Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Show - Wednesday, 6/4/08

On my way to the park from work, I stopped to shop at one of my favorite establishments, Artist & Craftsman Supply Store, which has just moved from upper King St. to Calhoun Street, directly across from the Art show in Marion Square. Pictured below from right to left are my friends, Trevor, the Manager, Elaine and Abdul:


I enjoyed the a/c again today at the office, and when I relieved Pat at my booth around 4 pm, the heat index must have been around 100 degrees! But Monnie Johnson, my other "next booth neighbor," cooled off by painting a wonderful oil of the beach at his 2:30 pm art demo:

Monnie, his wife, Leslie, and I go back all the way to our beginning art careers in Charleston. He and I were juried into the Charleston Artist Guild as exhibiting members at the same time, just in time to join the Spring Sidewalk Art Show on the fence at St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Our spaces were right next to each other and we both painted little watercolors, hoping to make enough to pay for our supplies (and CAG dues...). The next year he and Leslie moved out of this area due to his job, and over the intervening 20 odd years, they would return in late May or early June to see family and they began visiting me and other artist friends at this outdoor art show. A few years ago, Monnie, Leslie and family moved back to this area, and he was subsequently juried into this show. This year we've come full circle as his booth was moved to the space next to mine - we're all a little older, but we paint bigger and we've branched out into different media!

more sunglass fun with my friend, Stephen:

and, as we leave the park each night around 5-6 p.m., we know the Art Show and grounds at Marion Square are in good hands:

David Ventry, Head of our Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit Security Detail!