Park Circle Gallery to Exhibit Works by Torreah “Cookie” Washington and Wayne Copeland EL

Press Release

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that works by fiber artist Torreah “Cookie” Washington, along with a selection of pieces by special guest artist Wayne Copeland EL, will be on display at Park Circle Gallery from November 30, 2023. A free reception hosted by the artists will be held at the gallery on Friday, November 17, from 5:00-7:00pm. The public is invited to attend. 

In her exhibit The Alchemy of Textiles: A Journey, Torreah “Cookie” Washington will showcase a collection of old favorites along with never-before-seen fiber pieces. From her Spirit-infused Goddess dolls and her thought-provoking griot storytelling quilts to her handbags and unique pillows, Cookie’s works are captivating and compelling. As this most challenging year of her life comes to a close, Cookie aims to present these works as a celebration of her personal and artistic journey.

Torreah “Cookie” Washington is an award-winning fourth generation needle worker and curator. Born in Rabat, Morocco, she has traveled extensively, and has made her home for the last 33 years in Charleston, SC. For 16 of those years, she has served as the guest curator of the Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibit presented as a component of the North Charleston Arts Fest. Her work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions locally, nationally, and abroad. In addition, she has been featured in documentary films about African American Art Quilters, including “The Wayshowers,” which she shared executive producer credit on, and “Skin Quilt” by Lauren Cross. One of her proudest accomplishments to date is being selected as one of 44 Master Art Quilters to create a quilt to honor President Barak Obama’s Inauguration in 2009. In addition to curating and maintaining her studio practice, Cookie teaches “quilt as you go” classes to women in underserved communities, gives educational lectures for students in public schools, and donates quilts to charities serving the homeless. Learn more about the artist at cookiesewsquilts.com.

Hanging alongside Cookie’s fiber pieces will be a selection of works in pen and ink, pencil, and acrylic by Durham, North Carolina, based artist Wayne Copeland EL. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Copeland grew up fast and experienced many harsh realities in life at an early age.  He has found a way to transform his hardships from pain and anger into beautiful works of art.  As a result of many years of study and practice, Wayne became very skilled at his chosen craft. Whether demonstrating with airbrush, traditional art mediums, or tattoo ink, it’s evident that he pours his heart and soul into each piece, giving it a life of its own.

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. The gallery will be closed on Saturday, November 11, for Veterans Day, and Thursday through Saturday, November 23-25, for the Thanksgiving holiday. 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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