Asheville Art Museum in Asheville, NC, Presents Annual Benefit Gala – June 13, 2015

The Asheville Art Museum is excited to present “Visions + Visionaries: A Marriage – O’Keeffe + Stieglitz”, a benefit gala inspired by the marriage of two influential artists of the 20th century: Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz.

On this festive evening, guests can imagine “traveling” between Stieglitz’s Manhattan and O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch, with the fun of an early-evening raffle, beautiful decorative items for sale and an exciting live auction featuring fine art, dreamy vacation destinations, culinary adventures and more. This benefit supports the Museum’s innovative programming and exhibitions, and helps bring great art and great experiences to the Western North Carolina region.

When: Saturday, June 13, 2015, 6 – 11pm.
Where: Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville

Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased at (www.ashevilleart.org) or by calling 828/253-3227.

A preview of some of the exciting auction items up for bid that evening can be viewed at (www.ashevilleart.org/gala).

Founded by artists in 1948 in Asheville, NC, the Asheville Art Museum annually presents an exciting, inviting and active schedule of exhibitions and public programs based on its permanent collection of 20th and 21st century American art. Any visit will also include experiences with works of significance to Western North Carolina’s cultural heritage including Studio Craft, Black Mountain College and Cherokee artists. Special exhibitions feature renowned regional and national artists and explore issues of enduring interest. The Museum also offers a wide array of innovative, inspiring and entertaining educational programs for people of all ages.

Additional information on upcoming exhibitions and public programs at the Museum can be found online at (www.ashevilleart.org).

Conway Glass in Conway, SC, Awarded Sculptural Commission by Brookgreen Gardens

Conway Glass and glass artists, Ed & Barbara Streeter are delighted to announce the commission of a series of glass sculptures as part of Brookgreen’s 2015 Nights of a Thousand Candles, December 3-5, 10-12, and 17-19, 2015.

Ed and Barbara’s installation will consist of unique glass sculptures that are handblown, fused, cut and sculpted. The sitespecific, sculptural glass work will be installed in Anne’s Garden, an intimate walled garden located in the Huntington Sculpture Garden at Brookgreen Gardens. Barbara Streeter said, “Our sculptures for Anne’s Garden will celebrate the wonder and playfulness of childhood. We hope our glass sculptural installation will amuse and delight visitors to Brookgreen Gardens during the holiday season. We hope our sculptures add to all the great memories created during the holiday season relevant to Christmas, family and fun at the beach.”

Ed & Barb Streeter with a few of the over 200 pieces that are a part of the sculpture installation.

Brookgreen Gardens opened in 1932 as America’s first public sculpture garden. Its garden spaces and the collection of sculpture displayed within them have continued to expand through the years. The collection now contains over 1400 works spanning the entire period of American sculpture from the early 1800s to the present, and its placement in over 35 acres of garden and landscape settings creates an extraordinary combination of art and nature. Brookgreen Gardens, is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit whose mission is to display figurative sculpture by American artists and to preserve regional plants, animals, and history. Glass artists Ed and Barbara Streeter have owned and operated Conway Glass, Inc. for 25 years.

To find out more visit their location at 209 Laurel Street in downtown Conway, SC or check out their website at (www.conwayglass.com) or call 843/248-3558.

Ciel Artists in Charlotte, NC, Throw A Beach Party!

Ciel Gallery in Charlotte, NC, hosts “Beach Party!”, from June 5 – 28, 2015. Opening on Friday, June 5, from 6-9pm, “Beach Party!” will feature the works of metal sculptor Amy Hart, mosaics by Teresa Hollmeyer, mixed media  paintings by Jen Walls and oil paintings by Laura McRae Hitchcock in addition to works from the Ciel collective.

“Beach Party!” celebrates the joys of summer with art depicting typical beach trip and summertime themes and, as can be expected when artists collaborate, quite a few surprises as well. Not to be missed will be Hart’s sea turtle, which began as a wheel barrow, Walls’ camels ready for a dip complete with floats, Hollmeyer’s  fish  mosaic and Hitchcock’s marsh paintings.

