Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

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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It’s a Frog-Strangling Downpour in Charleston

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It’s not raining cats and dogs, it’s more of a frog strangler when the new sculpture exhibit is opening at the Hamlet Gallery for Charles Smith and sons, Zan and Beau. The exhibit is called “It’s Raining Frogs” and consists of a new collection of human-size copper frog sculptures.

Thinking Frog
"Thinking Frog" by Zan Smith

The Humble Beginning
The beginning of the human-size copper frog emerged in 1974 when Charles Smith started making metal sculptures(following a career in science and engineering). His first subjects were clowns and dancers made with sheet copper overlaid with brass from one to two feet tall.
“Natural subject matter, coupled with the basic desire to render the life size image of the human form in metal are the forces that led to the copper frog” says Charles.  The frogs have evolved over the years, first sitting on the ground, then standing, holding a wine bottle, martini glass, reading a book, playing an instrument and other various human activities.  Sizes have varied also, large to small and back to the human-size again.  The “Spoleto Dancing” frogs in the courtyard stand around 7 feet tall and are perfectly asymmetrical.

Charles’ sons, Beau and Zan, learned metal sculpture while growing up, and became “Frogsmiths” after their father.  The sons continue to contribute in the development of the medium and collaborate on the art and craft of the human size copper frog.  Charles and Zan each have a studio in a natural setting on a small, family island in the South Carolina Lowcountry, south of Charleston.  Beau works independently in Atlanta, Georgia.

Goblet Frog
"Goblet Frog" by Beau Smith

The Art of Expression and Body Language
Each frog is made individually and has its own character in expression and body language.  They do not use templates, or helpers.  The artists primarily use copper, brass and stainless steel, and have developed over the years a special process for initiating the verdigris patina.  Each frog is signed, dated and copyrighted on a stainless steel plate near the foot of the frog statue. “These frog creatures have “soul” and are “crowd pleasers”, making people smile” says Stephanie Shuler Hamlet of the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery.

The reception takes place on  Friday, August 7th , 5-8 pm. The exhibit continues the whole month of August. For more information, contact the Hamlet Fine art Gallery at 843-722-1944 or www.hamletgallery.com

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Celebrate Art Exhibition – Ponte Vedra, Florida

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Juried artist member exhibition in Ponte Vedra on January 16 – February 21, 2009
Opening Reception January 16 — 6:30 to 8pm
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl – The Cultural Center is pleased to announce the opening of Celebrate Art 2009, a juried exhibition of artist members of The Cultural Center. This year’s exhibition was juried by Hillary Tuttle, owner of Steller’s Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach. Mrs. Tuttle viewed over 190 pieces of media and chose 52 of the most outstanding pieces to be exhibited from January 16, 2009 to February 21, 2009. Susan Ober, Jacksonville artist, won Best of Show. Christina Foard won second place and Gordon Meggison followed in third place. Meet the exhibiting artists during our opening reception on January 16 from 6:30 – 8pm. A private reception for our Renaissance Society members will be held from 5:30 to 6:30pm.

Juror’s comments:
It was an honor to be asked to jury the annual members art exhibit for The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. There were over 190 paintings submitted by both professional and untrained artists. Styles ranged from realism, impressionism, expressionism and abstraction with various subjects and mediums.

My criteria was to assess the works of each artist, narrow it down and choose the best three using my honest opinion based on originality, technique/execution, palette- use of color, and lastly subject.

Interacting with our represented artists each day at Stellar’s Gallery, I sometimes forget the vulnerability of putting ones work “out there” and the heart that lies behind each painting. Each artists should be commended for entering their work into this exhibit and I was impressed with the quality of work.

Rose IV, with evening sun in May, oil on linen, 2004The winner, Susan Ober, stood out because of the use of detail, light and shadow. Her oil painting of the rose had such a brilliant balance of the realism of the flower contrasting against a soft, faded background. Every vein on the leaf was executed with such precision. I am really looking forward to her being awarded a one person show at the CCPVB, so I can follow her work.

Susan Ober’s bio:
Susan Davenport Ober, a native of Virginia, moved to North Florida in 1987. She earned a BS degree in art education at Longwood College in Virginia and did post-graduate study in art education at Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1996, Susan earned a BFA, with an emphasis in drawing, from University of North Florida.

Ober has had a nearly life-long interest in portraiture and figurative representation. In this pursuit, she has used a wide range of media through the years, including pastels, oils, clay, wax and bronze. She is perhaps better recognized for her floral and still life paintings, and for her recent (and on-going) “LEAF project”. But to her, every subject is an opportunity to discover and reveal what it is that has made it special and unique.

She has participated in both solo and group shows in the southeastern states. Her work has received both regional and national recognition and is in a growing list of private, corporate and museum collections across the country.

TESTING LINK

China on My Mind – Jekyll Island, GA

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China on My Mind: Inspired by Travels Exhibit of Painting and Pottery

Presented by Jekyll Island Arts Association

The powerful visual inspirations from trips abroad have given us China on My Mind: Inspired by Travels, a collection of new work by two Jekyll Island Arts Association members, painter Linda Wunder and potter Nan Phillips. Wunder’s works of Chinese watercolor on rice paper, colored pencil, acrylic, mixed media and photography alongside Phillips’ high fire stoneware bring the Far East to the Golden Isles.

An Interior Designer by trade with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Linda Wunder enjoys her studio on Jekyll Island.  She wants her painting to reveal her impression of and feelings about a subject. Linda often paints by memory, however, her memory is refined by the feelings the subject is generating.  She truly feels sentiment and mood should prevail in a successful painting. This collection, inspired by her travel to China, has allowed Linda to share her impressions through the integration of traditional Chinese brushwork and contemporary techniques.

Nan Phillips, a Potter since 1957, holds a Bachelor of Arts. She calls the Jekyll Island Pottery Guild in the basement of Goodyear Cottage home.  Nan states, “When I first touched potters clay I knew that I wanted to make beautiful things with this medium for the rest of my life. Everyday, I deal with earth, water, air and fire, each in its proper proportion, all in a rhythm dictated by nature’s science.” Nan’s new collection, inspired by China, is a reminder to her, “My art keeps me connected with all the potters whoever worked in mountain caves, desert canyons and village markets. I think how these pots of mine will outlive me and be passed down from user to user.”

China on My Mind: Inspired by Travels , a collection of new work by these two exceptional artists will be for sale during their show at Goodyear Cottage in Jekyll Island’s Historic District February 1st – March 8th as well as at the artist reception Sunday, February 1st from 1-3 PM. Admission is always free at Goodyear’s gallery and shop, where regular hours are M-F Noon – 4 PM and weekends 10 AM-4 PM. For more information call 635-3920.