Kristi Ryba is the Gibbes Museum of Art’s Visiting Artist in September in Charleston, SC

Kristi Ryba, a South Carolina based artist who explores contemporary events and messages of morality, will stir the pot as the Gibbes Museum of Art’s Visiting Artist in September.

Since the November 2016 election, Ryba began to substitute photographs of Trump and his administration, family, and tweets and quotes into existing manuscripts and altarpieces that depict, illuminate or illustrate what she believes to be a corrupt nature of this government. Ryba uses 22k gold leaf and the elaborate skill of handmade egg tempera painting to create narrative works of art on wooden panels. This technique is used to replicate the look of early religious imagery.

“The Disputation of St. Christine (Blasey Ford), after Masolino” – 2019 Egg Tempera & 22k gold leaf on panel 36” x 24” x 2”

“Pope Sixtus IV, after Melozzo del Forli” – 2019 Egg Tempera & 22k gold leaf on panel 40” x 36” x 2 ¼”

“Tree Of Consanguinity, Kinship and Affinitiy” – 2019 Egg Tempera & 22k gold leaf on panel 40” x 36” x 2 ½”

Ryba will host open studio hours on Wednesdays from 2-7pm and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Museum visitors will experience the different stages of one of her paintings; how she lays out the composition, prepares the painting supports, grinds the pigment and applies gold leaf to envelop the final piece in regalia.

Portrait of Kristi Ryba by Paige Schaberg

Ryba received a BA, Magna Cum Laude, in 1988 from the College of Charleston and an MFA from Vermont College, Montpelier, VT, in 2006. Ryba recently had work included in the 2017 and 2015 “701 CAA SC Biennial”, held at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC, and was the Second Place winner of the 2016 ArtFields competition in Lake City, SC, winning the $25,000 award. Her cover image on the 2017 Nov. issue of “Carolina Arts” was the most popular cover in its 32 year history. She is represented locally by Corrigan Gallery LLC, located at 7 Broad Street in Charleston . For further info about the artists visit (www.kristiryba.com).

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

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, SC, Announces Fall Artist-in-Residence – Nancy Basket

Traditional artist Nancy Basket will appear at USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, SC, as Artist-in-Residence this fall, demonstrating and discussing basket making techniques.

Nancy Basket at work.

Basket is a traditional pine needle basket-maker who helped form the first basketry guild in North America. For decades, she has made baskets and other folk art creations and has researched and shared her basketry and storytelling skills at powwows as a National Indian Education Association presenter of traditional and contemporary baskets.

USC’s McKissick Museum has recognized Basket as a master basket maker, and she has presented workshops for students and teachers through sponsorships at Lander University, Clemson University, Converse College, University of South Carolina, Furman University, and Columbia College.

Basket also is an approved artist in the SC Arts Commission Arts in Education programs and was a 2005 recipient of the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award, an award presented annually by the South Carolina General Assembly to traditional artists who practice and promote art forms transmitted through their families and communities.

“We are delighted to have Nancy Basket as our sixth artist-in-residence, and we are grateful for the continued support of the SC Arts Commission’s Folk and Traditional Arts Program and for making Nancy’s residency possible,” said Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies at USC Lancaster. “She is a multi-talented artist and storyteller who uses natural materials from the land around her to create beautiful works of art.  In addition to creating traditional pine needle baskets, Basket has crafted beautiful masks, wall hangings, sculptures, and even paper from the ‘vine that ate the South’—kudzu.”

Basket will demonstrate her work at the Center on select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through December, appearing Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10am – 5pm. Other residency dates include Aug. 30-31, Sept. 20-21, Sept. 26-27, Oct. 5, Oct. 24-25, Nov. 8-9, Nov. 29-30, Dec. 5-7, and Dec. 20-21. A complete list of residency dates will be available at (sc.edu/Lancaster/nativeamericanstudiescenter).

She also will demonstrate her work at the annual winter Native American Art and Craft Sale, from 9am to 4pm, at the Native American Studies Center on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.

Basket’s residency is made possible through a 2020 South Carolina Arts Commission Folklife and Traditional Arts Grant.

For more information, call the Native American Studies Center at 803/313-7172 or visit (sc.edu/Lancaster/nativeamericanstudiescenter).