Work by Amy Hart

“We wanted something fun to start the summer off with a bang,” said Hitchcock. “We thought of an ocean/beach theme, and then decided to add the fun and make it a beach party. I know it’s not serious, but art isn’t always about being serious. Most of us have a blast when we are creating, and we want the viewer to feel that joy too.”

Work by Laura McRae Hitchcock

Contributing to the fun will be Metro GreenScape with their own take on a beach party. The Charlotte landscaping company has collaborated with Ciel Gallery on their last two shows, “Back to the Garden” and “Skew the Masters”.

Ciel Gallery is located in Historic SouthEnd, at 128 East Park Avenue, and participates in the neighborhood’s gallery crawl each First Friday of the month. Hours are Tuesday — Saturday 11am6pm.

More information about this show, the gallery, participating artists and available classes can be found at (www.cielcharlotte.com).

Friends of MUSC Children’s Hospital to host Fine Art Show and Sale on Kiawah Island, SC – July 10, 2015

The public is invited to attend the “Friends of MUSC Children’s Hospital Fine Art Annual,” a free art show and sale to be held at the oceanfront Sandcastle Community Center at 1 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah Island, on Friday, July 10th, 2015 from 3pm-8pm.

A portion of this event’s proceeds will help build the new Children’s Hospital and Women’s Pavilion at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.

The one-day event will feature the original works of nine well known Charleston artists: Jennifer Black, Susan Colwell, Laura Lloyd Fontaine, Mary Edna Fraser, Karen Hewitt Hagan, Kevin LePrince, Tina Mayland, Tate Nation and Karen Weihs. It will include many diverse styles including batiks on silk, oils on Venetian plaster, Expressionistic acrylics and Impressionistic and Abstract oils, some on gold leaf. Photographer Jack Alterman will also be there with his new book “My City Charleston”.

The show will kick off with a sneak peek and artist demonstrations from 3pm-5pm, followed by a reception with libations and light appetizers from 5pm-8pm.

Tate Nation and Karen Hewitt Hagan will be doing a “Dueling Demo” at 4pm.

Although they will be painting from the same photograph, their paintings promise to be wildly different (Tate/Expressionism with acrylics and Karen/Impressionism in oil on gold leaf). This is an excellent chance to see the works as they are being created and learn about the artists’ inspiration. These paintings will be available for sale at the show also. Other artists will be demonstrating throughout the event.

More than 100 small, large and over-sized original paintings also will be on display and for sale at this event.

The new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Women’s Pavilion is set to open its doors in 2019 and requires $50 million in philanthropic funding.

It will combine an advanced, future-proof design with a patient-centered environment that empowers doctors, nurses and families to create a compassionate, innovative community of care. Darius Rucker and his wife, Beth, are the honorary co-chairs of the fundraising campaign to help build the new hospital. To learn more about the campaign, please visit (imagine.musckids.org).

A demonstration schedule, directions to the event, and a preview page for art pre-sales may be viewed at (www.HaganFineArt-MUSC.com). Please call Tricia Cordina at 843/814-9430 for more information about the event.

For directions call the Kiawah Gate at 843/768-5566. Gate passes will be available at the Main Gate at Kiawah by telling the attendant that you are going to the Art Show at the Sandcastle.

Friends of MUSC Children’s Hospital is a volunteer organization of men and women formed in the fall of 2009 by a group of 11 women. These women each had different relationship or experience with the Children’s Hospital, but they shared one thing in common…a passion for healthy families. They visualized a “grassroots” organization that, through advocacy and fundraising, has built a group that looks to what the future can bring – more friends, more fundraising events, more hospital exposure, more community partnerships, more sponsors, more dollars raised, more healthy children and families.

Brookgreen Gardens Near Pawleys Island, SC, Offers Two-Day Art Festival – June 6 & 7, 2015

On June 6 & 7, 2015, Brookgreen Gardens, located near Pawleys Island, SC, offers a two-day Art Festival, featuring a juried show of over 50 local and national artists who will exhibit and sell their works including some limited editions. The festival is from 9:30am to 4pm, both days and is included in garden admission.

