S.C. Arts gala features Charleston artist Mary Edna Fraser, 2016 Verner Award recipient
May 2, 2016
Annual celebration of the arts features art sale, concert and dance party
Fans of Charleston artist Mary Edna Fraser can go home from the South Carolina Arts Gala with one of her batiks or a work in oil. Fraser, who will also be celebrated as a recipient of the 2016 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Awards, will sell her work at South Carolina Arts Gala art sale, which takes place May 11 at 7:15 p.m. at 701 Whaley in Columbia. Tickets are $75 per person and available online at www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or by calling (803) 734-8696. A detail of Fraser’s work Deformation Zone was used in the gala invitation design.
Fraser’s work has been collected and exhibited worldwide. Captivated by the complex patterns of land and water when viewed from high above, she has been exploring aerial landscapes for more than a quarter century. Using her own aerial photography along with satellite photography, maps, and charts, Fraser composes pieces in the ancient textile medium of batik using modern dye technology. Her stunning works on silk have incredible visual impact by virtue of their scale and compelling designs. Fraser’s interest in the environment enables her to bridge two areas often seen as opposites: art and science. Her art not only offers a creative depiction of watersheds and landscapes but communicates a broader message of conservation and stewardship.
Presented by the South Carolina Arts Foundation, the arts gala is the annual celebration of the South Carolina Arts Awards. The art sale will also offer paintings, glass, pottery, sculpture, fiber arts and other original works of art by South Carolina artists, plus “arts experiences” created to showcase cultural and culinary arts. In addition to Fraser, artists participating from the Lowcountry are Louis Bruce, Rebecca Davenport, Linda Fantuzzo, JoAnn Graham, Steve Hazard, Louanne LaRoche, and Robert Maniscalco.
Prior to the gala, recipients of the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts and the Folk Heritage Awards will be recognized at a concert taking place at 6:15 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church, 702 Whaley St. The concert will feature a bluegrass and gospel tribute to the late Harold Clayton, who is receiving a posthumous Folk Heritage Award.
Gala proceeds benefit schools and communities around the state through the South Carolina Arts Commission’s arts education and arts development programs. Last year, the S.C. Arts Foundation contributed more than $55,000 to programs such as artist fellowships, arts education and artist training.
For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com, or call (803) 734-8696.
About the S.C. Arts Foundation
Established in 1972, the S.C. Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing, encouraging and supporting the art and artists of South Carolina. Throughout its history, the SCAF has pursued creative ways to help the business community and private citizens contribute to a thriving arts community across the state. The organization is led by a diverse board of directors comprised of statewide business and civic leaders, artists, educators and others interested in supporting the rich variety of artistic expression found in the Palmetto State.
About the S.C. Arts Commission
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources.
