Art – Just a Modern Guy

February 6, 2010

Estate Sale This Weekend – February 6 – 7 – South Charleston, WV

PM Estate Sales, a service of The Purple Moon, will be holding an estate sale at 805 Montrose Drive in South Charleston on Saturday, February 6th from 10am – 4pm and on Sunday, February 7th from 11am to 4pm.

This small, but high-quality, estate has the treasures you are looking for in the great condition you expect from The Purple Moon. This estate includes a very rare Blenko 5929L decanter, sterling silver from Alvin, Jackson and Poole, silverplate items galore, dinnerware from Castleton and Lenox, figurines from Lladro and Hummel, artwork, and a 1974 Sohmer Company console piano with a huge amount of vintage sheet music and music books.

Great living room, dining room and bedroom furniture including a Thomasville dining set, French Provencial bedroom and a fabulous 1950’s bunk bed set! Sofas, chairs, accent table and much more.

Sale begins promptly at 10am on Saturday, February 6. NO ADVANCE SALES!

Here is the preview video of this great sale:

December 17, 2009December 17, 2009

Deborah Herndon’s “Details” to Open

Rue Emil Zol Céret - Deborah Herndon - 2009

Charleston photographer Deborah Herndon will be opening her first solo show, “Details” at The Purple Moon on Thursday, December 17th.

Herndon’s exhibit draws from photographs primarily taken in Southern France and examines the small details frequently overlooked.

“The history and culture of a place is often reflected in the details,” Herndon said, “it is there that you discover the nuance of the scene.”

Deborah Herndon is a fourth generation West Virginian, graduated from Marshall University and holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. from St. Louis University. Her work has been judged into Allied Artists of West Virginia, Tamarack (Artisan Center) and the Allegheny Highlands Arts and Crafts Center in Virginia.

“Details” opens on Thursday, December 17th, with a reception with the artist from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Purple Moon, 906 Quarrier Street in Downtown Charleston. The exhibit runs through January 30th.

November 23, 2009

Melissa J. Tyson Opening – Friday, November 27th

Music Series #3 - charcoal on paper - Melissa J Tyson

Pittsburgh-based artist Melissa J. Tyson will be bringing her versatile work to Charleston in a new show opening at The Purple Moon on Friday, November 27th.

The opening coincides with the November ArtWalk.

Tyson uses ancient metalsmithing techniques such as alloying, soldering, forging, and enameling to make one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry pieces. She works with traditional precious materials, as well as her own hand-mixed alloys, found metal objects, and unconventional materials like bone and textile.

Also active in the fine arts, Tyson’s drawings, paintings, and mixed media works often share influences with her jewelry. Each incorporates found materials and explores themes such as traditional ornamental forms, topography, and sound.

Born in New Jersey, Melissa J. Tyson received a Bachelors of Fine Art from the Rhode Island School of Design, and studied abroad in Russia, Mexico, and at the Hocschule für Gestaltung, Pforzheim, Germany. Melissa is fueled and inspired by travel and has shown internationally in St. Petersburg, Munich, Hamburg, Milan, and Seoul, as well as in several US states. She currently works out of her own studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Additional information and images of her work can be seen on the artist’s website.

Music Series #1 - charcoal on paper - Melissa J Tyson

Tyson’s show at The Purple Moon will include works on paper, mixed media pieces and handcrafted fine jewelry. The show opens with a reception with the artist on Friday, November 27th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and runs through December 24th.

The Purple Moon is located at 906 Quarrier Street in downtown Charleston. Hours are Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

November 19, 2009November 19, 2009

Charleston ArtWalk Website Gets New Look and Added Functionality

Screen Shot of New Website for the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk

Just in time for the Holiday Artwalk Season the new and improved website for the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk has just gone live.

Featuring more gallery details and in depth notices of shows, features and openings in Downtown Charleston the website has developed to meet the needs of the growing crowd of art enthusiasts making the ArtWalk trek each month.

The new website is also optimized to allow for easy sharing of information with your friends using social network platforms like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

So stop by, take a peek around, and plan on attending the next ArtWalk on Friday, November 27th in Downtown Charleston.

November 3, 2009November 3, 2009

Fund for the Arts – The Grape Escape

Visit three countries in one night on November 12, 2009 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM at the following locations:

Callen McJunkin Gallery – 219 Hale Street

The Purple Moon – 906 Quarrier Street

Taylor Books – Annex Gallery – 226 Capitol Street

Each location will feature wines of one country – taste vintages from Italy, Spain and Argentina while you enjoy the opportunity to see some of the best art produced in our region and beyond.

Tickets are $50.00 and can be purchased at the Fund for the Arts office (304)345-0775, Taylor Books or at The Wine Shop at the Capitol Market. Proceeds benefit the Fund for the Arts.

This event is sponsored by Appalachian Power, The Wine Shop at Capitol Market, Annex Gallery, Callen McJunkin Gallery and The Purple Moon.

We hope to see you!

