Untitled (Nativity) – Andy Warhol – c. 1959
Merry Christmas
Downtown Charleston ArtWalk – Thursday December 20th
The ArtWalk is the showcase of Downtown Charleston’s thriving art scene.
The December ArtWalk is going to be one of the best ever – with new venues, festive holiday carolers and free KRT Trolley rides between galleries this is one you won’t want to miss.
This will be a great time to pick up those last-minute Holiday gifts while enjoying wonderful works of art from local, regional and nationally-known artists.
Participating galleries, studios and venues and features are:
Art Emporium – 823 Quarrier Street
Artist reception featuring the prints and drawings by Anthony Young.
Also, West Virginia Artists including paintings and prints by J.P. Owens, abstract acrylic paintings by Traci Higginbotham, jewelry by Jackie King, and Photo-Digital Paintings by Bruce Haley.
Blue Door Art Studio – 223 (Rear) Hale Street
Studio of artist Mark Tobin Moore.
Charleston Catholic High School – 1033 Virginia Street East
Special Holiday Artwalk exhibit highlighting works by art students at the school. Among the exhibit will be recent works by AP Art Students Avrah Urecki, Rob Fluharty, Aidan Kim, Elyse Campbell, and Mark Thompson In addition, a life-sized Nativity installation by the middle school art students and a variety of art by student artists from grades 6-12 will also be presented.
Clay Center – One Clay Square
Lightscapes for the Holidays
Large scale sculpture and installations that incorporate Christmas lights by local and regional artists – Dow Benedict, Dan Connery, Sharon Harms, Alison Helm, Scott McMillan, Mark Moore, Mark Soppeland and Cindy Walton
Seasonal Selections from the Permanent Collection
Paintings, prints and photographs by prominent historic and contemporary artists, among them: Paula Clendenin, Jim Dine, Stuart Davis, Roberto Matta, Frederick Waugh and Alexander Wyant
Chet Lowther Studio – 223 – 1/2 Hale Street
New works by Chet Lowther
Gallery Eleven – 1033 Quarrier Street
For the holidays Gallery Eleven will be celebrating the fine crafters, from the pottery of Debbie Wright, Regina Swim and Susan Maslowski, to glass by Greta Heinsworth, Ron Hinkle and David Houser, plus book marks, cards, and miniatures by the Co-Op artists and many more fine crafter’s works.
Good News Mountaineer Garage Gallery – 221 Hale Street
Roger Lucas Gallery – 1033 Quarrier Street
Stray Dog Antiques – 219 Hale Street
Antiques, art, gold and sterling silver jewelry.
Taylor Books – Annex Gallery – 226 Capitol Street
Art and gifts for the holidays.
The Purple Moon – 716 Lee Street East
Original works and signed limited-edition prints from nationally-known retro – pop artist Kerry Beary.
Also art from Felix Krasyk, Wm. D. Goebel, Jennifer Susman and Rob Cleland as well as the usual selection of eclectic and unique furnishings, accessories, glass and artifacts from the mid-20th Century.
The Squire Tobacco Unlimited – 108 Capitol Street
Works by Charlie Morgan. Larry Orndorff,Bob Adams, Rick Burgess, Nick Fortney, Keith Allen and Chris DeMaria.
For this month’s ArtWalk free trolley service will be available for getting between venues and carolers will be provided by Charleston area Girl Scout Troops. Truly a night of Holiday Festivities and wonderful art not to miss.
The perfect way to wind up (or start!) your Holiday shopping – and maybe even try a taste or two of wine along the way!
A map of the venues and trolley stops can be found here. For more information visit the ArtWalk website.
Retro / Pop Art of Kerry Beary at The Purple Moon
Flora – Acrylic on Canvas – Kerry Beary – 2005
Strong women, sleek cats and mid-century modern home furnishings are all present in the art of New York native, now Louisiana-based, artist Kerry Beary. With its retro feel, Beary’s art is best described as being “mid-century lounge-scapes.”
Artist Kerry Beary
Beary, 36, lived and worked in New York until after 9/11 when she and her husband moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There they purchased a 1950’s ranch home where she could build a studio and focus on her art. Since that time her work has gained national attention with her art pieces being in great demand throughout the country.
Nelson Schmelson – Acrylic on Canvas – Kerry Beary – 2005
Kerry Beary developed a love of retro art in childhood as the daughter of a professional hair and make-up artist. Her portfolio reflects a unique talent for painting in the colors, imagery, and styles of the mid-20th Century period.
Cocktail Social – Limited Edition Print – Kerry Beary
Pussy Pad – Limited Edition Print – Kerry Beary
The presentation of Kerry Beary’s work at The Purple Moon is the artist’s first showing in West Virginia. With original paintings and limited edition prints the show opens on Friday, December 14th, with a Holiday reception from 5 – 8 pm.
The Passing of Winslow Anderson
Winslow Anderson – 1917 – 2007
Former Blenko Glass designer Winslow Anderson passed away on December 10th, 2007. During his years at Blenko, from 1947 to 1953, Anderson moved the Milton glass producer fully into modernism. The designs he created while at Blenko are among the best the company ever produced.
