Jeffrey Day on Crowded Calendars & Much Needed Conversations

I frequently read the arts blog Carolina Culture by Jeffrey Day who has been reporting on the arts in Columbia, and across the state of South Carolina, for some 20 years. This morning I came across this posting, which echos many of the frustrations, ideas and passions of the Charleston arts community. One of the goals of the Charleston Arts Coalition is to help coalesce all the exciting events happening in our community, for the betterment of all. Charleston Culture was born from the need for a comprehensive, all-inclusive calendar of the many events going on in the Holy City. Please make sure you are utilizing this amazing, totally free & fantastic tool to help promote yourself, your art, your causes.
And check out Jeffrey's blog too!

From Carolina Culture by Jeffrey Day:
When will artists and arts groups start talking to one another?

At the end of my rope a few weeks ago I wrote on Facebook: Why the hell is everything going on at the same time?! (Actually I wrote: I've only been covering the arts in Columbia for 20 years, so maybe I just need a little more time to figure this out: why does everyone schedule everything at the same time on the same day?)

Several people pointed out that this is the sign of a healthy arts environment.
I agree to a point, but we have a small arts audience that’s already fragmented. Instead of it getting more broken up and losing the little clout it has, I’d like to more coming together.

A few recent examples of too much at once:
A panel discussion about the State Art Collection and a reception for a show drawn from that collection as well as two art shows on Main Street. I had to miss the chamber music concert that night.
Another evening included an artists’ panel, an art show opening, a poetry reading and another opening.
Then there was the Friday and Saturday of an opera, a dance performance and a play - something that couldn’t actually be done.

There’s a good, or maybe bad, case study Thursday.
That evening Main Street will be awash with seven art shows and some music and dance. At the same time Compass 5 in Cayce opens an art show and one more is happening at if Art Gallery. The Midlands Clay Art Society is holding an event at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios too. There’s even an overlap in the artists showing at Frame of Mind on Main and Compass 5. And yesterday (Monday) I learned there's another art and design event, this one through the Columbia Design League, going on at the same time as well.

Why doesn't everyone just stand in a circle with guns drawn like at the end of "Reservoir Dogs"?

Some people will make it to more than one of these places, but with all that Main Street activity, I doubt there will be many. I also truly doubt those who start on Main Street will ever make it over the river and down State Street or vice versa. I haven’t yet figured out how I’m going to do it - and I want to. (One should keep in mind that these are art shows so you can see them some other time, but I know how that goes.)

The time is past for arts groups, art businesses and artists to start talking to one another and coordinating events for everyone’s benefits. We’re never going to avoid all scheduling conflicts, but we can do better.

(One thing that came up on the Facebook discussion was the need for a comprehensive calendar, but I don’t know anyone who has the time, money or inclination to take this on and artists and arts groups don’t submit information to the calendars the already exist.)

Let’s start with something manageable.

How about staggering activities and have each venue let visitors know what’s going on at other places the same night? That would turn a crowded calendar into something positive.
Looking long-range, how about a gallery association like those in other cities?

“Too much going on at once” is mostly my problem; it’s my job to go to as much as I can and I get pretty obsessive about it. Call me idealistic, but I want to see you at everything too.

(Look for more commentary in the coming weeks about this and related issues such as cross-discipline programming and the shortcomings of social networking sites in spreading the word. And please share your ideas in the comments section below.)


at 1:46 AM Posted by Carolina Culture by Jeffrey Day 20 comments

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Operation Art!

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Local fine art meets homelessness prevention at the Low Country Artisan Collective’s Best of the Best Show, Saturday, Nov 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22 - noon to 6 p.m. at Number 10 Storehouse Row on the old Naval Base in North Charleston. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Emergency Repairs work of local non-profit, Operation Home. A private Preview Party takes place Friday, November 20, from 6 to 10 p.m.

The event showcases more than 25 fine artists, representing every medium the Low country has to offer, says Torreah Cookie Washington, an esteemed art quilter, who is coordinating the show along with her friend, renowned painter, Arianne King Comer.

“There is a long tradition of enormous good coming out of the partnership between art and philanthropy,” explains Washington, who notes that the upcoming sale offers work by greater Charleston’s top talents at a diverse variety of price points. “The title, Best of the Best, speaks both for the incredible work that will be for sale, and for the double-your-pleasure factor that this show enables anyone to afford to give art and charity as holiday presents.”

Washington notes that Operation Home’s mission to provide safe housing for those in need is a cause that touches many of the artists personally. “Even in the toughest economic times, as we’re seeeing now, Charleston has always supported its creative community in extraordinary ways; but most artists have known at least some period in their lifetime when they did not have housing security,” she explains. “They know how scary and unsafe that feels, and they are delighted to use their gifts to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Preview the art at www.artscuttlebutt/bestofthebestartsale.com

For more information on the Best of the Best show, email Cookiesews@aol.com

"Playful Pianos at Piccolo" Call to Artists

You are invited to participate as an artist, or suggest an artist you know to participate in “Playful Pianos at Piccolo”. Inspired by a sensational project in London, Creative Spark, Fox Music and the City of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs will be placing pianos all over town. In the spirit of Piccolo Spoleto, when the whole town is a stage, everyone will be welcome to play them.
These pianos will be painted by artists like you and then auctioned off after the festival, raising money for music scholarships. Fox Music is providing the instruments and transporting them to and from artists’ studios in February. You would have about 6 weeks to finish painting them. Artists will be offered a stipend of $250 each, which you can opt to donate to scholarships if you prefer. If you would like to be part of the “Playful Pianos” project, please respond to creativecarol@bellsouth.net and we’ll give you all the details soon.

