Concurrent exhibits on display throughout April
The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that concurrent solo exhibitions of paintings by Regina Lee (Charleston, SC) and Brenda Gilliam (St. Louis, MO) will be on display at Park Circle Gallery from April 6-30, 2022. A free reception hosted by the artists will be held at the gallery on Friday, April 8, from 5:00-7:00pm. The public is invited to attend.
Arise – Paintings by Regina Lee
The acrylic paintings in Regina Lee’s exhibition, Arise, take inspiration from her original photography as well as the Bible. The artist is passionate about visually communicating both her love of nature and her faith through her expressive and bold florals and landscapes, which are characterized by detailed brushstrokes and vivid colors. Intrigued by the way the eye relates to the vibrancy that exists in the color spectrum, Regina has a tendency to use the full color spectrum in her paintings so the viewer’s eyes can playfully enjoy bouncing from one color to the next. The variation in numerous brushstrokes gives her work a unique texture and pattern. “In the process of painting, I find myself drawn to the relationship of colors, textures, patterns, and transitions,” she explains. “My goal is for the viewer to become more attentive to the natural beauty around them and to notice the details of what the eye can see. Beauty is everywhere if we take time to observe the wonders of life.”
Regina Lee was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. She and her family traveled often and though she relocated several times as a child, art was something constant in her life. She realized early-on that she loved art and took advantage of many opportunities to develop her talent. Regina completed her Associates Degree in Fine Arts at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC, in 2004. In 2007 she earned a bachelor’s degree with distinction in art and emphasis in painting from the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Her work has been displayed in several solo and group exhibitions locally, as well as in Maryland and North Carolina. Regina is a member of the Charleston Artist Guild and creates out of her home studio in Charleston, SC. Learn more about the artist at reginalee.com.
Here and There – Paintings by Brenda Gilliam
Brenda Gilliam’s acrylic paintings capture simple moments in life – a subtle expression on someone’s face, something noticed while on a walk, a memory. Her work utilizes layers of color, texture, pattern, composition, and line, and stylistically reflects her background in graphic design and illustration. In her exhibit, Here and There, Gilliam presents paintings that reflect the influence and inspiration drawn from the environments in St. Louis, MO, and Charleston, SC, both places the artist considers home. The darker, earthy colors with gray light in the Midwest contrast with the lighter sun colors that grace the Lowcountry. “In this exploration, I am discovering so many similarities in these two markedly different places,” Gilliam explains. “It helps explain why I feel so grounded, here and there.”
Brenda Gilliam has an extensive background in graphic design and illustration, with an appreciation for the aesthetics of mid-century to 70’s. Never formally trained in art, she learns by doing and has been working as an artist since 1983. Her paintings have been displayed and won awards in a number of solo and group exhibitions throughout the Lowcountry, as well as in St. Louis MO. She has also illustrated a number of children’s books. Learn more about the artist at www.bgrtst.com.
The Park Circle Gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston. 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 Wednesday-Friday, and Noon-4:00pm on Saturday. 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.