The new pop-up art gallery Changeling Gallery plans to offer opportunities for local artists to share their work with the community in an accessible and affordable way, each time at a different location with artwork centered around a specific theme.
The pop-up gallery was founded by Minna Heaton, an art curator who said she is passionate about art accessibility and providing exhibition opportunities to up-and-coming artists. The vision for Changeling Gallery, she said, is to “provide a space for artists to show their work, experiment with fun and engaging themed group shows and strengthen the Charleston art scene as it grows.”
Heaton, who received her master’s degree in art history and ancient Roman art at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has worked in private collections archives at the Charleston Museum and most recently as the assistant curator at the Vendue art hotel before pursuing this new venture.
“After working in museums, and then working in private collection management, I developed this love for contemporary art,” she said. “And seeing a lot of these amazing pop-ups happening in town, I knew I wanted to do my own thing, bringing something that was out of the box and creating shows that were centered around a theme.”
Something for everyone
The gallery has already made waves with its first show Veiled, hosted Nov. 30 at Sweetgrass Lounge, which focused on fiber artists and the traditions of weaving and working with fabric. For this show, Heaton curated a Charleston-based lineup that brought together emerging and established artists. Fashion designer Andrea Tuton, known by her artist name “A Plus,” showed fashion designs in chainmail. Mixed media works by Jeanie Rounsefell and photographic shadow boxes by Kirsten Hoving hung next to fiber works by Goose Creek artist Ester Araujo.
Rachel Briggs offered a performance that night using a loom, speaking to the themes of Veiled, which Heaton said was inspired, in part, by her family.
“I come from a long line of seamstresses; it’s something that I grew up around and have a lot of appreciation for. So I really wanted to highlight people who work with fabric and textiles,” Heaton said. “I also wanted to show works that were a bit spooky, surreal, a little bit weird, which is definitely what I’m attracted to in art.”
Heaton crafted the Veiled lineup by invitation, though she plans to host open calls for artists to submit work for consideration in the gallery’s next shows. Accessibility is an important piece of the puzzle, Heaton said — so instead of charging her artists wall fees, she asked that they each donate a piece to a raffle which cost just $5 to enter.
“I love the idea that people can come to an event, and even if they can’t afford to buy the artwork that’s hanging on the walls, they then still have the opportunity to take home something really beautiful,” she said.
She hopes to recreate this raffle format, plus an open call for artists for the next Changeling Gallery show, to be held this coming spring.
“The goal moving forward is to have these out-of-the-box themes and to allow artists to explore and experiment,” Heaton said, adding that she hopes Changeling Gallery can be an art space defined by accessibility and community.
To keep up to date with announcements from Changeling Gallery, follow @changeling.gallery on Instagram.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.