Events promote Charleston art scene

Lese Corrigan, owner of the Corrigan Gallery and president of the Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association, recently hosted a "get acquainted" luncheon at the Gibbes Museum of Art for about 25 individuals involved in the visual arts.

"Guests invited included those dealing directly with visual arts on the Charleston peninsula or who have projects that were a result of or have impacted the visual arts," explains Corrigan, a Charleston native who is a longtime artist. "My idea came out of realizing we are all working toward the same goals: supporting our growing art scene and the artists of the future."

Corrigan says the association has 14 gallery members in the downtown area, and one of its projects is raising money for art supplies for local schools.

The group, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, also is dedicated to making Charleston a national arts destination. The association will cooperate with an array of local chefs in a Palette & Palate Stroll on July 17 and will sponsor a Fine Art Weekend in November.

Among the guests enjoying sandwiches, fruit and "art talk" at the recent luncheon was John Hull, chairman of the art department in the College of Charleston's School of the Arts. Hull announced to the group that he and Marian Mazzone, chair of the college's arts history department, will team teach a course in the spring semester using the Gibbes' permanent collection as the topic.

"The course will be taught at the Gibbes, and rather than using slides in a classroom, we will show the students the actual items in the collection," Hull explains. "The idea came out of a discussion I had with (Gibbes Executive Director) Angela Mack."

Hull says plans are for the college to offer the course at least once a year, and a formal title for it will be developed as he and Mazzone examine the collection over the summer.

"As far as we know, this is the first time the college and the museum have collaborated in this way," says Marla Loftus, the Gibbes' communications director. "And it means the students (in the course) can visit the museum for free."

Representing the newly formed Charleston Arts Coalition was Vladia Jurcova Spencer, who said the all-volunteer organization aspires to unite the creative arts community, not solely the arts, through "advocacy, outreach, promotion and educational programming" to assist all creative people in the process of making a living from their talents. Spencer says the group's newest project is the Web site CharlestonCulture.com on which anyone may list their creative business for free. Information on the coalition may be found at www.charlestonartscoalition.com.

Also, galleries located in various areas are cooperating to benefit future artists.

A few days after the luncheon, Charleston Artist Guild Executive Director Bob Ingram said a benefit for the association will be sponsored Aug. 1 by the Wells Gallery, 125 Meeting St., and at the Somerby Gallery of Mount Pleasant, 3100 Tradition Circle. At the latter, artist Rick Reinert will demonstrate the creation of a still-life painting, and the gallery also will provide lunch. Proceeds from the $50 admission will go to the association, which will donate the money to local teachers in the form of gift certificates to art supply stores. For information, call Reinert at 345-1785.

"We hope to work more closely with Lese (Corrigan) and to promote (the Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association) with our 800 members," says Ingram.

He adds, "On Oct. 16-17, the Artist Guild will collaborate with the Redux Contemporary Arts Center, the (Charleston) Office of Cultural Affairs and the College of Charleston's art department on a pop art exhibition 'Pop Goes the Flamingo' to benefit (the guild's) various outreach programs."

The economy is always on the agenda with arts groups, and this year more than ever.

Ingram, who also serves as president of the French Quarter Gallery Association, says that on June 18 they voted to reduce the French Quarter Art Walks from six times a year to four times because the Cooper River Bridge Run in April and the Piccolo Spoleto art events reduce the traffic to the galleries. Art walks will be held the first Friday in October, December, March and May.

In related news, Ingram reports that the gallery association also voted to invite four more galleries to join the association, bringing membership to a total of 35 galleries. The new members are the Bernie Horton Gallery at 43 Broad St., the ML Gallery at 132 East Bay St., Atmah Ja's at 29 Broad St. and Scoop Studios at 57 1/2 Broad St.

Ingram notes that among the eight requirements for association membership, a gallery must be within the boundaries of the French Quarter District of the original walled city of Charleston with perimeters at Meeting, Tradd and South Market streets and the waterfront.

Dottie Ashley is a freelance writer in Mount Pleasant. Reach her at dottieashley@gmail.com.