Downtown ArtWalk

In 2012, the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk will be celebrating 10 years as the Capitol City’s premiere art event. This season promises to be even bigger, better and more exciting than before.

Check out what’s in store for Thursday’s ArtWalk.

Art Emporium
823 Quarrier Street

Bridging sculpture with photography, printmaking, painting, installation and performance, Steve Pauley’s art evolved organically from his work as a headstone carver and as a photography teacher.

His current exhibition “Rock Show,” explores engraving anamorphic images into polished granite, which are then projected onto a wall by bouncing light off the stone’s surface. Fusing the time-intensive labor of hand engraving stone and the mechanical reproduction of photography, Pauley’s current investigations include projecting that image onto light sensitive paper in a darkroom without the use of a camera or film. 

Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
900 Lee Street, Suite 1600

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation features 29 limited edition pieces of Deborah Herndon’s work ranging from photographs of French and Spanish architectural details and urban landscape (including “French Kiss Knocker,” finalist in the 67th Allied Artists Juried Competition) to one of Herndon’s more recent pieces, “Orchestra Hall, Violin Blue,” a metallic photography print/raised paint tracing on cardboard overlay.

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation will also feature five jewelry designs by Faye Johnson. Johnson became interested in jewelry creation in 2007 as a result of a design class at Beadlush in Charlotte, NC. Since then, Johnson has studied under critically acclaimed designer Dan Haga, as well as jewelry maker Kim St. Jean.  She has also participated in multiple art shows in the NoDa arts district of Charlotte, NC. Johnson’s jewelry reflects her interest in metal and stringing; her work uses mixed media including clay, gemstones, and various metals.

Gallery Eleven
1033 Quarrier Street

Jo Ann Crawford is featured artist of the month at Gallery Eleven for the May ArtWalk. Her exhibit is titled “Sunflowers Red and Blue. Jo Ann has a bachelor of arts degree from West Virginia University with a masters degree from Marshall University. Her work has been selected by several corporate collections and she has received awards in four surrounding states.

House of Luxe
817 Quarrier Street

The House of Luxe will have most jewelry on clearance 50-60 percent off for the May 17th ArtWalk. Jewelry designs will be featured from Swarovski Elements, Leighelena, Marcia Moran, Hyde, Streets Ahead, Mashka and Gillian Julius.

Romano and Associates
230 Capitol Street, Suite 200

Katheryne Hawkins, a recent graduate of West Virginia State University, will feature “Frail Yet Firm.” It’s a collection of works exploring the juxtaposition of symbolic imagery and their relationship to medium and process. These metaphors are reference to the life, death, and rebirth of select flora and fauna that occur here in Appalachia.

The imagery lends itself to comparison with the process of printmaking, the fragility of the hive relates to the frailty of the papers used and the rigidity of the antlers represents the firm process of printing methods.

Delfine’s Jewelry
245 Capitol Street

Delfine’s Jewelers we will be showcasing Zultanite Gemstones for the May 17h ArtWalk. Naturally precious, Zultanite is a new color changing gemstone that is beautiful,rare, always natural and ethically mined. Zultanite’s beguiling color palette, combined with an exotic pedigree, has made it afavorite among jewelry connoisseurs around the globe.

The Charleston Ballet
100 Capitol Street

The Allied Artists of West Virginia will be partnering with the Charleston Ballet for a live studio drawing session during the May 17 ArtWalk. Images of art pieces created during the live drawing class will be posted online for voting of favorites on both the Charleston Ballet and Allied Artists Facebook pages.

Three notable judges’ votes combined with the public’s choices will determine the winning piece. A $250 prize of a Charleston Town Center Gift Card will be offered to the winner of combined judges and public voting. This winner will be announced in June during FestiVALL. Art works will need to be submitted no later than Monday, May 21, 2012 to be included in the contest.

Submitted pieces will also be on display at a public location for viewing. Viewing and voting will take place through the months of May and June. This event is also open to other WV amateur artists. Please bring your easels if you would like to use one and what you need to work with. Only tables and chairs and dancers will be provided.

