"Not Quite Spoleto"... Art Exhibit at Moultrie HS Class Reunion 08

The first ever "Not Quite Spoleto"...Art Exhibit was held during a Moultrie HS Class Reunion at the historic Sullivan's Island home of Gene West.

As classmates renewed old friendships, memories of Virginia Fouche Bolton, art teacher to many present were discussed.


A creative, sometimes hard driving teacher, Mrs. Bolton was an inspiration and driving force for a lifetime of interest in the arts for her many students.

In her memory, on the opening day of Spoleto Festival USA , The "Not Quite Spoleto".. Art Exhibit was somewhat irreverently mounted to continue the tradition of showing fine art which she instilled.

Classmates Kenny Barnes and Dana Schneider catch up. Kenny remembers the wildlife artwork he created and sold "back in the day".



Mrs. Bolton organized an annual end of school sidewalk art show at Moultrie which provided her students with the opportunity to show and sell their student artwork.

The first Art Show I helped organize was a benefit to raise money for the Moultrie Art Club to visit the National Gallery of Art in Washington. That trip was the first chance many of us had to see great national artistic masterpieces in person.

Mrs. Bolton later taught art at other local schools and became an accomplished professional artist with a successful gallery in Charleston. Her paintings and fine art prints are still in great demand. (http://www.virginiafouche.com)













Joe and Sally Mansfield look over old newspaper articles at the exhibit.












Sissy Kirchner (class treasurer), Kay Muschick Schneider (exhibiting artist), and Dottie Benton Frank (best selling author and Moultrie HS art club secretary) .










Karin Tharin (FHA parliamentarian), Lara S. Northcutt, and Lynn Ward (artist and former MHS cheerleader).



Paintings by Kay Muschick Schneider and Allen West were on display among memorabilia of past Moultrie HS Art Shows. Memories of creating art in the past lead to plans to get together to paint in the near future.

Mrs. Bolton would be pleased.

A "Not Quite Spoleto"... Art Exhibit. Honoring the past. Facing the future.

"Painted Palettes" Piccolo Spoleto Festival Artwork Exhibit - Chas Artist Guild Gallery

Today I saw a great
Piccolo Spoleto Festival visual art exhibit "Painted Palettes" at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery.

This show is not to be missed! It's chock full
of exciting, creative works of whimsy and imagination.

There's a plastic, watercolor palette melted into a bejeweled mannequin's mask by artist Steve Jordan that portrays the interaction of the visual and performing arts presented during Spoleto Festival USA.



Another show stopper is a palette assembled into a stringed instrument. It's another creative blending of the concepts of visual and performing arts.



Painted palettes of all shapes and descriptions adorn the walls of the Chas Artist Guild Gallery during this exciting, fun filled Piccolo Spoleto Festival Art event.

Some of the palettes may be bought during the show at a "buy it now" price. Selected palettes will be put up for bidding at a live auction at the gallery June 5 starting at 5:00 pm.


"Painted Palettes" Piccolo Spoleto Art Exhibition
May 23-June 5,2008
11am-5pm
Charleston Artist Guild Gallery
6 North Atlantic Wharf Chas, SC.

Piccolo Spoleto Art and St. Matthew's Tea Room 2008

AFTERNOON TEA - St.Matthew's Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston invites all to their Afternoon Tea beginning May 23 through June 1 from 1-5 PM. All proceeds from this event support programming at the Outreach Learning Center. “Quality Time”, an adult respite care program for people with Alzheimer’s and other memory loss disorders, will be the recipient of all tips. For more information call 843-579-0420


Today I helped hang artwork for the upcoming Tea Room Art Exhibit at St. Matthew's. I'll be showing two paintings in the Charleston Artist Guild Exhibit here which will be on view during the Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto Festivals. All artwork is for sale.

Pictured here keeping it all straight are Guild artists (left to rt) Lynn Salkeld, Judith Chamberlin-show chairman, and Jane Hart.




Hanging artwork salon style are Russell Buskirk, Guild Director of Exhibitions and Barbara Wolfson.




