Oil Painting with Vicky McLain

Vicky McLain will be leading two oil painting classes on Wednesdays beginning March 10th. The morning session will meet from 10:00 to noon and the afternoon session will be from 1:00 to 3:00. Each class will meet four times and the cost is $70. Call Linda Howle at 843.616.2561 to sign up and get the supply list.

Vicky McLain will also be leaing an Open Studio session on Tuesdays beginning March 16. Open Studio will meet from 1:00 to 3:00. Oil, watercolor, and acrylic painters welcome. The cost is $70 for four weeks. Call Linda Howle at 843.616.2561 to sign up.

Opening Reception for 9 Exhibits: Feb. 4th

On February 4th, the Black Creek Arts Center will host an opening reception for nine art exhibits. Admission to the opening is free and everyone is invited to attend. The opening will take place from 5:30 - 7:00. And while we say 5:30, feel free to come straight over after work. Early birds are welcomed.

To preview our exhibits, click on the links below:

Capturing the Spirit of Scouting (Boy Scouts of the Pee Dee)

Recent Works (Adrian Anderson Rhodes)

Down Country Roads (Ann Lane)

Barriers (Nathan Gulledge)

Sister Art (Phoebe Smothers & Sarah Jaillette)

Exploring Typography (Marcos Sola)

Nature's Heart (Harolette King)

Black Creek Pottery (Mary Lou Bailey & Barbara Watson)

Senior Show Preview (Emily Dornburg, Henna Koponen & Danny Wagner)

The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue in downtown Hartsville. For more information about this opening or other Arts Council events and classes, contact Bruce Douglas at 843.332.6234 or via email at bartscounc@aol.com.

Coker College Student to have work in Juried Show

Coker College Senior Art Major Henna Koponen recently had three photographs selected for Obscura: Click the Light Fantastic. This exhibition will be housed in the Soundry Gallery in Vienna, Virginia.

The juried exhibition focuses on alternative photography and printing techniques.

The show opens on Saturday January 30 at 7pm and runs through March 5, 2010.

In addition to majoring in art at Coker, Koponen is also a member of the Cobras' Women's Basketball team and is interning at Black Creek Arts Council.

A native of Helsinki, Finland, Koponen plans to attend graduate school in Europe upon completing her studies at Coker.

Fiber Artists Wanted

The Art Trail Gallery con­tinues to seek additional exhibits for the Fiber Arts display opening Febru­ary 19^th and running for six weeks. The deadline for entries is February 10^th. There are no fees for par­ticipation. The Gallery wants all types of fiber arts represented from pa­per-making, basketry, knitting, sewing, crochet, needlework, spinning, weaving, quilting, tatting, etc.

Click here for Entry Forms.

Individuals willing to teach short workshops during the exhibit should contact Jane Madden at the Art Trail Gallery - 843-673-0729.

The Art Trail Gallery is an all-volunteer gallery in downtown Florence. The gallery is open from 1-4pm Monday through Saturday and by appointment. Admission is free.

Work by Graphic Designer Marcos Sola

Marcos Sola is a 2005 graduate of Coker College and currently works as a graphic designer for Sonoco Products, Inc. Sola's artwork at BCAC explores typography.


Sola has contributed to BCAC over past through years by designing the promotional materials for The Carolinas & The Carolinas II, the annual community photography contest and exhibit. Information about The Carolinas III will be announced soon.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to 8 Exhibits - 1 Night Listing

Dornburg, Koponen & Wagner in the Frankie Bush Classroom...

Three Coker Seniors will have work on display at BCAC.

Coker College Seniors Emily Dornburg, Henna Koponen, and Danny Wagner will have work on display at the Black Creek Arts Center. The Frankie Bush Classroom, located on the second floor of the Arts Center, will be the site of the rising artists works.

All three seniors are currently working on their Senior Shows at Coker. The Senior Show is the capstone course for art majors and results in an exhibition in the Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery in the Gladys Fort Art Building on the campus of Coker College. The work that will be shown at BCAC will be a preview of the students' Senior Shows.


This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Barriers by Nathan Gulledge

Nathan Gulledge's Barriers will be on display at the Black Creek Arts Center. Gulledge has expressed his concept for the series through the following statement:

They are used to keep people at a distance.

They keep you from accepting the truth.
They prevent critical introspection.

