'Empty Spaces' at Sparks Studios and Redux's 'Reorientation'
This Saturday, check out "Empty Spaces," a collection of new works by artist couple Ben Timpson and Tiffany Lippincott at Spark Studios and Gallery. Both artists recently relocated to Charleston and have already made their own waves on Charleston's creative scene.
Timpson creates a mixture of sculpture and photography on a miniature scale. His original pieces are crafted on a piece of slide film, or glass or acrylic, and are sometimes viewed through magnifying lenses. He then uses those ideas as the base for oil paintings.
"I started using the medium as the message. Taking minuscule objects from everyday life and weaving them into stories and images that came from my head," he explains of his process.
Lippincott's works play with the interaction between two-dimensional patterns and three-dimensional objects, such as chairs and furniture.
"The chairs have a life of their own, but when combined with floral motifs, they are transformed into something new," says gallery director Daniel B. McSweeney.
The opening reception for "Empty Spaces" will be 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Sparks Studios and Gallery, 12 Hagood Ave. Call 817-1937 or visit www.sparkstudiosandgallery.com.
Reorientation III
Redux Contemporary Art Center's biannual juried show, "Reorientation III," highlighting the work of Redux studio renters, print shop and darkroom artists, will take place 6-10 p.m. Friday.
Tom Stanley, artist and chair of the Department of Fine Arts at Winthrop University whose works have been exhibited in numerous galleries nationally, was selected to be the juror for the exhibit.
Stanley has selected several of Redux's artists, including Townsend Davidson, Kaminer Haislip, Kirsten Moran, Kate Long-Stevenson, Lynne Riding, Michael Heagerty, Tina Christophillis, Julie Henson, Julie Klaper and Steven Lawrence.
Describing "Reorientation III," Stanley says, "The first works I saw after arriving at Redux Contemporary Art Center were Kirsten Moran's expressive, linear figures. I realized in looking at these untitled depictions of anonymous women that somehow 'Reorientation' would be a figurative show.
"Regardless of the image or reference to figure in 'Reorientation,' one thing is clear, the human spirit was the major figurative element in all the work. After all, this is the bottom line with art or a space like Redux — the human spirit is the inexplicable figure that makes it all work," Stanley says.
In addition to the show, during the reception, Redux will hold an open studio session so that viewers may wander through all of the Redux studios, both public and private, and the artists will be present.
Visit Redux at 136 St. Philip Street, by phone at 722-0697 or online at www.reduxstudios.org.
Watermedia society
The South Carolina Watermedia Society will be holding its annual exhibition beginning Wednesday at the North Charleston City Gallery.
The society is the only statewide visual arts organization to promote artists who work in watermedia, which includes watercolor, acrylic, gouache, casein and mixed media in conjunction with watermedia.
The group provides exhibition opportunities, professional development and educational programs.
"The annual juried exhibition, which has been presented since 1977, offers both new and established artists from around the state the opportunity to compete for prize money and to have their work featured in the society's traveling exhibition, under the supervision of the S.C. State Museum. A number of the works on view will be available for purchase," says Ann Simpson, North Charleston Cultural Arts Department Arts Coordinator.
The North Charleston City Gallery is in the Charleston Area Convention Center. Inquiries regarding the artists or purchase information should be directed to the city's cultural arts department at 745-1087.
