Teaming with SCAD influences the opening of contemporary art spaces in Savannah is quite refreshing. It's such a lovely place to walk about and stumble into things like to gardens, quaint shops and yummy eateries. It's an unexpected pleasure to find interesting and compelling contemporary art in history steeped Savannah.
2carGarage
During my visit in early Feb, an excellent show of Chris Kienke's work was up. His work covers a lot of territory, figures, animals, abstraction, fish, water and yet is all recognizable as Chris Kienke. I liked the variety in the scale of work as well,this variation provided unexpected delight from large diptychs to more personal, small work.
Color abounds, Kienke's visual language is evolving over each piece you see the strokes change, the palette changes, and the content. In his own words, "...I recognized the value in the unintended". Thanks for this show.
Up next at 2carGARAGE is Betsy Cain's strong and decisive mental landscape work. Stop by, you'll be glad you did.
Atlanta
Meeting fellow artists and reacquainting is sheer delight. I love how artist's minds work and how we look at the world. It was my great pleasure to me John Folsom.
John Folsom
Folsom has just received confirmation of a show at the Gibbes Museum in Charleston; well deserved I might add.
John's photo based work lends a dreamy quality to the bucolic settings he photographs; his work is visually arresting and expertly crafted. Folsom reminds us why our landscape is important. This is especially significant to me as I've just seen some of George Masa's, the Ansel Adams of Appalachia, remaining photos of the Blue Ridge (c. 1922-1933). Much of this landscape has been preserved in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Where it could have gone so terribly wrong, this beauty has been preserved.
We depend upon George Masa and John Folsom to help us remember what was.
Asheville
Asheville has more galleries than Charlotte, hmm. What does that say for this jewel of a town?
Gallery Minerva
Anna Parker-Barnett and Heidi Gruner--this is the gallery staff with whom I'd love to work. They do not hide behind computer screens and desks, they get up and greet you when you visit Gallery Minerva. Anna and Heidi speak with great authority about each artist in their gallery, I'm not talking art-speak either. It is so refreshing. Thank you both.I'm happy to report the expansion of Gallery Minerva into a second space on Biltmore Ave. Anna is a great resource for starting or expanding your collection. If you are a first time art buyer and feel a bit intimidated, ask Anna, she will deftly guide you through the art purchase process. I urge you to support this downtown expansion and spend time and money in Asheville. This is a courageous move for Gallery Minerva and I applaud their grit and hope for their continued success.
Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts
Another Asheville treasure is Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts. I'm not sure how many artist work in this fine space, but let me say, it's a beehive of activity.
I attended a recent opening, "Ceramic Artists Members Show" and was thrilled to see the large crowd there. The show runs through March 6. Good food, great music and best of all excellent clay work. The show is beautifully curated by the resident artists. They are all versed in the complexities of ceramic art and willing to share this information with you.
Odyssey is one of those unique places that fosters artistic achievement; you'll find studio space with all the necessary equipment, classes, seminars, lectures and workshops.
Here I'll share the work of two Odyssey artists, Jillian Wolf and Kat McIver. Stop by Odyssey, see the show, be dazzled by the quality work made right here in Asheville.
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