“Chestee Harrington: Workings in Wood” Opens at Carolina Galleries on November 6

Carolina Galleries is pleased to present Chestee Harrington’s work titled “Working in Wood” inspired by the South Carolina Lowcountry as a part of the 2009 CFADA Fine Art Annual, a highly anticipated weekend of fine art in Charleston. The reception takes place on Friday, November 6 from 5 to 8pm. Please visit the website to view all of Harrington’s work available at Carolina Galleries. The gallery is located at 106 A Church Street, Charleston SC 29401.

Chestee Harrington grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana, along the beautiful and historic Bayou Teche. Her now-famous use of wood as an artistic medium originated in her father’s cabinet shop, where she developed an affinity for the fragrance and feel of various woods. As a child, the materials simply seemed in harmony with the scenes of weathered cabins and mossy oaks that surrounded her. Decades later, Chestee’s polychromatic bas reliefs – carved and painted works in wood – have been shown across the United States and abroad.

Her original works, capturing Louisiana life, moods and settings, have been universal favorites and are particularly cherished by serious collectors. Chestee’s creation of a polychromatic bas relief begins with a delicate, low-relief carving of a sketch into a wood panel, which is given a stain underpainting. Oil paints are applied, along with layers of glazing, to produce a three-dimensional effect. Although she has made the relief her signature medium, Chestee is equally adept at painting, sculpture and printmaking.

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“Measure: Creatures Great + Small” on View at Robert Lange Studios this September

Charleston-based painter Robert Lange plays with scale by shrinking massive animals and blowing-up mini animals in a series of 25 new works entitled Measure: Creatures Great + Small. On view from September 4 thru September 30, 2009, at Robert Lange Studios, the show is a unique investigation into how the size of an animal effects our interaction with them.

At the modest age of 28, Lange was recently the American Heart Association’s featured artist.  He received a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and is best known for creating bodies of work in a hyper-realist fashion.

In December of 2008, Lange’s acclaimed series Still + Life portrayed still lives with the addition of living elements such as birds and humans. In his upcoming Measure show, Lange is now giving the viewer a unique and whimsical perspective of nature; a tiny lion sits regally on a chair or a huge penguin follows a pedestrian down the sidewalk.

Some humorous, some obvious, and some more subtler but in each painting Lange has illustrated how much animals are missing from our everyday by placing them in common scenarios.  For example, in one of the pieces for his September show titled, The Fox + The Pear, Lange has depicted a tiny fox sitting in a bowl next to a pear.  The fox is scaled to be the same size as the pear and in a charming way sits as though he isn’t a bit out of place.

“The reason for playing with the comparative size of each animal versus their surroundings is to make people take notice. There is an intrigue that is created and captivates the viewer by skewing the scales,” says Lange. “I can’t help but feel a certain amount of disconnection from animals and nature in general and a desire to bring both into my life and at least make people think about a possible addition to theirs.”

In The Viewer, one of the works from his upcoming show, Lange paints a giant owl being viewed by two people in a museum-type setting.  Due to the relative scale of the viewers and creature, the people appear overwhelmed by the twenty-foot owl before them. This piece exhibits not only the artist’s feeling towards how our natural world is now displayed but also his humbled feeling as an artist towards capturing the quintessential essence of the subject.

“I wish through realism to create a seamless feeling that makes people second guess if tiny pandas really exist or what their experience would be like to have a giant chipmunk standing next to them,” says Lange. “It’s import to me that I’m always asking questions of the viewers through my paintings and that my audience looks to find the answers.”

Measure: Creatures Great + Small series will hang at Robert Lange Studios at 151 East Bay St. from Friday, September 4 – Wednesday, September 30, 2009. The opening reception will be Friday, September 4, from 5:30 – 8:30 PM and the artist will attend.

Please visit www.robertlangestudios.com or call for more information 843.805.8052. Digital images are available upon request.