Barriers disguise the emotion of the situation.
They prevent surpassing the problem.

Barriers are outer coatings that help you fit in.
They are inner coatings that blind your sense of reality.

They cause you to sacrifice individuality,
Allowing you to never see beyond the superficial.

Barriers block the strides for knowledge.
They overshadow the desire for understanding.

Barriers prevent questions.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Barbara Watson, Mary Lou Bailey, & Stephanie Jackson in the Pottery Studio

BCAC instructors Mary Lou Bailey and Barbara Watson will be displaying their pottery in the Pottery Studio for the February 4th opening.

Watson's wheel thrown pottery and Bailey's hand-built work are well-known in the Pee Dee. Both artists will also be leading classes at BCAC in February. Call Bethany at 843.332.6234 for more information.

In addition to the two displaying aritsts, potter Stephanie Jackson will be demonstrating during the opening.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Boy Scouts of the Pee Dee

Boy Scouts from the eleven counties that make up the Pee Dee have been asked to submit photos that Capture the Spirit of Scouting. The regional exhibit is being held during the centennial year of the Boy Scouts of America.

Former BCAC Director Terri Pignone, now an executive board member with the Scouts, organized the exhibit. It is sponsored by Brown Pennington Atkins Funeral Home.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Ann Lane's Down Country Roads

Photography from Ann Lane will be making a return to the Black Creek Arts Center. This time Ann will have Pee Dee images on display. Down Country Roads will be making a move from the Marion County Museum to Hartsville.

Down Country Roads will be in the Reese Page Classroom on the second floor of the Arts Center.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

The opening reception is being sponsored by Brown Pennington Atkins.

Back to the 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Sarah Jaillette & Phoebe Smothers

Sisters Sarah Jaillette & Phoebe Smothers will have work on display at the Black Creek Arts Center in February.

Above: A painting by Jaillette

As one would expect, sisters Jaillette & Smothers have a lot in common. They have the same parents. They live in the same town. They both have work in Darlington's Birds Of A Feather, an art and antique gallery that Jaillette and Linda Howle run.

Despite these commonalities, it would be hard to tell these two ladies are sisters when looking at their artwork. Jaillette's signature paintings contain birds and she is also well-known for her seascapes. Smothers, on the other hand, creates mostly non-representational work (see below).

Above: by Phoebe Smothers

BCAC is pleased to be showing the work of Sarah Jaillette and Phoebe Smothers. Both women, along with Linda Howle, were instrumental in the Darlington Artist Crawl in April 2009. Check out their gallery, Birds Of A Feather, at 106 Siskron Street, just off the Square in Darlington.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to the 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Harolette King's Nature's Heart Photography

Displayed in the foyer at the Black Creek Arts Center, Harolette King's photographs of heart-shaped leaves will make great Valentine gifts or year-round home decor.

Also on display in the foyer will be work by Ina Ingram and Heidi Bond. Ingram was the featured artist in the Jean & James Fort Gallery during the month of January. Her painting, Freedom, will be on display, as well as one of Bond's famous dog paintings (New Toy). Bond will be the featured artist in March.

This exhibit will be one of eight exhibits opening on February 4th at the Black Creek Arts Center. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00pm on February 4th. The Black Creek Arts Center is located at 116 West College Avenue. For more information, call 843.332.6234.

Back to 8 Exhibits - One Night Listing

Benefit for First Hartsville Idol Winner to be held at BCAC

Demitrius McDonald, the winner of the first Hartsville Idol, will be headlining Music To Remember at the Black Creek Arts Center on January 23rd.

Joining Demitrius will be Tracy & Ron Price, Craig Beshures, Al Haynes, and the Sonoco Men's Club.

Showtime is 7:30 with the doors opening at 7pm for refreshments.

Tickets are $25.

Call or stop by the Black Creek Arts Center for tickets, 843.332.6234.

Art Book of the Week #4

For the 4th Installment of the Art Book of the Week, Black Creek Arts Council and Burry Bookstore bring you...

Oil Painting Tips and Tricks by Rosalind Cuthbert
$12.99 at Burry Bookstore in downtown Hartsville

Oils can be tricky to master, and even experienced artists often need a refresher course. This book offers advice on everything from buying the right brushes to creating atmospheric effects, and from the initial composition to making corrections.

Visit Burry Bookstore on the web.

At the Darlington Library...

