It’s the start of tourist season and there’s little room for you on the sidewalk. There are cruise-induced traffic jams downtown. All signs point to avoid East Bay at all costs.

But then you’d miss the new, beautiful, rustic silver lining.

If ever there were a store you wish to curl up in more than your own home, it would be 132 East Bay Street. Inside the showroom at the newly opened Reclaimed DesignWorks you’ll find an oasis of comfort, rustic charm and a kind of serenity you thought was reserved only for ashrams in India.

And all those good feelings? They’re for sale.

The walls at Reclaimed DesignWorks come down; you can even walk on them. (They’re hung with antique and reclaimed wide plank wood flooring palettes.) Everything you see in the retail-type showroom–which includes hand hewn and rough sawn beams, antique barn wood and siding, and other reclaimed timber materials–is meant to be touched with your fingertips, smoothed with the palm of your hand and experienced as if it were already part of your home.

Who knew that you could feel such an attraction to something that used to serve as structural support or barn siding? By the time you leave you’ll already be envisioning tobacco pine floors for your office. And you’ll have already named the two matching chocolate labs you don’t have yet but will most certainly match your new reclaimed wood floors.

“Nobody feels quite like they do around wood.”

That’s what he said.

He is Scott Peckham, owner and entrepreneur extraordinaire. Peckham, who opened Reclaimed DesignWorks in March of 2012 after moving to Charleston from Los Angeles, loves the emotional and impulsive reaction people have to the reclaimed timber in his showroom.

Each piece in the showroom is old–some are hundreds of years old–and with that kind of age comes a kind of character, history and genuine warmth that can’t be manufactured. So much of it in one place energizes you with an enviable grounding peace.

That’s a big part of why Scott loves what he does. Helping people “put little pieces of history in their homes” and watch them experience the same impulsive and emotional connection he did in a Colorado warehouse “just feels right to me,” he says.

“If I walked into a dentist’s office and they had reclaimed barn siding, I’d feel better about a teeth cleaning,” he jokes.

But in all seriousness, you probably would.

Just keep that giant saw away.

Grand Opening – Tuesday, May 8, 4-7pm
ReclaimedDesignWorks.com
132 East Bay Street
800.243.4030

Story by: Annabel Jones
Photos by: Karson Photography

That’s what happened when local artist Leigh Webber became more than the consummate wedding photographer a year ago; she became mother to baby boy.

That’s a powerful change. The first year of a child’s life is something extraordinary: an emotional roller-coaster of laughter, love, wonder, worry, and emotions you never knew existed. It’s enough to turn any of us into a bit of a poet.

Leigh went a step further and created The First 52 Weeks, an art project in which she pairs intimate portraits of her son, Seamus, with lyrical writing. First came the baby blog (you know the kind…where moms marvel over all the tiny details of the growing baby with mushy love, and non-parents read it like a foreign language they’re not sure they want to understand). Once the project took shape, the possibilities of what it could grow into for this talented artist began to blossom. A gallery exhibit? A book?

A North Carolina native, Leigh earned her BFA in photography at Savannah College of Art and Design and worked for six years as a photo retoucher and digital assistant to some of San Francisco’s top names in photography before landing in Charleston. She has wandered the world from the Middle East and Southeast Asia to India and Europe, camera in hand, for most of her adult life. We like to think that lingering bliss from the year she once spent in Australia, in part for a 9-month yoga teacher training program, shines through her body of work to this day. Vagabonding and photography…like chocolate and peanut butter.

Today, she is one of the most sought-after wedding photographers in Charleston. Her virtuosity in balancing light, technical savvy, and ability to connect with people are astounding. She’s been featured in the likes of Elegant Brides, BRIDES, The Knot, and Weddings Unveiled, and she’s even scored a PDN Top Knots award for best ceremony photos. So now her art follows the traditional progression: First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage.

And you’re invited to the birthing party. Come tonight to see the gorgeous color prints from The First 52 Weeks. Limited edition copies of the book (Leigh is currently shopping it to traditional publishers, so keep your fingers crossed) will be available.

In the spirit of the project, this is a kid-friendly party. Grape Nehi in mini red Solo cups has been promised, as well as other snacks appealing to Charlestonians in their tender years (there will also be beverages of interest to us grown-up folks, of course). So pack the family and celebrate the art and the joy of the baby years with one of our favorite shutterbugs.

First 52 Weeks Opening Party
Stems (208 Coming St., 843-789-4930)
March 22, 5-8 PM

LeighWebberPhotography.com/First52Weeks

Story by: Jason A. Zwiker
Photos by: Leigh Webber

We’ll start with that detail.