Held within the backdrop of the beautiful sculpture garden, guests will have a rare opportunity to meet more than 60 artists whose works are sold in Keepsakes and other fine galleries across the country. There will be demonstrations of pottery throwing, glass blowing, hand loom weaving, and a chance to learn the processes used in making much of the work on display.

Whimsical items, new art for the gardens, hand-loomed fabrics, commissioned works of art, and exotic woodcrafts with nautical theme are just a few of the items available for sale.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on US Hwy. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, SC, and is open to the public daily.

For more information, visit our web site at (www.brookgreen.org) or call 843/235-6000.

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department (SC) to Showcase Works by Four Local Female Artists

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that works by local artists Kathleen Sullivan Eckel, Addelle Sanders, Amelia Rose Smith, and Becky Taylor will be on exhibit at the North Charleston City Gallery, located in the Charleston Area Convention Center, in North Charleston, SC, from June 4-30, 2015. A free reception will be held at the gallery on Thursday, June 4, from 5-7pm. The exhibiting artists will be present and refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend.

In the exhibit, “Four Women, 4 Mediums”, Eckel, Sanders, Smith, and Taylor present a variety of works in oil, pastel, watercolor, and fiber. The women were brought together nearly a year and a half ago by Becky Taylor, president of the Mount Pleasant Artist Guild. “Kat and Rose are both members of the Mt. Pleasant Artist Guild and I became familiar with Adelle through the Charleston Artist Guild,” she explains. “I adore their work and invited them all to lunch one day to see if they would be interested in exhibiting together. Although we all create art with different media, I think our work compliments each other’s well.” The artists’ subject matter also differs, ranging from landscapes, to still-life, to figurative works.

Kathleen Sullivan Eckel grew up along the Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park in Houston, TX, where her curious nature and love for exploring the great outdoors with all of its varied inhabitants began. During her teens, she worked in an art gallery and switched schools to study art under Houston based artist Henry Gadbois. After getting a bachelor degree in fine art at the University of Texas at Austin, where she specialized in studio art and art education, her odyssey of travel began. Her first stepping stones were within the USA, living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. During this time she free-lanced in illustration, designed businesses and interiors, managed an art gallery, and took odd jobs to save up money for a year of travel. Eckel spent the next 18 years traveling in Europe and Africa. She lived first in Cameroon, then Sudan, and finally in Mauritania West Africa. She illustrated and painted on commission, designed clothes and made jewelry, taught art in cultural centers and at the International Schools, and eventually opened her own private art school in Nouakchott. Currently, she spends most of her time between the Austrian Alps, Charleston, SC, and the Texas hill country.

In her early years, Eckel’s art was mainly in watercolor, acrylic, graphite and conté. While living in Africa, she developed a style of painting huge, realistic, acrylic finger paintings on wood. Through a fluke of fate a few years ago, she met and was able to study under several well- known artists in Charleston, where she was reunited with the art of oil painting. Eckel has been painting in oil ever since. One sees the influence of her previous work in more transparent mediums, as there is a layering, a fine sculpting as depth and image emerge in her paintings. Whether painting the landscape of a mountain range or contours of a face, it is the play of light that continues to fascinate and draw her to a subject. Her style can be described as realistic with a nod towards impressionism.

Addelle Sanders was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She always had a secret passion for the art world; however, it wasn’t until she enrolled in New York University’s Master’s Program that she decided to pursue her dream.  In 1988 she began making jewelry and belts from leather and reptile skins as a hobby, but that quickly turned into a business. Eventually she began creating female figurine pins and the response to these creations was so positive that she decided to dedicate her time solely to their design.  From there the figurine pins evolved into the magnificent fiber pieces she is known for today. Along with her partner Ron, Sanders co-founded Fiber Art by Rondelle and together the duo used rich palettes of colorful silk threads and metallic cords to weave intricate patterns to create classics like “Ladies Night Out”, “The Student”, and their popular “Diva” series.  The success of these works garnered Sanders numerous awards and her work has been featured in several galleries and art festivals, including The Ellis-Chambers Gallery, International Home Gallery, Terri Logan Gallery, Pan-African Film & Fine Art Show, Essence Music Festival, Jazzfest, and The National Black Art Festival. Her work is also featured in the permanent collections of the Schomburg Center in New York. Today, using the cultural influence and natural beauty of South Carolina as her muse, she makes her work available through her new company aptly titled Addelle.