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Ella W. Richardson Fine Art Pleased to Be Joined by Social for the Palette and Palate Stroll

For this year’s Palette and Palate Stroll, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art selected works by a group of talented artists: Evgeny and Lydia Baranov, Craig Nelson and Roger Dale Brown. The gallery is delighted to welcome Roger Dale Brown, a member of the Oil Painters of America and an award winning painter, into its stable of national and international artists. Roger has a passion for capturing the Southern landscape and knows how to mesmerize his viewer with the extraordinary light in his subjects. In his coastal paintings, award winning artist Craig Nelson depicts the peace and tranquility of the ocean and its special relationship to humanity. Craig’s passion for the coast is evident in his paintings which depict foliage covered dunes, shapely cypress, majestic cliffs, and mirrored wet sands. Evgeny Baranov and Lydia Velichko Baranov represent a unique combination of artists painting together – simultaneously, on the same canvas. A very small number of collaborative studio work examples can be found throughout the history of art, however, the Baranovs collaborate not only in the comfort of the studio, but in plein air as well. Working in a duet enables the artists to perform faster in the ever-changing plein air conditions and also to evaluate their own accomplishments in a more comprehensive and more captious manner. The Baranovs demonstrate the mastery of psychological painting, their works show remarkable depth and saturation with feeling, both of these so often missing from contemporary paintings.                                                                                                                                 

Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art is pleased to be joined by one of Charleston’s most exciting restaurants, Social Restaurant and Wine Bar, for this special event. Located in the the heart of downtown Charleston, Social Restaurant and Wine Bar offers a casual and cosmopolitan setting. The restaurant is renowned for its wine selection and exceptional wine and food pairings.

Executive Chef Norwood Pryor has spent his whole life in the food industry. When he was a child, Pryor’s parents owned a restaurant in Richmond, VA. Later at age 16 he took his first culinary job at a family owned Italian café. Pryor has worked at many Charleston restaurants, including 82 Queen, Sea Biscuit Café, Cordavi, Oak Steakhouse and before joining Social Restaurant + Wine Bar, Carolina Yacht Club. Pryor says that he finds cooking to be the perfect art form. “Food is my paint, the sauté pan my brush, the seasons are my muse, the plate is the piece, the palate is the critic and the memories of a great meal are the museum that the pieces hang in,” said Pryor. “I love the joy that my artwork brings to the people indulging in it.”

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Fulton Lane Inn in Charleston Offering a Special Art Package on July 17

In conjunction with the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association’s Palette and Palate Stroll, Fulton Lane Inn is offering a special art package for two people (July 17-19, 2009). The package is $559.00 plus tax and includes two nights accommodations in a standard king room, daily continental breakfast, wireless internet access, afternoon wine and cheese reception, evening sherry & brandy, dinner for two at Circa 1886 Restaurant (Mobile 4 star, AAA Four Diamond restaurant located in sister property, Wentworth Mansion) with rickshaw rides to and from restaurant; tickets for two to the Palette and Palate Stroll. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Charleston at 202 King Street. To reserve, please call (800)720-2688 or visit www.fultonlaneinn.com.

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Horton Hayes Fine Art Welcomes a Newcomer to the Palette & Palate Stroll, Shine

Horton Hayes Fine Art is located at the corner of State and Queen Streets. The gallery features original works by locally and nationally recognized artists, including Mark Kelvin Horton, Shannon Runquist, Chris Groves, Nancy Hoerter, Bjorn Runquist, Michael Knoch and Larry Moore. Subject matter in the gallery varies and includes landscapes, still-life, figurative works and architectural depictions rendered in oil, pastel or watercolor. While many of the pieces depict Lowcountry scenes and themes, one may also find a range of images including mountain and western scenes, European subjects and a variety of works inspired by the diverse experiences, surroundings and travels of our artists.

Cynthia Hayes, gallery director, and co-owners, Mark Kelvin Horton and his wife, Nancy Cagan Horton, have more than 15 years of combined gallery experience. This year, the inspired works at Horton Hayes Fine Art will be complimented during the Palette & Palate Stroll by a new face to Charleston’s cuisine scene, Shine. Pioneered by Executive Chef Dillon Snyder, Shine is described as a unique and eclectic dining establishment, inspired by the best of international street food and the traditional American diner. Chef Dillon’s primary goal when designing the menu was to create food that he himself loved to eat, plain and simple. Dillon enjoys utilizing local ingredients as often as possible to bring light to fresh flavors. What resulted is a beacon for whimsical cuisine in a city where cuisine is taken rather seriously. Dillon believes that a great experience with great food can be achieved without the pretense of traditional restaurant atmosphere.  Shine is located at 58 Line Street in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Wells Gallery and Charleston Grill – A Superb Pairing for the Palette and Palate Stroll

For more than a decade, the Wells Gallery has played a significant role in developing Charleston as a top fine arts destination. The gallery’s collection represents a diverse array of art, ranging from traditional Lowcountry scenes to more contemporary art by artists from across the nation that paint in a variety of styles and subject matters. At over two times the size of their original location, the gallery showcases a rich selection of paintings, jewelry and hand-blown glass work by some of the nation’s finest artists: Marty Whaley Adams, Claire Farrell, Virginia Fouche´ Bolton, Russell Gordon, Gary Gowans, Glenn Harrington, Whitney Kreb, Kevin LePrince, Earl B. Lewis, Brad Lorbach, Rick McClure, John Michiels, George Pate, Sue Stewart, Karen Larson Turner and Kim Weiland.     

