Friday Arts Project

Beneath the Surface: Forum on Beauty

2012-01-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

Friday Arts Project & Bird and Key present a weekend-long gathering dedicated to an exploration of Beauty. Special guest Kirk Irwin returns to Rock Hill to moderate several engagements with artists, musicians, writers and participants. Participants will have opportunities to experience various works in an arts salon format and engage with artists through interviews and dialogue. The weekend will be spent at Friday Arts Project's Space 157, other locations in Old Town Rock Hill and in Charlotte at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.

Kirk Irwin giving his lecture "On Beauty" at Space 157 in 2011

Speakers & Performers:

Kirk Irwin, Theologian & Arts Advocate

Jeremy Casella, Singer-songwriter and producer

Elonzo, Band

Luke Allsbrook, Painter

Casey Mink, Violinist

Joseph Henderson, Writer & Winthrop M.A. Candidate

Artists of Space 157

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FRI, JAN 27

4-6 PM Check-in & welcome at Space 157 (157 East Main, 2nd Floor)

6 PM Dinner at Old Town Restaurants (on your own)

8 PM Forum Opening: Jeremy Casella & Elonzo in concert at the Courtroom at Gettys

SAT, JAN 28

9 AM Coffee & Pastries at Space 157 (included)

10 AM Morning Session: Luke Allsbrook, painter | Casey Mink, violinist

NOON Lunch (Included)

2 PM Afternoon Session: Arts Salon & Writer Joseph Henderson presenting

"Large and Startling Figures: The Shock of Mystery in Barry Hannah, Annie Dillard, and Cormac McCarthy"

5 PM Cocktail Hour (Guests are encouraged to patronize our downstairs neighbors at The Vault)

6 PM Family-Style Dinner at Erin's Restaurant (Included in registration)

7 PM Keynote & Discussion with Kirk Irwin

SUN, JAN 29

2 PM Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Visit | Closing remarks

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Cost*:

Entire Event (includes admission to Bechtler Museum):

Regular: $50, Student: $35

Sans Museum visit:

Regular: $40, Student: $25

DONOR LEVEL: $100

A lot of volunteer work has gone into this event, so if you’re interested in giving more, give $100 and we will include a special art gift from Friday Arts Project artists!

*includes Saturday meals: light breakfast, lunch, dinner

We accept cash or check. Make checks payable to Friday Arts Project, and send to: Stephen Crotts, 616 Cedar St., Rock Hill, SC 29730. Payment Deadline: (postmark by) January 20, 2012. Contact Stephen Crotts at scrotts86@gmail.com for further details.

REGISTRATION FORM

Support for this project is provided by the Arts Council of York County Small Grants Program, which receives funding from the Rock Hill A-Tax/Tourism Commission, the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC, the SC Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sponsored in part by:

Jim & Poco Olson, Rock Hill Bike Shop, RUF at Winthrop, Hill City Church, Plumbline Communications

Gallery Up Interviews Dominique Verechia

2011-08-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Check out this Q & A with Space 157 member Dominique Verechia from Gallery Up.

Portrait Group Profile: Matt Andrews

2011-07-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

For two years, Friday Arts Project has been hosting a weekly portrait drawing session in Old Town Rock Hill. In addition to Space 157 studio members, a regular group of local artists have joined us for our Monday night ritual. Matt Andrews, a Winthrop University student, produces brilliant pieces week after week. Here are some of his 2-hour portraits and thoughts.

F.A.P. Matt, tell us about yourself

M.A. I'm a senior at Winthrop University studying illustration. My ultimate career goal is to become a concept artist for the video game industry. I've always loved the idea of using my artistic ability to entertain someone, and video games, when done correctly, can be incredibly beautiful, innovative, and artistic collaborative efforts of mass entertainment. I have been developing a style that is realistic enough to be believable, but imaginative enough to be worthy of the "concept artist" title.

F.A.P. What is the drawing group experience like for you?

M.A. The drawing group experience initially was very different from what I'm used to. Typically, drawing and illustration is something I've done for hours and hours alone in room or studio. I could spend 30+ hours on a project without talking to or seeing another human being. The drawing group, however, is a social, relatively quick session that allows me to get out and still do what I love doing: drawing. It promotes speed of workflow and socializing/meeting new people.