2011 was a rough year for the edgier side of Charleston’s contemporary art scene. The demise of more than one gallery and the departure of several heavy weights among artist stable left a void in the market. As it seemed, the party was over.

Then Gris Galerie came along.

And who knew gris, French for grey, could make our arts world so bright.

Elizabeth Bowers and Greg Colleton are childhood friends, they’ve got the sort of chemistry that lends to finishing each other’s sentences with excited laughter.

“We sat next to each other in sixth grade,” muses Bowers before Colleton interjects, “I can’t get her out of my life!”

When Colleton, with tenures already at several galleries across the South East, and Bowers, a journalist, noticed a growing void in the arts community they opted to do something about it.

“If you want to be a respected arts city, you’ve got to just show the art and not be scared,” notes Colleton.

The duo fully recognizes that some members of the community very well may be scared by the subjects within their shows. For their opening event, Gris Gallerie will showcase the art of photographer Cyle Suesz – an artist not known for his G-rated topics.

Bowers is quick to point out the importance of his work, “You have to remember that something shocking can also have a platform.”

For now, Gris Galerie will work as a pop up concept with first Friday openings across the city at various venues. The first show will open March 2nd at the Old Gadsden Funeral Home downtown, complete with a DIY photobooth in the building’s old embalming room.

Colleton and Bowers aim to make art unintimidating again to the younger community – both with an accessible price point and open opportunity for payment plans. It’s all about building a relationship to best support their artists.

And to that we say, gris is good.

Story by: Caroline Millard
Photos by: Cyle Suesz

Flowers: That’s mostly what Lulie Wallace paints. Her tableaus of colorful pom-pom blooms and vibrant firework-like bursts of petals barely can be contained on canvas. Her pieces are like intravenous injections of pure sunshine, comforting and uplifting all at once. In fact, that’s the greatest compliment Lulie has ever received with regard to her work: “This woman, who I’d never met before in my life, said to me, ‘These are incredibly uplifting!’” she says. For Lulie, that’s kind of the point.

By her own admission, Lulie is “a fairly loud, friendly person.” She views her colorful and slightly textural pieces as an extension of her personality. She loves that people can’t help but smile when they see her work, especially because her favorite part about being an artist is that her pieces become a part of someone else’s life. A very, very cheerful part.

It makes sense, too, that someone with so much exuberance would focus her evident talent on flowers. As Lulie points out, for her, they are the perfect vehicle to explore colors, shapes and patterns. And just like flowers, each piece is different. Some canvases include pitchers, vases and various tablescapes, but Lulie really prefers the flowers themselves.

When she first started painting professionally at Redux, Lulie used to hop over to Tiger Lily for a fresh bouquet every week. She quickly discovered that while her imagination went a mile a minute, the seasons and their floral progeny didn’t. These days Lulie spends hours scanning magazines and the web for arrangements that catch her eye. She also gets commissioned to paint bride’s wedding bouquets, which for her, is always fun due to the creativity inherent in “bridal bouquets these days.”

Lulie favors organic, chicly untidy arrangements instead of perfectly round sprays. As with most things, the less perfect the subject, the more beautiful and visually interesting the finished product. Though the bouquets themselves are beautiful, it’s Lulie’s use of color that really makes her paintings unique. Deep indigos mix with yellow ochres and peachy pinks. Lulie is unafraid of combining rich hues like turquoise and magenta with equally decadent spring and emerald greens.

The result isn’t garish—far from it. Instead, Lulie’s pieces are thoughtful palettes of cheerful brights playing next to tasteful neutrals. In the end, the finished product is as welcome in any room as a freshly picked bouquet—though Lulie’s paintings will certainly last longer.

LulieWallace.com

Story by: Annabel Jones

No. This isn’t going to end well. Let’s leave the jokes to the professionals.

Like Neil Bansil. He may “sound white” on the radio (which people always told him), but he’s not. He’s Filipino-Canadian-American and he’s going to change how you feel about race.

But first he’s going to make you laugh and, apparently, laughter can end racism. Or at least that’s the hope of Bansil—the funny bone behind The Most RACES Show on Earth.

Racism is the pink elephant in the room that gets treated differently for being pink. Diversity exists in our beloved South, but it’s latent and divided. “I was giving out flyers on King Street,” Bansil describes. “That night at Tasty Thai it was all Black people. Every other bar? All White. There’s no animosity, they just don’t relate to each other yet.”

