Under Construction: Sense of Place, Picturing Life in West Greenville, opens Friday, June 13, at Clemson University's Center for Visual Arts Greenville

1278 Pendleton St.      Greenville, SC      

Open Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:30am - 5:30pm

Sense of Place

Picturing Life in West Greenville
Exhibit Duration: June 13 - August 30, 2014
Opening Reception: Friday, June 13 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Artist and Curator Panel Discussion: Tuesday, July 15 at 7:00 pm

Clemson University’s Art Department was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by the South Carolina Arts Commission allowing the Center for Visual Arts at Clemson University to bring the internationally and nationally recognized editor, founder and curator of Fraction Magazine, David Bram to curate the 'Sense of Place' exhibition that will be on display, June 13 - August 30 in its satellite facility, the Center for Visual Arts-Greenville. Bram invited four photographers to visit the Village of West Greenville to observe, learn and interpret what they discover through an artistic trained eye using the lens of a camera accompanied by audio recorded stories given by the neighbors in the community. This neighborhood was recently rebranded to honor its mill village history.

“It is my sincerest hope that the results of this project will be a collection of works where the creative community as well as the larger neighborhood will share and connect with each other” expresses current program coordinator for the CVA-Greenville, Gene Ellenberg. “The exhibit is designed to spark conversations and genuine interactions to empower the neighbors in the community by giving them a platform to tell their stories as well as acknowledge their history.”

All professional art photographers invited to participate in this exhibit are located in the southeast and have relevant experience creating a collection of works using environmental portraiture or storytelling. This type of experience will help convey and bring together a significant exhibit meant to honor its residents and surrounding community. The artists selected to participate in the implementation of this exhibit are Dawn Roe residing in Asheville, NC and Winter Park, FL; Dustin Chambers residing in Atlanta, GA; Kathleen Robbins residing in Columbia, SC; and Leon Alesi residing in Asheville, NC and Austin, TX.

The Sense of Place exhibit will be featured as special content in the July issue of Fraction Magazine gaining the Village of West Greenville and the CVA-Greenville exposure to an international audience.  Fraction Magazine is a monthly publication with an online venue dedicated to fine art, contemporary photography that has published over 250 photographers portfolios. Fraction editor, Bram, was recently named as one of the 101 Photo Industry Professionals You Should Follow on Twitter according to the web site Feature Shoot.

 

Several organizations and individuals are helping the Center for Visual Arts—Greenville to fulfill its requirement of matching the Arts Commission grant with local dollars and in-kind donations. Those who are supporting the CVA-Greenville are Richard and Gwen Heusel, the Friends of the Center for Visual Arts and Clemson University as well as significant financial support and vision given by The Community Foundation of Greenville. Local residents can see how the Arts Commission grant and local funds are benefiting the Center for Visual Arts—Greenville by visiting the location in The Village of West Greenville at 1278 Pendleton St, Greenville, SC 29611 and by visiting www.clemson.edu/cva/cva-greenville.