More Great Reasons to Attend the ASCTT/ASCCT Art Show in Hartsville!

painting by Jack Cayton

Make plans to attend the inaugural exhibit for the Artisans of the South Carolina Tobacco Trail Opening Reception on August 5th, 2010 at 5:30pm. The exhibit and reception will be presented in the Jean and James Fort Gallery at Black Creek Arts Council in Hartsville, SC. With over fifty pieces of art representing the work of some of the Pee Dee’s finest artists, the exhibit includes the juried Artisans of the South Carolina Tobacco Trail and Artisans of the South Carolina Cotton Trail. Participating artists from our area include Susan Allen, Lon Calhoun, Jack Cayton, Ruth Cox, Emily Estes, Brenda Hardwick, John Johnson, Lori Kaim, Tony Morano, Ed and Barbara Streeter.

1. Susan Allen’s pine needle baskets are laboriously crafted from the needles of the long leaf pine. For decoration she slices a walnut for a handle. Susan’s baskets are an example of a centuries old American craft.

2. Artist Lon Calhoun of Conway creates mixed media paintings of local historic sites, tobacco barns, local churches and landmarks. He is also known for his delightful collection of Carousel Horses and German Organ from the old Myrtle Beach Pavilion.

3. A background in aviation and the hobby of photography served as the catalyst for artist Jack Cayton’s art career. Primarily a realist painter, Jack works in a traditional manner in oil, painting the effects of the weather and the season on the landscape.

4. Myrtle Beach artist Ruth Cox paints to capture the "feeling, mood and character of place" in her art. Some of her favorite subjects are the Waccamaw River, the inlet and marshes, the beach, old tobacco barns and farms and areas where a simpler way of life still exists.

5. Emily Estes is known for her delicious smelling handmade artisan soaps found every Saturday at the Conway Farmers Market. Did you know that she is also an accomplished fabric artist? Her fabric art “Live Oak in the Sunset” will be on display as well in the upcoming exhibit.

6. Nichols resident, Brenda Hardwick’s whimsical tobacco leaf dolls are also new on the art scene. Her dolls are made from recycled items and tobacco leaves. Brenda developed the dolls as a means to preserve the memories of tobacco after the tobacco buy-out occurred.

7. Potter John Johnson grew up with a passion for art. He got into pottery in high school and was a fine art and pottery major in college. In 2004, John opened Mud Bucket Pottery where he creates his original wheel thrown pottery for galleries across the Southeast.

8. An Art Walk regular, you can meet Lori Kaim as she paints en plein air and talks with visitors on First Saturdays in downtown Conway. Lori works in acrylics and enjoys capturing the natural beauty of her surroundings in her paintings.

9. Tony Morano is inspired to photograph by the local landscape and wildlife of the low country. Tony‘s image “Barn Owl” recently won an award at the 2010 Winyah Rivers Foundation Photo Contest.

10. Glassblowers Ed and Barbara Streeter work together as a team in their Conway studio creating colorful blown glass ornaments, pumpkins, bowls and vases. They also teach glass blowing classes and host live narrated glass blowing demonstrations every October through April.

11. Holly Beaumier creates earthenware serving platters, spoon rests, and soap dishes imprinted with leaves found in the area. Tobacco leaves are donated by local growers. Holly also produces a product line of whimsical children’s décor items.
The August show is the first of a series of shows for ASCTT/ASCCT artists. In addition, ASCTT will host art business workshops in the fall. Also look for the new http://PeeDeeArt.com website. Along with artists bios it will feature an on-line shopping site to make it easier to purchase art from these outstanding South Carolina artists 24 hours a day! For more information contact Barbara Streeter at 843-248-4527 or email popsglass@aol.com.