Nancy Lemon-Carney, Clemson University BFA Alumna, a Part of the "On & Off the Page" Exhibition at City Gallery in Charleston, SC

On & Off the Page , co-curated by artists Kristen Solecki and Kris Westerson, is an exploration of how the book structure and content are similar to stage and actor, engaging reader and viewer in an imaginary or realistic experience. As book structures and prints are unpacked as functional objects and works of art, a diverse group of artists from across the Southeast explore numerous questions in On & Off the Page, including understanding the identity and cultural label of the maker through time. Are they artist, craftsperson, maker, or creative entrepreneur?

Comparing and contrasting historic making to contemporary making, curators Kristen Solecki and Kris Westerson show that as much as technology appears to change, much remains the same in bookbinding and printmaking. But what is the future of the book and hand-pulled print in the age of digital making? Appreciating historic book and print technologies, the featured artists work in similar modalities to innovate and evolve the medium as they respond to contemporary life issues. The exhibition includes an array of contemporary works demonstrating varied artistic responses to a similar theme and technique. With prints apart from book structures and book structures apart from content, deeper connections between structure and content emerge. Design and aesthetic decisions made by the artist become even more meaningful when book structure and content are considered together.

This exhibition features more than forty artists from across the Southeast, including: Kris Westerson, Kristi Ryba,Mary Walker, Bette Mueller-Roemer, Arthur McDonald, Lillian Trettin, Sonja Greentree Rossow, Brien Biedler,Jocelyn Chateauvert, Lauren Faulkenberry, Susan Finch Stevens, Mary Leto, Karen Hardy, Kit Loney, Fritzi Huber,Linda Elksnin, Cynthia Cobert, Lee Weiland, Monique Lallier, Kathy Strother, Ellen Knudsen, Kyle Clark, Karen Hanmer, Dorothy Simpson Krause, Kristen Solecki, Lisa Abernathy, Seth Corts, Kristen Necessary, Diane Speight,Aijung Kim, Lesley Patterson Marx, Nancy Lemon-Carney [Clemson University MFA Alumna, BFA in Art, painting emphasis, 2002] , Patricia Van de Graaf, Ken Ambler, Janet Guertin,Stephanie Struse, Jessica White, Kreh Mellick, Laura Ladendorf. Historic pieces from the Medical University of South Carolina’s Waring Historical Library will also be included in the exhibition.

• Opening Reception: Friday, September 16 from 5-7pm
• Curators’ Talk: Saturday, October 1 at 2pm

Nancy Lemon-Carney is a freelance illustrator living in Charleston, SC, where, as she says, "There are plenty of characters to draw." An accomplished illustrator, her clients include Alexandria Quarterly, WeTransfer, and thecreativecafe.org.  Her materials include colored pencils, watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, and digital, and her work may be found on Doodlewash.  She is represented by Teresa Kietlinski of Bookmark Literary. Please contact teresa@bookmarklitery.com for all children's book projects. Her web site is: http://nancylemon.com/.

City Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday: 10am-6pm, Saturday – Sunday: 12pm-5pm, and is closed Mondays.  Admission to the City Gallery at Waterfront Park is free and open to all.

34 Prioleau Street
Charleston, SC 29401