the winner as the work of art is being created. The Award is not intended for an artist already popular with the general public.  For an artist whose work is not generally known locally, it is intended to give the time and the money to produce art and to become better known to the general public.

The proposed work of art may be done in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawing, or a combination of those media, or it may be a work of three-dimensional fine art sculpture; “fine art” is used here to exclude crafts and installation art from 3-D works of sculpture. The applicant must commit to completing the new work of art in a period of three months’ time or less. There are no requirements related to public shows or past awards, so as not to discourage new or under-recognized artists from applying.

An open meeting to answer questions from prospective applicants will be offered on Mar. 2, 2013*.

Deadline for submission of applications is Mar. 15, 2013

Application materials will be delivered to Selection Panel by Apr. 15, 2013

Selection Panel’s first meeting – finalists determined will happen by Mid-May 2013

Selection Panel’s second meeting – winner selected will also take place by Mid-May 2013

The winner will be announced on May 24, 2013

The work of art must be completed by September 2013

* Open meeting for Q&A will be at the offices of Coastal Community Foundation, Saturday, Mar. 2, 2013 from 1-2:30pm. You may want to attend only for 10-20 minutes to have your question(s) answered, or you may choose to stay longer. Please indicate your interest in attending by sending an e-mail to (Richard@CoastalCommunityFoundation.org) or by calling 843/723-5736, ext. 104. Coastal Community Foundation’s offices are at the corner of Huger Street & Rutledge Avenue – 635 Rutledge Avenue, Suite 201 – Charleston, SC  29403.

Society 1858’s Winter Party Heats Up the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC – Feb. 8, 2013

Society 1858 presents “Habanero Rhythm,” on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, from 8 – 11pm, in celebration of the Gibbes exhibition Vibrant Vision: The Collection of Jonathan Green and Richard Weedman. The auxiliary group’s winter party embraces the energy of the dance movement that was brought to Cuba by Haitian refugees in the mid-nineteenth century. The slow and rhythmic dance celebrates African art and music.

A dizzying array of visual, performance, and culinary arts, “Habanero Rhythm” offers a sultry escape in the middle of winter. Society 1858 President Helen Pratt-Thomas says, “This cutting edge event provides intimate access to an acclaimed local artist, builds future arts leaders, and the opportunity to give back to the Gibbes Museum.” Artist Jonathan Green, and his partner and studio director, Richard Weedman, will be the guests of honor at the auxiliary group’s February fiesta. Guests will enjoy live music by Leah Suárez, who blends traditional jazz standards and world folk music with a strong Latin influence, as well as a performance by the Garage Cuban Band who will play a mix of old Cuban folk and jazz standards. Throughout the evening, Latin-inspired foods will be provided by Moe’s Southwest Grill.

Tickets for “Habanero Rhythm” are $50 for members of Society 1858 and $75 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased in advance either online at (www.gibbesmuseum.org/events) or by calling 843/722-2706 x21. Due to capacity limits, tickets may not be available at the door so everyone is encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. All guests must be at least 21 years of age.

“Habanero Rhythm” is sponsored by Wells Fargo, Lou Hammond & Associates, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, The Intertech Group, Maybank Industries, Moe’s Southwest Grill, MUSC, Art Mag, and PDA. Additional support is provided by FUEL and Palmetto Brewery.

Work by Jonathan Green

Vibrant Vision: The Collection of Jonathan Green and Richard Weedman is on view at the Gibbes from Jan. 11 – Apr. 21, 2013. Over the past thirty five years, acclaimed artist Jonathan Green and his partner and studio director, Richard Weedman, have amassed an astonishing collection of paintings, sculpture, and works on paper. Selected from their collection, this exhibition features work by African American, Caribbean, Latin American, and American artists that reflect the diverse cultural influences that have shaped American art since the twentieth century.

Vibrant Vision is made possible by the generous support of Gibbes, etc., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, and Art Mag.

Society 1858 is a dynamic group of artists, patrons, and art enthusiasts who support the mission of the Gibbes Museum of Art. The auxiliary group’s purpose is to inspire, entertain and inform a new generation of art philanthropists with a love for the visual arts.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905.  Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives that serve the community by stimulating creative expression and improving the region’s superb quality of life.
The Gibbes Museum of Art is located at 135 Meeting Street in Charleston, SC.

For further info visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

The Next First Friday on Broad Art Walk Takes Place in Charleston, SC – Jan. 4, 2013, 5-8pm

Celebrate the New Year on Jan. 4, from 5-8pm, with a stroll down Charleston, SC’s Gallery Row. Charleston’s Gallery Row has much to be thankful for in 2012 and much to look forward to in 2013. Charleston was named Best City in the World in 2012, but a nod must also go to Broad Street as being named one of America’s top Streets in the Country by the Associated Press. If you haven’t made a visit to the row in a while, come and enjoy the art walk and see what is new!

