Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

First Friday’s on Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street in Charleston – December

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The Broad Street Merchants Association hosts “First Fridays on Broad” on Friday, December 4th, from 5pm – 8pm. Come out and celebrate “Christmas in Charleston” by enjoying fine art and refreshments in the boutiques, fine art galleries, and bodegas on Gallery Row.
Stroll from one gallery to another while enjoying Christmas lights and southern charm.

COCO VIVO Fine Art & Design will highlight a special art show featuring the work of plein air artist Roger Milinowski of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Hamlet Fine Art Gallery will feature new paintings by Stephanie Shuler Hamlet, Kellie Jacobs and Melinda Lewin of St. Simons Island. The mother and daughters spent a week recently at St. Simon painting on site or en plein air with renown pastel artist, Albert Handell from Santa Fe, also featuring new copper frogs by Charles and Zan Smith.

Edward Dare Gallery will be featuring new work by Beth McLean during the month of December. The gallery will also be showcasing new pottery tableware and garden accessories for the holidays.
The Spencer Art Gallery at 55 Broad street will be hosting a reception for an exhibit of new art works by Marlene Rosenthal entitled “Charleston Shadows” and The Spencer Art Gallery at 57 Broad Street will be hosting a reception for Anne Thames exhibit entitled “New Works”.
Mary Martin will be hosting a workshop for Randall LaGro on Dec 1,2,& 3rd. LaGro is known for his intuitive poetic expressionism.

Participating merchants for Historic Broad Street on December 4th, 2009 from 5 pm – 8pm.include: Ellis-Nicholson Gallery, Hamlet Fine Art, Edward Dare Gallery, COCO VIVO, Mary Martin Fine Art, UTOPIA, Atmah Ja’s, Spencer Galleries, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Martin Gallery, SCOOP Studios, Jake’s, Blind Tiger and the Oak Steak House.

For information please contact Charlestongalleryrow.com or for questions, please call Stephanie Hamlet at 843-722-1944.
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Telfair Art Fair 2009 – Savannah, GA

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The Telfair Art Fair is one of Savannah’s most popular fall events. Held under a large, lighted tent adjacent to historic Telfair Square, this annual event showcases a variety of original art for sale, with something to suit every budget and taste. The 15th Annual Telfair Art Fair from November 14-15, 2009, on Savannah’s historic Telfair Square.

The Telfair Art Fair is a juried art show and sale that showcases spectacular original artwork by painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, jewelers, and more – and it’s one of the museums largest fundraisers of the year.

An Arty Party

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The weekend kicks-off on the evening of Friday, November 13 with a member preview event, the “Arty Party,” a chic cocktail reception where you can preview artwork and meet artists.

This year’s much-anticipated event features the work of more than seventy artists from the Savannah area and across the nation. The Jepson Center’s Eckburg Atrium will be devoted to Open Art, a new category that highlights the work of talented emerging and student artists.

Awards and Jazz

jazznart-blockAt noon on Saturday, $10,000 in prizes will be awarded in a brief ceremony inside the Art Fair tent. A short awards ceremony recognizing outstanding artists will be held at noon, with Susan Krane—Oshman Executive Director at the San Jose Museum of Art—presiding as the 2009 Art Fair judge. Also, back by popular demand, the Savannah Country Day Jazz Band and the Savannah Arts Academy Skyelite Jazz Band will perform live jazz music in the square throughout the afternoon.

Reinvent, Recreate, Reuse for Kids
This year, the Children’s Art Fair in the Square—themed Reinvent! Recreate! Reuse!—will feature a variety of art stations with creative activities for kids incorporating natural, found, or recycled items. Activities include ornament-making with shells and recycled jar lids; building pinecone bird feeders; pet rock and leaf rubbing projects; creating crazy hair grass heads; and jewelry-making with shells and beads. Additional features include an appearance by Silly Dilly the Clown and a moon bouncer, as well as snack and drink booths.

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5th Annual Telfair Art Fair and Open Art
Telfair Academy, 121 Barnard St, Savannah GA 31401
Saturday, 14 November, 2009
10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
For more information visit www.telfair.org

Jekyll Island Arts Association’s Fiber and Wood Exhibit

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Color, textures, elegance and creative essence will be on display from an exceptional group of Fiber and Wood Artists in the Gallery of Goodyear Cottage in Jekyll Island’s Historic District. Opening day of the exhibit will be November 2nd continuing thru November 29th.   The Jekyll Island Arts Association sponsoring this exhibit will hold the artists’ reception Sunday, November 8th from 1 – 3 PM. This reception is free and open to the public.