The Pollockesque paintings of Darlington County artist Walter Cooks can now be seen at the Darlington Library, on Main Street, just off the Square in Historic Darlington.

Rotating art exhibits will now be on display in the Allard A. Allston Conference Room at the Darlington Library through a partnership between the library and Black Creek Arts Council and is made possible through funding from the South Carolina Arts Commission.

Wine Tasting Class Coming to BCAC

with Judy Haenni

at the Black Creek Arts Center

Dates: February 27th, March 6th, & March 13th (Three Saturdays)

Times: 2pm to 4pm

Cost: $50 per person or $80 for a couple

Call the Black Creek Arts Center to reserve your space, 843.332.6234.

Session One: Bring a notebook and a wineglass. You'll taste the actual flavors that the vintners put on their labels: fruity, oak, buttery, tannins, floral, earthy, etc.

Session Two: This session will focus on white wines. You will taste several wines and put to use the knowledge gained in Session One.

Session Three: This session will focus on red wines. You will taste several wines and put to use the knowledge gained in Session One.

Judy will also share magazines, websites, food pairing wheels, and wine gadgets that she prefers. She'll also talk about wine festivals and tasting bars that she has been to in our area.

Call the Black Creek Arts Center to sign up, 843.332.6234.

Art Book of the Week #3

Pollock by Leonhard Emmerling

$14.99

A tragic icon of Abstract Expressionism, Jackson Pollock (1912 -1956) took influences from Picasso and Mexican surrealism and developed his own way of seeing, interpreting, and expressing. Though his name inevitably conjures up images of the drip paintings for which he is most famous, this technique was only developed midway through his career. The progression from his earlier work to his final action paintings, a veritable revolution of painting as a concept, reveals the genius of this tortured artist whom many call the greatest modern American painter.

Find this book at Burry Bookstore on Carolina Avenue in Hartsville.

Art Book Of The Week: #2

Jewelry Making Handbook

by Sharon McSwiney, Penny Williams, Claire Davies, and Jennie Davies

$12.99 at Burry Bookstore

Produce professional-looking jewelry using simple techniques and equipment and learn to work with a variety of metals, ceramics, and plastics with the Jewelry Making Handbook.

BCAC Exhibits

Below is a list of BCAC's 2009 Exhibits.

In the Jean & James Fort Gallery at the Black Creek Arts Center:

January & February - The Every Child Is An Artist Exhibit featuring Nathan Gulledge, John Herth, Jennifer Webb, Steve Roos, and Patz Fowle.

March & April - Dr. Hiller Spires' Being Home

May & June - Michael Gray's Carolina Echoes

Above: by Michael Gray

July - The Carolinas II Community Photography Exhibit (exhibit at BCAC & Hartsville Memorial Library)

August - Irish Art from the collection of Beverley Spears

Above: One of Mary Ellen Johnson's amazing food paintings. See more here.

September - The Johnson Family Show featuring Seth, Mary Ellen, & Dale Johnson

October - Darlington County Watermedia Artists - This show was done in coordination with the South Carolina Watermedia Society. Featured artists included: Frankie Bush, Heidi Bond, Marty Brown, Bob Feury, Pollie Bristow, Anna Coe, Carolyn Swallow, and Catherine Anderson. Guest artists for the exhibit were Jackie Wukela and Lynda English of Florence.

Above: by Catherine Anderson

November - Tobacco Barns of the Pee Dee: A Collection of Work by Benton Henry. This traveling exhibit was produced by BCAC and funded by the Humanities Council of South Carolina and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

December - 3rd Annual Christmas Shoppe

Darlington County Library Exhibits

Nathan Gulledge's Barriers Series

Shawn Lay's Unbidden Visions

Tobacco Barns of the Pee Dee

Work from the Collection of Stephan Drew

Three Creeks Visual Artisans Alliance of Marlboro County

Dr. Hiller Spires' Being Home

Exhibits in BCAC's Upstairs Gallery

Three Creeks Visual Artisans Alliance of Marlboro County
Carolyn Atkinson
Cliff Jones Photography

Now Online: Tobacco Barns of the Pee Dee

The Tobacco Barns of the Pee Dee Exhibit

can be viewed online by clicking the link below:

BCAC Online Exhibits

BCAC's 2009 Events

In 2009, BCAC presented:

Black Creek, Blue Jeans, & BBQ

Darlington Artist Crawl

Above: Members of the Darlington Artist Crawl Committee

Suzanne Muldrow, Linda Howle, Sarah Jaillette, Pollie Bristow

Several Author Luncheons with Burry Bookstore

Above: At Todd Johnson's signing of Sweet By And By.

