Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 - Thursday, May 30, 2013 - Day 7

Merit Awards Part I

 "Coastal Properties" by Vicki Ellis

"Red and White" by Tami Cardnella"

 Four Merit Awards were given; I'm posting the two "red" ones today and will post the other 2 tomorrow.

Lolling Around

Scott Henderson and Kevin LePrince take some time to rest up for a big weekend of SALES.

One of the New Artists for the 2013 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Susan Roberts, Photographer

Susan is still going strong on Day 7 - I knew she would because she's from Edisto (where I grew up) - drives in each day (an hour drive).  In addition to Edisto, we also have another art adventure in common - Susan was the 2011 Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society Tour Artist (the first photographer to have been chosen) and I followed in her footsteps to be the 2012 Tour Artist.

Live Music in Marion Square

at the Petite Performance Pavilion

Volcanoes in the Kitchen

Several Piccolo Spoleto performers present little vignettes of their programs, usually about 20 minutes long for the duration of the Festival.  To make sure you don't miss any of these delightful "petite performances", it's best to just come out to the Outdoor Art Show, hang out with us, and we'll be glad to hold the art you buy while you go listen to the performers.  Today we had Volcanoes in the Kitchen, Gabby, Drew and Hannah Hadley, who also do gigs at the Farmers Market and play several times over at the Sweet!  Art Exhibition.  Definitely catch them around town - you'll enjoy!

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 - Wednesday, May 30, 2013 - Day 6

A Great Day to Plein Air Paint

Rick Reinert - Oil Demonstration

Wednesdays can be lazy days, and by that I mean Marion Square is quiet in the mid-week. Folks have just left town; others are arriving.  The weekends, of course, are the busiest because many people are off work.  It was a beautiful day, but so relaxing, I almost fell asleep so it was time to go stroll the park for "news".  There wasn't much because spontaneous demonstrations were running rampant.  Most artists were doing what they love best - painting!

 Tate Nation

Floyd Gordon

Steve Jordan

Bob Graham

(with his watercolor set his grandmother gave him when he was a child)

Friends from Artist & Craftsman make Artist Colleen Wiessmann happy!

Hirona Matsuda and Molly from Artist & Craftsman (located right across Calhoun Street from Marion Square) came by with free raffle tickets for the artists to complete and return for Friday drawings during Piccolo Spoleto.  Winners receive an $80 gift certificate to the store which means a lot more than $80 worth of supplies because the art supplies are already discounted!  We are all happy about that!

After the Art Show closed at 5 p.m., I went and freshened up for a reception hosted by the Gallery I'm in, Studio 151 Fine Arts.  The Gallery partnered with Piccolo Spoleto to hold a reception for Edward Gold tonight after his poetry reading at the Sundown Poetry Series at the Dock Street Theatre.  We had a great turnout, and Edward is absolutely delightful!  We couldn't attend the poetry reading because we were getting ready for the reception but heard it was a grand success, and I am looking forward to enjoying his poetry chapbook Owl.  

Reception at Studio 151 for Poet Edward Gold

My art neighbor for the last 3 years in Marion Square, Sherry Brown, mentioned that her husband, Harvey Rogers, was a friend of the poet and he would be at the reception, so it was great to see Harvey outside of putting up art tents!

Harvey Rogers, Jim Marret, Judy Vane, Edward Gold

Another surprise was meeting Edward's wife, Amy Robinson Gold. We were in high school together and had not seen each other since then - what a fun ending to great evening!  

Amy and Edward Gold

And many thanks to Rosie Phillips, Sandy Scott and Jennifer Koach who did all the work for the reception since both Colleen Wiessmann and myself were in the outdoor Art Show and couldn't get to the reception until later (just in time to socialize and take photos...).

Jennifer Koach, Rosie Phillips, Sandy Scott, Colleen Wiessmann

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 - Tuesday, May 28, 2013 - Day 5

3rd Place Winner

"Lowcountry Color" by Daryl Knox

Daryl's artwork is filled with color, depth and an exquisite ambiance. An art teacher once said to me, "Concerning color and value, as long as you have your values correct, you can use any colors and the painting will "read" right." Many people think green for landscape, but look at the color range Daryl uses here - there's a little green, not much but we all know it's a landscape. And what a landscape! Congratulations, Daryl!

