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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