Laura Spong Stars in ETV's The Big Picture

(Above: Laura Spong's Antoni. Click on image to enlarge.)

Don't miss ETV's The Big Picture on Thursday, April 2nd at 7:30! The program will feature Gallery 80808/Vista Studio's talented, oil painter LAURA SPONG.

A Presentation of Work: LaRoche, Holler, McIntosh, Swanson, Parrott, Blyth

(Click on invitation above to enlarge.)

Gallery 80808/Vista Studios
March 19-23, 2009
A Presentation of work by the following artists:
Eileen Blyth, Laurie McIntosh, Jan Swanson, LouanneLaRoche, Brucie Holler, Lynn Parrott
Opening Reception:
Thursday, March 19, 5-9 pm

Blyth, McIntosh,and Swanson are Columbia artists.
LaRoche, Holler, and Parrott maintain studios, in the Bluffton / Hilton Head area of the low country.

Friends and supporters of each other’s work they all acknowledge their common creative threads of process, discovery, documentation, color theory, and spirituality.The variety and expanse of their work is depicted throughout this exhibit of paintings, drawings and assemblages.

For more information call (803)319-2223 or (803)360-6794
Hours:
Thursday, March 19 from 3 - 9 pm with an Opening reception from 5-9 pm

Friday, March 20 11 am-5 pm
Saturday, March 21 11 am-5 pm
Sunday, March 22 11 am-5 pm
Monday, March 23 11 am-2 pm



Blyth is known for her painting and assemblages of found objects.” I continually find myself drawn to discarded objects. I imagine a renewed purpose for these objects in my work. As I paint and construct I am always amazed at not only the outcome but the process of discovery: not only the object itself but what it means to me personally. My connection, the act of creating and what it feels like when I know is of equal importance in the outcome.”
http://www.eileenblyth.com/



McIntosh works in primarily oils. She is drawn to the process of creating. Her paintings explore the essence of the low country as well as intimate objects of everyday life. She was a featured artist in several HGTV homes. McIntosh maintains a studio in Columbia and is Creative Director of Brownell McIntosh Graphic Design.
http://www.lauriemcintoshstudio.com



Swanson is the former owner of the Bus Stop Gallery in Columbia. She has been painting for several years. Mostly self-taught Swanson has taken classes at USC, Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont and Anderson Ranch. Her paintings reflect a love of color. She tributes her father, with his zest for color and humor, influencing her art.
www.busstopgallery.com



LaRoche has lived in the low country since 1977. She is the former owner of the Red Piano Gallery. Her art reflects a significant sense of community, and her response to these connections, as they are being lost, displaced, or diminishes. She continues to experiment exploring the relationships of color, texture, and creating new perspectives and nuances of feeling. Most recently her portrait of Mark Coplan, The Guardian, was exhibited at the State Museum. She currently resides in Bluffton.
http://www.larochecollections.com/



Holler, a South Carolina native, moved to Telluride, Colorado and worked for seven years teaching and serving as the Director of Exhibitions for the Ah Haa School for the Arts. She has studied with a variety of internationally known painters including Richard Smith, Mario Martinez, and Truman Lowe and has shown her work in galleries along the east coast and Colorado. She moved back to South Carolina 12 years ago with her family.
http://www.brucieholler.com/



Parrott has lived in low country since the early 70s. She works in a variety of forms, including watercolor, printmaking, oil pastel, and oils. “My life has been a long love affair with the water, the ocean, the moon, the tide, the marshes...to live with the glory and mystery of the moon, the sun, and the tides...is delicious...is magic...is not to be taken for granted...ever.”
http://www.lynnparrottstudio.com/

Vista Studio artists participate in charity art event benefiting the homeless

On Thursday, March 5, 2009 some of Columbia's most talented artists are banding together to raise funds and awareness for the area's homeless. This one-night only charity art sale will take place at House of Frames and Paintings, 2828 Devine Street from 6 to 9 PM. Several Vista Studio artist will be among the stellar line up, including: Ethel Brody, Heidi Darr-Hope, Pat Gilmartin, Susan Lenz, Michel McNinch, Laura Spong, David Yaghjian and Don Zurlo.

More than 100 pieces of artwork will be available. Prices range from $150 to $1000. Items purchased can be taken immediately from the sale. The artists will receive fifty percent of the sales price. The other 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Midlands Housing Alliance for the Homeless Transition Center project.

Other participating artists include Christy Aiken, Khaldoune Khalid Bencheik, Eileen Blyth, Pam Bowers, Eddie Bryan, Nancy Butterworth, Ingrid Carson, Jeremy Carter, Anastasia Chernoff, Eleanor Craig, Robert Crainshaw, Colin Dodd, Toni Elkins, Marion Etheredge, Claire Farrell, Jim Finch, Bonnie Goldberg, Mana Hewitt, Ann Hubbard, Judy Hubbard, Howard Hunt, Roger Hutchison, Karen Jamrose, Judy Jarrett, Alicia Leeke, Barbie Mathis, Meg McLean, Regina Moody, Pat Parise, Rachel Parker, David K. Phillips, Renee Rouillier, Cindy Saad, David G. Smith, Keith Tolen, Candy Waites, Nini Ward, Barbara Welles, Charlene Wells, Mike Williams, and Ellen Yaghjian.

The Art Sale is part of "Light the Way with Music and Art" and is the seventh in an Arts Series benefiting the Homeless Transition Center. It is co-sponsored by Midlands Interfaith Homelessness Action Council Art Sale, Beth Shalom Synagogue, House of Frames and Paintings, Mouse House and Morganelli's.

Artists Regina Moody, Ellen Yaghjian, and Heidi Darr- Hope are organizers of the art sale.

For more information about Light the Way with Music and Art and the benefit concert series, contact Voncille Williams at 799- 2881 or email Ltwwithmusic@ gmail.com.

For more information about the Midlands Interfaith Homelessness Action Council (MIHAC) or the Homeless Transition Center and how to help the homeless, visit MIHAC's website at www.LightThe- WayColumbia.com.