2nd Annual SKATE and CREATE exhibition

(Above is a photo from last year's highly successful Skate and Create exhibition. Click on image to enlarge.)


Second Annual Skate and Create Exhibit



WHO: Bluetile Skate Shop, Vista Gallery 80808, POUR IT NOW

WHAT: Skate and Create

WHERE: Exhibit at 808 Lady Street, Vista Gallery 80808

WHEN: October 3-5; Opening Night Friday, October 3 from 5pm-11pm

Additional hours: Saturday, October 4 from 11 - 7 and Sunday, October 5 from 1 - 5



COLUMBIA, SC - The Second Annual Skate and Create exhibition bridges the aesthetic inspiration of art and the performative creativity of skateboarding. The show, whose name is a play on Thrasher magazine's "Skate and Destroy" slogan, seeks to turn public perception of skateboarders on its head and to explore unconventional uses of architecture and space. The exhibit is curated by Bluetile Skateshop and hosted by Gallery 80808/Vista Studio artist Susan Lenz. It will open on Friday, October 3, 2008. Admission is free.


Just as skateboarders re-envision the urban landscape, artists from Columbia and from throughout the nation will recast skateboarding in new, unexpected ways. Bluetile Skateshop will provide a skateboard deck to each artist to paint, carve, sculpt and modify. In addition to the skateboard, artists are encouraged to use a diverse array of materials to create a piece that puts skateboarding into new contexts.

The connection between skateboarding and art has been highlighted recently by several successful showings, by Mark Gonzales, Ed Templeton and Glen E. Friedman, in major galleries and museums throughout the world. The Beautiful Losers exhibit, a collection of artists with ties to skateboarding and punk rock, has received international acclaim.

Proceeds from the sales will go to POUR IT NOW, a 501c3 organization advocating for skateboard parks throughout South Carolina.


Bluetile is a skater-owned-and-operated skateshop. It is committed to strengthening the city's skateboard scene and skate culture. Proprietor David Toole has been active in the effort to rebuild Owens Field skatepark.

Gallery 80808/Vista Studios, one of the premier art spaces in Columbia, is a unique concept in galleries. It provides both studio and gallery space to area artists.


(Above: Photo of Claire Yaghjian and her skateboard that sold during last year's SKATE AND CREATE exhibition.)
For more information on:
POUR IT NOW http://pouritnow.com/

Vista Gallery 80808 http://www.gallery80808vistastudios.com/

Bluetile Skateshop http://www.bluetileskate.com/

Todd Oelze presents "Strokes of Light"

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Todd Oelze presents
Strokes of Light

An exhibition of abstract photography
Opening Reception: Friday, September 26 from 6 - 9
Additional hours:
Saturday 9/27 from 11 - 9
Sunday 9/28 from 11 - 7
Monday and Tuesday 11 - 6

This exhibit is being held at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios, 808 Lady Street in the arts and cultural district of Columbia's downtown Vista area. To contact the gallery, please call (803) 252-6134. To contact Todd Oelze, please call (803)708.2839.

The Gallery's website is: www.gallery80808vistastudios.com
Todd Oelze's website is: http://toddophotos.com/

Todd's Artist Statement

Art is a form of expression that evokes a purely subjective reaction, both by the artist and the beholder. I approach my work with optimism and do my utmost to create visually interesting images, with the added bonus of having the potential to evoke emotion or stir the sensibilities of an audience.

Todd's Statement for this fine art photography exhibition:

Strokes of Light is a result of my recent endeavor to produce digital photographs that convey movement, while accentuating color and displaying the illusion of depth. I achieve this look by employing uncommon camera and lighting techniques, while keeping post-production effects to a minimum. My ultimate goal is to establish a recognizable style that I believe is extremely difficult to accomplish in photography. This collection of photographs is my first step in achieving this vision.

Todd Oelze's biography:

Todd was born in Englewood, NJ, but lived the majority of his life in South Florida. He graduated from Florida State University with B.S in Communication, with a concentration on film and video production. Todd was also extensively involved in still photography during college, participating in a variety of shows. He also functioned as the staff photographer for the university publication “The Tomahawk”.

Late in 2006, Todd made a significant decision to change careers and left his job in the electric utility industry. He began a digital photography business, which focused primarily on event and portrait photography. In 2007, Todd and his family decided to leave South Florida and relocate to Blythewood, SC, just outside of Columbia.

