This week, the 2024 Art Charleston cracks the curatorial code
Maura's Three for the Week, Art Charleston Edition, 4/22-4/28
Art Charleston emerged on the city’s cultural scene three years ago, rallying the far-ranging resources of the Gibbes Museum of Art in a five-day series highlighting exhibitions, programs and plenty of artful soirees, too.
Taking place April 24 - 28, the third annual cultural phenom is particularly inspired, with programming radiating from the exhibition “Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature,” which culminates on April 28. Lending a few new perspectives to the show as well, Art Charleston is a cross-pollination in its own right, converging visual artists, classical musicians, local makers, urban planners, scholars, filmmakers, chefs and so many others that contribute to Charleston’s fertile cultural soil.
Art Charleston also corrals celebrated signature museum events, including the Gibbes on the Street party with its tantalizing array of local chefs, and the sold out Art of Design luncheon, giving that event a floral twist this year via featured speaker Hannah Cecil Gurney, Director of de Gournay, the famed creator of hand-painted wallpapers, fabrics and porcelains.
Here are three other standouts, with many more to pick from when you visit gibbesmuseum.org.
For Which it Stands Panel: Art and Public Planning
Gibbes Lecture Hall, 135 Meeting St., Wed., April 24, 6 -7 p.m.
This event is right in my wheelhouse, homing in on the role of arts in city planning. It may well prove invaluable for those keen to keep arts and culture prominent as we move forward in an ever-changing Charleston. Among those joining in are artists Tom Stanley and Meredith Connelly, in conversation with Kendra Stewart, professor and director at the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Center for Livable Communities.
Exhibition Spotlight: Lecture on Harvard Glass Flowers
Gibbes Lecture Hall, 135 Meeting St., Thurs., April 25, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Inspired by the Rory McEwen exhibition, the Gibbes welcomes Jennifer Brown, collection manager of Harvard University’s Blaschka Glass Flower Collection (which will not be on-site). Brown will offer insights and share images from the collection of 4,300 glass flowers, which were commissioned by Harvard as a teaching collection and museum exhibit. Later that afternoon, Brown will also lead a Closer Look Tour of “Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature.”
Artisan Fair Community Market
Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., Sun., April 28, 1 - 5 p.m.
This free, curated market will feature 40 artist-vendors representing every artistic discipline, offering would-be collectors an ideal opportunity to survey some of the most exciting . All purchases go directly to the artisans.
Bonus: Open Spring Studios at Studio Union
Studio Union, 2010 Hackemann Ave., North Charleston, Fri., April 26, 5 - 8 p.m.
Elsewhere on the local art scene this week, Studio Union ceramic studio hosts its Spring open studio event, opening its doors for all to peruse the impressive output of its resident artists and artisans. For more information, visit studiounionchs.com.