On Friday, April 1, from 6 to 9 p.m., Rob Shaw Framing and Gallery will host an opening reception for a month-long exhibit of works by artists Jamie Blackburn, Michael Geddings, Rob Shaw, and Candace Thiebeault. The gallery is at 324 State Street in West Columbia.
Inspired by the efforts of coastal regions to rebuild after tropical storms, Blackburn’s works comprise layers and undercurrents of color. “Just as builders use new materials and paint to rebuild structures damaged by storms, my paintings cover the canvas with layers of texture, colors, and movement,”explains Blackburn. Brimming with energy, the markings and color combinations in Blackburn’s paintings make for a lively and joyful viewing experience.
A native of Columbia, SC, Geddings specializes in portrait photorealism in a variety of media, ranging from charcoal and pastels to watercolor, oil and acrylic paint. Geddings, a graduate of the Governor’s School for the Arts and the University of South Carolina, works both as a middle-school art teacher and as a prolific professional artist, averaging 150 works per year.
Shaw’s most recent works are large, colorful abstract paintings that move in a bold new direction defined by loose strokes and fresh colors. “My landscapes have always been impressionistic and, thus, abstract to an extent, and now I am pushing the boundaries of the subject matter even further,” says Shaw.
In 2009, Thibeault gained recognition for a series of contemporary mixed media paintings, and her work began to show in art galleries and at universities throughout New England. In addition to being featured in several online and print publications, her work has been displayed by galleries in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. Thibeault paints and teaches in her Gilbert, SC, home.
Rob Shaw Framing and Gallery is a full-service frame shop and fine art gallery. The gallery’s monthly exhibits showcase South Carolina’s many talented artists with diverse styles.
Since opening his gallery in April of 2019, Shaw has showcased the work of many other South Carolina artists in shows opening on the first Friday of each month.
