Art Charleston, a five-day festival by The Gibbes Museum of Art, will return April 24 in downtown Charleston.
The festival, founded in 2022, celebrates Charleston’s thriving arts community and raises funds for the museum. In this year’s lineup there are artist lectures, panel discussions, gallery walks and professional workshops — that’s in addition to the museum’s longtime annual spring traditions like the Art of Design luncheon and the fabulous Street Party.
“We look forward to welcoming guests to this year’s festival, which celebrates the transformative power of art within our community,” said Angela Mack, president and CEO of the Gibbes Museum of Art in a press release. “Art, as a universal language, enriches our lives, fosters compassion and encourages connection with the world around us.”
On display now through the end of the month is Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature, a retrospective look at the career of the renowned Scottish artist, Rory McEwen (1932 –1982). The exhibition reveals McEwen’s lifelong inquiry into light and color through his remarkable painted renderings of plants.
During Art Charleston, attendees also are invited to take a ‘closer look’ at the exhibition with a variety of experts, such as Jennifer Brown. She will lead attendees through a presentation on Harvard Museum’s Blaschka Glass Flower Collection on April 25.
The following day, explore the McEwen exhibit from a musician’s point of view with Lydia Chernicoff, the artistic director of New Muse Concerts. Or, check out the Closer Look: Bees and Blooms on April 28, in which local beekeeper and apiary expert, Tom Knaust, will lead a conversational tour of the exhibit.
Premiere of a community art project
Another cool part of the festival is the premiere of a community art project called A Tree of Every Color. It is conceptualized and designed by North Carolina-based artist Tuxedo Kat in collaboration with the Charleston Parks Conservancy. As part of the dedication of this new permanent sculpture on the West Ashley Bikeway, A Tree of Every Color will include over 200 three-dimensional hanging flowers constructed by kids and families in the Lowcountry.
There’s also a documentary screening on April 27 with a rare interview by documentarian Paul Tschinkel, who led a pioneering career as one of the first to ever broadcast live interviews with contemporary artists on television. Following the screening, the museum hosts a discussion about how the advent of new media, from television to Instagram, have changed our expectations of artists.
Also April 27, you can join author Emily Evans Eerdmans with Patricia Altschul of Southern Charm (who penned the forward in Eerdmans’ book) for a discussion and book-signing of Mario Buatta: The Anatomy of a Decorator.
There’s also events that merge the visual and culinary arts. An example: a freshly foraged dinner event with chef and food historian Kevin Mitchell. And don’t miss the April 25 Street Party which transforms Meeting Street into a foodie’s delight featuring top chefs, an open bar and live music.
To conclude the week’s celebrations, the museum will host an Artisan Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. on April 28. With about 40 skilled makers of various disciplines, there will be many unique finds for guests to shop. This event will be free. Artisans receive 100% of all purchases.
- For the full lineup of events and to learn more about Art Charleston, check out artcharleston.org.
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