An exhibition of huge paintings at the Gaillard Auditorium has inspired some local students to create their own large-scale project, and the two will be displayed together for the first time Nov. 25.

"Great Big Paintings" is an exhibition of work by British painter Fletcher Crossman, and the work lives up to its title with some of his paintings more than 17 feet wide.

The oversized pieces will be suspended from the ceilings of the Gaillard, and, for the opening reception, students from the Academic Magnet High School will be projecting their own words and images across the canvases and walls.

The idea to include students in the art show came from Academic Magnet teacher, Junius Wright, who had invited Crossman to work as an artist-in-residence at the school.

"The opportunity for my students to work with original artwork of such a large size and high caliber has been incredible," Wright says. "The concrete characters, vivid imagery and integration of text in Crossman's paintings has sparked powerful discussions, and produced insightful pieces of writing in my Language Arts classroom."

The Gaillard Auditorium has often been a venue for art exhibitions in the past, although the sheer scale of the venue can make it hard for artists to make an impact: often the artwork can seem lost on the auditorium's huge walls. This was one of the reasons that Crossman's paintings appealed to Cam Patterson, special exhibit director at the Gaillard.

For the opening night, Academic Magnet students will be using high-tech projectors to cast moving images and words across the surface of the paintings, and the combination of the two led to the project's title: "Fusion." Computer imaging programs allow the students to create projections that can be overlaid across the original paintings to create striking animated displays.

Crossman's art features realistic figures that exist in a strange world of muted colors and tones, often with words and phrases weaving into the images. His distinctive style has won numerous awards and accolades, including being given the Piccolo Spoleto show at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park in 2007.

"Great Big Paintings" opens this coming Tuesday with the artist's reception, featuring the "Fusion" projections, taking place between 6 and 8 p.m. at the Gaillard, 77 Calhoun Street. For more information, contact Crossman directly at 302-6561 or visit www.fletchercrossman.com.

Shem Creek

The artists of Shem Creek Art Gallery will be celebrating their fifth anniversary with an open house and exhibition 5-9 p.m. Friday at the gallery at 320 West Coleman Boulevard, in the Shops of Mount Pleasant, near Locklear's Restaurant.

The gallery exhibits the diverse work of its three award-winning artists/owners, Billy Sumner, Tate Nation and Tammy Papa, as well as paintings by Will Hegler and woodcuts by Kent Ambler.

Sumner's abstracts, collages and monotypes reflect a mastery of color and design and interest in artistic experimentation. Nation's nontraditional paintings are a lively medley of bold compositions, festive themes and a vivid Caribbean-influenced color palette.

If unable to make the show tomorrow evening, contact the gallery by phone at 884-9283 or visit them online at www.shemcreekartgallery.com.

Redux celebrates

The public is invited to join Redux Friday evening to celebrate its sixth anniversary of showcasing contemporary art in the Southeast.

More than 50 original works of art will be available for bidding during the live auction.

There will also be food and beverages provided by sponsors Chinar Indian restaurant, Fast and French Cafe, Five Loaves Cafe, Limehouse Produce, Muse Restaurant and Wine Bar, Normandy Farms, Ooh! Events, Sermet's Corner, and Social Wine Bar. The event is sponsored in part by the Art Institute of Charleston.

The celebration will take place beginning at 6 p.m. at the Art Institute of Charleston, at 24 North Market Street. The auction will begin at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for members and $50 for nonmembers. For information or to purchase tickets, call Redux at 722-0697.