The vision for the Second Life Supply exhibition, organized by Rachel Briggs, is that one artist’s trash is another artist’s treasure.
Briggs, a fiber artist, facilitated a February art supply swap at J. Stark where each participating artist brought in whatever used or unwanted art supplies they had laying around. After the swap, these artists then worked with these new-to-them materials and methods to make work for a group exhibition to be held at the James Island Cultural Center. There will be an opening reception 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 7, and the show will remain on view until July.
Organizer Briggs said she hopes to offer supply swaps and exhibitions regularly after this debut event.
“Second Life Supply is a new company I recently started that provides gently used, reclaimed or unwanted art supplies and equipment to artists in the Charleston area. There are no prices listed, everything is on a pay-what-you-can basis … I want artists to be able to try out a new medium without breaking the bank.”
Briggs, like many artists, said she’ll often pick up a new medium, try it for a while, and then end up with supplies that she no longer wants or needs. “Supplies are really expensive. A lot of us artists like to try out new things, and by the time we get going with them, we realize it’s not going to work or we don’t like it as much as we thought we did.”
So she decided to do something about it by creating a supply swap and subsequent art show.
“Instead of doing a theme for the show, I thought it would be cool to challenge these artists to use supplies that they’ve never worked with before … It’s an opportunity to work with something new and try to incorporate it into their own style.”
That artist-led vision drives the project — and it comes through also in the way Briggs speaks passionately about throwing an event that brings value, community and fun to the artists involved.
“I’ve been a part of a few shows, and a lot of the woes that I hear from people are that the wall fees are expensive, or, I had to pay a big split to the curator,” she said. “I want to uplift the arts community as much as I can. And my main goal for this is providing an opportunity for everyone — from veteran artists to newcomers”
It’s a great chance to directly support local artists, especially since artists in this show paid nothing to participate and will keep 100% of sales. The long and stylistically diverse lineup includes Anna Rob, Kenny Rote, Kelly Kopacka, Kim Thomas, Jeannie Rousefell, Tyne Teyson, Shannon Hopkins, Ester Araujo, Leigh Sabisch, Mary Lena, Vassiliki Falkegad, Lizzy Goodrich and more.
Briggs said she’s excited about all the artists, but especially Falkegad, Thomas and Hopkins, three artists who are devoted to reusing trashed materials in their artistic practices.
“They’re such a dynamic trio in the world of eco arts and huge supporters of sustainability.”
She also highlighted Araujo’s dreamy pastel landscapes, “They almost feel like they jumped right out of my favorite movie, Howl’s Moving Castle.”
And multimedia maker Nathan McClements will live paint one of his signature cowboys during the event. Plus, he’ll sell his one-of-a-kind clothing items made from scrap fabrics.
It’s free to attend, but bring cash and an appetite for food from Mr. Wendell’s Hot Dog Cart and beer and wine from The Wandering Taps.
Brigg’s vision for this project goes way beyond this one-night-only event: She wants to start doing these swaps and shows often in Charleston and has dreams of opening a storefront eventually.
“I want to encourage those who have always wanted to try their hand at creating art by showing them that you can make something beautiful with reused items.”
Brigg’s “big bin” of art supplies will be right there with the art on June 7, a chance to pay-what-you-will for art supplies or to donate gently used items for the next one.
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