Enter Bansil stage left—and seven of his friends with backgrounds from everywhere (ex: a Polish-Peruvian-Canadian)—ready to get them to relate. Every comedian will be doing 8-10 minute sets about their culture(s) from their perspectives, and also jokes that have nothing to do with race at all. “That’d be a boring set,” adds Bansil. “Everyone’s doing their best stuff. It’s the funniest show because it’s non-stop laughter from everybody. It’s an ab workout, and you’re learning at the same time.”

Making the show hilarious was Bansil’s only objective when he created the show in Toronto seven years ago. Soon, he was selling out 2100-seat theaters and getting interest from famous comedians and television networks. He took it to New York, and then to Atlanta. After getting married and moving to Charleston last June, Bansil decided to take a risk and pitch his show to Charleston’s 9th Annual Comedy Festival. “Who needs this show more?” said Bansil. “A place that’s already multi-cultural, or the South, where there are cultures, but they’re not together?”

They will be together two nights this weekend in, ironically, The American Theater. Playing in Charleston is a new risk for Bansil, who doesn’t know: which theater, the number of tickets sold, or who’s coming. “I’m nervous!” laughs Bansil. But he’s confident in his production. “I’m good at bringing people together. That’s my job. And if no one comes, I’ll just take really close-up pictures.”

Bansil isn’t a stranger to racism; he’s had some cruel things done to him. But he chooses to make light of it by turning it into material for his stand-up: “Everywhere I go, people think I’m Chinese. I went to Chinatown in Toronto with a white friend. They brought our order and gave my friend a fork and knife, but they gave me chopsticks. That’s ignorant, just because I’m Asian, doesn’t mean I know how to use chopsticks. Frickin’ Pizza Hut. And I just ordered a soda.”

Bansil just wishes he could see a more direct benefit, so he donates to anti-racism charities. “I want to help,” says a momentarily serious Bansil. “Maybe we’re indirectly ending racism, but we don’t say that. It’s about getting everyone in the same room. They look around, realize they’re all laughing at the same things, and say, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’”

OK, got it: What do you get when Filipino-Vietnamese-African-Jamaican-Polish-Peruvian-Jewish-Canadian-Americans walk into the American Theater?

A damn funny show.

1/20 at 9:30pm, 1/21 at 8pm – Tickets $12.50
American Theater – 446 King St.
800.514.3849, Get Tickets Online

Story by: Jessica Kenny

But before you whirl off into a stress-induced tailspin, we have a one-stop solution to all your holiday shopping needs: The Mom and Pop-Up Shop.

The headquarters of this year’s Buy Local Month initiative, this conveniently located temporary store is the perfect place to please everyone on your shopping list while supporting the community. Packed with local artisans and retailers, the shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-6pm, at 359 King Street.

Children at the top of your Christmas list? Take a sharp right inside the door for imaginative toys from Wonder Works and pint-sized fashion from the Charleston Children’s Boutique. Need to satisfy your coworker’s sweet-tooth? Head to the Charleston Cookie Company’s booth. There’s colorful bling from Ceilia Cove for mom’s jewelry collection, handmade wooden frames from Melonhead Framing Co. for dad and beads from Country Bumpkin to make a necklace for that friend who already has everything. From locally made mattresses to stained glass houses, there really is something for everyone.

The best part? It’s all local.

“The idea is to give small local businesses the opportunity to be on King Street,” explains Lowcountry Local First director Jamee Haley.

Beyond providing prime real estate for local sellers, the Mom and Pop-Up Shop also hosts a wealth of info from local businesses not selling products. And if that wasn’t enough to entice you to pop in, the store is hosting breakfast every Thursday of Buy Local Month with coffee and goodies from Charleston-based restaurants like Glazed and Charleston Coffee Roasters.

It’s beginning to look a lot like a local artisan Christmas.

The Mom & Pop-Up Shop
359 King St., Charleston
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-6pm

Story by: Carter Worrell Dandridge
Photos by: Jason A. Zwiker

“Miss O” (Olivia Pool, woman of many fanciful hats) is the emcee and brought the event to Charleston, creating a titillating atmosphere that is unlike anything else going on. There is no instruction so it is decidedly not a class. And it isn’t held at a school, thankfully. Artists get together in a venue that combines luxury and libations. You could be drawing on a leather ottoman with a gin fizz in one hand – try that in school. And nobody says you have to draw either. Taking in the scene and the sexiness could be just as satisfying for some.