2019 Lancaster County (SC) Ag + Art Tour Calls for Participation

The 2019 Lancaster County Ag + Art Tour takes place throughout Lancaster, SC, Saturday, June 22 (10am-4pm) and Sunday, June 23 (1-5pm).

The Lancaster County Ag + Art Tour is a part of the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, the nation’s largest free, self-guided farm tour featuring local artisans and farmers markets. During this tour visitors will have the opportunity to see first-hand where their food comes from, watch artists in action, purchase something special, and learn more about rural life.

An Artisan for the purpose of this program is defined as an individual that makes hand crafted products without the use of kits, commercial models and whose primary components are not manufactured. Craft artisans will be located at Farm Sites and can sell their products. Examples include but are not limited to: painters, potters, weavers, quilters, acoustic musicians, artisan bakers, value-added producers, etc. There is NO FEE to participate. Bakers and value-added food producers must provide a copy of any applicable permit required to sell your product in South Carolina.

Artisans are encouraged to participate in their home county of residence. Artisans can participate on different weekends but must complete a separate application for each county/weekend. Artisans will be able to provide their site location preferences. Artisans will also be able to share if they have a previous relationship with a particular farm site. The Ag + Art Tour County Planning Teams will make every effort to place artisans at their requested location but this placement cannot be guaranteed. If multiple artisans select the same location, placement will be based on a first-come-first-served basis, with special attention given to the type of artisan to allow for a diversity of activities at each site.

A listing of participating farm sites can be found at (www.agandarttour.com/sites).

As a Participating Artisan You Agree to:
• Participate during the designated time/hours of the tour.
• Engage visitors through demonstrations and/or performances.
• Connect with your Farm Site prior to the tour to introduce yourself and plan your set-up.
• Use our brand guide to promote the tour.
• And most importantly, have fun!

Please visit (http://www.agandarttour.com/artisans) for more information.

Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, SC, Announces Fall Artist-in-Residence

Traditional artist Beckee Garris will appear at USC-Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center as Artist-in-Residence through December, demonstrating pottery and basket making techniques and sharing Catawba oral histories and traditions.

Beckee Garris

A member of the Catawba Indian Nation, Garris will alternate weekends making pottery and two different types of basket forms from reeds and long leaf pine needles. Garris, who was first introduced to pottery making by her grandmother, says her art forms are inspired by her ancestors.

“I’m in a long line of Catawbas who have made pottery,” said Garris. “Here at the Center, it shows how the pottery tradition can be traced back 6,000 years and I don’t want to be the link that makes it stop.”

Garris will be at the Center select Fridays and Saturdays during late summer and fall, appearing Aug. 31- Sept. 1 from 10am-4pm. Other residency dates include Sept. 14-15, Sept. 21-22, Oct. 12-13, Oct. 26, Nov. 9-10, Nov. 16-17, Nov. 30- Dec. 1, and Dec. 14- 15.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, Garris will demonstrate at Kershaw’s Stevens Park Nature and Art Day in the Park from 11am-1pm and from 4-8pm at the Center as part of the City of Lancaster’s Boo Fun Fest.

Garris also will demonstrate her work and present a gallery talk at the annual winter Native American Art and Craft Sale, from 9am to 4pm at the Native American Studies Center on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native Studies, says Garris is the epitome of the teacher who is always learning.
“Beckee Garris is one of the first traditional artists that I met when I moved back to the Carolinas 20 years ago,” said Criswell. “In that time, she has honed her pottery-making skills, become a talented basket-weaver, and has always been a gifted storyteller. We are thrilled to have her as our fifth artist-in-residence, and we are grateful to the SC Arts Commission and the USCL administration for their support.”

Garris’ residency is made possible through a 2019 South Carolina Arts Commission Folklife and Traditional Arts Grant.

For more information, call the Native American Studies Center at 803/313-7172 or visit (sc.edu/Lancaster/nativeamericanstudiescenter).

Charleston Gallery Association in Charleston, SC, Offers 2nd Annual Summer Wine Bouquet – September 16, 2018

Do you enjoy summer wines, fine art, and live music? Grab a pair of tickets to the Charleston Gallery Association’s second annual Summer Wine Bouquet on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018.