Additional art selections from Allied Artists members will also be on display and for sale on Thursday May 17. The upcoming ARTWALK will take place on May 17, 2012 from 5-8 at the Charleston Ballet studios located on the mezzanine floor at 100 Capitol Street.

Mission Savvy
202 Hale Street

Mission Savvy will be selling its new collection of hand painted wooden photo blocks and “Grow Kits” – planting kits for a range of garden themes designed by local Unicorn Lane Farms.

Taylor Books
226 Capitol Street

The Annex Gallery will feature new paintings from Tiera Floyd. A native of Sutton, WV and a recent graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan University, Tiera’s new body of work, titled “Legacy of the Lines” focuses on the cracks, wrinkles, whiskers, scuffs and scraps of five senior citizens in her hometown. Tiera spent time with each of her subjects and chose to focus on specific features and gestures to capture the history and soul of each individual. The result, while excluding much of the information included in a traditional portrait, gives the viewer a much more intimate and compelling experience. Also featured will be paintings from Lewisburg based artist Mary Hurst. Her work will be on display until May 30th.

Check out the Facebook page HERE.

Check out the Twitter page HERE.

Also, check out the Imagine Charleston website HERE.

We Love Our Community Awards

The Charleston Area Alliance will host its fifth annual We Love Our Community Awards program this Thursday, March 22. The event will recognize 12 recipients representing the best in the Kanawha Valley.

“This is another fantastic program and each year, the Alliance is excited to host an event that shines a spotlight on the best of Charleston,” said Susie Salisbury, the Alliance’s vice president of community development. “This is about the grace of our people, places and culture, and recognizing these recipients fits well with our mission –building a vibrant community and prosperous economy.”

The program includes awards for several categories, including Outstanding Preservation, Best Development, Best Re-Development, Community Celebration, Youth Volunteer and Servant Leader and the Kanawha Heritage award, among others.

Each winner will receive an award created by White Oak Photography and presented by outstanding local musical talents using personalized lyrics like this one:

She’s always giving and thinking of others
Supporting causes that she holds dear
No one works harder, no one works longer
Than Charleston’s super volunteer

Find out what local community leader these lyrics are about at the We Love Our Community Awards.

Presented by title sponsor City National Bank, the event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Daniel Boone Room at 405 Capitol Street.

The event is FREE to attend. For more information, contact Susie Salisbury at SSalisbury@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.

The Charleston Area Alliance will host its fifth annual We Love Our Community awards program on March 22. The event will recognize 12 recipients representing the best in the Kanawha Valley.

“This is another fantastic program and each year, the Alliance is excited to host an event that shines a spotlight on the best of Charleston,” said Susie Salisbury, the Alliance’s vice president of community development. “This is about the grace of our people, places and culture, and recognizing these recipients fits well with our mission –building a vibrant community and prosperous economy.”

The program includes awards for several categories, including Outstanding Preservation, Best Development, Best Re-Development, Community Celebration, Youth Volunteer and Servant Leader and the Kanawha Heritage award, among others.

Presented by title sponsor City National Bank, the event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Daniel Boone Room at 405 Capitol Street.

The event is FREE to attend. For more information, contact Susie Salisbury at SSalisbury@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.

“This is another fantastic program and each year, the Alliance is excited to host an event that shines a spotlight on the best of Charleston,” said Susie Salisbury, the Alliance’s vice president of community development. “This is about the grace of our people, places and culture, and recognizing these recipients fits well with our mission –building a vibrant community and prosperous economy.”

The program includes awards for several categories, including Outstanding Preservation, Best Development, Best Re-Development, Community Celebration, Youth Volunteer and Servant Leader and the Kanawha Heritage award, among others. Presented by title sponsor City National Bank, the event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. at 405 Capitol Street.

For more information, contact Susie Salisbury at SSalisbury@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.