Update on the Slasher(s)

Issac Martin with Channel 2, WCBD, arrived at Marion Square early today to interview one of the tent slashing victims. Again, the artists are grateful no art was harmed or stolen! The artists are on high alert and the police are working diligently to identify and apprehend the slasher(s). The publicity from the Channel 2 story may well bring additional leads. So it's probably only a matter of time before the slasher perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.  

Watercolor Demonstration by Alice Stewart Grimsley

Where else are you going to get fabulous and FREE art lessons but at the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition? You can get to the list of demos at the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 Facebook Page (like us!)

Demos for tomorrow:

11:00 a.m. - Joyce Hall - Oil

2:30 p.m. - Rick Reinert - Oil

As artists in a 16-day outdoor exhibition, more or less "living" in the park, we're really fortunate to have such supportive family and friends.  Scott Henderson's family showed up with a picnic lunch yesterday, just in time to hear the concert!

Mr. & Mrs. Scott Henderson and 3 Daughters

Dualing Art Exhibitions!

Visit Sweet!, a Multimedia Exhibition

Citadel Square, 328 Meeting Street

"Prize" by Amelia Whaley

My art show entitled "The Pomegranate Seals" is part of Sweet! a multimedia exhibition sponsored by the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and presented by Artist on Fire, and literally right across the street from my Booth #67 at the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition.  Hope you'll come and visit both shows!

The show has gotten some good buzz around town - the Opening Reception was extremely well-attended, and the food, catered by Sugar & Spice, was enchanting and delicious! What can be better than good art, good food and good friends?  That's what the show Sweet! is all about - the good life! Below are pictures of the youngest artists from Opening Night:

Elianna Radin, Age 8

Ellie's exhibit is filled with imaginative and colorful birds. Without a doubt each of her birds has its own unique personality! Above Ellie is "BuFev" (she gives them interesting names, too).  The red dot means it belongs to me and Ellie told me BuFev is a songbird with its own melody (which Ellie kindly "trilled" to me at the reception..).

Neriya Radin, Age 5

Here you see Neriya and her masterpiece, "Yum! Yum!" That's some kind of 12-foot Yum, Yum indeed! (And even sweeter, Yum! Yum! sold opening night!) Each artist in this show has their own video on the show's website where the artist talks about their exhibition, process, etc. (Each artist's bio on the wall also has a QR Reader where you can access their video on your iPhone while viewing the artwork.)  I venture to say that the videos of Ellie and Neriya really "take the cake"!

Artist's Cousins Turn Out for Sweet Stuff

Pie and Mary Mikell

My cousins, Pie and Mary Mikell, made opening night, and I was thrilled to see them!  Our families go way back to the first English settlers of Edisto Island, where we grew up. In my Artist Statement for "The Pomegranate Seals" I speak of my inspiration for this show - a memory of when Pie and I were 8 years old and at her house on Edisto.  We were out in the yard and she showed me the pomegranate tree (I still can't get over the fact that there was actually a pomegranate tree on Edisto, of all places!) We picked a pomegranate and broke it open right there under the tree and she showed me how to eat it.  The sweet taste of that pomegranate created one of the most unforgettable memories of my life, and many years later, that one memory birthed an art show.

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 - Monday, May 27, 2013 - Day 4

2nd Place Winner

"Movement Three" by Carl Crawford

Above is one of Carl's "Collage Illusions" - he uses pieces of color and shape from magazines and assembles them on glass to achieve stunning artworks.  This painting was difficult to photograph because I would see my reflection, and even when I stood to the side and held the camera out in front, the camera was reflected in the glass.  So I held the painting from the side and had Carl take the photograph.  Now the reflection you see behind the woman in blue is the artist himself.  Congratulations, Carl!

