D.C. artist finds beauty in the Lowcountry

Cory Oberndorfer knows he should learn how to roller skate.

"I own a pair of skates. I actually brought them with me to Charleston with the intention of learning while I'm here. I've tried them on once, so I know they fit!"

Oberndorfer is the artist-in-residence at Redux, and when his installation is unveiled May 26, the importance of roller skates will be clear: There will be images of roller-derby girls in a mural outside and inside, hanging and drawn on the walls.

And the Lowcountry Highrollers will be skating around the Redux block before the show's opening reception.

A popular contemporary artist out of D.C., Oberndorfer uses derby girls as his subject matter.

"Before I went to grad school, all I painted was portraiture, but I wanted to do something new. I went to a derby bout with a friend, saw a girl get slammed into a wall and knocked down. I thought she was dead, but she started laughing. I was impressed and knew I had to do something with it."

Oberndorfer started painting the girls with tough reputations. With the short, sparkly skirts and mouth-guards. With a little candy on the side. He loves candy. Skittles and Gobstoppers.

"I still didn't know what I was doing and was looking at all my work one day when it clicked. The three aspects together: derby girls, candy and advertisement. They just worked.

"The point of my art is that it's really accessible. Both the art snob and the person that just likes pretty things will appreciate my work. I deal with formal color and gender issues. Contemporary feminism. But it's also just fun too."

Oberndorfer is excited to be working with the Lowcountry Highrollers.

"I've never actually been hands-on with a team. I usually just go to a bout and photograph them. I get the best pictures from tournaments. There's such a wide range of girls. I'm excited to get to know them."

He's found a routine in Charleston. He walks to the Artist & Craftsman Supply on Calhoun for spray paint, swings by Kudu for an iced mocha, then heads back to the Redux and finds a derby girl (Back Stabbath) wanting to volunteer.

He's also a huge fan of Sugar bakeshop.

"Their iced coffee has iced coffee ice cubes. Why doesn't everyone do that?"

To show his appreciation for the iced coffee ice cubes (and derby girls), Oberndorfer set up a photo shoot with Sugar and the Lowcountry Highrollers.

"Another point of my work is to bring people together. This is the first time I've come to a city not just wanting to put my work in a strange town, but really get to know and help it. When else would a bakery and roller-derby girls team up?"

Oberdorfer now has less than a week to learn to skate for the parade. Six days.

He says, "I'm not even worried about falling. Just scared I'll be winded after one lap. That'd be embarrassing."

“But then won't you have more respect for your subject matter? What they do?”

“Oh, believe me, I've got plenty of respect for them already.”