Painting in Park spotlights art
Art is no walk in the park, commitment-wise.
But plein-air painting in Washington Park, that's something else.
The Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association's Fine Art Annual erects its easels with a series of member gallery openings 5-8 p.m. Friday and the Painting in the Park showcase 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, followed by the Charleston Art Auction at 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Charleston Hotel, 68 Wentworth St.
As always, a percentage of the proceeds realized by CFADA member galleries will benefit 11 Charleston County high school fine art programs. Since 2004, the CFADA has donated more than $150,000 to these art programs.
While the weekend was conceived with serious art collectors in mind, Painting in the Park is for art lovers of every stripe and is free of charge. More than 25 professional artists paint in Washington Park each year, offering attendees an opportunity to observe them at work.
It is also the site of the seventh annual High School Art Competition in which local students display their best work. Judging begins at 11 a.m. with the winners to be announced at 11:30 a.m.
Featured in such periodicals and journals as American Art Collector, AmericanStyle and Art & Antiques, the Charleston Fine Art Annual features 11 CFADA galleries, whose November art exhibits are regarded as their most important event of the year.
Presented will be the most significant works by artists the galleries represent. The art stroll on Friday is free and open to public.
"This is a wonderful weekend celebrating what the Charleston art community has become, and how it reaches out to help artists of the future," says Lese Corrigan of the Corrigan Gallery.
Saturday evening's Charleston Art Auction opens with an hourlong preview and reception at 6 p.m. The auction features "historically significant paintings and drawings together with contemporary works by recognized American artists" along with works from Washington Park.
Tickets for the auction are $50. Call 842-4433 for reservations. Visit www.charlestonartauction.com for information.
Founded in 1999, the CFADA champions the Holy City as a fine art destination while supporting the artists of the future.
The roster of member galleries is Ann Long Fine Art, Carolina Galleries, Charleston Renaissance Gallery, Corrigan Gallery, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Horton Hayes Fine Art, Martin Gallery, Robert Lange Studios, Smith-Killian Fine Art, the Sylvan Gallery and Wells Gallery. For information on the art dealers association, visit www.cfada.com.
Reach Bill Thompson at 937-5707.
