For the Palette and Palate Stroll, the Corrigan Gallery LLC is pleased to welcome once again Barsa Tapas, a Spanish tapas restaurant located on trendy upper King Street.
For the art and food event, the Corrigan Gallery will present a show titled “Atmosphere” with works by Gaston Locklear and other gallery artists. The gallery opened its doors on September 1, 2005 at 62 Queen Street, Charleston, South Carolina, just off the corner of Meeting and Queen streets in the historic downtown Charleston. The gallery exhibits works of art both representational and abstract possessing the charm of old Charleston with a contemporary edge. Representing artists whose work is beyond the traditional approach to the southern landscape of marshes, the gallery consistently provides new works to see on a regular basis. Artistic vision partnered with an intellectual strength and astute handling of the materials describes the work on display.
The gallery is showing art that is just for that – art! Not following this year’s fashions but reaching towards the future and showing respect for the past, the presented artwork fulfills the beholder’s need for beauty and the collector’s wish for strong investments. This is art for the soul; art that lets the eyes breathe fresh air. Visitors may watch paintings in process on location and view works that have been done en plein air as well asin situ studio pieces.
Barsa’s proprietor, Drazen Romic, is always working hard to think of innovative ways to bring people to the popular revitalized upper King Street area and is a pioneer when it comes to unchartered territories and the potential they can offer to business owners and the community. Romic opened the very successful Lana restaurant 8 years ago on Rutledge and Cannon long before that area was on the map as a culinary hotspot and it is at Lana where he discovered Barsa’s Executive Chef Cole Poolaw.
Originally of McColl, South Carolina, Poolaw moved to Charleston seven years ago to ultimately pursue a career in culinary arts. He attended Trident Technical College’s Culinary Institute while working full time at Lana Restaurant honing his skills and training under Chef John Ondo. At the young age of twenty-three Cole took the helm as executive chef of Barsa tapas, lounge, and bar. There he has ventured into Spanish cuisine and traditional tapas while staying true to his roots and integrating his own Southern charm. Having a deep commitment to local sustainability, he strives to use only the freshest ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Always a purist in the kitchen, his food profiles are simple and clean yet comforting and satisfying. Whether on the line or visiting with guests in the dining room, you’ll find him with a smile and a true enthusiasm to evolve and expand his culinary palate.