The Long Lash Cabaret

March Madness - Free Art Classes

Coffee with Ilona

Luncheon Honoring Willard Jacobs

Viscera Dance Theatre

Gallery Disco

Audition Site for Hartsville Idol

3rd Annual Christmas Shoppe

Black Creek also hosted three summer camps for young people:

Camp Creative

Explore Art with Mike & Patz Fowle

Kindermusik Camp BCAC provided funding for the following events:

Lamar's Art in Park Series through the Friends of the Lamar Library

American Spiritual Ensemble through the Hartsville-Coker Concert Association

Tian Yang through the Hartsville-Coker Concert Association

Deathtrap presented by the Hartsville Community Players

Programming for Get Creative for the Darlington County Library

Jazz! Carolina for Hartsville Downtown Development Association

Renofest for Hartsville Downtown Development Association

O Happy Day presented by the Hartsville Community Players

The Hartsville Civic Chorale's Christmas Concert

Mural painted by Patz Fowle at the Hartsville Memorial Library

Mural in downtown Lamar through the Darlington Chamber of Commerce


BCAC also funded eleven artist residencies in Darlington County schools through its Arts-In-Education Program. BCAC's Grant Program and Arts-In-Education Program are partially funded by the South Carolina Arts Commission.

Art Book of the Week: #1

Black Creek Arts Council and Burry Bookstore are teaming up to bring you Art Book of the Week. All books chosen are in stock at Burry Bookstore on Carolina Avenue in Hartsville. The first book is:

The Pastel Artist's Bible: An Essential Reference for the Practicing Artist

Discover the unique joys of pastel painting with this easy-to-use guide to one of the most versatile and forgiving mediums. More than 100 visual sequences reveal key techniques such as mixing, blending, scumbling, sgraffito, hatching and feathering. Includes tips on composing your painting, using color, adding highlights and shadows, and creating textured effects. Step-by-step demonstrations show how to approach a range of subjects from landscapes and flowers to portraits and still life.

Fowle Works Her Magic at the Hartsville Memorial Library

Question: What does Patz Fowle see when she looks at this wall?

Answer: An opportunity.

This once-blank wall is in the Hartsville Memorial Library on College Avenue in Hartsville. Patz Fowle worked feverishly over the Thanksgiving weekend to get the mural completed for the library's patrons. The idea for the mural came from Audrey Tripp, branch manager of the library. The magical imagery was designed by Patz Fowle.


The final touches will be put on the mural during the first week in December. More photos will be posted soon.

This project was made possible by a grant from Black Creek Arts Council, which was in part by the Sonoco Foundation, the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Holiday Ornament-Making with Bethany Perry

Bethany Perry will be leading holiday ornament-making sessions at the Black Creek Arts Center on Tuesday, December 1st and Thursday, December 3rd from 5-6pm. The sessions are free and children ages 4 to 10 are invited.

Call ahead to reserve your spot, 843.332.6234.

The ornaments will be displayed on BCAC's Christmas tree. They can be picked up on Saturday, December 19th from 10am to 2pm.

Oil Painting Workshop with Vicky McLain

On Saturday, December 12th, instuctor Vicky McLain will be offering a oil painting workshop at Black Creek Arts Center. The workshop will last from 9am-2pm. Students will be painting a beach scene...what a great escape from the cold weather season! The cost for the class is $40.

For more information or to sign up for the class, call Bethany at the Arts Center, 843.332.6234.

To view a list of supplies click here.

Ukrainian Egg Workshop: December 5th

UKRAINIAN EGG WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Accomplished Ukrainian Egg Artist Ivy McLaurin will be leadinga workshop on December 5th at the Black Creek Arts Center.

Students will learn the history and legends associated with this centuries-old technique. Students will learn to use the ancient "candle" method as well as being taught using eletric kistky. Cost for the is $70. All supplies are included in the price.

The workshop will last from 10am to 4pm. Please bring your own lunch. Drinks will be provided by the Arts Council.

Call Bethany Perry at the Arts Center to sign up, 843.332.6234. The class size is limited to ten students. Call soon to reserve your place.