Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, Has Added Five New Works of Art to Alleys as Gallerys

The Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, has added five new works of art to Alleys as Gallerys – White Street Gallery, 130 West White Street, Rock Hill, presented by Williams & Fudge. The pieces were selected from student artwork that exhibited at the Center for the Arts during the “2019 York County High School Art Show” and the “2020 Teachers’ Choice Exhibit”. They have been reproduced in a large-scale format for a public art installation on the fence between Dust OFF Brewing Company and the Lowenstein Building along the Williams & Fudge fence line that faces White Street.

YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT 1
“A Study of Oliver” by Madeline Ray, from York Comprehensive High School; Teacher: Debbie Briosik
Selected from Arts Council exhibit “York County High School Art Show”, December 2019

ROCK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT 3
“Untitled” by Eliel Cuesta, from Rock Hill High School; Teacher: Lynn Kimble
Selected from Arts Council exhibit “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2020

“Inverted” by Daniel Jackson, from South Pointe High School; Teacher: Ashley Beard
Selected from Arts Council exhibit “York County High School Art Show”, December 2019

“Flag Toss” by Zayda Sumner, from Rock Hill High School; Teacher: Lynn Kimble
Selected from Arts Council exhibit “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2020

FORT MILL SCHOOL DISTRICT 4
“Aubergine” by McKenna Moss, from Nation Ford High School; Teacher: Alicia Cobler
Selected from Arts Council exhibit “York County High School Art Show”, December 2019

The Arts Council of York County implemented the Alleys as Gallerys program with an exhibition in Cotton Alley on East Main St. in Rock Hill in 2018. The White Street Gallery serves as the second Alleys as Gallerys installation. Alleys as Gallerys transforms York County, South Carolina’s well-traveled alleys into art galleries that feature works by local and regional artists.

The ARTS are good for business. Many arts organizations and community members are working together to help brand York County as a Regional Arts Destination. With new public art in parks and murals on buildings in all of York County’s municipalities, there’s always something to seek out and to enjoy.

Gary Williams of Williams & Fudge acknowledges the importance of artwork in the schools and exposing students to real life successes with public art installations. “Williams & Fudge is committed to ensuring the success of all students. An arts education serves all aspects of a student’s educational career, helping them to master core subjects with greater ease, improve social skills, and to motivate them to continue their education beyond graduation from high school. By better serving our students through encouraging the arts both in and out of school, we are building a stronger, more engaged community.”

More information about the Alleys as Gallerys program can be found online at (https://www.yorkcountyarts.org/alleygallerys).

The Arts Council is headquartered in downtown Rock Hill, a state-recognized cultural district. For more information on Arts Council events, contact the Arts Council of York County by calling 803/328-2787, e-mail at (arts@yorkcountyarts.org), or visit (http://www.yorkcountyarts.org).

City of Florence, SC, Installs Statue of Native Artist William H. Johnson

The City of Florence, SC, installed a statue of native artist, William H. Johnson, in the West Evans Street breezeway, in the growing arts district of downtown Florence. The statue was created by sculptor Alex Palkovich, who once lived and worked in Florence, but now lives in Israel.

Alex Palkovich sitting in front of the statue he created.

William H. Johnson was born in 1901 in Florence. After deciding to pursue his dreams as an artist, he attended the National Academy of Design in New York and met his mentor, Charles Webster Hawthorne. After graduating, Johnson moved to Paris, traveled throughout Europe and was exposed to new kinds of artistic creations and artists. Upon his return to the United States, Johnson used a primitive style of painting in conjunction with what was considered a “folk” style, using bright colors and two-dimensional figures. He spent his final 23 years of life in a mental hospital in Central Islip, New York, where he died in 1970.

One of Johnson’s works from the Florence County Museum.

You can see works by Johnson at the Florence County Museum, not far from where the statue sits.

