Mayor John Tecklenburg joins artist Kelvin Blufton to unveil tribute to first responders
May 9, 2022
Please join Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, visual artist Kelvin Blufton and special guest Sarah Greenberg, wife of the late Reuben M. Greenberg, former Charleston police chief, for an unveiling of “ESCAPE,” an exhibit of original paintings of first responders by Mr. Blufton, set for 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at St. Julian Devine Community Center, located at 1 Cooper Street.
Other participants will include Charleston Police Chief Luther J. Reynolds, College of Charleston Chief of Police and Associate Vice President for Public Safety Chip Searson, and South Carolina Highway Patrol Commander Colonel C. N. Williamson.
The exhibit is titled “ESCAPE,” which stands for East Side Civic Art Public Engagement.
“‘ESCAPE’ conveys a mixture of civic duty to serve and the responsibility of each one of us to teach the principles of civic service and to inspire children to become first responders,” said Mr. Blufton.
The unveiling will take place on the eve of National Police Week, May 11-17, 2022. At the conclusion of National Police Week, the exhibit will be installed at 76 Columbus Street at an outdoor site privately owned by Voice of Hope Church and Worship Center. The art exhibit is part of a “Unity in the Community” initiative introduced by Rev. Kenneth Edmondson, church pastor.
Mr. Blufton is a Charleston native also known as Nizar, and is an Award-winning Gullah Interpretive Realism Painter. His paintings can be found on display in City of Charleston offices, North Charleston City Hall and the Colleton County Memorial Library. He is the official artist for the Igala Kingdom headquartered in Idah Kogi State, Nigeria. Blufton is a disabled US Army veteran with 22 years of service as a law enforcement officer and currently serves the city of Charleston as a Senior Code Enforcement Officer in the Livability and Tourism Department.
WHO: Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg
Visual Artist and Painter Mr. Kelvin Blufton
Sarah Greenberg, wife of the late Reuben M. Greenberg, former Charleston Police Chief
Charleston Police Chief Luther J. Reynolds
College of Charleston Chief of Police and Associate VP for Public Safety Chip Searson
South Carolina Highway Patrol Commander Colonel C. N. Williamson
WHAT: Unveiling of “ESCAPE,” an exhibit of paintings in tribute to first responders
WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2022
WHERE: St. Julian Devine Community Center, 1 Cooper Street, 29403
