Darkness to Light Art
Posted Courtesy of The Post and Courier (http://www.charleston.net)
BY STEPHANIE HARVIN
Of The Post and Courier Staff
The Italian artistic term means work that contains both dark and light tones in a single picture. Rembrandt was the master of the technique, and generations of artists have tried their hands at it.
So, it was a natural union of ideas for local artists to use their talents to raise money for the From Darkness to Light media awareness campaign against child abuse. "We asked 30 artists to paint their interpretation of darkness to light," says Hume Killian, co-owner of the Wells Gallery on Broad Street and the host for the exhibit. "We asked them to either paint a piece or donate a piece that they felt expressed the theme."
The exhibit will open with a reception for the artists at 6 p.m. Friday and will run until Feb. 16. A third of the proceeds from the sales will go back to the artists, and the rest will benefit the nonprofit organization. Wine & Pine has donated special wines for the reception and Cru Catering has donated the hors d'oeuvres. The reception is free and open to the public.
Linda Fantuzzo, one of the artists, says she knew exactly which piece of hers would suit. It's a classic urn bathed in ethereal light.
"It's a couple of years old. I just thought at the time that I painted it that it seemed like a chrysalis, something was going to evolve out of it. There is a coming into the light out of the darkness. It has that glowing light that comes from within."
Killian and John Davis, chairman of the From Darkness to Light media awareness campaign, have been working on the fund-raiser since March. The campaign runs ads on television and billboards to make the public aware of the prevalence of child sexual abuse and ways to stop it. There also will be print ads in national magazines this year.
The Wells Gallery has donated gallery space to raise money for good causes before. Killian has helped to raise money for Hospice of Charleston and the American Heart Association.
"Artists are asked to donate work all the time to these fund-raisers," says Killian. "I thought this would be a way for the art to be displayed in a gallery environment where it can be seen to best advantage."
The exhibit is an opportunity for collectors to see work by prominent local artists and help raise money at the same time. Before the exhibit goes up, the work can be seen and purchased online at www.wellsgallery.com.
Killian says that the artists are well known to local collectors and include such names as Betty Anglin Smith and her daughters, Shannon Smith and Jennifer Smith Rogers, Mickey Williams, John Carroll Doyle and West Fraser.
"I would like to see this kind of exhibit happen on a much larger scale," says Killian.
Stephanie Harvin writes features. Contact her at 937-5701 or sharvin@postandcourier.com.
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