Thanks for your interest,
Carol Antman
Creative Spark
www.creativespark.org

May Art Openings in Charleston, SC

Opening Friday May 1st, Ann Long Fine Art will present recent work from Jura Bedic, Sofia Romark, and Jordan Sokol. The exhibition features three young painters who have been studying and teaching classical painting techniques at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. They were taught to draw and paint from nature using the techniques of the Old Masters and are now passing on their knowledge to the next group of painters. The exhibition opens with a reception on May 1 from 5 to 8 pm in the gallery at 54 Broad Street and will show
into June. Artists will be present.

Carolina Galleries, located at 106 A Church Street, is pleased to present new work by Mickey Williams featuring his recent exploration of the Carolina nighttime landscapes. Opening with a reception on Friday, May 1 from 5 to 8 pm, Williams’ work examines the mysterious and exotic world of the South Carolina nightscape.

The Charleston Renaissance Gallery is launching its next virtual show on May 1, 2009. The title is Southern Economy: Images of Life and Labor. The show will feature nineteenth and twentieth century masterworks by such noted artists as Elliott Daingerfield, Emil Gruppe, Harry Roseland, Alfred Hutty, Anna Heyward Taylor, Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Margaret Law, Edmund Marion Ashe, and William Aiken Walker. The gallery is located at 103 Church Street in Charleston, SC.

The Corrigan Gallery in downtown Charleston will host its second solo show for Lynne Riding during the month of May. The show entitled Connections – An Inner Landscape opens Friday, May 1, 2009 with a reception that evening from 5 to 8 pm. The Corrigan Gallery presents art with a future instilled with intellect, and is located at 62 Queen Street.

Helena Fox Fine Art presents a variety of new works by gallery artists Don Demers, West Fraser, Becky Parrish, Kent Ullberg & Teri Whitner. The works will be on view at the gallery as it celebrates the Spring season. The opening reception will take place on Friday, May 1st from 5 to 8pm. The gallery is located at 12 Queen Street.

Horton Hayes Fine Art is pleased to present a series of new works by Nancy Hoerter. The show entitled Patterns opens on April 30 and runs through May 21. An opening reception attended by the artist will be held on April 30 and May 1 from 5 to 8 pm. Horton Hayes Fine Art is located at 30 State Street (corner of State and Queen) in downtown Charleston.

Ella W. Richardson Fine Art is pleased to present an exciting show of new works by Hilarie Lambert and Jeff Jamison titled Celebration of Life. The reception will take place on May 1 from 5 to 8 pm. Some of Lambert’s fabulous new paintings were created during her recent trip to France. The art show will also include a body of new works from Charleston. The gallery is located at 58 Broad Street in Charleston.

The John Doyle Art Gallery will be participating in the May Art Walk on Friday May 1, serving light hors d’oeuvres from 5 to 8 pm and showing new works by Charleston artists, John Carroll Doyle and Margaret Petterson.

Martin Gallery, located at 18 Broad Street, will celebrate its 10th year as one of Charleston’s premier art galleries, with a reception on Friday, May 1st, from 5 to 8 pm. The gallery is pleased to announce that they will be joined by Montreal artist, Joan Dumouchel, who will be presenting a new collection of original paintings. Joan Dumouchel’s paintings are incredibly striking and unique. As though peering into some mystical world, Joan’s work give a sense of wonder and fantasy.

Robert Lange Studios is proud to introduce two new artists to Charleston, Jessica Dunegan and Adam Hall. The gallery will also display 5 new works by artist JB Boyd. The opening reception will be held from 6 to 8pm on May 1st. The gallery is located at 151 East Bay Street in Charleston, SC.

Betty Anglin Smith will present her new works in a show titled A Series of Square Paintings. The art show is opening on May 1 with an artist reception from 5 to 8 pm at Smith Killian Fine Art located at 9 Queen Street in Charleston.

The Sylvan Gallery presents Shirley Novak’s The Hope Flowers Bring from May 1 – 30 with a reception Friday, May 1 from 5 to 8 pm. Being surrounded with flowers especially poppies inspires smiles and hope for one’s own summer garden as well as an understanding of the cycles of life. This show of Novak’s new paintings will bring color and joy to one’s heart. The gallery is located at 171 King Street, in downtown Charleston’s historic district and antique row.

The Wells Gallery, located at 125 Meeting Street, will feature 20 regional landscapes by Karen Larson Turner in a show titled Emergence: Seeking a Steadfast Light. Show opens on Friday, May 1 with a reception from 5 to 8pm.

For more information, contact Vladia Jurcova Spencer at Stylee PR and Marketing or visit cfada.wordpress.com