The Art League of Hilton Head presents Southern Exposures – Four Photographers and a Weaver: Pam Bredin, Fran Hubbell, Ed Funk, Don Nelson and Mary Kelly.
The show opens with a reception on June 9, 5-7 pm at the Gallery in Pineland Station and runs through July 11. Come and meet the artists!
For lovers of photography this is a serendipitous exhibit of scenery and wildlife combined with unique hand-spun, woven and dyed weavings by Mary Kelly.
Pam Bredin – Although Pam has always enjoyed taking pictures, it was not until she moved to Hilton Head, joined the Camera Club of Hilton Head Island and won a First Place Ribbon in a Novice Competition, that she became “hooked”. She has since won enough ribbons to move up to the Advanced Level. “I used to take pictures for my sister, who is an artist in Maine, to paint; now I take them as my own art form.” Pam enjoys photographing wildlife and scenes of Hilton Head, but her favorite subjects are her nine grandchildren.
Fran Hubbell – While Fran has taken pictures most of her life, her serious interest in photography began in 1994. Her favorite subject matter is "Nature and Wildlife." Fran has been fortunate to be able to travel throughout much of South Africa, Botswana, and North America, in search of good animal shots. One of her extraordinary shots captured the sun in the circle of an elephant’s trunk – the results of patience and persistence. She is now exploring underwater photography. Fran’s equipment includes several Nikon cameras and lenses, and a wonderful little Panasonic Lumex pocket camera. She prints her own work on both canvas and paper, and does some self-publishing that includes her own narrative, as well as my pictures. Fran was very surprised and pleased when one of her images was used in an advertisement in the southeast edition of People Magazine.
Ed Funk – This award-winning photographer employs a variety of digital cameras & lenses to express his love of nature and “hopefully captures in a millisecond what God created over millenniums” allowing the viewer to experience a sense of serenity and joy in his work. Ed is a self-taught photographer who began taking photographs as a child in New Jersey and continued through his professional life in the graphic arts industry. Throughout his career Ed, a PhD chemist by training, presented seminars and lectures on color theory as he represented a leading manufacturer of printing inks and pigments. His color expertise is seen in his myriad of Lowcountry sunsets, marches, flowers, and wildlife. Ed’s work is regularly featured in over 20 galleries, shops & publications.
Don Nelson – Don is an award-winning photographer in venues in South Carolina and the Northeast. He is an expert in all matters of photography. He has been taking photographs since the age of eight. “To me photography is an art of keen observation and discovery of something of interest for everyone to enjoy.” Don is busy instructor, who teaches how to use image-editing software; he has compiled and authored his own digital teaching and reference tool. Don is now using a Digital Canon SLR camera and computer to print on canvas and watercolor paper. He also writes the monthly “Photo Tips” column for the Hilton Head Camera Club newsletter and is founder of the Digital Imaging Group. 
{mosimage} Mary Kelly will be offering us a rare treat exhibiting her fiber art: Over twenty hand-made weavings she calls “gifts from the wild” will be in her show. Mary used to have a sheep farm for many years and she does her own spinning, weaving and dying of the wool. For example, there’s the authentic image of a Norwegian Goddess in white on vibrant, red colored ceremonial cloth and a Tree of Life wall hanging, all hand spun and hand dyed in the technique the ancient Greek weavers used in their rugs. Mary also creates beautiful shawls in rainbow colors of hand-spun Alpaca, local Sea Island cotton, and Ramie (thistle) fibers. To give us an idea of what time commitment is involved, “It takes about a week to just create five shawls from beginning to end. It’s a labor of love,” Mary stated. She learned the art of weaving from her mother, who lived and exhibited on Hilton Head Island. – Mary also is an author of several books on embroideries, a guest curator of an upcoming show on "Sacred Symbols – Ceremonial Cloth" in Iowa, and a fine artist, as well. Check out this unique show!
The show also includes works by over 100 other Art League artists. The Art League of Hilton Head is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the visual arts. It operates a Gallery for the display and sale of artwork by its members. The Gallery is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. For more information call 843-681-5060 or check www.artleaguehhi.org
