Charleston artists expand to other parts of the state

Charleston Artists in Other Parts of the State

The artists here don't just wow us, they take applause elsewhere too. Check out these wonderful art happenings taking place across the state, featuring some of Charleston's very own.

'African American Voice' in Belton

Charleston artists Linda Blake, Mary Jackson, and Marguerite Middleton will be appearing in the 'African American Voice' exhibition that is taking place at the Belton Center for the Arts in Belton, SC, from Saturday through Feb. 26, with an opening reception this Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

Coordinated by Harriett Green, visual arts director at the South Carolina Arts Commission, the exhibition includes 32 pieces of artwork in all media from the State Art Collection. The pieces are by 21 African-American artists who range from self-taught, outsider artists like Sam Doyle, Leroy Marshall and Dan Robert Miller, to academically trained artists with established careers such as Leo Twiggs, Arthur Rose and Tarleton Blackwell.

The Belton Center for the Arts is hosting the exhibition in celebration with the Anderson International Festival.

'The African American Voice' continues through Feb. 26 and is free to the public. The Belton Arts Center is located at 306 City Square in Belton. For more information, visit the SC Arts Commission at www.southcarolinaarts.com or call 803-734-8696.

Fast and French in Columbia

The fast Frenchies do more than put together yummy croque monsieurs! Gwylène Gallimard and Jean-Marie Mauclet, owners of Gaulard & Maliclet restaurant, affectionately known as G&M or Fast & French, on Broad Street are also sculptural artists.

Just yesterday, the pair had their opening reception for their show titled 'Olympia' at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art (701 CCA) in Columbia, SC. 'Olympia' is an installation containing sculptural renditions of Olympia architecture, a train track, a gravel pit, a wall drawing, a public square, a library and other elements.

Gallimard and Mauclet have worked independently and

collaboratively for 30 years in the field of visual art in France and the United States and have lived in Charleston, S.C., since 1984. In addition to owning and running Fast & French together, they have also created a variety of permanent and temporary art installations with subjects such as the health food industry and the fast food phenomenon.

Every Wednesday from now until Feb. 17, there will be a live discussion or performance, beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., there will be 'Voices and Visuals from the Mills,' which includes songs about the mills from the Smithsonian Institution collection; short films about the South; and a film about the 1934 mill strikes by Tom Terrill with discussion afterwards. And on Monday, February 20, 'Everything Has To Go!' as parts of Olympia are sold at a live auction.

701 CCA is located at 701 Whaley Street, 2nd floor, Columbia, SC. For more information, visit www.701cca.org, email info@701cca.org, or call (803) 238-2351.

Charleston Artist Guild at Magnolia Plantation

The Charleston Artist Guild will be exhibiting artwork in the History Room at the gift shop at Magnolia Plantation from now until March. All the artwork will depict the plantation's winter garden scenes, and are sized and priced for take-home souvenirs. This Saturday afternoon from 2 - 4 p.m., the Guild will hold a Tea Reception in the shop. Plein air painting will take place on the grounds, weather permitting, and the public is invited.

In addition, several popular artists will return to Magnolia's Conservatory to lead workshops in various mediums. Well-known contemporary impressionistic oil painter, Rick Reinert, will be instructing on March 20. Watercolors by Marcell Easter, oils by Emmy Bronson, pastels by Ben Nita McAdam, and a new workshop in photography by Bob Waters, are all planned.

Magnolia Plantation is located at 3550 Ashley River Road. To find out more information and to sign up for workshops, call the Guild at 722-2454.

Citadel's Call for Artist Entries

The Citadel's School of Humanities and Social Sciences invites emerging and established SC artists to enter an exhibition that will be juried by the cadets of Professor Tiffany Silverman's art history class. On view in the lobby of the main academic building, Capers Hall, the exhibition will open on March 5 and run through April 21. All types of 2-D media and techniques are encouraged, including painting, printmaking, multimedia, and photography.

To enter, artists can submit up to 3 jpeg images of 2-D works no larger than 24' x 24' (including frame) along with a resume and a statement about their artistic influences and creative process to Tiffany Silverman at tiffany.silverman@citadel.edu. The deadline for entries is Feb. 1.