Monday, September 13, 2010

PERSONAL GROUNDS, Charleston....through October 10


(Above: PERSONAL GROUNDS, my solo exhibition at The City Gallery at Waterfront Park in Charleston, SC. September 10 - October 10, 2010. Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)

First and foremost, THANK YOU....to everyone who left a blog comment, sent a Facebook or email message, visited the last post, participated in the Decision Portrait Series, and especially those to actually came to the reception last Friday night at The City Gallery at Waterfront Park in downtown, historic Charleston, South Carolina. It was a magical evening!


(Above: The exterior banner announcing PERSONAL GROUNDS....including twelve of the Decision Portrait images. Click on this or any image in this post to enlarge.)

My parents flew in from Slippery Rock, PA late Friday afternoon. Steve dropped me off at the gallery and went to pick them up. This gave me time to take lots of photos of the exhibition. They are posted here....in no particular order....except that the first floor appears before the second floor as you scroll down. Pretty much, these pictures are posted in the order in which I snapped them while walking around the space. Then....I posted photos of the chiffon banners and finally some shots of participants posing with their portraits. I think I managed to get each portrait into at least one picture.


(Above: The interior signage, my Self Portrait, and a monitor on which the eTV segment featuring me in my studio working on the exhibition pieces plays on a continuous loop!)

I'm presenting an "artist's lecture" on Saturday, October 2 at 2 PM in the gallery. It is free and open to the public. I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to say yet. It has been suggested that I use the available power-point technology to introduce my other fiber work and then guide a brief "tour" of the exhibition. Sounds like a plan! (Of course, I don't exactly know how to create a Power Point presentation!)


(This photo and those immediately below were taken on the first floor of The City Gallery at Waterfront Park. Click on any image to enlarge.)

One of the best things that happened during the reception was a surprise visit from my sister Sonya and her husband Vipin. I had no idea that they were coming. They left at 6:30 AM and drove like maniacs all day, arriving around 7:15 PM. Sonya's decision is called Youngest Child. The image includes my Dad and they posed for a photo in front of it. We later had dinner at Magnolia's.



On Saturday we visited Fort Moultrie and friends on Sullivan's Island before going to the Three Mule Inn by the soccer stadium on Daniel Island. We cheered our beloved Ohio State Buckeyes on to a victory over the Miami Hurricanes.



Yesterday my parents flew back to Pennsylvania. Steve and I returned to Columbia where I spent the rest of the day working on "In Box" and "Faux Stained Glass" fiber pieces for the Grovewood Gallery in Asheville....photos of these pieces are coming!



In closing....THANK YOU to everyone involved on-line and in person. It's been great! If you are in the Charleston area during the coming month, be sure to visit the exhibition! (KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS!)






























(Above: This is the stairwell between the first and second floor. I selected I Buckled Up! for this location because it was the one place where a single portrait would likely be seen in isolation. It is also the one decision we can all make that might actually save our life! BUCKLE UP! Click on this or any image in the post to enlarge.)


(Above: This photos and those immediately below were taken on the second floor at The City Gallery at Waterfront Park. Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)


















(Above: This image is the view seen when exiting the elevator! Click on image to enlarge.)















The images below are of the 45 sheer chiffon banners hanging in the 2-story, central space. Each banner is free motion machine embroidered with "decisions"..... like "Should I wear the red shirt or the blue one?" or "Is it time to put Mom into an assisted living facility?" or "I can text and drive!", etc. Click on any image to enlarge.



















Below are casual photos taken during the reception for PERSONAL GROUNDS on Friday, September 10. Click on any image to enlarge.


(Above: This is Steve and I posing in front of the Decision Portrait of his parents. It is called Cold Turkey and includes the stitched words: We quit smoking after 40+ years. The original photo was taken 29 years minus two days beforehand.....our wedding day!)


(Above: Steve posing with the portrait of his parents.)


(Above: Jeannie and I posing in front of her decision: Making a Difference with stitched words reading: Helped found a public charter school.)


(Above: Melissa Bush posing in front of her decision: Argentine Tango Dancer! PS....She returned to Columbia that evening in order to DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!)


(Above: Dolly Patton posing in front of her decision, Lasik Eye Surgery.)


(Above: My Dad and my youngest sister Sonya posing in front of Youngest Child with the stitched words: I took over the Family Business.)


(Above: Cindi Boiter and Bob Jolley posing in front of their decision: First Love with the stitched words reading: I married my high-school sweetheart. Ditto.)