Each Dr. Sketchy’s event will have its own unique vibe. The first two, Le Chat Noir and The History of Burlesque, were held at the Speakeasy downtown and featured live music and knockout performances from multitalented models. Artists do a series of short, timed sketches and then several longer ones, with prizes from Artists and Craftsman Supply handed out, of course, to the sketchiest.

“I came across Dr. Sketchy’s when I was vacationing in Australia a few years ago and just fell in love with the concept. I’m particularly a fan of how it combines the performing and visual arts,” Pool says. “Being an artist myself, I’m sensitive to the artists’ wants and needs. Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a great way for visual artists to experience an out-of-the-box figure drawing class with their peers. It’s also good for the performers and musicians. Charleston’s art community is growing every day, and I thought this would be a fun way to keep things fresh and inspiring.”

Pencils, charcoal, conte crayons, a sketchbook, and your creativity…bring it. Time to explore your sketchy side.

DrSketchy.com
If you’re interested in performing/modeling, volunteering, or have a great venue, email DrSketchysCharleston@gmail.com.

Story by: Dee Dee Arthur
Photos by: Matt Rickerby

Eight years ago, she had her best friend beside her, sharing a house on Sullivan’s Island. Were pictures made? Of course they were. Isn’t there always a camera clicking away during happy moments, silly moments, and slow afternoons with friends and family in the backyard?

Today, those images bring back memories of that friend, who she lost to cancer.

So when Jeni chanced upon Images for a Cure, an annual photography event benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, she knew she had to contribute.

This year, she’ll be one of hundreds of photographers donating their entire session fees for a day to the cause.

Images for a Cure began in 2009 when Orlando-based wedding and fashion photographer Kristen Weaver decided to dedicate a day of work entirely to raising funds and awareness for breast cancer. She encouraged other photographers to do the same. Something in her message must have clicked, because 239 photographers from 3 countries signed up in the first year alone. The event has only grown in size and scale each year since. Almost $29,000 has been raised so far in previous years and this year’s goal is to add another $18K to that.

Here’s how it works:

Go to the Images for a Cure web site and click on FAP (Find a Photographer). Here in Charleston, you’ll find two (so far): Sea Star Arts Boutique Photography (that’s Jeni) and Nicole Alexandra Photography, another amazing artist. You simply make your donation (the money goes directly to Images for a Cure), send the confirmation to your chosen photographer to schedule your session, and that’s that!

“I’ve already raised a ton and have several family, babies, doggies and professionals scheduled for their portraits this fall!” Jeni says. Inspiring and creating a healing atmosphere is what her photography is all about. As she’ll happily tell you, the ability of a starfish to regenerate after losing a limb is one of her main influences as an artist (hence the name “Sea Star Arts”), so there’s little wonder that this kind of project would hold such personal appeal for her.

After all, it’s the stuff we’re passionate about that brings forth the best in us. We’re already wild about the gorgeous, light-washed, and joy-filled portraits Jeni creates. Knowing that the money will help fund research toward a cure is the icing on the cake.

If you’re a photographer, sign up. If you’re not, smile for the camera. Because a picture is worth…everything, in this case.

Sea Star Arts on ImagesForACure.com
ImagesforaCure.com

Story by: Jason A. Zwiker
Photos by: Sea Star Arts

We’re also an art city, home to some spectacular galleries. Local and international art work…ours for the picking.

Now combine the two. The home as an art gallery. A spectacular place to feast your eyes on an extraordinary collection, then roll over and go to bed. A dream in itself.

Enter the home of Dottie and Brandon Shreve, a fun, spirited couple in Wild Dunes with one of the best and most diversified art collections around. These are the kind of people who will give you a David Baker after they’ve just met you if they think you’ll love it. They truly love art, and want to share that love with everyone they come in contact with. Starting with welcoming you into their home.

There are hidden gems around every corner that build up to the heart of it all – the double gallery style living room, with spectacular wall-to-wall paintings. You’ll find a lot of figure pieces (Dottie calls the human body “stunning”), landscapes, still life and sculpture. When asked what they don’t have, it seems modern abstract is the only thing missing. “Because we don’t understand it,” muses Brandon. Dottie just laughs.

It all started when they met an artist in New Hampshire, David Baker (now in the Smithsonian), who they said was “fascinating.” His was the first work they started collecting. From there, they started buying a piece from every place they traveled, slowly building their collection. Dottie says back when she didn’t have money, she bought prints…people didn’t seem to know what they were selling back then and she says she got lucky. Then they met Erwin Bernstien (widely known as “Tiny” because, of course, he was very tall), an internationally known collector who became something of an art mentor to them. And “luck” went out the window.

