Inaugural concurrent exhibits on view throughout August
As is the case with many arts organizations at this time, the City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is adjusting operations and programming in order to overcome the challenges presented as a result of COVID-19. The indefinite closure of the Charleston Area Convention Center, Performing Arts Center, and Coliseum campus where the North Charleston City Gallery is located has prompted the department to make some unexpected decisions to get back to presenting artwork to the public. For that reason, beginning in August, Cultural Arts will present the monthly art exhibitions originally scheduled for the North Charleston City Gallery at the *NEW* Park Circle Gallery.
Formerly known as the Olde Village Community Building, the Park Circle Gallery (PCG) is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in the bustling Park Circle neighborhood of North Charleston. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm, and Saturday, Noon-4:00pm. Admission is free. In addition to the monthly exhibitions, the “gift shop” at the North Charleston City Gallery, which features a variety of items by local artists, will also be moved to PCG. Cultural Arts will also continue to host art workshops and recurring meetings for art groups and guilds in the space once gatherings are safe to resume.
Park Circle Gallery’s inaugural exhibitions include photographs by Nicole Robinson of Charleston, SC, and paintings by Sarah Harris of Hanahan, SC. The concurrent solo exhibitions will be on view August 1-29, 2020.
Abstraction: Tidal Obsession – Photographs by Nicole Robinson
In her exhibit, Abstraction: Tidal Obsession, photographer Nicole Robinson presents a series of long exposure tidal landscapes. Robinson is drawn to simple subjects with interesting light, texture, and motion. She uses long exposures in combination with hand panning across her subjects to create a natural abstract image. By inviting this distortion into her work, Robinson seeks an emotional response from the viewer. “There has to be more that you derive from an image than just documentation of being in a certain place or time. If the image provokes thought or questions or stirs desire; there is where I find success of my art,” says Robinson.
Nicole Robinson is a self-taught photographer who has lived in the Carolinas for more than 25 years. Her work is in many private collections throughout the United States. She has been represented at the Lowcountry Artist Gallery and is a founding member of the Catch Light Gallery in North Carolina. She has participated in group and solo exhibitions throughout the Southeast. A construction worker by trade, she considers herself a photographer at heart and draws inspiration from the beauty of the natural world. Learn more about the artist at NicoleRobinsonPhotography.com.
Abandoned Paradise – Paintings by Sarah Harris
Sarah Harris’ exhibit, Abandoned Paradise, features a series of oil paintings that explore the subject of abandoned and rundown buildings in downtown Charleston, SC. “The abandoned buildings in our city have an unusual and mysterious beauty,” she says. “Behind the decrepit walls there is an untold story.” Harris begins each piece by photographing her subject and sometimes researching its history. Using her photographs as a reference, she begins each composition with loose, expressive washes of diluted paint and builds up layers to develop more details. She then adds thick impasto painting with a palette knife to mimic the texture and decay of these neglected buildings. “I want the exterior to pop out of the canvas as though it is three-dimensional. During this process I explore and experiment with oil paint and push it beyond limit,” she explains. By incorporating a variety of techniques and textures in her paintings, Harris draws attention to some of the possibilities of oil paint as a medium.
Sarah Harris earned a BA in Studio Art from the College of Charleston in 2013, with additional studies in Graphic Imagery at Trident Technical College in 2014. As a child, Sarah ventured into theater and creative writing. It was not until her early 20’s that she fell into the visual arts and developed a passion for painting. Since then, she has exhibited her work in a number of solo and group shows at venues and events throughout the Lowcountry, including the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the North Charleston Arts Fest.
The Park Circle Gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston, in what was formerly known as the Olde Village Community Building. Admission is free and free street parking is available on Jenkins Avenue in front of the gallery, as well as on the adjacent streets and in parking lots close by. The gallery is open 10:00am-6:00pm Tuesday-Friday, and Noon-4:00pm on Saturday. In compliance with safety recommendations from the CDC and SCDHEC, gallery capacity is currently limited to 10 people at a time. Staff and all visitors must wear a mask while they are in the gallery and practice social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be provided upon entry. For more information about PCG, call 843-637-3565 or email [email protected]. For information on other Cultural Arts programs and artist opportunities, visit the Arts & Culture section of the City’s website.