Alex Palkovich’s creations fall into the category of figurative art with elements of mannerism, capturing the nuances, personalities and stories of his subjects using subtle physical cues, attention to detail and expressive realism in features and stance. He is best known for his portraiture and his work in relief, although in recent years Palkovich has been involved in the creation and installation of many monumental pieces in and around Florence. These include an award winning memorial in Florence Veteran’s Park and a giant sculpture of Francis Marion installed in a historical park at Venter’s Landing near Johnsonville, SC.

For further information visit (http://alexpalkovich.com/).

Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, Features Installation by Susan Lenz

Editor’s Note: This kind of fell through the cracks while processing info for our Oct. issue.

Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, is presenting an installation entitled, Last Words, a solo installation by Susan Lenz, on view from Oct. 4 – 26, 2019.

There’s an artist talk this coming Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, at 4:30pm followed by the opening reception from 5-7pm at the Caldwell Arts Council.

The installation went very, very well and Lenz is looking forward to meeting people who come to the meet-and-greet and the reception! Dozens of her grave rubbing art quilts are surrounded by chiffon banners with stitched epitaphs. The installation is lined with petals collected from cemetery dumpsters. For additional details and images, please CLICK HERE for a blog post.

For further information call the Arts Council at 828/754-2486 or visit (www.caldwellarts.com).

Local Students and Volunteers Work with Famed Artist Rosalia Torres-Weiner to Create a Mural for the West End Beatties Ford Corridor at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC

The Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Association (LHNA) and Northwest School of the Arts partnered with award winning Charlotte artist Rosalia Torres-Weiner to write a grant that was awarded by the City of Charlotte to create a mural on Beatties Ford Road. LHNA wants the neighborhood to be seen as an artistic, creative space, and had the artist incorporate the neighborhood’s cultural identity into the mural. According to Torres-Weiner, “We believe that NWSA is building the future generations of artists who will challenge, enrich and inspire our world, and having this on the Beatties Ford Road Corridor at NWSA highlights the rich artistic history of the area and the value of NWSA to the region.”

Rosalia Torres-Weiner immigrated to Charlotte with her family in 1996. In 2011, she redirected her art from commercial art to activism and telling the stories of Charlotte’s Communities. She combines her creative process with community engagement and action in a practice she calls “Artivism.” Through initiatives like the Papalote Project, The Magic Kite, Day of the Dead Charlotte, and the Red Calaca Mobile Art Studio, she works to harness the power of stories in service of the Charlotte’s underrepresented communities. Her public murals celebrate Charlotte’s diverse population and unique and changing style.

The process involved community input in which community members were invited to brainstorm concepts for the mural. In this way, the project engaged the organization and its community in the collaborative artistic process, and the mural volunteers were then able to work together to condense the ideas into a cohesive mural concept. All involved became a part of the design process and contributed their drawings, research, and opinions to the project. NWSA students were given direction, taught basic painting techniques, encouraged to share their strengths and styles, and were often paired with the artist for additional support.

Northwest School of the Arts is recognized internationally and is the only public arts magnet school serving Mecklenburg County students in grades 6 through 12. The school’s unique educational approach combines elements of creativity, art, and technical prowess with a strong academic foundation. The history and prestige that comes with Visual & Performing Arts means something different to everyone – that’s why our students have multiple ways to launch into a professional career down the path they choose in Band, Chorus, Costume Design, Dance, Musical Theatre, Orchestra, Piano, Theatre, Technical Theatre, and Visual Arts.

For further info call Donald Nagel at 980/343-5500 or e-mail to (Donald1.nagel@cms.k12.nc.us).

North Carolina Museum of Art Partners with El Pueblo, El Centro Hispano, and the Nasher Museum of Art Teen Program to Bring Two Murals to Downtown Durham, NC

Artists Cecilia Lueza and Cornelio Campos, inspired by Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, will install two murals in downtown Durham, NC, on the Durham Convention Center in partnership with the City of Durham’s Cultural and Public Art Program and Spectra Venue Management. The artists will complete the murals with help from Triangle students from the NCMA Teen Arts Council, El Pueblo, El Centro Hispano, and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University’s Teen Program.

 

Detail from Cecilia Lueza’s concept drawing of her Frida Kahlo–inspired mural.

