Friday's French Quarter Art Walk marked by string of big openings

Hamlet Fine Art Gallery

Local artist Jennifer Black is presenting a new collection of oil paintings like this sample of her work at Hamlet Fine Art Gallery.

It's the first Friday of May, so it's time for another French Quarter Art Walk.

Check out all of the openings and exhibits 5-8 p.m. Friday at the galleries. In addition to Friday's art walk, events will take place the first Friday in June, October and December.

For information, maps and a list of participating galleries, call 577-7101, visit www.frenchquarterarts.com or e-mail info@frenchquarterarts.com.

Jennifer Black

Established local artist Jennifer Black is presenting a new collection of oil paintings inspired by her two-week stay in the heart of the Cannaregio district of Venice, Italy.

Lulled by the chorus of Venetian street life, Black spent her afternoons painting by the open window of her apartment. The subjects vary from colorful canal and street scenes, to bright market vegetables.

"The Venice Experience" will be at the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery starting Friday and will be on display until May 31. There will be an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 7 Broad St.

For more information, call 722-1944 or visit www.hamletgallery.com.

Craig Nelson

Through May 30, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, 58 Broad St., will display a collection of new works by California artist Craig Nelson beginning on Friday.

Nelson's exhibit, "Illumination" encompasses lush Lowcountry landscapes and breathtaking European scenery.

On Saturday and Sunday, Nelson will also be holding one of his popular workshops while he is in Charleston. During this two-day retreat, painters will have a chance to study both scenic Lowcountry landscapes and historic Charleston cityscapes.

Nelson is a signature member of the California Art Club, the American Society of Portrait Artists and also the Baywood Artists Organization. Numerous personal clients and professional organizations such as Toyota Corp., UCLA Dental and Law School, and the U.S. Air Force collect his works. He has also been the director of fine art, drawing and painting, at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco for the past 13 years.

All of Nelson's new works are available for preview at www.ellarichardson.com. For more information, call 722-3660.

Susan Lyon

Starting with an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Friday, the Sylvan Gallery, 171 King St., will present the first solo show of works by artist Susan Lyon.

Her works will be on display until the end of May.

Lyon draws much inspiration from painters such as Zorn, Fechin, Sorolla and Celia Beaux, and works in oil, watercolor, or conte crayon. She paints wet-on-wet, then adds her finishing touches over dry paint.

"My style is realistic, with as much impressionistic color as possible. I like to combine wide brushes for sweeping strokes in the background with small, soft brushes for subtle details in my center of interest," says Lyon.

Lyon lives in a rural area of North Carolina with her husband, fellow artist Scott Burdick. Surrounded by nature, her studio inspires as much as do her painting trips that have included most of Europe, Turkey, Greece, Mexico, Canada, Nepal, Thailand, China and Africa. Her work has been featured in "Art Talk," "Art of the West," "Southwest Art," "International Artist," "U.S. Art" and "The Artist's Sketch Book."

For more information about Lyon, contact the gallery at 722-2172 or visit www.thesylvangallery.com.

'Tomato Half'

Lisa M. Shimko's "Tomato Half" was selected by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs as the image to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Charleston Farmers' Market.

Imagining what best says summer and fresh, Shimko — a regular market customer — immediately thought of fresh produce. Ripe, juicy tomatoes warmed by the sun specifically came to mind.

A local artist, Shimko's eye gravitates toward nature.

Shimko said she enjoys looking closely at the every day things we take for granted. We all eat; it's a common life experience—so taking this element of the collective and stopping to notice the beauty, she said, inspires her subject matter. And of course, let's not forget taste.

"There's nothing better than eating a freshly picked lettuce and tomato sandwich outside," reminisced Shimko.

It was winter when Shimko painted the "Tomato Half" for the Farmers' Market. So, it took a few takes to find just the right model. She said she wanted to convey the tactile quality of the juicy ooze of the fresh cut tomato — the kind that signifies that the taste will be nearly sinful and the smell, equally as decadent.

Look for Shimko's tomato depiction during the Farmers' Market, while you're choosing your own ripe, juicy tomatoes.

Other works by the artist are available at Plum Elements, 161 1/2 King St., and Lime Blue, 62 Queen St.

You can also visit the artist at her studio at the Redux Contemporary Art Center.

For more information, contact Plum Elements at 727-3747 or e-mail info@plumelements.com.

Equine exhibition

There will be an opening reception Friday at Dog & Horse Fine Art and Portraiture for "In the Ring and at the Track," a collection of work celebrating the 2008 Southeastern Equine Exhibition.

Paintings of dogs and horses at shows, performance competitions and the race track will be on exhibit by nationally known artists in a variety of styles ranging from modern to traditional. At the reception, Dog & Horse will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Charleston Dog Show (which takes place Saturday at Marion Square Park) by having a ringmaster on hand to give advice on proper show etiquette.

In addition, the Westminster Kennel Club show and gallery portrait artists, Barrie Barnett and Joseph Sulkowski, will be in attendance. Both artists have won coveted awards at Westminster for their paintings of dogs.

The exhibit will be up until June 2, but the opening reception will be 5-7:30 p.m. Friday at Dog & Horse, 106-B Church St.

For more information, call 577-5500 or visit www.dogartdealer.com.