2013 Awards Ceremony Video

Starring Mayor Joseph P. Riley and Award-Winning Artists

Enjoy the video of the May 24th Awards Ceremony!

Breaking: High Drama at the Art Exhibition!

One of 3 Slashed Tents

Sometime early this morning, 3 artists' tents were vandalized. The slasher(s) hit 3 tents in a row. Fortunately, no artwork was stolen; however, replacement panels for these professional tents are very expensive.  The police were called at 9 a.m. and reports were filed with the police from all the victims.  The police are working diligently on this case, and we are convinced the slasher(s) will be found and brought to justice.  For all we know, some tents may have camouflaged security cameras which will help with identification of the perpetrator(s).  We are hopeful that the police will make arrests soon. 

On a Brighter Note, Hundreds Enjoyed

The Annual Memorial Day Outdoor Concert

 The Charleston Community Band and Columbia Community Concert Band Getting Set Up

 Crowds spill over onto the lawn

Henry and Terry Berlin camp out at Daughter and Artist Elaine Berlin's Booth for the Concert

What a wonderful tribute to our men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces! American Flags rimmed the perimeter, the weather was perfect! It is always moving to see and be part of that moment when everything stops and we all stand with a hand over the heart as the band plays "The Star Spangled Banner".  It's great to be American!

The Free Art Demonstrations Have Begun!

Thanks to Tammy Papa for the first Demo of 2013

Tammy demonstrated painting a lowcountry landscape in pastel.  The Art Exhibition offers 2 art demonstrations each day. A demo at 11:00 a.m. and another at 2:30 p.m.  These are the best FREE Art Lessons around!

Friends

Will, Larkin, Clayton and Mary Larkin Hegler

The Hegler Family stopped by to visit on the way from visiting the Sweet! multimedia art exhibition (more about this show tomorrow) to the Memorial Day Concert and then on to Cupcake to celebrate Mary Larkin's birthday.  Will was an exhibitor in the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition for several years and won the 2009 Mayor's Purchase Award.

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 - Sunday, May 26, 2013 - Day 3

1st Place Winner

"Under God" by Joanne Evans

Joanne's art is rich and detailed in its realism - it's as though you can reach out and touch the wool coat of this sheep.  Congratulations, Joanne!

The weather is absolutely wonderful - I can't remember another Piccolo Spoleto when the temperature and humidity in Charleston was not only bearable, but simply delightful.  The artists are settling into the show now - yesterday, the first Saturday, with the Children's Festival, the Farmers Market and the Outdoor Art Exhibition, is always exciting, jam packed with activities and people - Marion Square is a wonderful park, thanks to the City of Charleston and its team that keeps the park in great shape for the community's enjoyment.

As always during the Children's Festival,

The Feed & Seed Marching Abominable Band of Atlanta was in full display!

My Most Favorite Marching Band Evah!

There are so many components to putting together a Festival of this magnitude and excellence, I have to hand it to the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs!  I'm not sure they ever sleep during the 17 days...

Ellen Dressler Moryl, Artistic Director Emeritus,

Piccolo Spoleto Festival

I spotted Ellen Dressler Moryl, not only Artistic Director Emeritus, but also the Founding Director of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, here for the Children's Festival yesterday and viewing the art at the Outdoor Art Exhibition.  Thank you, Ellen for all the hard work you've done and continue to do for Piccolo Spoleto!

Harrison Chapman, Director of the Charleston Farmer's Market

Scott Watson, Director of  the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs

I have to say, these 2 gentlemen are definitely hands on in ensuring the Farmer's Market, the Outdoor Craft Show and the Outdoor Art Show flow smoothly.  We all park in the same lot, and they were at the lot to make sure the participants knew where to park, and their presence made a huge difference  (because I could actually find a parking place!). Thank you, Scott and Harrison! 

Fortunately for Scott and Harrison, they were not in the general vicinity of Marion Square when we had to move 4 artists' tents yesterday at 6:00 p.m...

How many artists does it take to move a tent - art and all???

  We have a great group of artists and spouses that "soldiered on" to help us out!

More friends come by and some even climb trees.

