Lauren Henkin’s ‘Easter House, 2006′ from “The Other Charleston”

Sweet: “There has been so much going on of late, let’s just list with brief comments our other Treats and Tricks of the season. For me, some real treats were “The Other Charleston” photos by Lauren Henkin, displayed at the Good News Garage Gallery as part of the Oct. 18 ArtWalk. This show was a recent first-place category winner in the international Prix de Photographie photography competition. “The Other Charleston,” is a documentary series of black and white photographs of Charleston which Henkin took over a period of three years. To view more photographs in
the series, visit www.laurenhenkin.com.”

Sour: “I thought this was a real Treat also. Highly arresting photographs. I loved her honesty in the artist’s statement in that she used to barrel through Charleston, W.Va. in her car on her way to St. Louis from the eastern seaboard when getting her graduate degree. And that she didn’t think much of stopping here, didn’t think much of us visually. But when she did stop she had revelations about the ‘Charliewest-ness’ of our city and the unpretentious beauty that exists here in mostly modest locations. She really gets the mood right and makes personalities of the locations in her shots. Featured are modest houses on the West Side, North Side, the beloved Red Carpet Lounge, the Ott building, Kyle warehouse, among others. And very modestly priced! Somebody please do us a favor and buy this series for the Clay Center or the Cultural
Center or somewhere. It’s probably a tax write off!”

Sweet: “I like a heightened awareness of the locales she depicts. Frozen in time, with such detail and control that the ‘Is-ness’ of the scenes is raised to the superb. It’s as if each of these photographs’ subjects are screaming with personality, all the while depicted stark and silent. It is a harmonious conflict.” (more…)

In honor of the Halloween season, Sweet and Sour report on this week’s Tricks and Treats in the regional art world.
__________
Sweet: “This was a really active week in the visual arts scene all over the state.”
Sour: “Yeah, there was almost too much going on.”
Sweet: “That says a lot for WV’s art scene; it got kind of moribund for a while for a while; Suddenly, there’s a plethora of good art being shown and made. Signs of life everywhere.”
Sour: “Some of my favorite things I ran across this week actually had a Halloween theme. Not just the usual corporate, mass -produced corny stuff, but real inventive visual art. Most hilariously surreal has to be infamous Huntington surreal artist Allen Toney’s video and “electronic scat” song featuring the Scooby Doo Gang and an odd dancing baby. Check it out:

Also, there are a number of area artists/musicians who have made some inventive videos on You Tube. Some of them are really good. The surreal ones by Allen Toney and Gene Surber are outstanding. Try ‘Albert Hoffman’s Hat,’ an Acid Jazz Rap song extolling the virtues of psychedelics and the first (real) LSD trip by Albert Hoffman. (more…)

Entries are being accepted through Nov. 9 for the exhibit “Pillow Talk,” featuring pillows, soft sculptures and ornaments. Opening reception is 5 to 8 p.m., Nov. 13 at ArtSpace, 1600 Washington St. E. For more information, e-mail keeleysteele@gmail.comor amyvangogh@yahoo.com

“Secret Meeting of the Know Nothing Council” from “The Great Heart War” by Kristie Carlisle Duncan, on view at W.Va. State University.

Sour’s most recent art pick was a Doo Wop event in Charleston. Sweet had two faves of her own: “The Great Heart War” now at W.Va. State University’s Della Brown Taylor Gallery.
__________
Sour: “Well, we went on about my favorite art event encountered recently. What is yours, Sweet?”
Sweet: “The Great Heart War” at W.Va. State University is entirely comprised of works in fabric by Kristie Carlisle Duncan. But they are not your traditional fabric media. This stuff is post-modern and really good.”
__________
Sour: “Fabric post-modern art? But is it craft?”
Sweet: “Ha ha. No, it’s not craft. Well, it has craft elements — in that fabric is traditionally a craft medium not usually considered fine art. And she used vintage cotton prints in her compositions. Although these days there are so many cross-overs and blurring of boundaries. What is craft? what is art? Who knows most of the time? Maybe who cares? Today, part of the fabric of the art world is that there are so many innovations and experiments.” (more…)

“Pruned Tree, 2005″ is part of “The Other Charleston” photo show on view during Thursday’s ArtWalk from 5 to 8 p.m. in venues around downtown Charleston.

The monthly ArtWalk takes place around downtown Charleston, W.Va., from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18. This month’s walk features an exhibit at Good News Mountaineer Garage Gallery, 221 Hale St., titled “The Other Charleston” by Lauren Henkin,” a recent first-place category winner in the international Prix de Photographie photography competition. “The Other Charleston,” is a documentary series of black and white photographs of Charleston which Henkin took over a period of three years. To view more phorographs in the series, visit www.laurenhenkin.com

Other exhibits include: (more…)