February 20–March 20, 2010
Artist Talk and Reception: Thursday, March 4, 5:30–7:00pm
Goodall Gallery
Spears Music/ Art Center

The Columbia College Art Program in the Division of Arts and Communication Studies is proud to present a group exhibition featuring the works of three South Carolina artists: John Acorn, Carl Blair, and Pat Callahan entitled, ABC : Acorn, Blair, Callahan beginning February 20th and running through March 20th. The exhibit will feature an array of paintings, drawings, monotypes, shadow-boxed assemblages, sculpture, and mixed media.

Though from vastly different backgrounds, the artistic processes rooted in the three artists’ work binds their collective multi-generational, artistic spirits. Each artist combines the refined skill of designer, painter, craftsman, draftsman, and sculptor mixed with the propensity to discover, through hunting and gathering, pushing and pulling, and composing with the sum of many parts to create the whole.

Born in New Jersey, but long-time resident of Pendleton, S.C., John Acorn’s work features everyday objects, playing on the idea “that the potential for art can be found in subjects and experiences that are part of our daily lives.” For the work featured in this exhibition, Acorn’s enlarged imagery based on shell fragments and feathers, with an applied white to black color palette, uses hundreds-to-thousands of hardware store nails to create twenty-one art panels. Acorn says, “based upon the idea that the potential for art can be found in subjects and experiences that are part of our daily lives, the enlargement of the objects and their positioning alter or transform them into new images.”

Acorn’s extensive career as an artist, educator, and administrator includes serving as chair of Clemson University’s Visual Arts Department for two decades in addition to being a professor of Architecture. Acorn received his graduate degree at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and his undergraduate degree at Montclair State College. Along with winning numerous awards, his work has been shown in and around the United States and internationally. Acorn’s work has also been represented in numerous solo and group exhibitions along with works in public and private collections.

Born in Kansas, Carl Blair is a long-time resident of Greenville, S.C., He describes his paintings as “visual poetry,” capturing the aura which surrounds nature. Blair, who is color blind, will show works in a range of whites to blacks, a venture that is more challenging for Blair who says, “when a color loses its intensity, I may not be able to give that color a name.” For the monochromatic works, Blair used value and perspective to imply and create space. Blair says, “I intuitively know when things aren’t going well and I have to be willing to make changes––to change directions. Every time I paint, I want it to be a different experience. Experience helps me know what is unnecessary….a work should be done without looking like it took much effort.”

Blair’s long career includes working as an artist, educator, and administrator at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., for over forty years. He is a co-founder of Hampton III Gallery in Greenville, S.C., and served as a Commissioner and Chairman for the S.C. Arts Commission. Blair received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his graduate degree at Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. He has exhibited in numerous solo and groups exhibitions in over 100 museums, galleries and universities as well as winning over 90 awards including South Carolina’s Elizabeth O’Neil Verner Award.

After living and studying in New York and Virginia, Columbia resident Pat Callahan’s passion for figure drawing, graphic design, and a childhood encounter with the work of artist Joseph Cornell, inspired her to create a body of shadow box assemblages that Callahan says, “honor the beauty of nature and the human form, probe the workings of relationships, and question cultural beliefs, especially regarding gender.” Callahan has been active with several Columbia-based arts groups including Vista Studios 80808, About Face, and Open Eyes. Callahan received her undergraduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University and has shown in numerous exhibitions and private collections throughout the United States. Callahan currently works as the Design and Production Manager at the University of South Carolina Press.

Pat Callahan
Sycamore torso
Mixed Media
2007


Carl Blair
Whispering Hope
Acrylic
2010


John Acorn
Trailer nails and paint
2009-2010