In celebration of the upcoming fall exhibition at the NCMA, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, opening Oct. 26, 2019, through Jan. 19, 2020.

The murals are located at the Durham Convention Center, 301 W. Morgan Street, Durham, on the East Chapel Hill Street side.

The finished murals will be celebrated with an unveiling Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, during the free CenterFest Arts Festival in downtown Durham. Visitors can visit the new murals, have their portrait taken in front of them by a local photographer, enjoy a family art-making activity, and learn about special exhibition Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism. Please get in touch with Kat Harding by e-mail at (kharding@ncartmuseum.org) to attend an installation day for photos and interviews.

Latest Additions to the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in Pickens County, SC

#253 Noon Day Lilies
Sponsors: Kent & Dean Dockins Dykes
Quilter: unknown
Location: Easley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

This beautiful quilt was created between 1840 and 1850. The quilt was passed down through the Clayton M. Dockins family. It belonged to Annie Dean Boatwright Dockins, who was a native of Pickens County, SC. Its maker was most likely a relative of Mrs. Dockins. Annie was the daughter of Benjamin Holder, a well-known circuit rider minister who established many rural churches in the area. She married Clayton M. Dockins, Sr., a native of Rabun County, GA who was a career US Army master Sargent Major. He was one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and was also a decorated veteran of WWI. After retiring from the army, Clayton returned to Easley and became the paymaster for the mills in Pelzer, Easley and Pickens.

The Easley Chamber of Commerce was established in 1935 and is the voice of business that promotes an ideal business environment, which encourages growth and community development with a concern for the people by continuously improving the quality of life in the greater Easley area.

As the Visitors Center, they provide tourism and newcomer information about Easley, as well as the surrounding areas of Pickens County and Upstate South Carolina. Whether you are a visitor, resident or Chamber business member, you are encouraged to utilize their website to explore what the Easley area and our Chamber have to offer.

#255 Journey
Sponsor: Josh Burgess
Quilter: Lynn Brill, creator of quilt; Autumn Compass
Location: 117 McWhorter Road Easley, SC

Josh Burgess and his daughter Madison, moved to Easley in June of 2014 from Newton, NC. They bought an abandoned farm, complete with house and barn, that sits on 12 acres, and proceeded to remodel. The farmhouse was completed first, and then they took on the remodel of the old barn. Knowing that the remodel would revolve around a barn quilt, they began their journey to find the perfect barn quilt design.

Lynn Brill of Anderson had just recently commissioned a square based on her quilt, “Autumn Compass,” and kindly agreed for Josh to borrow the pattern. Lynn has been quilting since the 1970s, when she found a pattern for a sampler quilt in “McCall’s” magazine and just couldn’t resist trying her hand at quilting!

#256 Ashley’s Journey
Sponsors: Alan and Ellie Elzerman
Quilter: Ellie Elzerman
Location: Elzerman home at 128 Morgan Drive, Central, SC

“Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Ashley who loved purple, so much so, she even named her cat Purple. Conceptually, I envisioned this contemporary quilt to represent Ashley’s educational journey, a journey illustrating perseverance leading to success. Ashley’s educational path was rarely a straight line. She pieced together many experiences to move through our education system. At each stage of the journey, including college, graduate school, veterinary school, and finally residency, she searched varied paths with her goal in mind. This quilt is made to honor her journey.”

For further information visit (www.uhqt.org).

Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, Unveils New White Street Gallery Installation

The Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, hosted the White Street Art + Brews Crawl presented by Williams & Fudge and an anonymous donor in Old Town Rock Hill on April 26, 2019, from 6 – 10pm. This was a free, family friendly that celebrated the unveiling of the second Alleys as Gallerys public art installation.

The Arts Council of York County implemented the Alleys as Gallerys program with an exhibition in Cotton Alley on East Main St. in Rock Hill in 2018. This new project serves as the second Alleys as Gallerys installation located at White Street Gallery, 130 West White Street, Rock Hill. Alleys as Gallerys transforms York County, South Carolina’s well-traveled alleys into art galleries that feature works by local and regional artists.

