Current Exhibition Review

City Art’s 5^th Anniversary Exhibit Continued through Summer 2002

City Art Gallery in Columbia, South Carolina is extending its 5^th anniversary exhibit through the end of August. The exhibit, housed on both levels of the spacious turn-of-the-century former warehouse, features new work by some of the region’s most important established and emerging visual artists. Nearly fifty artists are now part of the gallery roster. The Main Gallery features new work by Bill Jackson, Bruce Nellsmith, Phil Garrett, Patti Brady, Scotty Peek, and Chris Clamp. In the hand-cranked freight elevator, Janet Orselli has created “Cloister,” a site-specific installation.

Both Jackson and Nellsmith have been featured in one-man shows, with Jackson being the first to exhibit in the Main Gallery when it opened five years ago. His new large-scale paintings, based on a reading of Dante’s Inferno, explore the imagery of the underworld and “limbo” (the title of one piece) in vibrant primary colors. Nellsmith’s new abstract work in his “Cooper River” series investigates the colors and forms of water and bridges.

Garrett, who will have an upcoming solo show at the gallery, is showing several new monotypes, many of which explore the spiritual nature of the horse. Patti Brady of Greenville has contributed several small colorful acrylic works “with a ripple effect” based on ponds, rivers, and waters. A celebrated emerging artist and recent graduate of Winthrop University, Chris Clamp paints oils that show off his painterly quality as well as his interest in humor and storytelling. Scotty Peek, a recent MFA graduate from USC’s Department of Art, explores the values of light and dark in a series of charcoal drawings depicting residences.

The Second Level Gallery and the Small Works Gallery showcase new work by City Art’s painters including Alex Powers, Guy Lipscomb, Gerard Erley, Tarleton Blackwell, Janet Powers, Angela Bradburn, Ann Hubbard, Nancy Carver, Harry Hansen, Dee Hansen, Walt Simpson, Betty Bramlett, Randy Hanna, Heather Noe, Catherine Bettencourt, Wendyth Wells, Christopher MatyJasik, Ginny Fitzgibbons, Julie Fitzgibbons Holloman, Amy Fichter, Preston Orr, Katarina Zaric, Ray Davenport, Troy Wingard, and Tom Stanley.

City Art is now showing a large body of photographic work in diverse styles, including new work by Beau Bonnoitt, Ed Shmunes, Julia Cart, Amy Goldstein-Rice, Michael Dickins, Fred McElveen, Robin Smith, William G. Johnson, and Will Barnes.

City Art also features sculpture by Bob Doster, Robert Lyon and Tom Risser. Risser, brand new to the gallery, creates fanciful and often humorous work out of stainless steel, often incorporating rough and rusted steel and glass into the designs.

The Small Works Gallery showcases smaller paintings by many of the artists listed above as well as ceramic work by Sam Wilkins, Steve Hewitt, Stephanie Leach, Vic Cain and Penny Pierson, and gourd art by Jane Aldridge.

Known for nearly thirty years as Dutch Door by many residents of the Midlands, the renamed City Art, in addition to the gallery, still continues to offer art supplies as well as framing, art classes, and facility rentals.

For more information, check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or visit the website at www.cityartonline.com.

City Art will celebrate its 5^th anniversary during Artista Vista by highlighting new work by some of the region’s most important visual artists. The Main Gallery, the Second Level Gallery and the Small Works Gallery will showcase work by City Art’s represented artists. Artists include Alex Powers, Bill Jackson, Phil Garrett, Julia Cart, Tarleton Blackwell, Angela Bradburn, Walt Simpson, Betty Bramlett, Bob Doster, Ed Shmunes, Amy Fichter, Preston Orr, Tom Stanley, Bruce Nell-Smith, and Ray Davenport. The gallery also welcomes a talented group of emerging artists, including Gerard Erley, Catherine Bettencourt, Troy Wingard, Scotty Peek, Stephanie Leach and Chris Clamp. The special event of Friday evening will be a performance and installation by Janet Orselli.