F.A.P. Tell us a bit about your process

M.A. Though I spent most of my life drawing on paper, I have, in the past few years, been focusing on digital painting as my primary technique. I am both a computer geek and an artist, so the digital medium is the perfect fit for me. I fell in love with the idea of digital painting in high school and never looked back. Not that I've abandoned traditional media or anything, I just love the speed, convenience, and experimental qualities of working digitally. The program I use primarily, after setting up my laptop and tablet, is a little piece of Japanese software called Easy Paint Tool SAI. It's basically a streamlined, highly intuitive version of Photoshop made specifically for painting and drawing as opposed to photo alteration.

I approach the portraits in software the same way I would start an oil painting. I prime the "canvas" with a base color that often coincides with what the model is wearing or complements their skin tones. I then just start blocking in colors and match shapes and proportions as I go. Even though I'm a draftsman at heart, I don't start with a sketch at all. I just jump right in with colors and it's a lot of fun.

M.A. Since I started going to the Monday portrait nights, I've gotten faster and more confident with my work. It has helped me improve and is a fun way to get out while honing my skills further.

Elonzo plays Space 157

2011-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Some glimpses of the Elonzo concert at Space 157 on Feb. 19:

Guestbook

Opening Act: The Perfect Melancholies

Merch

Elonzo

Happy crowd

Impromptu Portrait Session afterwards

Photographs by Aaron Rich

A New Row of Seeds

2011-02-18T06:26:00.001-08:00

Recent works by Dominique Verechia

Work in progress by Michael Gentry (photo by Cameron Bunce)

"I'm stalling.
I'm polishing up a few things and I need some more time
there's new round of seeds in dirt already
if it looks cold and dreary,
you're looking in the wrong places"

-Cameron Bunce

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Things are going steady at Space 157. The studio has gained a new member, and is more whole for it. Monday night portraits sessions are growing. Friday Morning Reader's Guild has started Art & Fear.

Soon: Elonzo concert at our space, International Arts Movement Encounter in New York City, planting.

Muse Fest

2010-11-09T06:45:00.000-08:00

Celebrate and revel in all things art at the first-ever Muse Fest, November 11-13, 2010. This festival will take place in & outside of various art spaces and eateries in Old Town Rock Hill, SC.

Among the many other activities, Space 157 will be hosting its Grand Opening. Thursday, Friday & Saturday we will be open from 6-9 pm. Come enjoy some refreshment and celebration with us!

Jeremy Casella House Show

2010-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Friday Arts Project is proud to bring singer/songwriter Jeremy Casella back to Old Town Rock Hill for a second year in a row. This year's concert will be a house show.

Jeremy's most recent offering, RCVRY, has been called "A Masterwork" by Derek Webb. Christianity Today Magazine says "5 out of 5 stars...captivating, a hauntingly beautiful album to say the least."

We are excited to be able to act as patrons, providing a small opportunity for an excellent artist to share his work with us. As artists ourselves, we understand the importance of people being willing to support our work. Here are a few thoughts from another musician, Andrew Peterson, on this important issue:

"Go to the websites of your favorite artists and see if they’re coming to a town near you. They’ll be glad you showed up, I guarantee it. Most of the time the tickets are about what you’d pay for a movie, only in this case your money won’t be lining Jerry Bruckheimer’s silken pockets–it’ll go to diapers or the new transmission or the mixing engineer for the new album...Most of us who play music pay the bills by touring. CD sales are helpful, but touring is where the rubber meets the road. We need you to come to the shows. We like to play our songs for other members of the human race. We like meeting you. We love the crackle of spiritual electricity when our songs and your stories intersect. Bring your friends. Concerts–event bad ones–are usually more memorable than movies. Plus, it pays the mortgage."

concert info:

The Crotts Home

616 Cedar Street Rock Hill, SC 29730

Friday, October 22 - 7 PM

Admission $8, Refreshments available

contact Stephen - scrotts86@gmail.com for more info or to reserve tickets

Hope to see you there!

Space 157

2010-08-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

On August 26 we had our first open studio at Space 157 as well as a group show next door at the Loading Dock Gallery. Here are some glimpses:

Work in progress by Christopher Doehling

Jon & Jess area

The Illustration Department

Carlee & Jessie

Some professors came too.

Mike Gentry's space

Nicki Verechia's space

Mike brought the best wine.

Tunes.

