Charleston Supported Art invites shareholders for inaugural year

Charleston Supported Art invites shareholders for inaugural year

Charleston Supported Art, LLC, is set to introduce an exciting new model for art sponsorship and distribution to the Charleston area. Inspired by the buy-local, from-the-source model of community-supported agriculture, the program will offer art lovers the opportunity to purchase seasonal shares of original art created by a select group of local artists. Shares for the inaugural year may be purchased beginning February 3.

Charleston Supported Art (CSA) supports artists in the creation of new work and aims to foster relationships between emerging and established artists and collectors with the potential for future art purchases. Overall, 18 Tri-County visual artists working in a variety of styles and media were selected to participate through an open application process that began in November 2013. With the promise of a $1,500 stipend, these artists will create 32 works of contemporary art exclusive to the program. The program consists of three seasons per year with six artists featured per season – Spring/Summer, Fall, and Winter. Collectors, also known as shareholders, receive a total of six pieces of original art in each share purchased, one from each artist. Shares are priced at $450 and will be delivered through exclusive seasonal pick-up events hosted at GrowFood Carolina, Mixson Bath & Racquet Club, and 1600 Meeting Street. These pick-up events will provide shareholders the chance to interact with the featured artists and fellow art enthusiasts, and will also be the first time the contents of each seasonal share will be revealed. Shareholders from outside the Charleston area are welcome.

The 18 artists participating in CSA’s inaugural year were selected from a pool of nearly 100 applicants through a jurying process made up of two phases. Each season’s offerings promise to show the quality, diversity and innovation of the contemporary art in Charleston that CSA strives to promote. The artists and their assigned seasons are:

SPRING/SUMMER
Pick-up – May 14
Jennifer Ervin (photography)
Tina Hirsig (mixed media)
Anna Hopkins (sculpture)
Alan Jackson (pen-and-ink)
Joshua Lynn (painting)
Kate MacNeil (intaglio)

FALL
Pick-up – August 28
Mariah Channing (photography)
Olivia Cramer (jewelry)
Miyako Fujiwara (ceramics)
Fred Jamar (painting)
Jennifer Henriques Phillips (mixed media)
Kristi Ryba (photography)

WINTER
Pick-up – December 11
Christine Bush Roman (mixed media)
Matthew Dietz (painting)
Ashley Harwood (sculpture)
Donna Hurt (photography)
Hirona Matsuda (mixed media)
Melinda Mead Scharstein (photography)

Share purchases can be made online at www.charlestonsupportedart.com. Only 32 shares for each season will be offered and they are expected to sell out quickly.

In order to aid collectors in their buying decision and to accommodate in-person purchases, an Artist Meet & Greet event will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at Redux Contemporary Art Center in Downtown Charleston. The 18 featured artists will be present at this free event so that the public can get to know them and their work. Refreshments for the evening will be provided by Frothy Beard Brewing Company and Three Little Birds Café. All are welcome to attend.

For more information about the program, to learn more about the artists, or to purchase a share, visit www.charlestonsupportedart.com. Additional questions or requests to be added to the CSA mailing list may also be directed to info@charlestonsupportedart.com.

About Charleston Supported Art, LLC
Charleston Supported Art is a platform to connect emerging and established artists and collectors. Launched in November 2013, the program is part of a nationwide movement that has developed in more 40 communities across the country and is the first of its kind in Charleston. Co-founders include Kristy Bishop, Camela Guevara, Stacy Huggins, Karen Ann Myers, Erin Glaze Nathanson, AnneTrabue Nelson and Ann Simmons. Supporters include 1600 Meeting Street, Artist & Craftsman Supply, Básico, Enough Pie, Frothy Beard Brewing Company, GrowFood Carolina, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Mixson Bath & Racquet Club, Redux Contemporary Art Center, and Three Little Birds Café.