The pairing of Wells Gallery’s fine art with the Charleston Grill‘s superb cuisine will be especially complimentary  because at this year’s Palette and Palate Stroll, the restaurant welcomes new Executive Chef Michelle Weaver. Chef Weaver has been under the direction of the award-winning and former-Executive Chef Bob Waggoner as Charleston Grill’s Executive Sous Chef for the past 11 years.  As her friend and mentor moves towards a new chapter of his career focusing on television, Chef Weaver has naturally and elegantly stepped into the spotlight. Part of the Charleston Place Hotel, the restaurant was the only one in the area to be included in the Nations Restaurant News “Fine Dining Hall of Fame” and in the book titled, The Elite 1000. 

Capturing critics’ and diners’ attention by producing menus that combine unusual ingredients with classic techniques, Chef Weaver continues to enhance and expand Charleston’s appreciation for fine cuisine.  She has a strong commitment to supporting local farmers and encouraging them to cultivate new and unusual products which she incorporates in her cuisine. 

After an excessive remodeling, Charleston Grill re-opened in 2007, introducing a new style of Charleston Cuisine. The exquisite menu is pure, with dishes inspired by the clean, light flavors of the ingredients.

“I am inspired by nature and you will experience this in my dishes.  My cooking style takes the freshest ingredients and uses them in the most minimalist way, letting the quality of the product stand for itself.  My job is to bring those ingredients together to create a truly spectacular dining experience,” describes her style Chef Weaver.

Wells Gallery will serve FireFly Sweet Tea Vodka cocktails and wine.

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The Charleston Renaissance Gallery and High Cotton Partner up for the Palette and Palate Stroll, July 17

Founded by Robert Hicklin, Jr. in 1972, the Charleston Renaissance Gallery is the only one in the nation specializing in fine art of the American South. The gallery has maintained a distinctive reputation for its offerings of 19th and 20th century masterworks, including works on oil, paper, sculptures, the art of the Charleston Renaissance Movement and select works from the estate of Elizabeth O’Neil Verner, one of the most influential artists of the time.                                                                                                                                      

For more than 30 years, the Charleston Renaissance Gallery has handled works by the most prestigious Southern artists, as well as those American artists who explored Southern subject matter. The gallery counts private collectors from across the country and around the world, as well as premier national institutions among its clients. In addition to regular exhibitions and educational symposiums, it has published several scholarly catalogues and three major art volumes. The gallery is also home to a library of more than 4000 books and archives on Southern art history.             

A strong supporter of the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association since its foundation, Maverick Southern Kitchens’ High Cotton will partner for the fourth year with the gallery for the Palette and Palate Stroll evening. The restaurant’s heart pine floors, wide-bladed ceiling fans and walls of hand-made brick have been the signatures of Lowcountry high-life since antebellum times. The menu is hearty and southern, featuring regional favorites, steaks, game and fresh seafood – all prepared with the famous Maverick artistry.

Raised in a large Italian family whose passion for cooking was always a focus and source of pride, High Cotton’s Executive Chef, Anthony Gray’s choice of a career in the culinary industry was a natural one. While training in Charleston at Johnson & Wales University, he began working in local Charleston restaurants and was hired as a line cook at Slightly North of Broad in 1998.  Chef Gray steadily proved himself and was promoted to several positions within the Maverick Southern Kitchens family, and upon the opening of High Cotton in November of 1999, Chef Gray was promoted to sous chef, a position he held until November of 2006 when he became High Cotton’s Executive Chef.          

Gray’s passion for meats can be noted with his hand-made sausages and charcuteries, and his excellence in creating sauces and marinades that enhance the flavors of the meats he works with.  Chef Gray is a proud supporter of local farmers and vendors.

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Ann Long Fine Art Presents Young Collectors’ Sale, July 10

Opening Friday July 10th, Ann Long Fine Art will present the Annual Young* Collectors’ Sale with all work favorably priced from $300 to $3000. Included in the show will be oil paintings, drawings, and etchings from the gallery’s classically trained painters. Many of the works have been painted specifically for this show and are arriving daily from Florence, Italy.