Our Group Exhibition at the Loading Dock Gallery

images © Jay Grant

A Beginning

2010-08-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

Our building circa 1945
Rock Hill National Bank, 1970s

Friday Arts Project started 4 years ago now, at the start Winthrop University's school year in 2006. It began as a group of creative students gathering to work together and journey through questions that might have consequential answers. Who am I? What do I believe? What am I going to do about it?

We have brought to each other our work, our critique, our experiences and our encouragement. We have traveled together, we've collaborated and we have dreamed.

Over a year ago, we started working toward fleshing out our group mission statement more fully. Especially the piece that says "We provide a forum for dialogue enabling artists to inspire, engage, and create toward the renewal of hearts and culture." Ideas for a studio and gathering space began to formulate.

After so many dead-end meetings and looking at so many spaces that were just out of our reach, we finally found the perfect place and people willing to make it happen.

This week eight artists move into what we're calling Space 157, an eighty-year-old former bank building on East Main Street in Old Town Rock Hill, SC. We have 3,000 sun-filled square feet above a restaurant, right at the canopy line of the sidewalk trees. We're located in the middle of a growing arts scene, with the Community Performance Center, Gallery Up, the Gettys Art Center and the Center for the Arts all a short walk from us. We also have views of Winthrop University, the historic Textile Corridor, the City Hall Rotunda dome, and the rest of downtown.

There is plenty for us to do before we're completely settled in. We have furniture to find, floors to clean and a darkroom to build. And we are so excited to get started.

Women Who Go Beyond

2010-05-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Photographs © Zan Maddox

This month we partnered with ONE to bring Women Who Go Beyond: Success Stories from Africa to our Basement Gallery at the Gettys Art Center in Rock Hill.

This exhibition featured photographs by Morgana Wingard of women who have been empowered to help bring their communities out of poverty and transform the lives of those around them.

You can view a selection of the photographs here.

Countenance One

2010-03-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

Each Monday night, a small group of friends meets to share a bottle of wine, conversation, and the attempt to capture something of the person seated before us. We have found great value, artistically and otherwise, in the ritual of meeting weekly to draw a face. On March 11 we present the first collection of drawings we have made during our two-hour sessions together.

The exhibition, Countenance One, opens at the Gettys Art Center Basement Gallery in Old Town Rock Hill, SC.

Featuring work by:

Christopher Doehling

Rachel McAndrews

Special thanks to the Arts Council of York County and Gallery Up.

Save the Date: IAM Encounter 10

2009-12-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

A group of artists, poets, and scholars at IAM Encounter. Photo by Cameron Bunce

Join us the first weekend of March as we travel to New York City for the annual International Arts Movement Encounter. This will be our fourth year participating, and we hope many will come along! With a well-considered lineup of speakers, workshops, performances and interactive spaces each year, the IAM Encounter is always a memorable and valuable experience.

From March 4-6, 2010, with spring budding in New York City, our movement will gather at the prestigious Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a place that has housed weighty ideas, thinkers and movements for 150 years.

The Great Hall at Cooper Union

When not gathered there, we take to the streets. Carefully selected coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, and clubs will serve as creative zones for engagement. In partnership with The Curator, Encounter 10 will move out into the cultural hub that is New York City to encounter one another and explore, discover and enjoy the innumerable cultural artifacts that ae already part of the world that ought to be. For one weekend, our movement will come together from the four corners of the world to reconnect with old friends and build new relationships that spur each of us to pursue our vocation more fully.

Hear more about Encounter 10 HERE.

NEWS: We are thankful and excited to now be listed among IAM's regional groups!

Red & Green: A Christmas Show

2009-11-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Gettys Center in Rock Hill

Recently, we have been painting the lower level walls of a glorious 80-year old building on Main Street. The Gettys Center opened in 1932 and was Rock Hill's courthouse and post office until the late 1980s, when it began being used for art studios. We are excited to bring an unused part of this building into the light and open a new gallery space!

Our first show opens December 5, in conjunction with many other events & gallery openings during the ChristmasVille festival.

"Red & Green" is a themed show exhibiting new works from friends & local artists.

Opening is 6-9 on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

Portrait Sessions

2009-10-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

Our Monday night portrait drawing sessions are now every week at the Center for the Arts in Old Town Rock Hill.

We have a clothed model for a two-hour pose. Sessions are open to experienced individuals who desire to work with a live model. Tables and chairs are provided. Please bring any other materials. No instruction will take place.

There is a $5 suggested contribution for the model.

