French artist has solo show at Dunnan

Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky's famous quote, "Art is the language of the soul," is an inspiration to French artist Nathalie Naylor, now living on Sullivan's Island.

"For me, painting is a form of meditation that helps discover those things beyond intellectual descriptions and beyond consciousness," explains Naylor, in her lilting French accent.

Standing before several of her 19 acrylic paintings at the John M. Dunnan Gallery, Naylor, model-thin in black tights, sweater and suede boots, could easily grace the pages of Vogue.

Although she has been painting for 20 years, the artist is thrilled to have her first solo show on exhibit through April 30.

Having relocated to Charleston 15 years ago with her American husband, Naylor exhibited in several local galleries but mainly shows her paintings online or sells them to friends.

Born in the Loire Valley, Naylor spent summers on the island of Corsica, where her family is from originally.

"My mother and grandfather were artists," she says. "But I studied art history so I could get a paying job. There are many starving artists in France."

After earning an art history degree from the Institut Superieur des Carrieres Artistiques in Paris, Naylor spent a year studying English in Vermont before returning to work as an assistant at the Daniel Templon Gallery in Paris.

"Because of an arts management exchange program with New York City, I spent a year's internship at the Curt Marcus Gallery in SoHo," she says.

After marrying and moving to New York in 1991, Naylor decided to start painting.

"I'm definitely a self-taught artist," she says, showing photos of her early paintings. "As you can see, I gradually moved from figurative to abstract work.

"When I am painting in my home studio, I am not thinking of whether or not a particular piece will appeal to a buyer. Rather, I am painting to try to express something that goes beyond time, place, race or religion. I went through a phase of painting myriad circles because the shape of the cross, with a circle linking its four points, was painted before the emergence of Christianity."

Pointing to the painting, "Wings," she says, "After my father died, I often thought of angels, and it helped me through the grieving process."

While strolling through the gallery, Naylor pauses by a less abstract work, "Earth," which she interprets as "a dance of humans or a dance of nature."

Before leaving to fetch her two children from school, she says with a smile, "I'm always experimenting because I don't want to start copying myself."

The gallery is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 121 Church St.

'More Fun Than Bowling'

"The play 'More Fun Than Bowling' is a cockeyed metaphor for enjoying life," explains Mark Gorman, artistic director of the South of Broadway Theatre Company, where Steven Dietz's dark comedy is playing.

Gorman, who spent 20 years in New York as an actor and director, moved to Charleston three years ago because his wife found "the perfect job."

"It's worked out well for me, too, because I've gotten to act in a number of plays at South of Broadway," he adds.

After reading "More Fun Than Bowling," Gorman decided he wanted to direct it.

"I love the way this work deals with death and loss; we are left, not mourning, but rather celebrating life," he says.

The play centers upon Jake, a farmer's son who marries a wealthy woman, whom he truly loves. However, after living for years in New York, she leaves him with their daughter, 10; a check for $5,000 and a bike.

Moving back to his hometown, Jack buys a bowling alley and re-marries. However, his second wife is killed in a freak accident at the bowling alley, causing Jack to recall that years before, someone made a three-part prophecy about him.

Told in flashback, the play carries a surprise ending.

The cast includes: R.W. Smith, Katie Huard, Kristen Kos, Sullivan Hamilton and Lyndon Jennings.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday at the theater, 1080 E. Montague Ave., in North Charleston.

Tickets are $15, general public and $10, children 18 and younger, and may be purchased at the door or by calling 745-0317.

'Collaborations'

Choreographed by the College of Charleston's dance faculty, "Collaborations" will be performed at 3 p.m. today and 8 p.m. Monday at the Robinson Theatre.

Artistic director Gretchen McLaine says the dance concert combines inspirations from Buddhism, "Swan Lake" and post-modern art.

McLaine explains, "These collaborations occur not only among faculty and students, but also reach across various disciplines."

Tickets are $10 and $15 and may be purchased by calling 953-5604 or at the door at the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St.

Reach Dottie Ashley at dottieashley@gmail.com