50-year celebration of SC artists opens

In 1976, the S.C. Arts Commission began granting fellowships to South Carolina artists.

Forty-one years later, many of those artists have made their marks not just in the Palmetto State, but throughout the country.

To help the S.C. Arts Commission celebrate its 50th anniversary, a SC.Fellows exhibition will spotlight work done by some of the 89 artists who have received S.C. Arts Commission fellowships since 1976 when the program was established.

The celebration includes 15 solo and group exhibitions of current and past fellows throughout South Carolina. All fellows are current or past residents of the state.

With the SC.Fellows exhibition opening Thursday, Aug. 3 with an artists’ reception, we talked with Harriett Green, program director for visual arts with the S.C. Arts Commission, about the exhibit.

Q: What is SC.Fellows?

A: The S.C. Arts Commission started a grant program in 1976 to support individual artists by recognizing their work based solely on artistic merit. The award is given in all disciplines – visual arts and craft, literary, performing and media. SC.Fellows is a retrospective of visual and craft artists who have received the award between 1976-2018. SC.Fellows is the name of the exhibition but it also references the fellowship program in a generic way. SC.Fellows was curated by New York-based curator and critic Eleanor Heartney.

Q: What is the difference between SC.Fellows Part I and II?

A: Essentially two things – partners and roster of artists.

Part I is a partnership between the S.C. Arts Commission, USC McMaster Gallery and 701 Center for Contemporary Art. The exhibition opens simultaneously on Aug. 3 and closes Sept. 17.

Q: Who are the featured artists in the SC.Fellows Part 1 exhibition?

A: Artists featured at 701 Center for Contemporary Art: Russell Biles, Jenifer Borg, Anne Boudreau, Dexter Buell, Clay Burnette, Phyllis Herbert Constransitch, Vinh T. Dang, Clark Ellefson, Steven Gately, Diane Hopkins-Hughs, Terry Jarrard-Dimond, Robert M. Jolly, Christine Kierstead, Ellen Kochansky, Barbara Layne, Lee Malerich, Edward Rice, Richard Rose, Joe Walters, and Edward Wimberly.

Artists featured at USC’s McMaster Gallery: Scott Belville, Tarleton Blackwell, Stephen Dell, Barbara Duval, James Edwards, Jamie Davis, John Benjamin Gilliam, Jean Grosser, Mana D.C. Hewitt, James Barnard Lawton, Linda Williams McCune, Phil Moody, Gunars Strazdins, Michelle Van Parys, Michael Vincent Vatalaro, and Manning Williams.

Q: Where and when will Part II be held?

A: Part II is a partnership between the S.C. Arts Commission, Benedict College Henry Ponder Gallery and 701 Center for Contemporary Art. The exhibition opens simultaneously on May 10 and closes June 24, 2018.

Q: Who are the featured artists in Part II?

A: Artists featured at 701 Center for Contemporary Art: James Arendt, Patti Brady, Alice Ballard, Jonathan Brilliant, Jeri Burdick, Jarod Charzewski, Jocelyn Chateauvert, Rebecca Des Marais, Mark Flowers, Linda Fantuzzo, Jack Steve Gerstner, J. Scott Goldsmith, Kristy Higby, Elizabeth Keller, Larry Lebby, Mike Lavine, Zoey Brookshire, Elizabeth Melton, Philip Mullen, Jane Allen Nodine, Jorge Otero, Herb Parker, Clifton Peacock, Michael Phillips, David Ross Puls, Michael Tice and Susan B. Wooten.

Artists featured at Benedict College Henry Ponder Gallery: Alice Boyle, M. Tallon Chalmers, Dennis Croteau, Heidi Darr Hope, Karen E. Davies, Mary Edna Fraser, Eugene Horne, Damond Howard, Judy V. Jones, Kim Keats, Peter Lenzo, Robert Lyon, Leo Manske, Paula Smith, Megan Wolfe and Howard Woody.

Q: Why two parts?

A: It is a matter of practicality and of necessity. Due to the number of artists, and number and scale of artworks, besides the major museums in the state, there are no venues that are large enough to host the entire exhibition at one time. Not only do we have two parts but also two partner organizations for each part.

Q: Why is this exhibition significant?

A: The exhibition and attendant catalogue are important because these artists are considered among some of the best contemporary artists who reside or have resided in the state. Fellows are selected by out of state jurors who make their recommendations based on the images artists select for review. It represents about 40 years of supporting and encouraging excellence in creative endeavors.

Q: Is this the first exhibition of visual arts an craft fellows? Will there be more?

A: SC.Fellows is one of 11 exhibitions highlighting visual and craft artists throughout the state. Other locations include Clemson, Florence, Greenwood, Lake City, Myrtle Beach, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, Sumter. The full schedule can be seen at SouthCarolinaArts.com

Q: How were the artists being featured selected from the 89 artists who have received S.C. Arts Commission fellowships since 1976?

A: The 78 artists included in the SC.Fellows were selected based on access to artists and availability of work. The whereabouts of some artists were not known, while some had health issues that prevented them from participating. We had hoped to have more artists but in the end, we are very pleased with where we ended.

Q: What is some of the artwork visitors shouldn't miss?

A: There are many exciting works in Part I at USC McMaster and 701 Center for Contemporary. Rather than singling out works, visitors will be exposed to very accomplished work both in terms of artistic merit and content. Visitors might be surprised to see how different some artists works are compared to what they know of the artists’ previous body of work. It is not that the artists are not dealing with some of the same issues but rather it shows their evolution. ... Works based in satire, politics and social issues are part of the mix. The impact of technology on contemporary art is also something visitors should not miss.

Q: Why should people come see this exhibition?

A: It is probably the last opportunity to see this group of artists in an exhibition. It is a major undertaking to organize an exhibition of this scale and is only possible through a collaborative effort among institutions/organizations with a shared interest and vision.

This story was originally published August 2, 2017 at 3:27 PM with the headline "50-year celebration of SC artists opens."