Enter at the Cotton Alley Entrance to the Center for the Arts.

121 East Main Street Rock Hill, SC 29730

Call 864.923.5151 for more information

Jeremy Casella in Concert

2009-10-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Friday Arts Project is partnering with RUF at Winthrop to bring singer/songwriter Jeremy Casella to Old Town Rock Hill.

Jeremy's new record, RCVRY, has been called "A Masterwork" by Derek Webb. Christianity Today Magazine says "5 out of 5 stars...captivating, a hauntingly beautiful album to say the least."

Check out this video about the making of the album.

concert info:

Augello's Coffeehouse on Main Street Rock Hill

Friday, October 30

7-9 PM

Free Admission (CDs for sale)

Hope to see you there!

Hendrix article

2009-09-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

Communication Arts magazine recently published an article about our St. Louis illustrator friend, John Hendrix. In the interview, he discusses his experiences in the realms of art school, editorial illustration, and church.

Check it out here.

“As an artist, I just don’t see any other choice but to describe all the uncomfortable, ambiguous and messy things in the world, as well as the things that are good and beautiful. I think that’s why we make art. It helps us sort these things out.” -John Hendrix

What is Studio?

2009-09-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

What is it like to work in the real world?
Wrong question. The real world does not exist.
Or rather, the real world is none other than this one, so stop waiting to get ready for the next time when you figure it all out. Ready? Set. Go!

This week we'll visit a local painter in her studio and you'll be able to see what it looks like to not go to class, not have critiques, not have those pesky instructors always nagging you to do your homework. Are you ready to work for yourself?

Next week we'll talk about one of the most potentially catastrophic questions in our field: "What is Art?" There are plenty of resources to base opinions on, but what do you think? Does the institution make it "Art?" Can anything be "Art?" Is there art, and then Art?

August Happenings

2009-08-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

Coffee & Crayons V: Come meet Friday Arts Project folks after Winthrop's freshman convocation picnic on Monday, August 24.

All are welcome.

Coffee, refreshments, crayons and paper will be provided.

We'll gather in the Dinkins Student Center parking lot at 8:00 to walk/carpool over to Courtney's place.

The Marshall Tucker Band will be in concert on August 29 at the Old Town Amphitheater at City Hall. Show starts at 7:00 PM.

Friday Arts Project is partnering with the City of Rock Hill to promote community events in Old Town. At the concert, Friday Arts Project will have an exclusive balcony area reserved at a huge discount! Instead of the $28 general admission, we have a limited number of $10 tickets for F.A.P. friends who are Winthrop students & alumni.

There will also be a coffee bar.

Contact Stephen (scrotts86@gmail.com) or Cameron (buncec2@winthrop.edu) for more information.

See you in Old Town!

Our Monday night portrait sessions continue on August 31. We will have a clothed model for a two-hour pose. Sessions are open to experienced individuals who desire to work with a live model.

Tables and chairs are provided. Please bring any other materials. No instruction will take place.

There is a $5 suggested charge for the model.

Parking available in the White Street lot at First A.R.P. Sessions are upstairs.

Hope to see you there!

New Works

2009-07-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

New Works exhibition is up at the Perimeter Gallery at the Center for the Arts in Rock Hill.

Featuring work by:
-Mary Courtney Blake
-Cameron Bunce
-Stephen Crotts
-Brandi Voigt Fox
-Daniel Romanoski
-Nicki Verechia

Reception Wednesday, July 22 from 4-6 PM

Work on view presently through July 31, 2009

Gazing Into the Abyss

2009-03-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Photograph by Robert Murphy

Christian Wiman is a writer and the editor of Poetry magazine - the premier publisher of contemporary verse. This essay is an account of how his creative work lead him into despair, and ultimately to a "hope toward God."

To believe that being conscious means primarily being conscious of loss, to find life authentic only in the apprehension of death, is to pitch your tent at the edge of an abyss, “and when you gaze long into the abyss,” Nietzsche says, “the abyss also gazes into you.” I blinked.

Read it here.

The Empty Page

2009-03-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Jon Acuff talks about the value of the arts. Read here.

I was skimming and found some good thoughts on creativity.

http://www.peterhreynolds.com/ideas.html

Good to be reminded.

Friday Arts Project Alum interviewed

2009-02-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hey folks - here's my talk with Christy at IAM. Also, check out the other interviews!

