MUSC employees display work at ‘etc. show’
by Heather MurphyPublic Relations
One definition of “art” in Webster’s Dictionary says it’s “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination, especially in the production of aesthetic objects.”
Kathy Gatten, Ginny Canady, and Jeff Johnson produce “art.”
Kathy
Gatten, left, and Ginny Canady put finishing touches on a massive spread
for fellow art-goers.
Together, they put on the fourth annual ‘etc. show’ now at the Charleston Maritime Center.
“Our first show was centered around a trip that Ginny and I took to New York,” Gatten said. “The next show was based on the OuterBanks (North Carolina) but the third and fourth were called ‘the etc. show’ so we could put up whatever we wanted.”
Gatten, originally from Columbus, Ohio, is the director for design and communications in the College of Health Professions.
Her artistic expression often includes nature, abstracts, and miniature representations of natural objects like palm fronds. “I don’t stick to one type of subject matter or type of art,” she said. “It’s very cyclical. You go with what you like at the time that you’re creating.”
While Gatten’s themes tend to vary, her theme for this month’s show centered around watercolor and a new creation, paper mosaics. “I always loved tile mosaics, so I began to experiment with painting and then cutting pieces of paper into tiny squares. In the show I have two mosaic pieces representing two species of fish,” Gatten said.
“We’ve exhibited the last two years at the Charleston Maritime Center. We were happy to find the center because you have so few choices where you can show your work if you’re not with a gallery.”
Canady's
“Nautilus” was the prize for a raffle collected during the opening reception.
All raffle proceeds benefited Pet Helpers.
Canady, a Charleston native and MUSC graphic artist and media specialist, said that it’s very hectic trying to get all of the food prepared and over to the location before the show. “We inflict the show on our friends and promise to feed them if they come,” she said with laugh. “We have others who we ask to help out through prestigious non-paying positions, like cashier, photographer, and hostess.”
Canady often chooses subject matter related to animals or architecture and typically uses watercolor, acrylic, or oil pastels to create her art.
“My favorite pieces for this show are my ‘bizarro’ metal wall pieces. I had a wonderful time creating and molding the metal,” Canady said. “My art is a total departure from my career.” Canady and Gatten agree about the motivation for creating their work. “I don’t have a choice about whether or not I create. If you have that urge, you create because you have to,” Gatten said.
It seems that Jeff Johnson, manager of digital publishing for CIGNA and the third artist included in the show, can identify with the urge.
A former photojournalist, Johnson’s interest was re-established by a photography class at the Gibbes Museum in Charleston.
“I really started to think of it as a craft or art,” Johnson said. “I work with an alternative process called platinum palladium printing. The process does not use chemicals or an enlarger to print photographs.” Johnson, originally from Sumter, S.C., takes pictures in black and white of landscapes, architecture and models.
“Photography is a way to get your scientific and technical left brain together with your artistic right brain. It’s definitely a challenge. Besides, I can’t paint,” he said.
The art exhibition “The etc. show” began Nov. 10 and concludes the 30th.
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