Amelia Rose Smith, a native of Charleston, SC, has painted professionally for over two decades. Pursuing an art degree while on scholarship at Coker College in Hartsville, SC, she developed a passion for watercolor. After graduation she was employed by the SC Department of Natural Resources as an illustrator and worked for other agencies until 1984. After painting for shows on weekends, she became a full-time artist developing her medium and vision. She has studied with numerous acclaimed artists such as Ovanes Berberian, Zoltan Zabo, Charles Movalli, Sondra Freckelton, Alex Powers, Joan Rothermel, Sherrie McGraw, and Rhett Thurman. All of these artists were great inspirations and instilled Smith with a great desire to further develop her skills. Smith resides in Mount Pleasant, her home and studio located on the marsh. Frequent excursions around the creeks and rivers with her husband and sons, John and Peter, provide unending subject matter fora lifetime of painting pursuits.

Becky Taylor and her husband recently retired to Charleston, SC. Originally trained in oils, watercolors have grown to be her passion. She chooses to paint subjects that soothe and renew her spirit as well as those of her viewers. She paints mostly representational art and responds to the moment with pure joy. Flowers, gardens and landscapes are some of her favorite subjects. Her professional memberships include: Cardinal Fellow/Signature Member/WSI; Indiana Artists Club signature member and past board member; Hoosier Salon-awards winner MWS and WSI; and past President and Treasurer of WSI, signature member of the Charleston Artists Guild, The Mount Pleasant Artist Guild; The South Carolina Watermedia Society; and The Southern Watercolor Society. Since coming to Charleston, SC, Taylor has won several awards, most recently at the South Carolina Watermedia Society Exhibition. She teaches private and group lessons, holds local workshops, and has been an Artist in Residence at several schools in Indiana and Michigan. Taylor’s fine art is represented in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and foreign countries.

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, 9am – 5pm 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 Arts & Culture section of the City’s website at (www.northcharleston.org).

Abbeville Artist Guild in Abbeville, SC, Calls for Participation in Hogs and Hens BBQ Cook-off – Deadline is October 1, 2015

The Abbeville Artist Guild will again join with the City of Abbeville to sponsor the Hogs and Hens BBQ Cook-off on Friday evening October 16 and Saturday, October 17, 2015.

The weekend will feature local BBQ cookers along Trinity Street, live music, a wine walk sponsored by the Abbeville Merchants Association, and arts and crafts in and around the Livery Stable on Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

The Artist Guild is responsible for filling the Livery Stable with artists and crafters.  We are asking artists and crafters to demonstrate their art or craft.  We plan to emphasis the art process rather than just a place to sell.  Of course, the participants can sell their artwork also.

We are limited to 30 spaces inside the Livery Stable and 3 outside spaces so don’t wait to register.  The deadline is October 1, 2015

For a registration form or further info call 864/554-4448, e-mail to (abbevilleartistguild@gmail.com) or visit (www.AbbevilleArts.com)

USC Upstate Student Interns at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC

La’Quasha Dixon, a senior at USC Upstate, is a student intern in the Marketing Department at Chapman Cultural Center for the summer 2015. A native of Camden, SC, she is using this internship to gain real world experience, while accumulating academic credit that will be applied towards her college graduation. With four years of college behind her, she has one more fall semester before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications, focusing in mass media.

Chapman Cultural Center is a non-profit organization that promotes the arts, science, and history of Spartanburg.