Lauren Pope, with writing from the Pope

2009-02-02T13:41:00.001-08:00

Hey guess what.

What you say?

Did you know that the Pope (big hat, armored golf cart, lives in Rome) wrote a letter to you?

You didn't know?

it's here but...

there's writing about it here that makes a nice edit of it.

Even beyond its typically religious expressions, true art has a close affinity with the world of faith, so that, even in situations where culture and the Church are far apart, art remains a kind of bridge to religious experience.

I'm not saying that I completely agree with the letter to the details, but there are nice points. It's reassuring and validating to have the attention of someone called the "Heir of Christ" whether you ascribe to that or not.

lots to chew on,
and as a reminder, Nicki will be talking about her work this Friday at Augellos ( be there at 8am ) and be reading Amos for Sunday.

Be well
do good work

A post worth reading

2008-12-18T16:11:00.000-08:00

Portland Studios' blog has some excellent thoughts. Sift through older articles too. This most recent one is a gem: Ingmar Bergman on art and faith.

Blogs to check out :-)

2008-11-16T19:25:00.000-08:00

Here is the blog I mentioned

http://3191.visualblogging.com/archives/10520_1742522988/275383

and the curator article about it

http://www.curatormagazine.com/jennisimmons/3191-a-year-of-beautiful-ordinary-mornings/

IAM's website redesigned!

2008-11-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

International Arts Movement

In other news, I recently contacted an artist who had her MFA Thesis exhibition in Rutledge my freshman year. Her name is Kata Billups and her thesis was titled, "Let Jesus Out of the Box: The Case for an Emotional Jesus."
I have been looking for her for a while and finally found her on Ebay of all places. Her thesis is there.

You just can't get some images out of your mind.

"Jesus Put on a "Fat Suit" in order to Deflect the Mocking from the Fat Girl.
Kata Billups
2003
acrylic on canvas
30" x 42"
The setting for this painting is the "School of Beauty Culture" across the street from Winthrop University.
The models were photographed on location, and I worked from my own photographs."

I've been emailing back and forth with her, told her about IAM, and will try to show you more of her pieces.

new things

2008-10-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Stumble upon this with me:)

Neil Gaiman

A New Academic Year.

2008-08-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Coffee & Crayons IV - Our first gathering for the year.

Friday Arts Project at Winthrop Convocation.

Brochure designed by Romo with photo by Cameron.

08-09 planning session via Skype with Cameron in China.

Tribeca Summer Arts Project 2008

2008-07-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Brandi discussing her work at the ReHumaniz exhibition

Carlee at her NYC opening.

IAM Encounter 2008

2008-03-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

On the Street

With John Hendrix, illustrator.

With IAM founder Makoto Fujimura.

Carl!

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Musician Rob Mathes, Actor & Orator Nigel Goodwin, and Writer Dick Staub.

Sketchbooks & Journals being filled.

On the Subway (Courtney)

Ex Morte Vita

2008-02-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

In February 2007, we held our first themed exhibition. Ex Morte Vita means Life from Death. We collaboratively explored ideas of redemption and rebirth for 3 weeks before opening our show to the public. We were elated by the audience (at least 250 people...) For us, it was a milestone. In a short time, with limited resources, we were able to pull together a show with about 30 pieces. Also, we were able to create a common space where artists and non-artists, skeptics and believers could interact and have dialogue about goodness, truth, and beauty.

This is where most everything we do starts - around coffee.
Poster designed by Brandon & Stephen.

Jared sketching for his piece.

Coffee & Crayons - which became an all nighter getting ready for the show.

Matt has been our distant supporter and mentor from the start. He and his sister drove up all the way from Florida to help and see the show.

The Loading Dock Gallery - folks busy hanging the exhibition

Some of our crowd of 250 + (photo by Megan Parker)

Katie playing for the crowd (photo by Megan Parker)

Adam Bomb (Jake Page)

When the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead (Stephen)

Nothingness Was My Very Food (Courtney and Brandon)

(photo by Megan Parker)

The Artists of Ex Morte Vita

Tribeca Summer Arts Project 2007

2007-07-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the plane in NYC.

Collaboration in Action. (photo by Cameron)

Sarah Kennedy painting Stephen.

Stephen's studio space.

Cameron in the darkroom.

Friday Arts Project folks on Broadway.

The Early Days

2007-02-01T12:25:00.000-08:00