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Coastal Community Foundation to offer grant for local artist

Olivia Pool

Provided/Ann Long Fine Art

Paintings (pictured) by artist Daniela Astone will show at Ann Long Fine Art. The exhibit will have an opening reception tonight.

The Michael & Donna Griffith Lowcountry Artist Award Fund at the Coastal Community Foundation is again requesting artists to submit applications for this grant, which supports the creation of a work of visual art that represents the 'look and feel' of the Lowcountry's distinctive life, culture or environment.

This grant opportunity is competitive and the award of $5,000 is intended to support the artist during the creation of the work of art, which will then be the personal property of the artist, to keep, show or sell at his or her discretion. This is the fifth year of what is expected to be an annual competition.

Applicants must be residents of Charleston County and at least 15 years of age. The proposed work of art may be done in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawing or a combination of those media. Or it may be a three-dimensional fine art sculpture. Specific guidelines and applications can be downloaded from www.CCFgives.org or requested directly from Rhendry@CCFgives.org, and must be postmarked on or before March 19 or hand-delivered to the foundation's office downtown at 90 Mary St. no later than 5:30 p.m. March 20.

There will be an open meeting to give prospective artists the opportunity to ask questions about this award at the foundation's offices at 90 Mary St. from 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 1. Seating will be limited, so contact Richard Hendry, vice president of programs, at Rhendry@CCFgives.org or 723-3635 if you wish to attend.

‘Wheel Wonders'

The Ellis-Nicholson Gallery continues its 'The Artist Speaks' series at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with potter Mary Nicholson presenting 'Wheel Wonders of Art Pottery.'

Nicholson will demonstrate how she creates her one-of-a-kind, limited-edition pottery, beginning with a classic shape thrown on a potter's wheel, then transformed into a sculptural form. 'When my work is perceived as pleasing, contemporary, sculptural and original, then I have been successful,' says Nicholson.

The artist graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in fashion design, as well as a Bachelor's in Art Education and a Master's in Visual Arts. She has taught art on the college level, has led art tours throughout the Southwest and also has been sharing her pottery skills locally by teaching at the Gibbes Museum of Art Studio.

Following Nicholson's presentation Saturday, there will be a reception and a chance to talk with the artist. The event is free to the public, but seating is limited. Visit the gallery at 1 1/2 Broad St., or call 722-5353 to reserve a seat.

Redux Artist Grant 2008

Redux Contemporary Art Center is calling for submissions for the studio's artist grant.

Executive Director Seth Curcio says, 'The purpose of this grant is to enrich the Charleston community by supporting a socially based arts project. This grant will fund projects specifically designed to engage the community through contemporary art ...'

Redux will award up to $500 in grants that must be matched by the applicant on at least a 1-to-1 basis. Eligible projects could include, but are not limited to: social mural projects, open lectures and workshops, temporary exhibitions, publications, public performance, urban interventions, guerrilla architecture, social sculpture, interactive media and street performance.

For more details, visit www.reduxstudios.org or call 722-0697. Submit five copies of your application packet to Redux Contemporary Art Center, 136 St. Philip St., by March 28. All applicants should anticipate that any or all projects funded by this grant must begin by Sept. 1.

Daniela Astone

Starting today, Ann Long Fine Art will present 'Daniela Astone: Self-Portrait.' This show follows two successful solo shows of Astone's work shown at the gallery in 2005 and 2007.

Astone was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1980 and raised in the town of Porto S. Stefano in Maremma, Italy. She discovered her passion for drawing and painting at a young age.

In 1997, after graduating from the Visual Arts High School of Maremma, her motivation for the arts initiated a move to Florence. The city's cultural influence provided Astone with the opportunity to deepen her knowledge and love of the art by both challenging and motivating her. In 2001, she enrolled in the Florence Academy of Art, one of the most serious art schools of Florence, to study with its founder Daniel Graves.

Gallery owner Ann Long first met Astone in 2004 when the young painter received the academy's painting award — the highest honor of her graduating class. Astone now teaches at the Florence Academy of Art and lives in the nearby countryside. Since her last visit to Charleston, she has given birth to a baby girl, an experience that led her to paint 'Paure,' an indirect self-portrait that will anchor the upcoming show, says Long.

There will be an opening reception tonight from 6 to 8 at the gallery at 177 King St. The exhibit will be on display until March. For more information, visis www.annlongfineart.com or call 577-0447.

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