Over 20 of Charleston’s finest art galleries will display artwork in the Grand Ballroom of the Mills House Grand Wyndham Hotel. Guests will delight in a variety of summer wines and hors d’oeuvres, and there will also be live music and painting demonstrations for your enjoyment.

CGA’s Summer Wine Bouquet will be held on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, from 5-8pm, at the Mills House on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, SC.
Tickets: $50 (or two for $90.00)

Purchase tickets at this link (http://www.charlestongalleryassociation.com/summer-wine-bouquet/).

Each attendee will experience:
– dozens of summer wines
– 20+ gallery exhibitions
– painting demonstrations by renown artists
– artist lectures on technique and collecting
– live music from The Kevin Patton Quartet
-hors d’oeuvres
– a signature Summer Wine Bouquet tasting wine glass

Participating galleries include: Andre Allen Studio, Cecil Byrne Gallery, Charleston Artist Guild, Dog & Horse Fine Art, Edward Dare Gallery, Ella W. Richardson Fine Art, Grand Bohemian Gallery, Hagan Fine Art, Mary Martin Gallery, Meyer Vogl Gallery, Miller Gallery, Mitchell Hill, Principle Gallery, Reinert Fine Art, Revealed Gallery, Sandpiper Gallery, Studio 151 Fine Arts, The Sportsman’s Gallery, and Trager Contemporary.

For further info visit (www.charlestongalleryassociation.com).

Southern Highland Craft Guild Celebrates Summer of Glass at the Guild’s Biltmore Village Gallery in Asheville, NC – June 16, 2018

The gallery of Southern Highland Craft Guild in Biltmore Village in Asheville, NC, will showcase two generations of glassblowers on Saturday, June 16, 2018, from 2:30 to 5pm. Celebrating Asheville’s summer focus on glass with the ongoing Chihuly installation at the Biltmore Estate, the Guild is offering an afternoon for the public to meet glass makers to learn more about the craft of glass and their stories. Wine, cheese and other lighter fare will be provided, as well as live entertainment.

Work by Loretta Forde

Members David Wilson and his wife Loretta Forde will be at the gallery sharing their technique and passion for this craft. Wilson has been blowing glass for over 35 years, and has been heavily involved with Penland School of Crafts both as a student and an instructor. Forde, has also been a student of Penland, and spent many years apprenticing with local glass blowers to refine her technique. The two own and operate Toe River Studio Glass in Burnsville, NC, making a range of functional to one-of-a-kind objects. From vases to paperweights, to large bowls and plasma sculptures, the gallery will showcase a selection of their work.

Work by Hayden Wilson

In addition, their son and well-known glass artist, Hayden Wilson of the NC Glass Center, will also be showcasing his work and talent. Hayden was raised in the glassblowing scene of Western North Carolina and has worked professionally in glass for the past six years. He also has ties with Penland, as well as Chihuly’s school in Washington State, Pilchuck Glass. His aesthetic carries clean lines inspired by modern and utilitarian design. Many of his vessels and sculptures, as well as lighting, have been commissioned by local restaurants in the Asheville area.

This event is the first in a series of glass-focused happenings at the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s gallery in Biltmore Village. The event is free and located at 26 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Parking is available in the rear of the building, or down the street in the garage. The gallery features nearly 200 makers from the Southern Highlands.

More information is available at (https://www.southernhighlandguild.org/event/generations-in-glass/).

Henry’s On The Market in Charleston, SC, Begins Artist in Residence Program

Henry’s On The Market, South Carolina’s oldest restaurant established in 1932, is proud to introduce Moses M. Sanchez as its first Artist in Residence beginning April 2018. Live painting in our main dining area will be featured Thursday – Sunday afternoons from 1-8pm.

Moses M. Sanchez is a self-taught artist versed in oil, acrylic and air-brush painting, and pencil and ink. His work has been placed in private collections in Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Born into poverty in Mexico City, Moses discovered his love of art at an early age. By the time he reached his teenage years, his teachers had tasked him with classroom drawings of all subject matters throughout his school to compensate for the school’s lack of textbooks and teaching tools.

