Exhibit to explore the history of blues, Davies has 'Mystical Moments'

The city of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs will unveil the exhibit "The Chittlin Circuit Review," featuring oil paintings by Washington, D.C., artist Rik Freeman, at the show's opening reception 6-8 p.m. Friday at City Gallery at Waterfront Park.

Created by Freeman in 1990, "The Chittlin Circuit Review" is a collection of 25 paintings that follow the history of blues through cotton fields, juke joints, railroads and blues clubs throughout the American South and reaching northward into urban areas as well. "Freeman's work includes vivid characters including various fictionalized blues musicians, Mud Paw Willie and Critter Gitter as they travel the 'Chittlin Circuit,' a term used to specify where black entertainers could perform during segregation," explains Barbara W. Vaughn, director of media relations at the Office of Cultural Affairs.

"This thought-provoking exhibition reflects the rhythm and movement at the heart of the birth of the blues," says Ellen Dressler Moryl, director of the OCA. "The OCA is honored to present Rik Freeman's vivid depictions of the evolution of the American civil rights movement. Our community will be greatly enriched and edified by this stunning show."

Born and raised Athens, Ga., Freeman attended the University of Georgia and Savannah State College in Savannah, where he majored in painting. He began his professional career as an artist/muralist in Washington in 1989.

In addition to the reception Friday, the artist will present a lecture on the history and development of his thematic work at 2 p.m. Saturday. Both events are admission-free and open to the public. The City Gallery is at 34 Prioleau St., downtown.

Contact the gallery at 958-6484 or CityGallery@ci.charleston.sc.us, or visit www.charlestonarts.sc.

'Mystical Moments'

This weekend, be sure to check out the latest collection of 20-plus new works in oil and acrylic by William Davies titled "Mystical Moments." Beyond the Gallery and The Real Estate Studio invite the public to attend the opening reception 6-9 p.m. Friday at The Real Estate Studio at 214 King St.

There will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres and refreshments and live music by the Kevin West Project.

Davies' earlier works ranging from sculpture to oils, acrylics, watercolor and mixed-media were inspired by life on the shores of Lake Eerie, N.Y. "Now, the captivating habitat of the Carolinas stimulates his imagination and brushstrokes. Davies' latest series, Mystical Moments, is inspired by his evolving love affair with the elements of water and nature, captured in his paintings, which bridge the spectrum of serene and mystical, to bold passion," says representative Josh James of Beyond the Gallery.

Davies says, "My artwork tends to reflect the rhythm and intensity of a moment in time, which can change with one's perception."

Davies has been commissioned to create art for the private and corporate sectors. His work has been exhibited at Charleston's Piccolo Spoleto, in Charleston's Eye-Level Art Gallery, at the Med Bistro, The Artist Loft Gallery, Mount Pleasant and the Pinckney Simons Gallery in Beaufort.

Go to www.beyondthegalleryonline.com, visit www.therealestatestudio.com or call 991-2042.

'In Her Nature'

Plum Elements is showcasing "In Her Nature," a collection of works by three artists: Jonathan Brilliant, Julie Goldstein and Mayumi Oda. The exhibition runs Jan. 15-Feb. 28.

"The works, both in media -- Brilliant's rust monoprints, Goldstein's wood cuts and Oda's silkscreens -- and subject matter emphasize the organic aspect of being, the inner nature of 'what is.'" says gallery owner Andrea Schenck.

Best known for his tensile strength coffee stirrer sculptures, Brilliant has been working with rust monoprints for nearly five years.

Goldstein's art draws inspiration from the natural environment, the sea and people important in her life. In multimedia works on paper and fabric, she mixes lithographic and woodcut printmaking techniques.

An environmental activist and artist, Mayumi's work reveres the natural environment and celebrates the wonder of life through her silk screens, created using a glue-and-tusche method. Her process is labor intensive and all hand created, including printing on handmade paper. Museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston include her works in their collections. She's been called the Matisse of Japan with her use of color and free style.

View these and other amazing works at Plum Elements, 161 1/2 King St. Call 727-3747 or e-mail info@plumelements.com.

Works of Linda Elksnin

The Saul Alexander Gallery at the Charleston County Main Library will present "Scissors, Thread/Pencil, Paint," an exhibit of mixed-media works by Linda Elksnin, during February.

Appreciation for the textile art of the Kuna Indians inspired Elksnin to create the works in this exhibit. The Kuna people are known for their cut fabric art called mola. Mola is a type of reverse applique, in which images are created by cutting away top layers of fabric to reveal the colors of bottom layers. Elksnin's mola-inspired paintings are created by layering watercolor and gouache, then building up texture with colored pencils. People, animals, birds and fish are the subjects of her paintings.

Elksnin was born in Pennsylvania and took classes at the Philadelphia College of Art when she was in elementary school. She earned a BFA at Syracuse University and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia. In 1984, Elksnin moved to Charleston, where she was a professor of education at The Citadel. She returned to art after retiring in 2007. She is involved in various arts organizations and is an exhibiting member of the Charleston Artist Guild, South Carolina Watermedia Society and Watercolor Society of North Carolina. She is co-chair of the Women's Caucus for Art, which is dedicated to supporting women in the visual arts in Charleston and across the state. A juried participant in Charleston's Annual Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit, Elksnin is represented by Four Winds Gallery in Beaufort and KDS Treehouse in Columbia.

The Saul Alexander Foundation Gallery presents monthly juried art exhibits at the Main Library, 68 Calhoun St. in Charleston. Preference is given to local and regional artists who reflect the varied experiences and viewpoints of the people of South Carolina. Go to www.ccpl.org. Elksnin can be reached via e-mail at linda.elksninart@yahoo.com.