Art at Southeastern Wildlife Expo and more

With the arrival of the annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, comes a herd of artists out of the woodwork.

Art is a huge component of the yearly festival, and is celebrated in grand style with many different exhibits. "Always the cornerstone of our event, SEWE 2010 will proudly host 120+ of the finest artists in the wildlife and nature genre, including featured artist Luke Frazier of Cache Valley, Utah," says Ashley Slane, marketing director.

Reflecting a variety of techniques and subject matter, original paintings, sculpture, carvings and high-end giclees will be displayed in Charleston Place with the artists available to talk about their work and experiences. Watch some of the artists at work in the Quick Draw/Speed Sculpt on Friday afternoon, with an auction of the pieces created to follow.

New this year, SEWE is partnering with Brookgreen Gardens to showcase works by a number of well-known artists in the Collector's Corner at the front of the Charleston Place ballroom. Works available will include sculptures by Walt Matia, Dan Ostermiller, Rosetta, Tim Cherry, Bart Walter, Elliot Offner and others and paintings by Carl Brenders, Brett Smith, Lindsay Scott, John Banovich, Greg Beecham, Eldridge Hardie and others.

The Mills House Hotel will host carvers and sculptors as well, and SEWE's nature photographers' work will be on display in the atrium of Embassy Suites. Back by popular demand, limited-edition prints and giclees will be available on the second floor of the Gaillard Auditorium.

A new venue for the festival this year is the Francis Marion Hotel, which will feature two special exhibits, one of scenic landscapes by SEWE artists and one with works by more than a dozen Lowcountry artists. The new "Landscapes and Locals" exhibit will be showing here. Local painters, sculptors and artisans have agreed to create special works for the new landscape exhibition.

There also will be an art lecture series, opening reception, gala and many other art activities throughout the festival. Visit www.sewe.com.

Sporting paintings

Dog & Horse Fine Art, now in its new location at 102 Church St., may be the perfect gallery for hunting and animal lovers to find just the right piece for their tastes.

Museum-collected and magazine-featured artist Beth Carlson will exhibit her sporting

paintings, starting with a reception 5-8 this evening at Dog & Horse. This will be Carlson's fifth anniversary exhibition of this kind in Charleston, and gallery owner Jaynie Spector is excited to have such a well-known

artist represented by gallery. "The excitement of the flush, the beauty of the hunting dogs, the prize at the end of the day; Beth Carlson's paintings have soul and capture the excitement of the hunt for both the hunter and dog. Her landscapes are always beautiful with the natural splendor of the countryside," says Spector.

Carlson lives on a farm on the coast of Maine with her husband, Peter, and their dogs and horses. Dog & Horse Fine Art & Portraiture also represents more than 35 quality artists from across the country. Visit www.dogartdealer.com or call 577-5500.

'Forrest at the Beach'

Check out internationally known artist John Hull's newest collection of work at the Corrigan Gallery this month. The show, "Forrest at the Beach," will be Hull's first solo show in South Carolina as well as his first collection of work with a Lowcountry background.

Having begun as a journalist who aspires to be a novelist, Hull uses paint to recount his "psychological stories filled with boredom and wonder." Gallery owner Lese Corrigan explains that "the beach scenes have Forrest, Hull's dog -- named for (Nathan) Bedford Forrest, the Confederate general -- as the only animation in the works. Forrest finds the beach and marsh of Folly Island all his for the taking. Do not make the mistake of thinking, 'Oh what a lovely painting of a dog running on the beach.' To simplify the viewing of Hull's work would be a serious error in judgment. There is a depth of thought and process put into his work.

"This series is possibly the most solitary of his works at first glance -- as he sinks deeper into the milieu, one could wonder how his Lowcountry work will evolve in the scheme of his peopled narratives. But at second look, one notices that Forrest is in charge and has complete command of his location.

"He is at ease, having fun, exploring and free from the limitations of others or structured surroundings."

Hull has a bachelor's degree from Yale University and master's in fine art from the University of Illinois. Most notably, his work is included in collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Denver Art Museum, Israel Museum, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Greenville County Art Museum, Edwin A. Ulrich Museum and Yale University Art Gallery. He has exhibited since 1981 with a number of solo and group shows at reputable locations throughout the world and has received various awards, prizes and fellowships.

The Corrigan Gallery is on Queen Street near Meeting Street in the historic French Quarter. Visit online at www.corrigangallery.com or call 722-9868.

'Rhythms of India'

"April 2009 marked my long-awaited introduction to India. I had no idea what to expect, nor was I prepared for the experience in store. India's vibrance and relatively untouched culture called to me. My goal was simple: to discover one of the world's largest populations and gain a better understanding of the fabric that binds the people to their daily lifestyles, religions and land in a place that fully contrasts my own," says photographer Yve Assad of her journey to India.

The story is best recounted using Assad's own words: "While crisscrossing the subcontinent by all manner of transportation including trains, rickshaws and death defying cab rides, we passed through Kolkata, Varanasi, Delhi and into the Himalayas in search of the intertwining threads that create the colorful tapestry of Indian life.

Soon after arriving, any travel apprehensions were quickly quieted by kindness and generosity in all forms. My curiosity began to take over, and I found it nearly impossible to put my camera down. I did not allow my lens to discriminate. I wanted to capture it all: the old, the new, the disheveled and the beautiful."

"... Western culture is present, but it, like everything else, has been woven into the fabric of daily life, swaying to the rhythms of India. The photographs I returned with were just a few notes from a long, beautiful song."

View the 29 photos at Assad's opening reception of "The Rhythms of India" 6-8 p.m. today at the Gallery at the Art Institute of Charleston, 24 N. Market St.

The photographs will remain on display until March 10.

Visit www.yvephoto.com or call 860-6441.