Original work by Ashley Walsh

Original work by Paige Evans

Works by six York County high school students were selected for a public art installation on the fence between Dust OFF Brewing Company and the Lowenstein Building along the Williams & Fudge fence line that faces White Street.

FORT MILL SCHOOL DISTRICT

“Nature’s Flame” by Bruna Coelho
Fort Mill High School | Teacher: Jessica Calloway
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “York County High School Art Show”, December 2018

“Lily” by Luc Mercado
Nation Ford High School | Teacher: Alicia Cobler
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “York County High School Art Show”, December 2018

“Baby Honey” by Paige Evans
Nation Ford High School | Teacher: Erin Mountain
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “York County High School Art Show”, December 2018

ROCK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT THREE

“Butterflies in Her Tummy” by Heather Lenti
Rock Hill High School | Teacher: Tina Vincent
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2019

“Calorie Cry” by Ashley Walsh
Rock Hill High School | Teacher: Tina Vincent
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2019

“Still Gourds” by Hunter Sigmond
South Pointe High School | Teacher: Ashley Beard
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2019

The ARTS are good for business. Many arts organizations and community members are working together to help brand York County as a Regional Arts Destination. With new public art in parks and murals on buildings in all of York County’s municipalities, there’s always something to seek out and to enjoy.

WILLIAMS & FUDGE IS COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY

Gary Williams of Williams & Fudge acknowledges the importance of artwork in the schools and exposing students to real life successes with public art installations. “Williams & Fudge is committed to ensuring the success of all students. An arts education serves all aspects of a student’s educational career, helping them to master core subjects with greater ease, improve social skills, and to motivate them to continue their education beyond graduation from high school. By better serving our students through encouraging the arts both in and out of school, we are building a stronger, more engaged community.”

More information about the Alleys as Gallerys program can be found online at (https://www.yorkcountyarts.org/alleygallerys).

The Arts Council is headquartered in downtown Rock Hill, a state-recognized cultural district. For more information on Arts Council events, contact the Arts Council of York County at 803/328-2787, by e-mail at (arts@yorkcountyarts.org), or visit (www.yorkcountyarts.org).

Public Art Commission seeks artist for project at Hickory Police Department in Hickory, NC – Deadline Apr. 15, 2019

The City of Hickory’s Public Art Commission (PAC) is seeking an artist to create a large-scale work of art inspired by the theme of “Police and Community Together.” The work will be a sculpture installed on the grounds of the Hickory Police Department and will be visible from public streets and pedestrian walkways, free of any admission fee. The committee is especially interested in work that highlights community, creativity, diversity, and craftsmanship.

The PAC invites applications from professional artists or designers, age 18 or older, who are eligible to work in the United States. Priority will be given to artists based in North Carolina.

Interested artists must submit an application, including a statement of interest, work samples, resumes, and references, by 5pm on Apr. 15, 2019. Applications may submitted electronically to (sgreene@hickorync.gov) or mailed to the following address:

City of Hickory Public Art Commission
c/o Sarah Greene
P.O. Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603

A review committee composed of members of the Public Art Commission and project stakeholders will evaluate applications and invite finalists to interview. The committee will then recommend an artist, or artist team, to the Public Art Commission for approval. The selected artist will be notified on May 10, 2019.

Additional details about the project and application process are available online at (http://www.hickorync.gov/content/public-art-commission).

The Public Art Commission, an advisory group to the Hickory City Council, works to enrich Hickory by integrating a wide range of art into public spaces that will create a visual sense of the community, improve quality of life, represent all facets of population, commemorate history, and inspire all citizens and visitors. Hickory’s Public Art Collection is comprised of over 100 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, murals, and benches.

To learn more about the Public Art Commission, visit (http://www.hickorync.gov/content/public-art-commission). For questions about this project, please contact PAC liaison, Sarah Greene, at 828/261-2275, or via e-mail at (sgreene@hickorync.gov).

