Three Local Artists on Display in USC Sumter Campus Galleries

by Alethia Hummel

Sumter, SC (08/30/2019) — The University of South Carolina Sumter will feature three new art exhibits now through October 31, 2019 in the university's art galleries. All exhibits are free and open to the public and available for viewing Monday through Friday.

In the University Gallery, located in the Anderson Library, will be Dr. Christine Gonzales', New York City - Through the Lens. The gallery is open Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The installation features nearly 100 black and white photos of New York City.

Gonzales a native of Trumbull, Connecticut who currently lives in Sumter, was encouraged as a child to paint, draw, sculpt, and explore her creative side. Later she earned Bachelor of Art degrees in Art, Economics and Education, a Master's degree in Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy, and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology. She became further interested in photography when she was a high school counselor and served as the sports photographer for the athletic department.

Gonzales is the author of six books, a college planning consultant, and photographer. Her photographs have been published by the Sumter Item newspaper, Lakeside magazine (cover and interior photos), the Sumter Living magazine (cover and interior photos); viewed on WLTX News, social media pages for the Sumter Little Theatre and in the exhibit hall at the theatre, Central Carolina College's Technology Art Gallery, and the Sumter County Gallery of Art Artists Guild Exhibition. She is also a member of the Sumter Artists Guild.

"The focus of this exhibit is on "street photography;" no definitions, no boxes, no boundaries," said Gonzales. "It's all about finding beauty in the mundane, everyday things in life; not having preconceived notions; discovering new cultures; embracing foreign ideas; and creating interesting tapestries of society."

A lecture by Gonzales and a brief reception will be held in the University Gallery on September 20, 2019 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.

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The paintings of Farzana Yasmeen will be the focus of her exhibit entitled, The Shades of Nature. They are presented in the Upstairs Gallery located in the Williams Brice Edwards Administration Building and are available for viewing Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Yasmeen is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at USC Columbia. Her earliest memories are of drawing on paper. As she grew older, she realized the beauty of nature was the most inspirational subject for her to draw and paint. Yasmeen says her goal with her art is to fit that beautiful world into the small canvas in front of her. Her first art exhibition was when she was 14 and still living in her home country of Bangladesh. At that time, one of her paintings was selected for an exhibition called Alliance Française. Other exhibitions that have selected Yasmeen's paintings include The Land Bank Loft Gallery and the SCA semi-annual exhibition.

"Although my field of study is highly technical, I explore my creative side through painting," said Yasmeen. "I believe painting is a very powerful way to connect with nature. For now, I have been dedicating myself to landscape and still life subjects."

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Heavy Metal will be the featured exhibit in the Umpteenth Gallery located in the Arts and Letters Building. The exhibit is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Heavy Metal features the metal work of three artists Mike Tucker, Sid Singleton, and Josh Padgett.

Tucker has been blacksmithing for 20 years. He is a member of the Philip Simmons Blacksmith Guild and has served as a board member and president of the guild. Although self-taught, Tucker has led several workshops for the guild. He is also a member of the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America. Tucker has attended workshops at the prestigious John C. Campbell School of Art. To view examples of Tucker's work, visit his website tuckersforge.com.

Sid Singleton also specializes in custom iron forging which is more commonly referred to as blacksmithing. He is owner operator of Singleton Steel in Sumter. His website (singletonsteel.com) highlights many of his artistic endeavors along with his metal construction business.

Josh Padgett is a Sumter native and has been working with metal since he graduated from Sumter High School. Josh received his welding certificate from CCTC after receiving his Associate in Art degree from USC Sumter.

All of USC Sumter art gallery exhibits are free and open to the public. Visit www.uscsumter.edu for more information on current and upcoming displays or contact Laura Cardello, USC Sumter's curator of exhibits, at 803-938-3801.