By Charly Jupiter Hamilton

The lion grows,
the amazing hanging breasts are beating a child
who must be mankind carved.
The moon is a pig,
the sun glows and mingles
with murderous drought and crime.
The long ago smile is at death’s ordinary door.
Great nature sits in religion, though sometimes not religiously.
We all waltzed out of Africa,
whether you believe it on this dog day or not
is your business.

Click on images to enlarge. Photos by Mark Wolfe of Mark Wolfe Design

In the April issue of Utne Reader, an article titled “Real Time Africa” talks of a travelling exhibit of African art now making the rounds through Europe. Featuring contemporary work by more than 80 artists, the exhibit is so big it has three categories: “Identity and History,” “Body and Soul,” and “City and Land.” If Europe isn’t on your travel agenda, but you are wanting to check out some cool African art, visit the local Annex Gallery at Taylor Books before its own exhibit of African art closes on Friday.

Judy Strawderman, an African Art collector for almost 30 years, co-owns Scary Creek Art and teaches at W.Va. State University. The pieces she currently has on exhibit are mostly traditional art forms, but a few are more contemporary (the Madkonde sculptures for example). The exhibit features 100 art pieces - figures, masks, and more - from a wide variety of African countries, acquired from traders, galleries, and flea markets. Many of these pieces are also for sale.

In their own communities, many such items were created to be used as more than just as art. “It is an art form which is alive. It is not meant to be isolated in a case but rather to be used, held, and seen,” says Strawderman. “Overall the majority of my pieces where designed to be used in everyday life, spiritual/religious ceremonies, storytelling, and rites of passage.”

One intriguing aspect of the exhibit is appreciating each piece on its own and using your imagination to see it in the context of why it was created. Strawderman advises art viewers: “When we look at a piece, even in this show, we see it isolated. We see the mask, but we don’t see it with the full costume in the environment for which it was designed to be used. We see a beautiful beaded blanket, but we don’t see it draped across the shoulders of a woman wearing a beaded apron, with bead work and brass rings around her neck standing in front of a house painted in the same type of brilliant geometric patterns which we see on the blanket and apron. So we learn to appreciate the form outside of its context.”

IF YOU GO: The exhibit closes tomorrow, Friday, March 3, Annex Gallery, Taylor Books, 226 Capitol Street.

—By Amy Williams

Has the lack of a West Virginia Division of Culture and History commissioner left the arts in the Mountain State utterless?

I meant rudderless.

The post has been vacant since acting commissioner Troy Body quit in December. Like, who decided that “Open for Business” is better than the cool “Wild, Wonderful West Virginia” for the state’s motto? (And what ever happened to the even cooler “Almost Heaven”?) No artist seems to be working on that…. unless it’s the type of artist who works nightly at the Pink Pony Lounge.

And there is no Commissioner to talk to about my idea of turning Arch’s bunker basement into a West Virginia guest artist miniature golf course, with such themes as “Hillbilly Holes” and the huge “Strip Mine Whine” course — where you lose your balls and can never reclaim them. There simply is noone to propose the idea of “Coal Sculpture Show” for next year’s Black History Month.

What are the artists of the state to do? Where’s our leadership? Who’s in charge? So I’m thinking that this LocalArt blog should take matters into its capable hands and ask for applications for the job of New Commissaire of Arts and History (note the high culture Frenchy spelling…)

As they say,we’re OPEN FOR BUSINESS…..so apply yourself. Or submit someone you think would work. The salary would be negotiable with the Yeager Airport Parking Deck; no Toadees or fast track goalees need apply. And, as we know from the past, no experience is necessary.

– Charly Jupiter Hamilton

After they created art, artists need to think about whether they want their art to be seen and where. Although there are exceptions, many artists work their way up in the art food chain and start small… hoping to hit it big and show in ever more enviable and “reputable” places. Of course, an artist does not even have to show their work to be an artist, do they? But most of us want people to see what we make. And for artists who want to sell their work, or even make a living from it, the question of where to hang their art is even more important.

Most of us don’t have a Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s brother who continually loaned him money and supported his work. Even more of us are not Picasso, who could pay for dinner by doodling on a napkin. So we have to think more and work hard to get our work seen, and hopefully appreciated, by others.

So where to hang? Well for me the answer to that question has been answered through one important concept: networking. Networking isn’t just for bankers and lawyers. Artists benefit from networking, as well. You can learn from other artists, and even your non-artist friends, about places that display art.

In Charleston, there are a variety of venues for exhibiting your work. Gallery Eleven, an artist cooperative at 1033 Quarrier St., displays work by a variety of member artists. Art Emporium, 823 Quarrier St., displays work and even has an exhibit space in its 2nd floor loft. One of my favorite places, which doesn’t even have an art focus per se, is Visions Day Spa, 238 Capitol St. With a new 10-week art rotation schedule, artists can get their creations seen by hundreds of people each month who are getting massages, manicures and hair cuts. Hey, don’t laugh. Even if you’re shown in more serious places, locations like Visions can be a good place for new and/or experimental works. And with the better commission rates, you can keep 80 percent of your sale price compared to 50 or 60 percent in other galleries.

Of course Taylor Book’s Annex Gallery, Callen McJunkin/Steve Payne, the Art Store are more accepted and often respected locations for exhibiting. It can be much harder to get into these galleries, but they provide great support for artists and valuable support and guidance as well. Galleries often take more of a commission, but they also give more to the artists they choose to represent.

There are all kinds of creative and innovative ways to have your art shown as well. On two occasions, I’ve used the Covenant House Art Space, 600 Shrewsbury St., to stage shows. They ask for no commission, although donations are welcome. Of course, hours are limited and the location is definitely off the beaten track so that’s the downside. But if you can create a big opening night, then it can be a success too.

Plus, there are a variety of competitive exhibitions that you can apply to. These often require a registation fee, but if you get a piece in it’s great visibility. Or ask your socialite friends to host a party profiling your art — this might be an unconventional, but lucrative way to show and sell.

When you have art you want shown, or even better a selection of multiple pieces, contact different people and ask if they would review your work. Do they want to see the original pieces or would they prefer images on a CD? If you have an artist resume, bring that too. The ideas of how to have your work seen are limited only by your own mind… so get busy hanging out.

Do you have ideas of where to show art? Send them to the LocalArt blog and we’ll include them online.

– By Amy Williams