Our Town by Karyn Healey

East Gallery | March 19th — May 16th | Opening Reception: March 19th from 5:30pm — 8:30pm

Artist Statement:

As a resident of Summerville’s historic district, I observe and record the changes I see daily. OUR TOWN is experiencing rapid growth, and I’d like to create a visual inventory of Summerville while documenting how our community is grappling with the challenges that are not unique to Summerville. Across the country, what were once “small towns” weigh the pros and cons of progress. I admire the structures, both large and architecturally detailed, and the humble cottages that were carefully built long ago in Summerville. A friend shared the name of South Carolina landscape architect Robert E. Marvin who said that before WWll the streets, homes, gardens, plantings, “even the privy was made better than it had to be.” So, with reverence I celebrate and record these structures.

The nidus for this show is the large panoramic work entitled View from My Porch, which evolved over three years produced six connected paintings. During the time I worked on the series I realized that view, along with many other places, was changing and needed to be recorded. Based on my walks in Summerville, 29483, I started painting quick gouache snapshots of homes and structures I encountered, and the clock was ticking as news about development in Summerville and changing the historic district began to exert more pressure. I hope viewers appreciate my journey to create the work, my sincere affection for this place, and my desire to find balance and creative solutions.

Artist Bio:

I describe myself as an art activist and storyteller. My work focuses on observing life in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and telling stories that have been forgotten or intentionally lost, and in the last few years I have narrowed my work as record keeping and a way of connecting history to the present. Looking back can remind us of our foundations while serving as a cautionary tale moving forward. Our towns and communities possess built in strength and I hope my visual account encourages thoughtful consideration.

My art advocacy through the years has included working with children during summer workshops, directing an art appreciation/discussion program tied to elementary curriculum studies, and creating visuals for social justice events.

My art history includes working as a graphic designer, a community art advocate, and an adjunct faculty member teaching graphic design and typography. I’ve been fortunate to live in a variety of places in the Midwest and Southern US. Each place is unique in many ways, but “community” exists everywhere.