SC Arts Commission Press Releases
The State Art Collection: Contemporary Conversations Opens Oct. 1 in Columbia
Part 1 of "Contemporary Conversations," a traveling exhibition of art from the State Art Collection begins Oct. 1 at 701 Center for Contemporary Art
Sept. 17, 2009
Media Contacts:
Milly Hough
(803) 734-8698
(803) 734-8620
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The State Art Collection: Contemporary Conversations traveling exhibition opens Oct. 1 at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art, located at 701 Whaley Street in Columbia. Curated by Eleanor Heartney, author and contributing editor to Art in America and Artpress, the two-part exhibition includes 118 pieces of artwork from the 448-piece State Art Collection, which is maintained by the South Carolina Arts Commission. Part I runs Oct. 1 – Nov. 1 and Part II runs Nov. 5 – Dec. 6.
The exhibition, composed of works by 95 contemporary South Carolina artists, is designed to suggest both the quality and diversity of the state's cultural heritage. Contemporary Conversations includes everything from hard edge geometric abstraction to surrealist tinged dreamscapes. Works are inspired by social issues, memory, local and national history, imagination, art of the past and aesthetic theory. Together they reflect the many voices and diverse concerns of South Carolina artists.
"As its title suggests, this show can be seen as a series of conversations about the place of art in contemporary life," said Heartney. "Works here address questions that range from the importance of beauty and craftsmanship in art and the meanings of abstraction to the artist's responsibility toward the public, the efficacy of art as an agent of social change, and the role of place in an artist's imagination."
According to Heartney, "works in Contemporary Conversations range from the Merton Simpson's Confrontation #20 (1968), a muscular abstraction whose impassioned brushstrokes embody the turmoil of the Civil Rights era, to Jocelyn Chateauvert's intriguing Eve, Clothes Optional (2006), a leaf pendant of handmade paper and sterling silver." The exhibition also contains a lead relief work by the world-renowned South Carolina native Jasper Johns, as well as paintings and sculptures by so called "outsider artists" like Richard Burnside and Dan Robert Miller who work completely outside the framework of the mainstream art world.
"The South Carolina State Art Collection is a valuable resource to be shared by all," said Wim Roefs, board chairman at 701 CCA. "We are pleased to provide a venue where South Carolinians can view this gathering from the Collection and celebrate the rich cultural traditions of their state."
Works by Mary Jackson, Beverly Buchanan, Aldwyth and Terry K. Hunter were selected for inclusion in the exhibition but due to prior commitments to regional and national traveling exhibitions, these works were not available to include in Contemporary Conversations. A DVD presentation of these works and the entire State Art Collection will run concurrently with the exhibition.
For more information about The State Art Collection: Contemporary Conversations or educational programs and other activities taking place during the exhibition, please visit www.SouthCaroilnaArts.com or call Harriett Green, program director for visual arts, at (803) 734-8762.
About 701 Center for Contemporary Art:
701 Center for Contemporary Art is a non-profit visual arts center that promotes understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of contemporary art, the creative process and the role of art and artists in the community. The center also encourages interaction between visual arts and other art forms. 701 CCA is located at 701 Whaley Street, Columbia, SC 29201. For more information, visit www.701cca.org.
About the State Art Collection:
The State Art Collection is considered the most comprehensive public collection of works by contemporary South Carolina artists. Established in 1967 as one of the first programs of the South Carolina Arts Commission, the State Art Collection has grown to include 448 works in a variety of media and styles by 277 South Carolina contemporary artists. Small exhibitions featuring work from the collection are organized on a regular basis for rural and isolated areas inside and outside of the state. Works from the State Art Collection are available for loan to art museums, state agencies, and public and private organizations for the purpose of public exhibition or public display. The collection is supported in part by the South Carolina Arts Foundation and Kahn Development Company.
About SCAC:
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
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