Dixon is currently a resident of Spartanburg but is most recently from Columbia, SC, where she found her interest in the arts. With her cognate being Women in Music, she will be able to apply her education to her internship. She hopes to get insight into the production of the arts and how she can apply it to her career goal of becoming an entertainment publicist. This internship will be a great addition to Dixon’s resume and a step in the right direction towards her career goals.

Dixon can be reached at 803.351-1461 or by e-mail at (DixonLA@eMail.uscUPSTATE.edu).

Toe River Arts Council in Burnsville, NC, Announces Award Winners of the 9th Annual TRAC Paint Out

The weather held (it was warm, warm, warm) and 20 Plein Air painters came out to paint in and around Burnsville, NC, during the annual TRAC event, May 16, 2015. This year, painters from Hendersonville, Arden, Asheville, Cary, and even Atlanta, GA, arrived on the Saturday morning to register. They ventured out — some stayed in town and others went off the beaten path in search of that perfect barn, field or back porch. And all captured the beauty and timelessness of this region on canvas, panel, and paper, and all will be showcased at the Burnsville TRAC Gallery, 102 W. Main Street, until June 20.

1st place winner, Cheryl Keifer

For the second year in a row, the first place award went to Cheryl Keefer for her oil, “Burnsville Garden and French Lunch!” and “her professional use of the medium,” Juror John Mac Kah observed. Jeremy Sams, a third place winner last year, won second place with his “Rain’s On The Way”. Mac Kah said that Sams’ work showed “true naturalism.” And third place went to Mark Harmon for “sheer guts” and his “Silver Rain”. Edward Morris received special mention for “Morning Interlude” and a “good capture of light”. And Steven Higgins, a veteran Paint Out participant, only 16 years old, was given special recognition for his “Prices Creek Field”.

2nd place winner, Jeremy Sams

3rd place winner, Mark Harmon

This year’s juror, John Mac Kah, said that all the paintings were noteworthy and decisions based on the 4 P’s—Placement, Proportion, Plane, and Perspective—a teaching mantra in his Asheville classes.

All in all, it was a great day. The exhibition will be up at the gallery through Saturday, June 20. Gallery hours are 10:30am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday.

The TRAC Paint Out was supported by a Grassroots Art Grant through the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by a generous anonymous donation.

For more information and to view all the winning entries, please visit the website, (www.toeriverarts.org) or call 828/682-7215.

Sum-Sum-Summertime at Art Works in the Litchfield Exchange, Litchfield, SC – June 20, 2015

Celebrate the summer solstice on Saturday, June 20, 2015, from 2 to 5pm, at the free drop-in reception at Art Works in the Litchfield Exchange where fresh fine, folk and functional artwork will be on display. New paintings by Terry Belanger, Nancy Bracken, Millie Doud, Stephanie Hamlet, Sue Schirtzinger, Barnie Slice and Jane Woodward are surrounded by fabric art by Terry Belanger, Millie Doud, Zenobia Harper and Barbara Linderman, creative stained glass by Sharon Knost, painted glassware by Nancy Grumman, fused glass by Suz Mole, tactile wood turnings by Roger Cleveland, clay art by Gwen Coley, felted wool hats by Cindy Valentine and irresistible, whimsical folk art by Kathi Bixler. Knotty Boy bowties by Jane Zalkin will be a welcome Father’s Day gift!

Local authors published by CLASS Publishing and by Prose Press will be available to sell and sign their books – mysteries, histories, poetry and prophesy.

The irrepressible entertainer George Devens will fill the atrium with the sounds of George Gershwin (George, by George!), while guests enjoy wine and cheese, sample iced coffees and teas from the Chocolate & Coffee House with everybody’s favorite – dark chocolate-dipped strawberries.

If you’re not available on June 20, Art Works is open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 2pm, where you can browse at your leisure, sign up for some of the upcoming Moveable Feasts (Friday literary luncheons featuring favorite authors at area restaurants) , then sit with a coffee in the atrium and check your e-mails.

Art Works is located in the Litchfield Exchange, two miles south of Brookgreen Gardens on Ocean Highway, behind Applewood House of Pancakes.

For more information, visit (www.ClassAtPawleys.com) or call 834/235-9600.