Carolina Bronze Sculpture Park Installs Second Sculpture in Downtown Seagrove, NC

Carolina Bronze Sculpture Park, NC’s newest sculpture garden recently installed a steel sculpture by the Winston-Salem artist, Don Green. The piece titled “Metaphor #1” is located along the sidewalk on East Main Street in downtown Seagrove, NC. This sculpture is the second sculpture to be installed in downtown Seagrove as an extension of the sculpture garden.

Don Green is a NC artist located in Winston-Salem. Green received his BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University and his MFA from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He started his career as an art director doing illustration and design. Green has taught art at Methodist College, and the University of Wisconsin. His work has been shown across the region for over 50 years.

About Carolina Bronze Sculpture Garden and Foundry: NC’s newest sculpture garden is adjacent to the fine art foundry. The sculpture garden features over 23 sculptures around a beautiful pond. A walking trail loops around the pond with benches and a picnic area. The garden is free and open to the public and provides a contemplative place for walking and exercise. It is a Certified NC Native Plant Habitat and includes information about the sculpture and native NC plants on the free audio tour available in the garden.

Visit the Sculpture Garden webpage at (www.cbsculpturegarden.com).

Giant Mexican Mermaid Mural Coming to South End in Charlotte, NC

Local Artist Sharon Dowell is currently painting a 10′ x 90′ long mural on the brick exterior of The Design Center of the Carolinas, located at 1999 Hawkins Street in Charlotte, NC. Commissioned by Asana Developers, who own and are revitalizing the building, Dowell’s mural will feature a mermaid of Mexican heritage with tattoos that represent historical and current businesses in the South End district. The model for the mermaid is Karla Sosa, an artist who resided in Charlotte for several years and now is back in her hometown of Merida, Mexico. Attached are in progress photos.

Dowell is a painter with a focus on works on canvas, murals and public art. She received a Masters in Arts Administration from Winthrop University in 2017 and earned a BFA from UNC Charlotte in 2002. Post UNCC graduation, she lived in NYC and her work was greatly influenced by the city. She returned to Charlotte and has served in various roles with local galleries, most notably as as an Adjunct Professor and Rowe Galleries Coordinator at UNC Charlotte and as Director for Center of the Earth Gallery.

Dowell will begin a large scale public art project in Boulder, CO, in 2019. Her recent commissions include three CATS Transit projects for Charlotte; the I-277 and 11th St. underpass murals, signal house art, and art for the 25th Street light rail station, as well as murals for UNC Charlotte, the cities of Rock Hill and Concord, and bus shelter art for Durham. Her residencies include The McColl Center for Visual Art, Can Serrat in Barcelona, Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland, NES in Iceland, United Buddy Bear Studios in Berlin, and the Julia and David White Colony in Costa Rica. Sharon received multiple Arts and Science Council Regional Artist Project Grants and was voted Best Artist by “Charlotte Magazine”. Her work is in the permanent collections of The Federal Reserve Bank, SPX, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Fidelity Investments, and Duke Energy, among others.

Heavily involved in the arts community in Charlotte, she has served on the McColl Center for Visual Art Exhibition Committee, teaches community art workshops and donates her time for various charities and social or political causes.

Dowell offers the following artist’s statement, “Intertwining themes course through my paintings and installations; the energy of place, renewal, regeneration, and redemption, part of human nature and thus, part of the fabric of the identity of our place and culture. I am interested in the underpinnings, the stimulating happenings and the stories of the inhabitants that bring places into fruition. Largely illustrative and vibrant acrylic works on canvas, I experiment with various layers, texture and transparency, breaking down the imagery into fractured architecture, organic imagery and at times, interwoven portraiture.”

“I believe that creative place making communicates distinctiveness and generates connections across communities,” adds Dowell. “Thus, my other focus, murals and public art, has the ability to remove the intimidation factor of art that so many people in our society experience. Art in public spaces becomes embedded in one’s sub-conscious, a part of daily life that one embraces without contemplation. It is important for my work to serve as a vehicle to give back and shape communities for the better.”