I have a great big knobby tree by my booth, so Davis Hutto Thompson decided to try it out!

Today was a Great Paint-Out Day

Elaine Berlin Painting Plein Air

Mary Segars takes a break to talk to customers

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition - Saturday, May 25, 2013 - Day 2

Mayor's Purchase Award!

"New Light" by K.C. Collins

K.C. Collins is pictured above with her proud parents and Mayor Joseph P. Riley at the Awards Ceremony yesterday in Marion Square.  I heard her say that this is one of her favorite trees - K.C.'s art has an ethereal quality about it and is a prime example of how an artist can encourage the viewer to see and appreciate the environment in new ways. "New Light" will be part of the City of Charleston's permanent fine art collection, rotating throughout the City's offices. 

(Trivia - The first year K.C. participated in the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition, she also won the Mayor's Award.)

Great Weather and Good Friends!

It's always fun when friends come out to enjoy the Art Exhibition,

the Children's Festival and Farmer's Market. 

Pamela and Steve Richards

Sue and Bobby Hinkle

Lisa, Matt and puppy Magill Moore

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013 - Friday, May 24 - Day 1

Final Preparations &

The Show is On!

9:59 a.m.  Bob Graham - final pricing

It's always a bit frantic with final minute touches - making sure all paintings are titled and priced - and after 2 days of setting up, very little sleep, making sure the right titles are with the right paintings... The judging takes place the first day of the show - the judge should get a medal - 86 booths in the hot sun!

But the artists have moved in for the duration - this will be our home away from home for the next 16 days.  We're like a big family with a lot of comaderie and a genuine enjoyment of being around each other.

During the show, Marion Square will also be our studio away from the studio...

Rick Reinert - set up and already painting!

Rick Reinert paints every day - last year during his art demonstration it poured rain - he was there with signs out that the demo would go on - a real trooper!

Laurie Meyer is varnishing an artwork.

(Scott Penegar is doing his George of the Jungle thing again, i.e., see post from 5/21.)

Tonight we artists will start getting sleep again - tomorrow I'll start posting the award winners!

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition - May 23, 2013 "Set-Up Day 2"

Some Artists are Faster than Others

Ron Rocz was light years ahead of me when I arrived about 10:15 with my panels and most of my art.  I left at 1 pm to go get lunch and pick up four big paintings that wouldn't fit in my car earlier. Finished up between 3 and 4pm. Then home to dress for a reception from 5 - 8 pm.  I think most artists try to set up either early or later in the day to stay out of the heat and preserve artistic energy...I obviously have not mastered that yet.

Doing it all the Same Day

Kathy DuTremble, my neighbor on the right, and her son David came first with the tent and screens.  After they put that up, they made a run to Kathy's gallery for art.  This photo is right before they made another run for the second batch of art.  (They did all this in about the same time it took me to put up my screens and art!)

Well, tomorrow is Show Day # 1.  It's supposed to be a gorgeous, not too hot, weekend so come out to play with us!

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition - May 22, 2013 "Set-Up Day 1"

The Tent Skeleton

Don Ellis has put the skeleton together and is tall and strong enough to do it all by himself! 

You can see him "working" the top over the tent - next will be the sides, then tying everything down.

The Good Friend

Last year I put my tent together by myself.  Many hours later I realized that the only positive from this was that I knew I could do it.  It is a far, far better thing (and much faster) to have a good friend help you! And this is Jennifer Lowrance, who kindly took the time to come out to help me get my tent up today. Yes, the top looks a little lopsided, but that was then and now it's straight.  A good friend makes all the difference in the world - thanks, Jennifer!

Just Getting Started

Nance Lee Sneddon arrived as Jennifer and I were almost finished.  Those big white things are doors which she uses to display her artwork. Last year Nance "rented a husband" (her friend's husband) to help her put up her tent.  This year, my art show neighbor, Sherry Browne, volunteered her husband, Harvey, to put up both tents - hers and Nance's.  This makes Sherry a Good Friend.  And it makes Harvey a Good Husband!