In addition to his time at Blenko, Mr. Anderson led a full and productive life. His obituary is as follows:
Artist, designer, and sailor, Winslow Anderson, 90, died Monday, December 10, 2007 at his home. The son of the late Paula and George Anderson, he was born May 17, 1917 in Plymouth, Mass. In his youth he wanted to design swift boats, but instead he was recruited into the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where, in 1947, he graduated magna cum laude with Departmental Honors in Industrial ceramic Design. During WWII he served in the United States Army in Pawling, NY as a topographical draughtsman. While trained as a ceramist, upon graduation Mr. Anderson was hired as the first full-time designer at Blenko Glass, Milton, West Virginia. During his six year tenure, 1947-1953, he was instrumental in creating new, modern functional designs in vibrant colors, which greatly enhanced Blenko’s reputation. He often told friends how the glass itself was the best designer: he stated, “The glass did things in the process of being made; it revealed new ideas to me.” The Museum of Modern Art presented Anderson with a “Good Design Award” for his bent neck decanter, which acknowledged his elegant, simplified designs in 1950. In 1953 he went to work for the Lenox China and Crystal Company in Trenton, New Jersey as both designer and the design director. He remained there until his retirement in 1980, when he chose to move back to West Virginia. Upon retirement Winn sailed his boat, the Ti Fi, painted and traveled the world. He will be remembered by his friends as a witty storyteller, a collector with a most discerning eye and as a visionary designer. Donations in his memory can be made to either the Huntington Museum of Art or the Putnam County Animal Shelter.
Goodbye Mr. Anderson. Thank you for the what you left for us to remember you by – we always will.
Buswater Two
The modern lady and I managed to make the time to stop by the Buswater Two exhibit this evening and it was time very well spent. The venue was great and there is some wonderful art on display in a variety of mediums.
Pieces of note were ezekiel 16.6 by Brent Thomas and Mike Mendez’s two silver gelatin prints – the faulkner and the hemingway. I was also struck by Eric Pardue’s ceramic work. These stood out to me but there were many other fine works and overall the show is excellent.
Organizer Todd Griffith and all of the artists are to be congratulated for putting this exhibit together. It is great to see this type of show in Charleston – especially in such an intimate venue. I used to haunt the DC area and Buswater Two took me back to shows I had attended years ago in Adams Morgan. Our little city was a bit more cosmopolitan tonight thanks to the fine artists who put this together.
The exhibit runs on Saturday, December 8th, as well and you can view this wonderful showcase of local artists at 1520 Kanawha Boulevard from Noon to 10 PM.
Buswater Two – Art Exhibit Opening
Buswater Two, the follow-up art show from last year’s Buswater on the Boulevard, opens for a two day run next Friday, December 7th from 6 – 11 p.m.
This show will feature art from Kristie Carlisle Duncan, Betty Gay, Todd Griffith, Jess Hamrick, Dane Klingaman, Cynthia Mason, Michael Mendes, Jaime Miller, Eric Pardue, Vasila Scouras, Claire Sherwood, Cigdem Slankard, Mark Slankard and Brent Thomas.
The show will be presented at 1520 Kanawha Boulevard and also runs Saturday, December 8th from Noon to 10 p.m.
Last year’s Buswater event created quite a buzz and if you missed it you can view a video walk through of the 2006 show by Chris Boyd here.
Downtown Charleston ArtWalk Tonight
The monthly Downtown Charleston ArtWalk takes place this evening from 5 – 8 pm.
Participating galleries and studios are:
Art Emporium Gallery
Blue Door Art Studio
Chet Lowther Studio
Gallery Eleven
Good News Mountaineer Garage Gallery
Roger Lucas Gallery
Stray Dog Antiques
Taylor Books – Annex Gallery
The Purple Moon
The Squire Tobacco Unlimited
For addition information please visit the ArtWalk website here.
Preparing for ArtWalk and the Holiday Season
I have just been snowed under getting ready for the Holidays, this Friday’s ArtWalk and all that those preparations entail.
One of the things we do at our shop is hold our Holiday decorating and Christmas-specific items until Thanksgiving week. Call me a traditionalist, but I just don’t see the point of having trees, decorations, and all of the other accouterments out so early. One of the “big box” stores had their Christmas offerings out in August.
What’s next – fruitcake on the 4th of July?
So we have spent the past few days putting up the decorations, assembling the aluminum Christmas trees (yes, we have vintage aluminum trees – many of them actually) and generally getting the shop ready for the Holidays. Just like at home, decorating for Christmas first means dragging out a bunch of boxes and generally making a big mess. With a little more work on Tuesday morning we’ll be ready to open at 11am.
We are also preparing for the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk which takes place this Friday from 5-8pm. We are opening a show of works by Rebecca Burch which you will not want to miss. Her art is fun, exciting and playful – in fact the centerpiece of the show are nine photographs entitled Play.
In addition, we have art from Felix Krasyk, Jennifer Susman, William D. Goebel, Rob Cleland and a fabulous sculptured clay nativity set created by Wilma Burky in 1961. All this and the usual assortment of 20th Century Treasures!
The Purple Moon is but one of ten galleries, shops and artist studios taking part in this month’s ArtWalk and we all hope you come and join in the fun. There will be wonderful art, food, drink and intelligent conversation.
Or you could drive out Corrider G to Wal-Mart.
Holiday ArtWalk Schedule Announced
The Downtown Charleston ArtWalks for the holiday season will be held on Friday, November 23rd (the day after Thanksgiving) and Thursday, December 20th from 5 – 8pm.
The ArtWalk showcases the best of Charleston’s thriving art scene and provides a great night out with family and friends.
The holday ArtWalks are planned to help you enjoy the season, fabulous art and get unique and stylish gifts for the special people on your list.
Sure beats a trip out Corrider G.
Don’t miss out on the fun – put this on your calendar today!
