Monday, Jan. 16, 2012

Artist dedicated to raising awareness of art, culture in Myrtle Beach area

By Steve Palisin - spalisin@thesunnews.com

cslate@thesunnews.com

A painting from Calvin Blassingame's, Jazz series is in his show at the Fresh Brewed Coffee House in Myrtle Beach. 01/05/12 Photo by Charles Slate

Inside

• Read more about Fresh Brewed Coffee House on pages 8-9.

An exhibit of artworks by Calvin Blassingame begins the Artist of the Month series at Fresh Brewed Coffeehouse in Myrtle Beach, putting the spotlight on various visual artisans from Horry and Georgetown counties.

Blassingame, a Greenville native, has lived in Myrtle Beach since 1991, and he’s president and co-founder of the Roundtable Art Group, which aims to increase awareness of arts across the Grand Strand. In his art pieces, he shares interpretations of the human form, jazz impressions, and Afro-gospel selections and depictions of life.

In an interview last week, Blassingame said more than once that as an artist giving a presentation, he never forgets that no one has “to come out and see you,” and that everybody who takes time to view and experience an exhibit should have a good time and find a connection with the art.

Question | Every time you open an exhibit or attend an opening of another artist’s display, what kind of rush sweeps through your body, mind and heart?

Answer | I get a rush when you get people coming out who get all dressed up and ready to hang out with you and see the talent that God has given you. … I get nervous every time like it’s my first show. It keeps you ready; it keeps you on the edge. Basically, you don’t want to disappoint the people. You want to make their evening out or date noteworthy.

Q. | Do your tastes in art change with age, and do moods affect your colors chosen?

A. | It depends what kind of mood I’m in that day. It may be pen and inks, or something somebody told me. … It’s usually black and white I deal with, but some colors do reflect my mood. For the most part, I close my eyes and kind of go with it.

Q. | What artistic attributes have you developed and found on your own, for benefits of the trade discovered only through your own ventures?

A. | Technique. In art school, nobody can really teach you to be an artist. What I’ve learned that they don’t teach you in school is the business aspect. You have to be able to market yourself. You also have to pay the bills. You only get as much as you put into it. The biggest thing is to just market your product, and get what you think you’re owed, but don’t shortchange yourself.

Q. | How has the market for art in the Myrtle Beach area continued to grow, especially through what you have seen living here for two decades?

A. | As far as the arts go, even though we have a long way to go, arts awareness is everywhere. Just since 10 or 12 years ago, it’s come a long way. It was a big chance to grow. Once upon a time, there weren’t that many art shows available; there was just a handful. There’s a lot of talent here. These artists and these writers are just waiting for an event or an avenue to go to, to be able to exhibit their talents and let the world know they’re here.

Q. | Since formation of the Roundtable Art Group in 2003, and what new milestones in opportunities await?

A. | It’s a long way to go, but we’ve done so much in eight years. The next goal … is to do more of the traditional art shows, and bring more awareness. Besides doing more art shows, we’d like to have more art workshops. Hopefully, we’ll get together with some people in the area to get business classes on how to market yourself as an artist. Hopefully one day … 20 years down the road, we’ll have one big conglomerate art show, like a Lollapalooza, and get together with all kinds of groups and all kinds of artists, and celebrate what God gave you, to say “We’re around, we’re relevant, and we matter.” And we’re always looking for new avenues.

Q. | How vital is engaging youth, to stir art for the future and feed that enthusiasm?

A. | You have to get the public involved, the people who are the movers and shakers of the Myrtle Beach area. … And that takes money in a lot of cases. … Arts are everywhere. It’s like the DNA of life. … Someone had to etch that glass from a design. … It’s all about designing and making that 3D design. … Being an artist is not a bad world. We get a bad rap. We just need to educate.

Q. | What steps are vital to continue the arts’ expansion in this area?

A. | I tell all the artists I come in contact with that it depends where you are. Some places are more acceptable to art than Myrtle Beach. I learned a long time ago that this is a tourist town. … And we’re in a college town. If you go to any of the art shows, you see collectors. There’s a lot of people around to support art. We need another jump-start, but we’re only scratching the surface right now. It is hard, yes, but you have to keep going. You’ll find a way if you want it bad enough.

Contact STEVE PALISIN at 444-1764.