From Harlem to Hubble

Taking a short break from approaching midterms. My goodness, how time escapes! My goodness, I am ready for Spring Break in 2 weeks!

A wonderful thing is happening tonight. A new dual exhibition has been installed at the IP Stanback Museum and Planetarium on the campus of my school, South Carolina State University, and tonight is the grand opening and reception. These exhibitions are The Hubble Space Telescope; New Views of the Universe and Harlem on My Mind Part II; 1940 -1959, and they are fantastic.

These images encompass where we have been, the struggle and misunderstandings; and where we are going, to new worlds and vistas we can scarcely imagine. It is hope housed in a building of brick and mortar; it is a continual fight for freedom- artistic, social, intellectual - documented and shared so we will always remember.

If you can, please make every attempt to see this exhibition. It will be available until June 15, and you will certainly be glad you did.

Art Star

I had an opportunity to meet an artist I have admired for a very long time. Jonathan Green, a world renowned South Carolina artist from the tiny hamlet of Garden's Corner (which is nothing but a sign along side the road) was at the Penn Center's Heritage Days. This is an annual event that takes place on St. Helena Island, and is a celebration of Gullah culture.

Jonathan Green's work is a celebration of life, with bright colors, bold compositions, and inhabited by people who are happily going about their life. Seeing his work has inspired me to embrace my cultural heritage; to appreciate beauty and to see it everywhere. His paintings are harmonious and cause me to feel relaxed.

There was a long line to meet him and calendars and other items with his art were for sale.I bought a calendar, and got in line. There were people from all over the state, as well as out of state, there just to meet him. This is the small town guy who made it big.

Finally, my turn came. About six photogs were milling around - my friend Neta snapped my pic with him.

"Hi, Mr. Green! I've been an admirer of your work for a long time . . . if you have time may I have an interview for a blog I write?" Just knowing this man is too busy - look at all the people! He has had a ballet written and performed based on his art; he has awards and degrees . . .

"Sure", he said, "Here's my personal number, give me a call anytime."

Well, I'll be.

DiverseArt Success!

Our DiverseArt exhibition for 2007 is now in the annals of history. We had about 150 or so people come and view the art, mingle and generally have a good time. There was a lot of good food, wine, and peach iced tea. There was a lot of laughter, and renewed appreciation for the dedicated artists and their creations that we are fortunate to have in this area. New friendships were begun, and older friendships renewed. It was, as Merriam-Webster would say, "a favorable or desired outcome" . . . the definition of success.

DiverseArt Loosed

OK, it's crunch time! We artists who are showing in DiverseArt are tying up loose ends, finalizing plans. Most of the art has been hung, and the art that will reside on tables will be ready to display early next week. We have been interviewed in our local paper, planned the menu, sent out the invitations. All that remains is for us to show up and showcase our work.

It's exciting to see us come together, working to promote not only our own work, but each of the other's as well. I'm glad to be right here, right now.

It hasn't always been thus. There were times when I'd rather live anywhere but here. But I suppose we all have feelings of doubt and at one time or another are disenchanted with where we happen to be. I haven't had the opportunity to live outside my small geographic area, but I have had the privilege to know many who have. I am amazed at the artists who reside around me, and how varied their backgrounds and perspectives are. I am so thankful to be here and to know so many of them. They have all enriched my life in ways that are as colorful, dynamic and thoughtful as their work.

So, if you are anywhere nearby, please plan to come to the Orangeburg Arts Center Thursday October 18 from 6-8, and meet these fantastic artists (and me!!) and hear their stories. It will be a night and an experience to remember.

DiverseArt Launch

Had a super day - got to install art at our local Arts Center in preparation of our upcoming exhibition, DiverseArt, this month. DiverseArt was conceived last year after a group of us had a disappointing time trying to sell art at a local festival. It was disappointing trying to sell, it was not disappointing in the camaraderie we experienced. We began talking about how we could get the arts going in our small town. We not only wanted that for ourselves, but we wanted to include other artists in our area, showcase the incredible gold mine of talent and celebrate their diverse perspectives. That brainstorming session led to DiverseArt, which is a group show that exists to give artists a venue and an opportunity to market their work as they speed along on their artistic journey.

We are planning for 300 people to show up for the wine and cheese reception, Thursday October 18 at 6 PM, and we have a fantastic musician on tap, Capers Bull, who will play some "Come On And Buy Some Art" type music on the piano. There will be much laughter, and maybe some singing and dancing. . . one never knows!

We are honored to have, in alphabetical order, Elsie Lewis Fogle, Alice French, Rajas Londhe, George McDaniel, Pennie Sifly, Jo Wyrosdick, and Ellen Zisholtz.

I've been very busy planning, cajoling, exulting, typing, organizing, fretting, crying, laughing . . . and it's not over yet. Oh, no, it's just begun!!

Nuclear Vision

Last Tuesday evening I was honored to be one of the artists involved in Top Chef Tuesday's, an event hosted by Rachelle Jamerson at a wonderfully restored historic house called Thee Matriarch. People came from all over to sample fantastic cuisine, fine wine, and listen to the soulful jazz of Del Rae. I was privileged to meet artist, art marketer and blogger Jean Bourque, who I suspect really has 8 arms; how else can she do all the amazing things she does?

That in itself is good enough, but what is really worthy of writing and talking about is the fact that it happened in the first place. You see, Orangeburg, where the event took place, is a very small town, with very little art presence. There are plenty fine, accomplished artists around, and many people who love and support the arts, and sacrifice time and money to make sure at least some art "happens". But as far as I know, and Lord knows I don't know all that takes place, this is the first event where so many distinctive artists have gotten together under one roof. So many beautiful and interesting people were there, colors and textures everywhere you looked. All because one woman, who has as much energy as a nuclear reactor, knows that art is essential, has the power to unite a community. There she is, in the top picture, with guest Omar Benjamin, beaming.

In the picture bottom left is the treasure known as Del Rae, making beautiful music. Bottom right is Orangeburg County Library Director and hat afficionado Paula Paul (yes, that's her real name!) with a hat by Christopher's Originals.

Rachelle Jamerson is a rare bird. She is a woman with a vision, and with enough energy and ideas to carry it out. Few things are guaranteed in life, but one of the things that is, if you ever meet her, you will leave inspired.

Kozachek Tango

Artist Janet Kozachek is inspired by the Tango. She has an exhibition, actually has had several now, of works with the dance as the unifying theme. Went to a reception Tuesday at the Orangeburg Arts Center, where dancers were dancing and patrons of her serendipitous work were in appreciation at the display of ink on paper, mosaic, and other expressions of this prolific artist's fancy. It was cool to see the forms in her work echoed in the graceful movements of the dancers; to really see what inspired her and led to this particular body of work. The art came down off the walls when we as viewers became participants, began dancing with each other; experiencing the freedom and joi de vivre of the moment. Two dimensions became three. Art became life.
Thanks, Janet.

Zisholtz Redux

Went to the grand re-opening of South Carolina State University's IP Stanback Museum and Planetarium last evening. SCSU is an historically black university founded in 1896, and the only one in the country to have an art museum and planetarium housed in the same facility. Ellen Zisholtz is the director, and she has a solid reputation for promoting the arts in the communities she serves. She has done it again, with fantastic success. What a forward thinking idea - to marry art and science! Personally I have always thought the two should go together. My earliest inspirations came from science and astronomy, and in grade school my subject matter seemed to lean toward big suns and stars, later galaxies and star systems. Yep, I was a nerd, and worse, an artistic nerd!
The art collection is impressive, from Romaire Bearden to Philip Simmons. A good place to visit to get inspiration that spans the universe.