Author: Margaret Evans

                              As USCB’s Historic Beaufort Campus embarks on transformation to that of an Arts focused college, Dr. Phillip Dunn has accepted the position of artist in residence at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.  He is consulting with art faculty, administration, staff and other educational stakeholders on growing USCB’s studio art program, as well as working on a new body of work based on the Carolina Lowcountry. The public is invited to join USCB in welcoming Dr. Dunn an view an exhibition of his work at the Center for the Arts on Friday, March 25th from 6:00pm -7:30pm.  Admittance is free.

Spring is returning to the Lowcountry and what better way to welcome her than by coming out for ArtWalk, March 26th, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Historic Beaufort’s twelve galleries will offer beautiful, distinctive works of art for collectors and art lovers alike. Beaufort has been voted on of the best small art towns in America with our wide range of art and charming backdrop.

Mary Sullivan and Kevin Eichner at the Art League Gallery The Art League of Hilton Head presents In the Spirit of Nature: Explorations of Abstract Naturalism by Mary Sullivan and From the Fire by Kevin Eichner opening with an artist reception Thursday, March 3, 5-7 pm. Exhibit runs through April 2 at The Art League of Hilton Head, Walter Greer Gallery, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island.  843-681-5060 or  www.artleaguehhi.org The “spirit of nature” for Mary Sullivan is boundless creativity and variety.  According to Sullivan, “creating in its spirit is a fascinating journey,” partly inspired by Edvard Munch’s quote, “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye . . . it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”

The Loft @ City Hall presents BEAUFORT IN FOCUS, an exhibition of favorite sights of Beaufort and the Lowcountry  presented by the Photography Club of Beaufort from March 3 through April 8th.

Come celebrate the Golden Anniversary of Beaufort Art Association’s Annual Spring Art Show and Sale.  Opening Friday March 18 and continuing through Sunday March 27, the exhibit is again located  at the Charles “Lind” Brown Activity Center at the corner of Greene and Hamar streets, in downtown Beaufort.  Exhibit hours are 10 am to 4 Monday-Saturday, and 12 noon to 4 pm on Sundays.  As one of Beaufort’s favorite spring events, BAA welcomes all area artists to become a part of this exhibit.  Please go to the Beaufort Art Association’s website, www.beaufortartassociation.com to download the prospectus or pick one up at their Gallery at 1001 Bay Street, Beaufort.  Artwork should be brought to the Lind Brown Center on Saturday, March 12 from 10 am to 3pm.

The Beaufort Art Association is excited to feature the newest additions to its gallery membership in a special exhibit that will run through April 2nd.  A reception for the artists was held on February 25th at the BAA Gallery, located in the historic Elliott House, 1001 Bay Street at the corner of Charles.   Nine “new” artists began exhibiting with the BAA in 2010.  As a way to recognize and welcome them, the BAA is currently displaying their work in the Featured Artists’ room.

“Celebrate the Arts,” a two-day community festival including a high school art competition, lecture by eminent artist Jonathan Green, and arts activities for adults and children opens Friday afternoon, March 4th on the University of South Carolina Beaufort campus in Beaufort’s historic district. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USCB is sponsoring the festival with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the USCB Studio Art faculty.

The quintessential Lowcountry artist talks about his life, his work, the future of art without public funding, the culture of rice, copycats, and the joy of coming home.   When Jonathan Green came into the world, he brought with him an inescapable sign of his specialness. He was born wearing a caul, an inner fetal membrane that covered his head at birth. In some societies, this is interpreted as a token of great luck or that this child will never know death by drowning. But in the Gullah society along the South Carolina coast, it insures that the child is touched by an uncommonness and magic that will bring inordinate grace to the community. From the beginning, Jonathan Green was marked and grew up known as “the child of the veil.”                                                             – Pat Conroy