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Eldridge Hardie Named SEWE Featured Artist for 2011

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE), the nation's largest wildlife art and nature event, announced that Eldridge Hardie will be the Featured Artist for the 2011 event, which will be held February 18 - 20 in downtown Charleston.

A well-respected artist in the genre, Eldridge Hardie has been called one of the most accomplished and completely skilled sporting artists of the contemporary era.

Hardie works primarily with oils and watercolors and has had his work appear in publications including Sporting Classics, Shooting Sportsman and Charleston's own Garden & Gun. Hardie graduated first in his class with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Fine Art at Washington University and his career has been featured in Wildlife Art News and Southwest Art.

Also, look forward to the SEWE King Street Stroll! The SEWE King Street Stroll includes artist demonstrations and special events hosted by King Street shops, restaurants and hotels.

Gallery Chuma Favs Big Part of Gullah Tribute Luncheon

Some of Gallery Chuma's favorite personalities and chefs will be part of The Gullah Tribute Luncheon Friday from noon to 2:00 PM in the main tent at Marion Square as part of the BB&T Wine+Food Festival. As the leading gallery featuring Gullah Art, it is only fitting that Gallery Chuma's featured artist, Jonathan Green, is part of the Gullah tribute. 

Green is considered one of the most important painters of the Southern experience and one of the most preeminent artists capturing the traditions of African American culture.

 And if you have ever been to one of the many special events at Gallery Chuma, including the John Street Jazz Series, you will recognize the food in Marion Square as none other than the delights of Charlotte Jenkins of Gullah Cuisine in Mt. Pleasant. No one does Gullah food any better.

Gallery Chuma is located at 43 John Street in historic downtown Charleston in the Upper King Design District.

Author/Artist at Blue Bicycle Books for SEWE King Street Stroll

It's only appropriate at Pat Conroy's favorite Charleston bookstore, Blue Bicycle Books, that a wildlife artist, who is also an author/illustrator, make a live appearance during the SEWE King Street Stroll. So, on Friday Feb.12 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wayne Caldwell Simmons will not only show off his art, and his book at Blue Bicycle Books. Simmons wrote and illustrated The Story of Jules Verne, A Watch Pocket Dog.

Simmons has been an artist most of his life. Sporting art, portraits of people, people and their pets, wildlife and landscapes all have their place in his work, but it's his dogs and their antics afield that offer recurring themes throughout his work.

Simmons wrote and illustrated The Story of Jules Verne, A Watch Pocket Dog, a medium-sized, coffee table book laced with colorful paintings of gun dogs, horses, wildlife and outdoor scenes.

Everyone is always welcome at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King Street near the corner of King and John, in the Upper King Design District in historic downtown Charleston.