Although Moses dreamt of a formal art education, his lack of resources prohibited this experience. Never one to give up on his dream, and encouraged by his mother, Moses left the comfort of his family at age 15 to work as an artist in a traveling fair. “I remember that we did not have baths and we had to sleep down from the rides. Sometimes it was very cold and others were afraid. Sometime there were people who threw bottles or stones at us just for fun. There were days when I bought everyone food because we had nothing to eat.”

Moses’ eventually followed his father and several brothers to the United States. Speaking no English, he settled first in Hilton Head and then Savannah. During these transitional years, he was given a gift that would change is life and open many doors: a Spanish/English dictionary. Moses learned the English language and the importance of many of its words we take for granted: honesty, integrity, respect and trust. Now co-owner of his own painting company servicing affluent clientele up and down the East Coast, Moses and his family reside in Charleston, SC.

“Sometimes we go through situations or challenges in our lives, we believe will not overcome. But whatever you believe, that will be the result. Many times I have been in situations where it would have been better to give up, but I looked at the sky and I saw it full of stars, as life is full of opportunities. In this world there are many people with goodness. We are a magnet and we attract what we feel. My passion for painting has driven me to move forward and always get to a better place.”

For inquiries, please contact Susie Barrett, Director of Special Events, by calling 615/410-8365. (Henry’s On The Market, 54 N. Market Street, Charleston, SC, 29401).

Conway Glass in Conway, SC, Invites You to Holiday Party & Glass Blowing Demos! – Dec. 2, 2017

It’s time for our Annual Holiday Party and Glass Blowing Demos, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, from 11am – 4pm, at Conway Glass in Conway, SC. Enjoy free refreshments while watching glass blowers create colorful works of art right before your eyes. See glass artists work with 2150 degree glass to handcraft Roman Bowls. Each bowl is handblown and decorated with silver spirals.

We open on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10am and glass blowing is 11am – 4pm. No appointment necessary. Free. Family Friendly.

For further information call 843/248-3558, or visit (www.conwayglass.com).

The Mint Hill Arts Monthly Meeting Held at the Gallery in Mint Hill, NC, Offers Talk by Sandra Smith on Jewelry – Nov. 28, 2017

“What’s In Your Jewelry Box?” A journey exploring the value of costume jewelry will be the topic of the November Mint Hill Arts Monthly Meeting. Sandra Smith, award winning jewelsmith, will present information to help you determine if there are valuable pieces of costume jewelry hiding in your collection. On display will be costume jewelry that spans a 95-year period with items made in over ten countries.

The presentation will be held from 7:00 – 8:30pm on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at the gallery at 11205 Lawyers Road in Mint Hill, NC. There will be a drawing for an item of Sandra’s handcrafted jewelry at the conclusion of the program.

For further info call 980/226-5532 or visit (www.minthillarts.org).

2nd Sunday on King Street in Charleston, SC, Offers a Celebration of Charleston Art and Artist – Oct. 8, 2017

Join us during 2nd Sunday on King Street in Charleston, SC, as Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry presents a special celebration of Charleston’s art and artists. Enjoy music, wine, and live demonstrations on King Street between Beaufain and Hasell Streets.

Artists in attendance:

Laura Palermo (Mary Martin Gallery)

Peggy Ellis (Rick Reinert Gallery)

Sara Jane Reynolds (Rick Reinert Gallery)

Susan Colwell (Rick Reinert Gallery)

Dr. Jim Spann (Rick Reinert Gallery)

Mark Beale (Rick Reinert Gallery)

Carolyn Rue Crocker (Rick Reinert Gallery)

Tammy Papa (Edward Dare Gallery)

Patricia Madison (Edward Dare Gallery)

Linda Sacra (Edward Dare Gallery)

Kevin Harrison (Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry and Art Gallery)

Laurie Donovan (Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry and Art Gallery)

Kelley Andrews (Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry and Art Gallery)

Margaret Weinberg (Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry and Art Gallery)

Michael Corneau (Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry and Art Gallery)

Kellie Jacobs ( Kellie Jacobs Art )

John Duncan ( Three Dimensional Art )

Austin Norwell ( Cold Glass Sculptures )

Corneau Goldsmithing Jewelry and Art Gallery is located at 92 Hasell Street, Charleston, SC, 29401. For further info call 843/203-6630.