Living on the Go, February 2011
20-plus artists featured in Willcox exhibition
By ASHLEEY WILLIAMSON
Staff Writer
The Dun
The walls of The Willcox are beaming with equestrian pride this month,mas the Chisholm Gallery, a leading international dealer of sporting art, has brought an exhibition of more than 20 artists from all over the world.
Paintings, drawings, sculptures, needlepoint collections, vintage photographs, pearls, botanical water colors, lithographs, caricatures and more are on display and sale throughout the hotel for the rest of the month.
Chisholm Gallery owner Jeanne Chisholm said, in her business, she strives for a mix of fine art from new and established artists in a variety of media and subject matter.
One of Chisholm’s favorite exhibits in the gallery is that of Susan Smolensky, an artist who depicts Steeplechase horses and scenes.
“She has captured a dynamism that nobody else has,” said Chisholm of Smolensky. “The elevation, the angle at which she depicts the steeplechase horses jumping – she really makes you feel like you’re right there with her, right there in the moment of the jump or landing.”
Also on exhibit are Freudy vintage photographs. These photographs depict equestrian and society images taken more than a half century ago.
“A lot of (the images) depict scenes of polo at Meadowbrook for the International Game, but also polo here (in Aiken) in the 1930s,” said Chisholm. “Freudy captures moment that are such indelible imprints.”
American and French bronze statues are also on display. Besides equestrian art sculptures, American sculptors Tammy Bality and Patty Davis also create a similar type of suggestive art.
“It’s interesting, we have two sculptors depicting bulls and bears for Wall Street and the fluctuation of the market,” said Chisholm. “It’s really kind of interesting when you think of how cosmopolitan this collection is.”
Other exhibits in the gallery include a collection of vintage Stork Club menus and limited edition photos and medallions, individually crafted freshwater pearls by Passport Pearls and artwork by local artist Louise Mellon. Mellon paints out of her home studio where the ponies, cats, dogs and chickens are encouraged in as live models, and also paints polo and general equine art.
The exhibition will run until the end of February in the main lobby of The Willcox and the Hunt Room and is free and open to the public for viewing.
Copyright Living on the Go; used with permission.
Living on the Go
February 2011
