Hurricane Art - "Waterspout " An Etching from the Hurricane Hugo Storm Series

September is the peak season for hurricanes in Charleston. Tornado damage in SC from Tropical Storm Fay last week and the strengthening of new storm systems in both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean have alerted locals to the danger of these storms. Many new residents of the Lowcountry have never weathered a hurricane.
I'm posting photos of storm damage from Hurricane Hugo and the etching "Waterspout" from the Hurricane Hugo Storm Series as visual reminders of the powerful destructive forces in all hurricanes.

"Waterspout"
Variable wiped zinc plate etching on rives BFK paper
Image size: 27.5" x 25.5"
Framed size: 39" x 32"
Price: $450.00

"Waterspout" is one of 12 etchings in a series created from storm damaged zinc printing plates of my impressions from Hurricane Hugo. The etchings have been exhibited as a group show "The Storm Series" in Charleston, SC and individually at the University of South Carolina Aiken's Etherredge Fine Arts Center and The Piccolo Spoleto Juried Print Exhibition at the Old Charleston Jail.

Although my family evacuated our home on the Isle of Palms for Hurricane Hugo, we underestimated the storms strength by staying in Mt. Pleasant,SC. We were lucky. Only our property was damaged. Next time we won't wait to evacuate much farther inland!

Hurricane Art - "Wind Over Water" An Etching from The Hurricane Storm Series

As the September 21 anniversary of Hurricane Hugo's 1987 arrival in the Lowcountry approaches, I'm posting another of the etchings from "The Storm Series".

7 storm damaged zinc etching plates I discovered in a Charleston, SC art store after Hurricane Hugo became the inspiration for a series of large etchings of impressions from that "Storm of the Century".
The etching"Wind Over Water" is an artistic expression of the powerful winds and storm surge I experienced during Hurricane Hugo in Charleston.

"Wind Over Water"
Variable wiped zinc plate etching on rives BFK paper
Image size: 27.5" x 25.5"
Framed size: 39" x 32"
Price: $450.00

12 "variably wiped" etchings and 3 of the original 7 storm damaged zinc printing plates have been exhibited in a show entitled "Storm Series-Hurricane Hugo Etchings"at the Saul Alexander Gallery of the Charleston County Library. Etchings from the series have also been selected for inclusion in shows throughout SC including The University of SC Aiken and The Piccolo Spoleto Juried Print Exhibition at the Old Charleston Jail.

Hurricane Art - "Flashing Water" An Etching from the Hurricane Hugo Storm Series

As Tropical Storm Fay dumps up to 30 inches of rain in areas of Florida, Charleston and the SC Lowcountry are also getting lots of rain from the outer bands of the storm.

This stormy weather reminds me of a series of etchings I made after Hurricane Hugo struck Charleston, SC on September 21, 1989.
After Hugo hit Charleston, I found zinc printing plates that had been etched from the storm surge, rainfall, and high winds which had also heavily damaged my home and much of coastal SC.

These storm etched printing plates became the inspiration for a group of etchings I created of my impressions from Hurricane Hugo.
Driving wind, rain, high seas, tornadoes all found expression in a collection of large etchings I call "The Storm Series".

The Storm Series - Hurricane Hugo Etchings
"Flashing Water"
Variable wiped zinc plate etching on rives BFK paper
Image size: 27.5" x 25.5"
Framed size: 39" x 32"
Price: $450.00

The zinc plate etching "Flashing Water" has been exhibited in shows at The Etherredge Center for the Fine and Performing Arts -University of South Carolina Aiken, The Saul Alexander Foundation Gallery of the Charleston County Library, Print Studio South and the Piccolo Spoleto Juried Print Exhibition.