Shows in Sumter and Columbia: Art galleries offer cool respite

Turn staying cool into an art form on Friday, July 10, by attending one of three free gallery shows going on in and around Columbia. And who knows? You might bring home a new masterpiece.

Founded in 1966, the Sumter Artists’ Guild might be one of the state’s oldest art groups, but that didn’t stop them from including both new and established artists in this year’s show, which runs through Aug. 27 at the Sumter County Gallery of Art. In addition to paintings, the show is loaded with sculptures, drawings and mixed media as well. sumtergallery.org

Collectors looking for works by some of the best emerging talent to come out of USC’s Master of Fine Arts Program should head to the Tapp’s Art Center in Columbia for “Post/Grad: Works by Recent and Current USC Grad Students” going on now. The show features 3D images from Joseph Kendrick; Robert Keith’s perspective-challenging paintings; sculpture from Alexandra Stasko and Bethany Bjork and Stef Shively’s photography and closes July 18. tappsartcenter.com

How big are Eva Carter’s signature abstract paintings? So large the petite artist relies on a step stool to get to the top of her canvases, which often reach 6 feet and use strong linear structure to create a sense of evolving motion. Based on Wadmalaw Island near Charleston, Carter brought a number of these massive works (along with several smaller paintings) to City Art, in Columbia, for her newest show, “Rhythm, Balance and Space” going on now. The show runs through Aug. 1. cityartonline.com

Also, just opened: “Tyrone Geter: Black!” at 701 Center for Contemporary Art. Recent works by the artist who combines draftsmanship with assemblage and installation elements producing a bold body of work that offers powerful perspectives on the black American experience. Members of 701 CCA can attend at no cost. $5 is suggested for all non-members. 701 Whaley St. Sheldon Paschal, (803) 319-9949, info@701cca.org.

Katie McElveen, Special to The State