Dianne1Weavers Judith Krone, Kay Guilment, Christine Stanton, Janet Bealer, Lynn Pollard, Dianne Totten and Ann Doherty will exhibit fiber arts that represent their personal styles and creative stories. They are fascinated by gorgeous color; complex weaving structures; the elegant simplicity of design and the challenge of creating and weaving fabric. These talented weavers create one-of-a-kind creations that demonstrate their dedication and exploration of their craft.

Wood turner, Bob Stanton reveals the essence of the wood in each unique piece he creates. (See photo below) He feels the deeper he explores the more the wood reveals because each piece of wood is unique in and of itself. Thus enabling him endless creativity as a wood turner.

The Fiber and Wood Exhibit will run from November 2nd – November 29th. Remember, admission is always free at Goodyear’s Gallery and shop where regular hours are Mon.- Fri., Noon – 4 PM and weekends 10 AM – 4 PM. For more information call 912-635-3092

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Japanese firing technique of Raku – Savannah, GA

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Studio S.P.A.C.E. invites the community to experience the Japanese firing technique of Raku on October 23, November 21 and December 11 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. in the ceramics studio parking lot at 9 W. Henry Street. Ceramics specialist Matt Maggioni will lead multiple firings throughout the afternoons. Participants will select a ready-made bisque piece, glaze it, and watch its firing in the Raku tradition.

raku2Works will be fired on a first-come first served basis. Ceramic artists from the community are also invited to bring bisque fired works for glazing and firing during the demonstration. There is a firing fee of $10, limited to one large work or two small works. There is no fee to observe.

This ancient firing technique involves removing glowing 2000 degree ceramic pieces from the kiln and placing them into an airtight container filled with masses of combustible material to provide a reducing atmosphere for the glaze and to stain the exposed body surface with carbon.

For more information, please contact Matt Maggioni at 912-651-6783 or mmaggioni@savannahga.gov.
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The Beauty of Nature at Goodyear Cottage, Jekyll Island

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Painter, Jo Elliott and bird sculptor Chuck Robertson are inspired by nature and devoted to capture its beauty. These talented artists will be showcasing their inspired works in an upcoming exhibit sponsored by the Jekyll Island Arts Association in the Gallery of Goodyear Cottage in Jekyll Island’s Historic District.

Coastal Georgia Is Inspiration
Painter, Jo Elliott has been interested in art as long as she can remember. At an early age, she accompanied her father as he conducted drawing and painting classes at the local art guild in Greenville, Ohio. She admits, “I am fortunate to have this very talented artist and teacher in my family.” Jo’s Dad continues to encourage her to ‘paint rich’ and to tell a story with each paintings. With her children grown and having retired from the insurance industry a few years ago, Jo feels fortunate to be able to devote more time to her love of art. Living on the Georgia coast provides an endless source of creative material for her watercolor and acrylic landscapes. Around every corner Jo feels is an interesting scene to capture, whether it is a shrimp boat heading out, an egret keeping watch over a tidal creek, or the way light and shadows define a sand dune.

Chuck Robertson
Art by Chuck Robertson

It’s All About Birds
A large part of bird sculptor, Chuck Robertson’s life has been about birds since 1981. It was at this time that he decided to find something more personally satisfying in his life. Stumbling into an art show Chuck was captivated by sculptures of birds. He had spent much of his life outdoors as a kid and had always enjoyed creating things with his hands. Chuck was mesmerized by the idea of bird sculpture and has made this his profession and life’s work since carving his very first bird. Chuck’s work consists of very realistic and detailed sculptures of birds. His goal is to capture a moment in nature and to bring that excitement into his sculpture and ultimately to the viewer.

Opening day of the Elliott-Robertson Exhibit will be October 1st and it will continue thru November 1st. The artists’ reception will be held on Sunday, October 4th from 1 – 3 PM. Admission is always free at Goodyear’s Gallery and shop where regular hours are Monday – Friday, Noon until 4 PM and weekends 10 AM until 4 PM. For more information please call 635-3092.

Jo Elliot painting