October 21, 2009

Blenko Masterpieces by Wayne Husted

Blenko Glass #554 – Wayne Husted – 1955

Just in at The Purple Moon are these fabulous 1950’s pieces by designer Wayne Husted.

Both are very hard-to-find and are excellent examples of the modernist flair Husted brought to Blenko during his time there as Design Director from 1953 to 1963. Over 500 pieces were designed by Husted during his tenure at Blenko.

Blenko Glass #5937 Decanter – Wayne Husted – 1959

September 14, 2009September 17, 2009

Robert E. Martens – United Carbon Man and Other Works 1938-1953

More than a decade after his death, The Purple Moon will be presenting a very rare offering of sculptures by Charleston artist and architect Robert E. Martens.

Robert E. Martens was born in Illinois in 1919 but lived most of his life in Charleston, West Virginia. Martens studied architecture at Yale University and at the Cranbrook Academy of Art under Eliel Saarinen. Martens went to work for the Charleston firm of Martens and Son Architects with his father, Walter Frederick Martens, who designed several local landmarks, including the Governor’s Mansion.

In his career, the younger Martens designed such buildings as the United Carbon Building, the original portion of the Charleston Civic Center and Alderson-Broaddus College.

His work on the United Carbon Building (now Boulevard Towers) created a landmark in Charleston where Robert Martens’ sculptures still grace the entry portico on Kanawha Boulevard – including From the Fullness of the Earth (United Carbon Man).

Martens joined his father’s firm specifically in connection with the United Carbon Building commission. At that time Robert was attending the famed Cranbrook Academy which was at the peak of its influence and creative energy. A model for the building was created by Robert at Cranbrook, under the supervision of Eliel and Eero Saarinen. The staff at Cranbrook was also involved in the design and production of furnishings for the building.

The show of Robert Martens’ sculptures at The Purple Moon from the Robert Price Collection presents works spanning the period of 1938 to 1953 and include a 1941 bronze bust of the United Carbon Man. There are also sculptures which appear to have last been shown in a one man show of the artists’ work in 1955 at Woodrum’s Department Store.

In addition to the sculptures by Martens, The Purple Moon will also present rare original photographs of the United Carbon Building by Internationally-acclaimed architectural photographer Jean St. Thomas. These photographs, taken just as the building was opened in 1941, offer a rare glimpse into the modern design sensibilities of the original interior and furnishings of this exceptional Charleston building.

The show opens with a reception at The Purple Moon on Thursday, September 17th as part of the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk from 5pm – 8pm. Music will be provided by Tofujitsu.

The Purple Moon is located at 906 Quarrier Street in Downtown Charleston and hours of operation are Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

August 28, 2009August 28, 2009

New Arrival: Quarrier Diner by David Riffle

Quarrier Diner – Mixed Media – 30″ x 23″ – David Riffle – 2007

The Purple Moon is pleased to announce the arrival of David Riffle’s Quarrier Diner to our gallery in downtown Charleston.

This 2007 mixed media work, which portrays one of Charleston’s most well-known landmarks, is being made available through a special arrangement with the local collector who acquired the piece from Riffle’s show at The Art Store in October 2007.

David Riffle is one of West Virginia’s most unique artists and his three dimensional works, like this one, create images that don’t simply jump off the page – they leap off and into the mind of the viewer. Often nostalgic – sometimes quirky – Riffle’s art always speaks to life in West Virginia.

Often with a surprise or two (or three) Riffle’s work contains reflections of his life – as the newspaper box in Quarrier Diner which features images of his wife and daughter on the front page of the paper.

This piece is made all the more important as the actual Quarrier Diner’s future currently hangs in the balance. This art deco-facade building has sat idle for several years now. Once a bustling lunchtime hotspot, the building now sits deteriorating and we could likely see the Quarrier Diner’s demise if it does not receive the attention it deserves as one of downtown Charleston’s true gems in the very near future.

David Riffle’s Quarrier Diner can currently be seen in The Purple Moon’s main gallery at 906 Quarrier Street. Hours are Tuesday – Friday 11am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 4pm or other times by appointment.

August 24, 2009

Blenko West Virginia Birthday Pieces – 1984 & 1985

1984 Blenko West Virginia Birthday Piece – #12 of 121

Blenko Glass first issued their West Virginia Birthday commemorative pieces in 1980 producing one piece for each year of statehood. Since then, each year on June 20th, collectors from throughout the country have made the annual pilgrimage to West Virginia to try to obtain one of these limited edition masterpieces.

I’ve had two of these pieces before – for the years 1995 and, most recently, 2000. This past week I acquired the two shown here and these 1984 and 1985 pieces are now available for sale at The Purple Moon. These pieces were designed by Don Shepherd and signed by him (DS) and each is also signed by William Blenko and marked for the year and the issuance number in the limited edition.

While the modern lady and I have an extensive personal Blenko collection we largely focus on Blenko pieces produced prior to 1963 and decided not to keep the West Virginia pieces we are able to locate and acquire.

1985 Blenko West Virginia Birthday Piece – #69 of 122