Vol. 15, No. 3 March 2011 - Carolina Arts

Editorial by Tom Starland, Editor and PublisherCOMMENTARYA New HopeNo, I’m not talking about the first StarWars movie, I’m talking about CarolinaArts. I don’t want to make my commentaryabout numbers on a regular basis, butI think something happened last monththat is noteworthy.As of this writing, in February 2011,more than 19,582 people downloaded theentire PDF of the Feb. issue of CarolinaArts compared to just under 9,000 thatdownloaded the Jan. issue - in Jan. And,most of them were from the Carolinas.How did this happen? Mostly with alittle help from our friends - who spreadthe link for the download to their e-maillists and on social media. They wantedothers in their region to see their ads andarticles in the paper. After all, people whoare featured in the paper have as much avested interest in as many people seeingthe paper as we do at Carolina Arts.So, why shouldn’t they spread it aroundthrough their e-mail lists and on theirFacebook pages - the more who see thepaper the better for those who are in it.We’ve been told our new PDF formatmakes spreading the paper around veryeasy and those who receive it enjoyed seeingit - many for the first time. In fact theyliked it so much over 5,584 downloadedthe Jan. issue in Feb. and gave it a look too.Some say we are underestimating thenumber of people seeing the paper by justcounting downloads, but I’m very happywith these numbers. I also want to remindfolks that even though this is great exposurefor our advertisers - they still need tohear from people directly - in one way oranother that you appreciated their supportfor our paper.And, a big thanks to all those whoare spreading the paper around. You havemade an old paperboy amazed at how onecopy of a paper can be read by so manypeople - all over the Carolinas and beyond.New Art Book by Mary WhyteYou long time readers may have noticedthat one of Mary Whyte’s images hasgraced our cover - in full color once again.The University of South Carolina Pressin Columbia, SC, has released a new artbook entitled, Working South: Paintingsand Sketches by Mary Whyte. The bookoffers 128 pages with 55 color and 6 blackand white illustrations of hard working everydaySoutherners who make their worldgo ‘round with sweat, skill and spirit.These are not the kind of folks you’llsee in TV or magazine advertisements, butyou’ll probably see them walking aroundyour local Walmart - they’re real people.I received a copy of the book fromUSC Press and it is outstanding. Great tolook at and to read without having to gettoo involved at any one time. Since myspare time is limited, I like a book that Ican spend a few minutes with - here andthere. Any Whyte has a story to go witheach image.Whyte is a gifted watercolorist -perhaps one of SC’s best of all time incapturing the inner spirit of regular peopleand this book really shows off her talents.She’s a good recorder of events also.Works from this book will be on viewat the Greenville County Museum of Artin Greenville, SC, from Mar. 9 throughSept. 18, 2011, and then at the GibbesMuseum of Art, from May 4 through Sept.9, 2012, which will be one of the Gibbes’presentations for the Spoleto Festival USAthat year. The exhibit will also be on viewin Georgia and Virginia.I was disappointed that there were novenues scheduled in North Carolina, butI hope it finds its way there some day. Ofcourse we’ll be happy to have you folksin NC come see her show here in SC. Or,you could buy the book.Some Winners and LosersThe SC Arts Commission Boardannounced the 2011 Elizabeth O’NeillVerner Governor’s Awards for the Arts,the highest honor the state presents inthe arts. Established in 1972, the annualawards recognize outstanding achievementand contributions to the arts in SC.This year’s recipients are:Lifetime Achievement, C. Thomas(Tommy) Wyche, Greenville; LifetimeAchievement, Mary Jackson, JohnsIsland; Artist, Heidi Darr-Hope, Columbia;Arts in Education, Terry K. Hunter,Orangeburg; Business, Carolina FirstBank, Greenville; Business, Nina Liu &Friends Gallery, Charleston; Individual,Steven Rosenberg, Charleston; Organization,Carolina Youth Symphony, Greenville;Leadership Award, Linda C. Stern,Columbia.The first thing I’ll say is - Charleston,Columbia, Greenville - the big three in SC- it’s where the power lies. And, second -what, no award for our new governor?The fact that these awards exist at allmake us think - are these the most deservingpeople and businesses to receivestatewide recognition? Do you know whothese people are and have you heard ofthem before? And, why not me? I’m nottalking about me - we all know why Iwould never get one of these, unless theycreate a new category - Best Gadfly.I think it will help if you think of theseawards as regional awards for people whohave had some impact in their region.Very few would or could have a statewideimpact.To me, I always like some and justshake my head about others that seem tobe self-serving to the Arts Commission.But then, I shake my head a lot when itcomes to most awards - the recent GrammyAwards made me feel sick and old.Arcade Fire - Yes - what the hell! Whatthe hell indeed.Oh! - That O. Winston LinkThe Reynolda House Museum ofAmerican Art in Winston-Salem, NC, ispresenting the exhibit, Trains that Passedin the Night: The Photographs of O.Winston Link, on view in the Mary andCharlie Babcock Wing Gallery throughJune 19, 2011. The exhibit is drawn fromthe collection of Link’s former assistantand agent Thomas Garver.Almost twelve years ago, we ran anarticle in our July 1999 issue of CarolinaArts about a similar exhibit produced byGarver for the Gibbes Museum of Art inCharleston, SC. It was just the secondmonth when we started presenting articlesfrom Carolina Arts on the Internet on ournew website.That article was so popular we later dida Special Feature about O. Winston Linkand then after that we made another linkcontinued on Page 7Mike Smith - “Chickens” - SerigraphSmith GalleriesAmerican Craft, Art & Framingsmithgalleries.comThe Village at Wexford, Suite J-11 UPPER LEVELHilton Head Island 10-6 Mon.-Sat. 843-842-2280REWARD YOURSELF - JOIN OUR E-CLUBGlenna Goodacre & Rhett ThurmanGlenna Goodacre The Winner Lifesize Bronze Rhett Thurman Wyoming Window Oil 30 x 40 inchesFeatured this MonthFor additional information843•722•2172www.thesylvangallery.comPage 4 - Carolina Arts, March 2011THE SYLVAN GALLERY171 King St. • Charleston • SC • 29401