Sculptures by Nancy Mitchell at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery
“Bright lights, movement, and the fun of people enjoying it! That’s what this show is all about,” explains local artist Nancy Mitchell. “My family has attended the carnival in Savannah for the last 25 years, and I have been planning this show in my head from year one!”
Nancy Mitchell has made her living as an artist in the Lowcountry for the last 30 years. Paintings, murals, commissions and some teaching made up her career. In 2012 Nancy returned to sculpting the figures she loved so much in college. The figures were met with great enthusiasm. In 2013 Nancy received an award for her sculpture “Gullah’s Ark” from the national juried show Biennale.
“I enjoy creating an event and then placing my figures within it.” Pieces as large as five feet in this show became feats of engineering, and Nancy received a crash course in electric motors as well. One of the larger pieces, “Country Ferris Wheel,” has an electric motor, battery lights, nine people and two animals. Nancy likes to work in 1/6 scale; “It just feels right,” she says. Once the figures are formed and fired Nancy hand paints them with acrylic.
Always eclectic, Nancy’s got several relief sculptures of the carnival landscape included in this show as well. They are mixed media, heavily textured and finished in oil paint.
“Life is a Carnival” runs through May 2nd, Tuesday- Saturday from 10am-4pm. All are welcome to the Opening Reception on Thursday, April 9 from 5-7pm. Art League of Hilton Head Gallery is located mid-island at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. All events are free.
Art League of Hilton Head is the only not-for-profit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic Art Gallery and Teaching Academy that welcome artists and students at all levels and in all media.Art League of Hilton Head promotes and supports the visual arts through education, exhibitions and partnerships for the cultural enhancement of the community and its visitors.
Above: “Boat Ride” by Nancy Mitchell, 2’x2’ table top