After settling in, Todd shifted his interest to the world of digital fine art photography. “I came to the conclusion that in order to be successful in photography, one has to produce images that people haven’t seen before,” said Todd. “I’ve always been fascinated by the abstract and impressionist painters and decided that there was no reason why I couldn’t produce photographs in that style.” It should be noted that Todd’s images are actual photographs, not computer generated images. Todd added, “I take great pride in the fact that I apply very little post-production techniques to my photographs.”

Examples of Todd’s work can be found on his website www.toddophotos.com.

Richard Lund presents "In This City"

In This City is a a fine art photography exhibition being presented by Richard Lund at Gallery 80808 / Vista Studios, 808 Lady Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. The exhibition opens with a reception on Friday, September 12 from 5 - 8 PM and runs through Sunday, September 21, 2008. Photographer Richard Lund provided the following exhibition statement:

When I moved to Columbia earlier this year from my native South Florida, I was almost immediately inspired by the historical beauty of my new city. I soon began snapping pictures for what was to become my "Columbia SC Project". I am fascinated by the State building with its powerful monuments and the pure beauty of the blooming flowers which adorn the city. I love to walk down Main Street to the Capitol and take in the unique, diverse architecture. And the Congaree River with its gateway bridge is one of my favorite landmarks.

Please come and share my view of my city -- Columbia SC -- with me. The Show will consist of several large-scale 4 x 6 foot photos, an installation of 60 small detail photos, and many framed medium format photos.




Richard Lund is a very accomplished artist. His resume is below:

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2003 “Dark Places” Video Installation, 3rd Ave Art Walk, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1995 West End Fine Art, Palm Beach, Florida
1995 Broward Community Collage, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1995 “Florida Artist Series” Boca Raton Museum Of Art, Boca Raton , Florida
1994 “Matter and Thought” Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1992 “The Listening Room” Installatoin, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Florida

Selected Group Exhibitions

2008 "Abracadabra" Art and Culture Center Hollywood, Florida
2005 “All Florida Juried Exhibition” Boca Raton Museum Of Art,Boca Raton,Florida
2005 “Hollywood All-Media Juried Biennial”, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Florida
2004 Gallery Art Works, Wynwood Art District, Miami, Florida
2004 Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2003 “City Link” Art Serve, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1993 Vero Beach Center of Art, Vero Beach, Florida
1993 SFCC Miami Art Museum, Miami, Florida
1992 “South Florida Invitational”,Museum Of Art, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1991 South Florida Arts Center, Miami, Florida
1990 “All Florida Juried Exhibition”,Boca Raton Museum Of Art,Boca Raton, Florida

Selected Articles
2004 Candice Russell, City Link Magazine
1998 Arnold Simon, Eastsider Newspaper
1994, 1989 Roger Hurlbert, Sun Sentinel Newspaper
1993 Helen Cohen, Miami Herald Newspaper
1993 Elisa Applbaum, Fort Lauderdale Cultural Quarterly
1992 Gary Swawn, Palm Beach Post Newspaperclass

Fellowships
1992 South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship

For more information, please visit Richard Lund's website or call (803) 714-1854 or email Richard Lund at richardlund@bellsouth.net

Please also visit the Gallery 80808/Vista Studios website.

Jolie's new issue!

The September issue (Volume 1, Issue 9) of "the Midlands' No. 1 magazine about fashion, beauty, and lifestyle" JOLIE recently hit the newsstands with images taken during the 80808 on 80808 show.

Jolie's art director is Ja'maal Mosely. The fashion editor is Lisa Arnold. The photographer for this article is Elaine Floyd.


(Click on image to enlarge.)
Above: Ava Hart models fashions between Laura Spong's Unmeasured Current (left) and Waiting to Feed the Butterflies (right).

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Misaela Alquicira poses with Laura Spong's painting chair beside artwork by artwork by former Vista Studios artist Brent Wahl.)

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Ava Hart models in front of former Vista Studios artist Jeanette Grassi's rural urban (left) and type aeiou (right).

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Pat Gilmartin's Eight by Eight Eyes provided perfect site/sight for this white shirt from Exotica.

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Misaela Alquicira models in front of Ethel Brody's Eight Plus One.