Park Circle Gallery to Exhibit Works by Jacqueline Anderson & Judy Blahut

Press Release

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that concurrent solo exhibitions of mixed media sculptures by Jacqueline Anderson (North Charleston, SC) and paintings by Judy Blahut (Hilton Head Island, SC) will be on display at Park Circle Gallery from August 2-31, 2023. A free reception hosted by the artists will be held at the gallery on Friday, August 4, from 5:00-7:00pm. The public is invited to attend. 

Chapter & Verse – Mixed Media Sculptures by Jacqueline Anderson

In her exhibit, Chapter & Verse, Jacqueline Anderson showcases her unique mixed media assemblage sculptures (above). Her human-like compositions are created using salvaged and found objects. Each sculpture, or “chapter,” is part of an ongoing story. Anderson spends a great deal of time with her “art supplies” – constantly scanning the ground for them, organizing, and reorganizing them. While doing so, she thinks about the “chapter” she’s working on, considering which items will provide the visual vocabulary necessary to tell its story. “Artist Pam Carriker once described creating an assemblage as ‘like writing a story with found objects to invite the viewer in to unearth their meaning’,” Anderson says. “This is what I hope to do with my artwork.”

For as long as she can remember, Jacqueline Anderson has been a collector, a storyteller, and an artist. Her assemblage work allows her to combine these passions. Her sculptures have most recently been shown in the SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, presented as a component of the annual North Charleston Arts Fest, and The Saul Alexander Gallery at the Charleston County Main Library. See the artist’s work on Instagram at @jacksart30.

Social Circles – Paintings by Judy Blahut

Judy Blahut’s paintings (right) are lyrical expressions of natural forms and environments, with color palettes that are a direct reflection of her studio surroundings alongside a salt marsh with a tidal creek running through it. Her work is an invitation to reimagine nature through fracturing, color, and the exploration of a subject. Social Circles features paintings from two of Blahut’s ongoing series – COVID and Marsh. These series seek to interpret the relationships and boundaries set by social groups of humans or animals, exploring the interrelatedness of all life. “The circles in my work are connectors and interrupters. Life is circular. Circles in our social and environmental experiences exist in true form and in theory, illustrating our interconnectedness with one another, the planet, and the universe,” she explains. “Using acrylic paint and sometimes charcoal, I fracture and interrupt the painting as I work. It is an interactive process between myself, the subject, and the paint. The outcomes are somewhat abstract, allowing the viewer to understand more about the subject than its actual appearance.”

Judy Blahut has been a painter nearly her entire life. She is formally trained in painting, with a BFA from Syracuse University. Her fortunate and full life has given her many opportunities for using her creativity and artistic abilities. She has had numerous professional experiences including art teacher, Montessori teacher, head of school, college faculty member, and mother. Her work has been exhibited in numerous festival and group exhibitions throughout the Lowcountry. Judy is a member of Pluff Mudd Gallery in Bluffton, SC, and the Art League of Hilton Head. Learn more about the artist at www.judyblahutstudios.com.

The Park Circle Gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston. Admission is free and free street parking is available on Jenkins Avenue in front of the gallery, as well as on the adjacent streets and in parking lots close by. Gallery hours are 11:00am-6:00pm Wednesday-Friday, and Noon-4:00pm on Saturday. For more information about PCG, call 843-637-3565 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org. For information on other Cultural Arts programs and artist opportunities, visit the Arts & Culture section of the City’s website at www.northcharleston.org.

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