(Above: Interns Haley, Anndell, and Alex who helped with the installation an with the reception. By the way, the flowers here came from my sister Wanda (aka 25 Years Sober, on the second floor!) and her husband Reinhard who live in Munich, Germany. Thank you!

18 comments:

joanell said...

congratulations - a great body of work and a wonderful idea. joanell in so. cal.

Elizabeth said...

Oh Susan!!! WHat an amazing TOUR DE FORCE!!!! You must be and should be thrilled!! I LOVE the chiffon banners and the way that theya re displayed such a wonderful use of a terrific gallery space. I so wish that I could see this exhibit in person!! Any chance of the exhibit moving to other art galleries- Richmond VA, Woman's Art Museum in DC Smithsonian, Corcoran, Textile Museum in DC????? Wouldn't that be cool!! I am so very grateful to you for dsiplaying each quilt on your blog, as you created them. Seeing them unframed makes sucha difference to the viewer and I do understand why thay had to be framed behind glass but seeing them in the textile nude gave us a real feeling of the textures and the fabric. To hear that you were back in the studio the very next day is a bit intimidating for us- it makes me feel tired just thinking about it!! Where do you get all of your energy- regular visits from the Energizer Bunny????
thanks again for sharing your wonderful opening with us!! BTW I am SURE that you can figure out power points!!!

Gerrie said...

What an exciting exhibit and installation. I have such admiration for your vision!!

Mosaic Magpie said...

Susan,
First of all you looked fabulous in your outfit! Such a wonderful show I loved seeing all the photos, I sure wish I could have been there. How nice you were able to have some of your subjects there, that really made it special. The banner out front is very impressive and that one you did not have to hang! So happy for you my friend.
Debbie

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Wow, wow, wow!! Totally mind-blowingly incredible!!!!!

Lynn Cohen said...

I have never been this bowled over by an exhibit. Beyond my wildest dreams this turned out beyond SO WELL. I cannot even imagine how much MORE awesome it must be in person, but i know that it is and so fortunate for all those lucky enough to see it in person.

Buckle up ...perfect place.
Love that actual people from the portraits were in attendance. They should have worn little matching portraits around their necks for all to see.
;-)
The outfit you were sent is charming on you. You look SO HAPPY and PROUD and you had/have to be!!!
Rightly so.

Susan, I could go on and on and on.
It really is a tremendous accomplishment. The banners flow beautifully. Each stitch on them and on the portraits do you proud.

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS FOR A MARVELOUS SHOW. BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO!

Julie said...

How wonderful that your family could come and share this fabulous evening with you and that some of the people from the portraits could be there too. The gallery looked resplendent with all your wonderful work! Many congratulations!

Christine said...

What more can I say that I haven't already, except thanks so much for taking so many excellent photos and sharing them with those of us too distant to see them in person. You deserve every accolade you get for this stunning show, congratulations !!!
Hooroo from across the Pacific,
Christine in rainy Sydney Australia.

Julaine said...

oh my...

Christine said...

Stunning! I may have missed it along the way, but do you have plans/hopes for what the final destination of these pieces will be?

Susan Nash said...

Looks like an amazing show!! I only wish I could see it in person. Thanks for sharing all the pics, and congrats as well.

Unknown said...

Susan,
If your feet are not touching the floor just yet I can totally see why!! What amazing vision! Fantastic show! I have so enjoyed watching the decision portraits grow through your blog. The keys are wonderful and I treasure the post card with a key I have from you! From CyberFyber to now I am glad to 'know' you if only via the blogs!!

SONYASPHERE said...

I loved your show and it was wonderful to come to the opening...totally worth the 12 hour drive!!! I'm so proud of you Susan! LOVE YOU!

Doreen G said...

Congratulations Susan on an amazing exhibition.
You have worked so hard and achieved so much with this series so enjoy the rewards and may your star shine brightly always.

neki desu said...

dreams are made of hard work.you are the living proof.

Phil Boncer said...

What a lovely show. My wife forwarded this to me; it's fabulous. (You did one of her; Kristine Brooks).

Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Susan, you are to be commended for your Art Displan in Charleston. The more I read about you the more talented I see you are! I heard lot's of good things about the show from others who attended. I wish you a happy 2,011...Thurston

Anonymous said...

Nice work Suaan!!!! Mike K. Slippery Rock class of 1977