“Distant Echoes” by Canadian artist Ingrid Bachmann of a digital photo by David Leeson printed on fabric. From Fiberarts International Show at the Clay Center through June 22, 2008.

SOUR: “So, Sweet, what were some of your favorite art exhibits/events of April, now that “the cruellest month” is done for?
SWEET: “I have two favorites, in terms of innovation and artistic relevance and excellence: No. 1: The photographic installation by Doug Minnerly, Mark Wolfe and company at the “Stations of the Cross” exhibit during Easter. That collaborative effort was outstanding. It worked visually and intellectually. Really unique, unlike anything else attempted here in Charleston in that vein. Also, kudos to the church for showing this always interesting and consistently outstanding creative art exploration of the Easter Season.
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SWEET: No. 2 favorite thing on display in April is the excellent fabric show on view at The Clay Center. This is indeed a worthy showing by a regional art player (which the Clay Center purports to be and hopefully will continue to grow into). Here’s the official statement of the show, organized by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh: (more…)

“Moth Man No. 8 ” by Robert Villamagna, now on view at Taylor Books Annex Gallery. See more of Villamagna’s work at his website.

SOUR: “I have two faves exhibits that have been on display recently. Robert Villamagna’s new one-person show at Taylor Books and the Recent Earth Day auction for Habitat for Humanity. Villamagna, who teaches at West Liberty College, works in assemblage, collage, and mixed-media. His work has been exhibited at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol Museum, ARC Gallery (Chicago), Penn State’s Robeson Gallery, Pittsburgh Center of the Arts, Erie Museum of Art, Huntington Museum of Art, and the West Virginia Cultural Center. His work continues to develop. The work on display now at Taylor is funny and personal, smaller pieces that are nonetheless effective. This may be the strongest one-person show of his I’ve seen.

And let’s hear it for a plethora of established and up-and-coming artists who contributed for the worthy cause of Earth Day and Habitat for Humanity on April 22. Great work, great variety, good for mother earth and good for the community. A Triumvirate Show.”