Tiny taught them to first and foremost, buy what you love. Plain and simple. (Like the first time they saw a John Carroll Doyle painting at a party, describing it as an “oh boy, oh boy, oh boy” moment). In terms of tips for investment? Trust your gut. Don’t buy at the bottom…wait until an artist is starting to get known, even if it’s the difference between $400 and $4,000. Work with a good gallery.

From that, Dottie and Brandon entered “Collector” world.

They tell us about a few favorites. Dottie loves “Au Bar,” a French painting that she says is the “perfect example of tension between a man and a woman.” It’s true…a bar, attraction, closing time…your mind can’t help but to skip ahead an hour. We love “Lanters,” a painting by a Chinese artist that depicts a girl entering puberty – excited but timid – with her ancestors guiding her. Brandon, of course, loves “Bikini Girl.” And why wouldn’t he? The artist did it as a study of his young, beautiful wife. Then they divorced and he practically gave the thing away (only to later search for it), and Brandon was the lucky swooper-inner.

“You never tire of a piece you love,” Dottie says. To this day, she and Brandon will sit on their couch with a glass of wine and talk about individual pieces, remember stories of meeting the artist, discover new things. And it’s a great conversation starter with newcomers. On one of our first visits, Brandon showed us a gorgeous sculpture of a women with a sheet falling down her back. He ran his fingers down the small of her back and instructed us to do the same. Extraordinary. He went back for more. “He’s allowed to stroke that one,” Dottie assures.

Whether your pieces are $10 or $50,000, Dottie says, “If you truly love a piece, you truly love a piece. Value doesn’t matter.”

So hop on in. Check out our local galleries and random home sales, and slap on the “Collector” title. Then have an Art Walk any night of the week you want.

Story by: Caroline Nuttall
Photos by: Karson Photography

These Blacksburg, VA, natives, both sons of lumberjacks, have a knack for seeing the forest through the trees. “We grew up walking through the woods, looking at a tree, and understanding what it could become,” says Colin.

After four years of architecture school at Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!), Matt realized he was headed for a desk job. Seeking a change of pace, he dropped out and started working for a barn builder. Meanwhile, Colin took a detour around the college hoo-ha altogether, leading him to London where he apprenticed for a theatre university, building sets and drinking pints. Years later, he was making a great living working on million dollar opera sets in Chicago, but he had become a cog in the machine.

Ultimately, what brought these two together is quite simple: Cold toes and a desire to call all the shots.

“It was cold in Blacksburg!” says Matt. So he moved to Charleston planning to work on beach houses and revel in the South Carolina sun.

Colin came to town shortly after Matt finished renovations on Robert Lange Studios in the fall of 2009 — the highlight of his career thus far. Once the two began collaborating, it didn’t take long for Colin to say, “Screw getting a job! It’s a lot cooler working for yourself.” And just like that, HandCrafted was born.

One year later, HandCrafted has built a reputation for itself. “Our customers understand that they can come to us with an idea and are willing to accept our vision,” says Colin, who focuses on design and build of detailed furniture pieces, cabinets and frames. They say artisan supply is their bread and butter, although both agree that they’ll do anything (within reason) and they’ll do it damn well.

“We’re blue collar artists — we’re all about function over form. From custom made wood kitchen counters, and bars with vintage hubcaps, to tables and tractor seat stools. We can do amazing things with wood and steel,” says Colin.

Their first “Einstein moment” came when they designed the Steasel, a steel easel that mounts directly to the wall. An additional accessory called a painter stick “was Matt’s baby,” says Colin. After a year of research and development, a dozen drawings, and three different models, Matt finally got it right. “When that thing came together, we felt like freakin’ geniuses!”

It’s those moments of inspiration and creation that drive these two mavericks, although their biggest motivation can be summed up in one word: Community.

“I’m new to Charleston,” says Colin, “but I’m choosing Charleston to be my home. We want to build relationships with our customers.” They see this as an opportunity to buy local and be local, saying, “You can drive to Charlotte and go to Ikea, or you can get to know us and we can work something out.”

So, the next time you’re in the market for a porch swing, picture frame or wine rack, forget Tar-jay — give Matt & Colin a call. They won’t disappoint you, those crafty little devils.

HandCraftedLLC.com
HandCrafted on Facebook
Email Matt and Colin
Matt: 843.696.1443, Colin: 304.544.8685

Story by: Lara Camozzo
Photos by: Andrew Stephen Cebulka