Sunday is final day for 701’s Biennial Part I exhibit; Part II opens next month

It’s the final weekend to see contemporary works from some of South Carolina’s most acclaimed artists.

But there’s good news – another new exhibit is opening next month.

The 701 Center for Contemporary Art is hosting the South Carolina Biennial 2015 Parts I and II throughout the end of the year, with the first part concluding Sunday, Oct. 25. Part II will open Nov. 5 and run through Dec. 20. The exhibits are free.

A jury panel – which included a New York City art critic, an art gallery director and curator, and an art historian – picked 25 artists out of more than 100 submissions for the Biennial.

Wim Roefs, chairman of the board of directors, said the Biennial serves as the only systematic overview of some of the best contemporary art in the state.

Attendance for the gallery has been strong, Roefs said, noting people are willing to travel long distances to see the works.

“Traffic has been good, and for a show like this, it’s not just local traffic,” he said. “You kind of get people from all over the state. These artists come from all parts of the state. People know about it and come and see it.”

Part I of the 701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2015 features Kristy Bishop, Goose Creek; Eileen Blyth, Columbia; Michael Cassidy, West Columbia; Colleen Critcher, Florence; Tonya Gregg, Hopkins; Tina Hirsig, Charleston; Donna Hurt, Charleston; Jason Kendall, Columbia; Shannon Lindsey, Columbia; Stephanie Shively, Columbia; Michelle Van Parys, Charleston; Katie Walker, Greenville and Paul Yanko, Greenville.

Roefs said 701 CCA splits the Biennial into two parts partially due to space restraints, but the organization tries to strike a balance by considering geographic locations of the artists, gender of the artists and the art medium used.

“We’re trying to make each part of the Biennial a mini-overview,” he said. “There’s a whole set of variables. … It’s quite the puzzle.”

The opening reception for the Biennial Part II will be 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, where an exhibition catalog will be presented. Roefs said the exhibition catalog documents the exhibition and is important for creating a local record of the artwork displayed.

Among the artists in Part II of the Biennial are Aldwyth, Hilton Head; Brant Barrett, Surfside Beach; David Boatwright, Charleston; Michaela Pilar Brown, Columbia; Yvette Cummings, Conway; Stacey Davidson, Rock Hill; Lauren Greenwald, Columbia; Herb Parker, Charleston, Kristi Ryba, Charleston; Lee Sipe, Columbia; Enid Williams, Greenville and David Yaghjian, Columbia.

Roefs is looking for good things next month, as the next exhibit opens.

“The response has been pretty good, and I expect the same thing for Part II,” Roefs said.