Margaret Peck, tearoom coordinator pauses from her many duties to admire the newly hung Charleston Artist Guild artwork.
The tea room offers a great vantage point to sit back, relax, eat home made goodies and watch the activities of artists and visitors at the Piccolo Spoleto (Piccoleto??) Outdoor Juried Art Exhibition across King St in Marion Square.



The paintings are hung. The tables are set.
Tea will be served daily during Spoleto Festival.
Y'all Come.

Where: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
403 King Street, Chas, SC
When: May 23 - June 1
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
What: Serving tea and other beverages
finger sandwich plates
Homemade delicacies

St Matthew's Tea Room Offering: Live Entertainment, Charleston Artist Guild Art Sale and Exhibition, Historic Sanctuary Tours, and a Gift Boutique.

Garden Reception for The Mary Whyte Art Educator's Award '08

The sunny garden courtyard of Coleman Fine Art on historic Church St. was a lovely setting for a reception to present The Mary Whyte Art Educator's Award 2008 this afternoon.

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley was on hand to present the award which is given for excellence in teaching art in a Charleston county school and is accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize.


This year the award was presented to Dona Dowling of St. John's High School pictured here being congratulated by Smith Coleman, owner of Coleman Fine Art as Mayor Riley applauds.


Nationally recognized artist Mary Whyte is pictured with (left to rt), Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Award Winner Dona Dowling (St. John's), finalists Dayton Colie ( Stall High School), Jaycie Rappold (Charleston School of the Arts), and Ashley Webb (Wando High School).

The Tents are Going Up - Piccolo Spoleto Festival Art Show '08

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Juried Art Exhibition Coordinator Vickie Ellis works with her staff to mark out tent locations in Marion Square early in the day.






The bell tower of Citadel Square Baptist Church towers over artists preparing their outdoor displays for the upcoming 16 days in Marion Square.


Lots to get done before Friday's opening of the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Juried Art Exhibition. Tents to put up, artwork to hang, displays to organize- the business side of the festival.









Soon these tents in front of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church will be be showcasing some of the best art in the region.

It's just a short walk across King St. to St. Mathew's Tea Room for a relaxing glass of tea and something to eat while visiting the Art Exhibition.

More about the afternoon Tearoom at St. Matthew's Church with an exhibition of paintings by members of the Charleston Artist Guild soon.

Charleston Artist Guild 2008 Signature Exhibition Reception

Rhonda Hayes (left to rt), art collector Pat Lamy, Denise Llewelyn, and Katherine Schneider in front of Schneider's painting "Morning Light on Church Street".


Incoming 2008-2009 Charleston Artist Guild (CAG) President Elaine Hruska presided over the evenings activities.


Executive Director Bob Ingram's efforts along with those of many guild volunteers kept the evening running smoothly.





Guild Board members Mary Brigman (left) membership chairman and Helen K. Beacham (rt) vice president.




Helen admires the painting which received her generous "Helen K. Beacham Artistic Merit Award" 2008.



Reception guests spent the evening enjoying good food and company while admiring the juried paintings, sculpture, and fine art photography in the 2008 Charleston Artist Guild Signature Show.
Photo courtesy of Olli Wendelin@ www.olliwendelin.com.

Alligator in the Sun -A New Painting by Charleston Artist Katherine M Schneider

"Beauty and the Beast"- A sunning alligator in a garden pond
Oil on cradled birch panel
Dimensions: 11" x 14"
Price: $375.00


The painting "Beauty and the Beast" shows an alligator relaxing in a warm, sunny spot by a statue of a young girl at a Magnolia Gardens pond.

Today's news story of two teenagers illegally binding and abducting an alligator with nylon rope and duct tape, made me want to paint an alligator in a natural setting.

With more and more of their habitat being destroyed for new development, alligators are more frequently being forced to seek new territory - often to their peril.

Thankfully, here in the Lowcountry there are still areas where these prehistoric survivors can live in the wild unharmed.

When seen from a respectful distance, there's an undeniable fascination and beauty to these wild creatures that we often mistreat out of fear.