Artists! This Affects You Directly

By Olivia Pool

Artists don’t typically have much interest in politics. It’s just not our thing. But what is our thing is, well, having enough money to eat and pay our bills.

Last week was an interesting one for the South Carolina Arts Commission and artists throughout the state. On June 9, Governor Sanford signed off on the state budget, including 107 line item vetoes adding up to more than $200 million. Two of these vetoes (veto #32 and #105) in particular affected South Carolina’s arts programs. These vetoes would cause the following to happen: cut $1.5 million from the SC Arts Commission; cut $4.6 million from the State Library; cut $1.6 million plus from the State Museum and ETV; eliminate all state funds for grants, programs, and services (including the school system); cut $250,000 in stimulus funds for the arts sector; and various other horrible outcomes for art related industries in the state.

Ken May, the director of the South Carolina Arts Commission, stated that "These vetoes will completely gut the South Carolina Arts Commission. If the government vetoes all the funds going to the arts, there would be no substance of work. Without funding the Arts Commission cannot function or fulfill its mission."

But an amazing thing happen in at our state capital last week. “After the announcement of the vetoes, arts supporters, organizations, schools, and many others rallied together using e-mail, phone calls, and social medias to spread the word that we do not have to stand for these vetoes and we can override them. There was a call to action for supporters to contact their representatives and senators to override the vetoes. As a last minute effort to override, arts supporters flocked to the State House in Columbia to rally together and show their representatives that citizens of South Carolina do care and are extremely passionate about the arts and its funding,” says Amy Hunt, an assistant for Art Magazine, who attended the rally.

“The rally was extremely effective. Many representatives supported the protestors with handshakes, smiles, and a few words with supporters. After the rally, the protestors wrote notes to the senators,” continues Hunt. And the rally worked! The Senate voted to override Veto #32! It was a sweep at 110-5 votes. This override restored millions of dollars to the arts funds including $4.6 million to the state's public libraries. "We are so grateful for the outstanding response from the community!" said May.

But the work is not done. Veto #105 will be voted on this coming Tuesday, the 29th. If you care about the keeping funding for the arts in our state, you need to call, write, email, visit your representative and let him know that arts funding is critical to South Carolina before Tuesday and convince them to override Veto #105. This affects you directly.

Beautifully Strange Points of Origin

Check out Aster Hall, 481 King Street, tomorrow evening for a double-header event featuring mixed media artist Alex Leopold and poet and Charleston Scene editor Marcus Amaker. The first portion of the evening will be a reception for Leopold’s newest collection of works entitled “Points of Origin,” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A contemporary artist based in Atlanta, GA, he uses found materials and organic objects to create colorful, abstracts. At 7:30 p.m., there will be a poetry reading by local poet Marcus Amaker called “Beautiful Strange.” Amaker was recently a featured poet in the Contemporary Charleston 2010 exhibition at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park, and has done numerous performances throughout the city over the years. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Aster Hall at 789-3580 or visit www.asterhall.net.

Jill Hooper Exhibition at the Greenville County Museum of Art

Paintings by Charleston artist Jill Hooper will be featured in an exhibition that opens this Saturday, June 26, at the Greenville County Museum of Art. An exceptional, classically trained realist painter whose accomplished technique has won international recognition, Hooper has long been regarded as a vital talent among emerging artists. It’s exciting to watch this Charlestonian’s career take off!

For a local viewing of her work, visit the Ann Long Fine Art Gallery at 51 Broad Street and for more information about the Greenville County Museum, call 864-271-7570 or visit www.greenvillemuseum.org. Admission to the Greenville County Museum of Art remains absolutely free.

‘Splendor’ at the Wells Gallery at The Sanctuary

This afternoon, catch a rare glimpse of artist Karen Larson Turner painting live at the Wells Gallery at the Sanctuary at Kiawah from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. There will be a cocktail reception immediately following from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

An accomplished fine artist, Turner is most well known for her unsurpassed talent of portraying the varied landscapes of Kiawah. She was even commissioned to paint the murals in the Sanctuary in 2004. “She continues to create pieces so evocative and warm that the viewer is immediately transported into a realm of tranquility,” says gallery owner Hume Killian. Kiawah has been the perfect setting and inspiration for many of Turner’s works. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet her in person and share some of this delicate beauty with the artist.

“While in Charleston, I have rediscovered the joys of these subjects in my oils, and I have remembered the reasons I first began to paint. There are countless images before us wherever we go: the curve of a road, the fleeting shadows on a porch, a formation of clouds. Those scenes which cause us to stop and stare, if only for a moment, those things that inspire awe or contemplation…grand or humble…these are worthy to be remembered.” –Karen Larson Turner.