Work by Kellie Jacobs

Start your evening at 1 ½ Broad at the Ellis Nicholson Gallery. This gallery is run by Jeannette Nicholson and Vicki Ellis, two well known local artists. The Ellis Nicholson Gallery also represents a number of nationally known artists, jewelers and sculptors. Just across the street you will find the Martin Gallery. Martin Gallery strives to bring some of the finest artists in a variety of fields together under one roof. Upon entering the historic Grand Salon of Martin Gallery, one experiences a soaring space filled with the exquisite color and texture of oils, acrylics, bronzes, marbles, terra-cottas and richly hued glass. Wander over to Oak Steak House known as one of the top restaurants in the city. Next you will find Normandy Farms, a wonderful artisan bakery and coffee shop.

COCO VIVO Fine Art | Interior Design and Utopia will be your next stops. COCO VIVO Fine Art | Interior Design  welcomes Stephanie Shuler Hamlet, Kellie Jacobs, and Charles and Zan Smith to the gallery in 2013 with a wonderful show, “New Beginnings”, featuring new artworks by Hamlet, Jacobs and the Smiths. Hamlet is very excited to move on to another phase of her life, no longer owning and operating a gallery, but becoming the best painter that she can be at COCO VIVO Fine Art. Jacobs states, “My new releases at COCO VIVO will demonstrate my love of pastels.” Visit Utopia ‘The Gallery”  for the art of fashion.  If you want to see what is trending ahead of the curve in the fashion world, this is the spot for you.

Galerie on Broad is new to the Row in 2012. It is owned by renowned artist Dee Beard Dean. Dean’s work is collected by art lovers from all over the world. Her signature style is a perfect complement to the other galleries here on the Row. Dean is a passionate and prolific artist who has studied with many renowned artists and is nationally recognized for her painterly landscapes and her expertise in many media including pastels, watercolors, and oils. Her greatest inspirations have come from painting en plein air where her eye for color and composition, and her elevated senses guide her hand in creating paintings filled with evocative light and dramatic shadows. Dean founded the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE), a professional organization of acclaimed plein air artists living and working in the southeastern US. Her workshops are in great demand, offering instruction in this country and in beautiful locales around the world. She is also well known for her portraits and has done many noteworthy commissions. Dean has received many awards at juried art competitions and has been published in regional and national journals. Her artworks can currently be seen at fine art galleries around the country. Dean resides in Charleston, SC with her husband, Dr. Nicolai Chalfa. Her first book, “A Painter by Providence,” is in publication.

Edward Dare Gallery is one of the founding galleries of the Row; here you will find exquisite visual arts, fine crafts, pottery and fine art jewelry perfect for collecting or gift giving. Edward Dare will showcase new works by artist Bills Farnsworth.

Work by Hai Ou Hou

Your next stop will be the Robison and Richard Gallery, also new to Gallery Row this year. This gallery represents artist of distinction Terry Richard, as well as a slate of other nationally known artists. You will cross over Church Street to the Spencer Galleries. The Spencer’s have expanded from two to three galleries in 2012. Here you will find an array of emerging as well as established artists.  Jerry and Catherine Spencer always have the doors open and serve up the best in Southern hospitality to their art lovers for these events.

Across the row, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art will be showcasing twelve talented Dutch artists, featuring new works by Frans van der Wal, Frits Goosen, Johannes Eerdmans, and Ron Meilof. These latest arrivals include a variety of landscapes, maritime scenes, and still life paintings. You can end your tour at the enchanting Mary Martin Gallery. Mary Martin welcomes you to an experience of discovering artists who have been selected because of their unique creative work in a variety of media. Martin states, “We enjoy art of all genres; however, our desire is to feature painters and sculptors who forge new ground using their formidable talent. We are not interested in artists who seek to emulate other artists. In addition, we are an eclectic gallery and don’t wish to be branded with just one style of work. We look for originality as well as beauty. We want the eyes, heart and soul, as well as the intellect to be stimulated, soothed, and excited.” The gallery has attracted and maintained collectors for years because of the diversity of the excellent work carried and the quality of the professional artists represented. For this show Mary Martin Gallery is featuring the work of impasto artist Richard Riverin.

Charleston’s Gallery Row and its many galleries and businesses have been featured in such national publications as American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, The Essential Guide, Southern Living, and more. We hope you can visit and join us for 2013. Gallery Row looks forward to hosting our monthly art walks, as well as some other wonderful fine art events in 2013 for art lovers and collectors.

Follow us on Facebook and visit the website at (www.charlestongalleryrow.com) for upcoming events.