“Our painters love contributing to this show. They paint specifically for it, and the work would normally be priced much higher,” says gallery owner Ann Long. “The painters love it, and our clients love it. This show always has so much buzz.”

While the work is priced with the Young Collector in mind, many of the gallery’s seasoned collectors take advantage of this great opportunity; it is a wonderful chance to acquire classical artwork from these well-trained painters. The mood is very generous as the gallery and the painters want to make the artwork accessible.

The work will be exhibited the month of July. The opening is Friday July 10th with a reception from 6 to 8 pm in the gallery at 54 Broad Street.

* We do not define “young”…

Established in Charleston, SC in 1997, Ann Long Fine Art is celebrating 12 years as one of the country’s leading galleries specializing in classical realist paintings, drawings, and sculpture by contemporary artists. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11-5pm and by appointment 843.577.0447

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Rick Reinert Painting Demonstration on August 1st at Somerby of Mt. Pleasant

Somerby of Mt. Pleasant, artist Rick Reinert and The Wells Gallery partner to offer a 30″x 40″ still life painting demonstration on Saturday, August 1st from 11:00 am-3:00 p.m. The demonstration will be led by Rick Reinert.

Lunch, hosted by Somerby of Mt. Pleasant, will be provided for the participants (map and directions will be provided to attendees).

Cost is $50.00 per person and proceeds will be donated to the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association’s Scholarship fund that is annually awarded to the Charleston County High School Art Programs. Moneys from this scholarship fund that are raised at the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association’s art event are awarded directly to art teachers in the form of gift certificates to art supply stores.

For additional information please contact:  The Wells Gallery at (843) 853-3233 or Rick Reinert at (843) 345-1785.  Please reserve your space, limited seating available. The Wells Gallery is located at 125 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC  29401.

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Palette and Palate Stroll, July 17 – Carolina Galleries Pleased to Welcome Circa 1886

Carolina Galleries will present “Small Works & Small Plates” on July 17, 2009 in conjunction with the Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association’s Fourth Annual Palette & Palate Stroll. Carolina Galleries specializes in the art of the Charleston Renaissance, a unique period during the first half of the 20th century. The war-ravaged Low Country inspired dozens of painters and illustrators, including local artists such as Elizabeth O’Neill and Alice Ravenel Huger Smith to nationally prominent artists such as Childe Hassam, Edward Hopper and Alfred Hutty. The 21st century has revealed yet another artists’ renaissance in Charleston. Recent paintings by John Burmeister, Craig Crawford, Julyan Davis, Johnson Hagood, and Evan Wilson fill the walls of Carolina Galleries with street scenes, marsh vistas, portraits, and genre scenes that are reminiscent of the earlier time.

Also on display are several Charleston etchings by Alfred Hutty. Hutty came to Charleston in 1919, already in his early forties, and immediately called to his wife: “Come quickly. Have found heaven.” Primarily an oil and watercolor painter, Hutty apparently did not seriously take up etching until he moved to Charleston. However, he quickly demonstrated his complete mastery of the medium, winning awards all over the country. All the while, he continued to paint in oils and watercolors, and also produced hundreds of pencil drawings and sketches. Alfred Hutty was one of the founding members of the Charleston Etcher’s Club.

To complement the visual surroundings at Carolina Galleries, Marc Collins, Executive Chef of Circa 1886, will be sure to delight guests with a modern and innovative approach to traditional Southern cuisine. Chef Collins earned his formal culinary training at the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh from where he moved to San Antonio, Texas. Here he worked at La Mansion Del Rio under French Chef Guy Collinet, he then continued to build his repertoire at La Louisiane and the Fairmount Hotel honing his skills in the French culinary technique.

In 2001, Chef Collins moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was named the prestigious title of Executive Chef of Circa 1886. A true hidden gem, Circa 1886 is nestled in the gardens behind the Wentworth Mansion downtown. Thanks to Chef Collins’ dedication to excellence, the restaurant has earned many accolades and awards, including the AAA Four Diamond Award, the Mobil Four Star Award, the DiRoNA Award for Fine Dining, as well as the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. Chef Collins has also received numerous personal honors that include being named a Chef to Watch by Esquire magazine in 2001. The son of an artist, Chef Collins brings an affinity for creativity to the preparation and presentation of every dish he serves.

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