The lights, decorations, and art have been hung with care…
Hosting its third Mingle & Jingle on Main Street, S & S Art Supply continues to show some of Columbia’s most talented artist in their gallery spaces. Having no short supply of amazing and creative people, Columbia’s “Art Renaissance” is going strong this holiday season. Whitney LeJeune is the featured artist with her exhibition titled “Flux”. LeJeune also had an exhibition at S & S in May 2011 when she moved back to Columbia after having graduated from SCAD. DJ B will be spinning tunes out front on the street; a pleasant eclectic mix that is sure to entice the ears and warm the soul. Additionally, S & S is collecting gifts and donations for Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter – the wish tree created by Ladybug Art Studios (Amanda Ladymon), will be up until December 22nd. For more information on the wish tree, read the section towards the end of this article.
Whitney's work is more than beautiful - it transcends the sensual and feminine quality of the human form onto another plane of artistic freedom and colorful tranquility. Believing that the female form is the essence of worldly beauty, her inspiration in her paintings flow from spontaneity. These timeless and universal truths beat from the depths of her artistic heart.
“Flux is a constant state of change....Flux celebrates the marriage of my ever changing eye with my constant heart."
Whitney says her work is all about bringing passionate art into peoples' lives . . . and “putting emotions on canvas that bring pleasure and intellectual energy into homes, public places, and work places is what I love to do.”
She opened her first studio in 2009, began painting full-time in 2011, and hasn’t slowed down since. “I took the leap of faith - it’s demanding but I love it. I‘ve been blessed that so many people, especially women, have embraced my work.”
She works to serve-up enjoyment on an emotional and an intellectual level, mating form, color and the power of suggestion in every effort. “I’m most satisfied when I’ve said a lot with a just a few strokes of paint”.
Whitney’s work is influenced by her early childhood home, Austin, Texas, the elegance she draws from her family’s Southern roots, and a love of pushing herself to try new approaches to her subjects. She’s a 2009 graduate of SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design, BA, Painting). Her work includes the female form, portraiture, landscapes, architecture, and cover art for published novels.
This holiday season there are many children in Columbia without a nurturing family or safe place to call home. We want to help make the children of Palmetto Place Children's Shelter's holiday a little bit brighter with your help! S & S Art Supply has partnered with Ladybug Studios in creating a wish tree that will be on display at S & S from December 6th through the 22nd. Hanging from the tree are different gifts you can purchase for the children, such as a watercolor set, crayons, or a gift certificate towards supply purchases.
We are also happy to announce that Palmetto Place Children's Shelter will be the benefactor of our upcoming 3rd Annual Silent Art Auction & Fundraiser in July 2013!!!
Palmetto Place Children's Shelter provides a safe haven for children of all ages from newborn to 17 that are victims of abuse or neglect. These children are cared for 24/7 by a devoted and caring staff that provides medical and mental health care, crisis adjustment/transitional counseling, after school tutoring, recreational and social activities in addition to food, clothing and shelter. The shelter has been open since 1977 and has cared for more than 6,700 at-risk children.
There are around 16 kids who will spend the holiday season at Palmetto Place this year. Currently the youngest is 2 and the oldest is 16. They are involved in lots of after-school activities and school athletics. Art projects are a big hit at Palmetto Place!
"Children arrive at Palmetto Place at a time of crisis in their lives; they are hurting emotionally and/or physically. Victims of child maltreatment, they have been physically abused, sexually abused, physically and emotionally neglected, and/or abandoned. Many of the children have never experienced stable and secure living environments with compassionate caregivers. Their healing starts at Palmetto Place." www.palmettoplaceshelter.org
A family-run store, S & S Art Supply is owned and operated by Brian and Eric Stockard, Event/Exhibition/PR/Marketing Coordinator is Amanda Ladymon, married to Eric Stockard, and our newest mascot is beautiful baby Lily Stockard. With a cumulative breadth of knowledge of art supplies spanning 30 plus years, the Stockards are going strong and expanding onto more business ventures! Cigar Box #2, owned and operated by Brian Stockard will be opening two doors down from S & S Art Supply very soon, possibly having a small opening for this December’s First Thursday. Happy Holidays and Shop Local!
I know, I know. The weather is getting nippy. You've got a million things to do toward getting ready for the holidays and/or ending the semester. You're behind on sleep and ahead on stress. And just when you were getting used to it being November, damned if December didn't sneak up behind you and go boo. You may be thinking to yourself that, given what a good patron of the arts you are in general, this particularly busy First Thursday in December might be one that you don't really have to attend.
