Hub-City Press Releases "Artists Among Us" Featuring Converse Faculty and Alumnae
Nearly a third of the 100 Spartanburg artists included in the newest book from Hub City Press are Converse alumni or faculty members.
Compiled by Edward Emory and photographed by Stephen Stinson, Artists Among Us: 100 Faces of Art in Spartanburg, is a large-size, color coffee-table book that spotlights the people who have shaped—and are continuing to shape—a remarkably robust art community. The 224-page book features their photographs, artwork and their personal stories.
From 6-8pm on Thursday, Nov. 17 during the city’s regular Art Walk night, the artists will meet the public at the following galleries: The Showroom, Carolina Gallery, West Main Co-op, Spartanburg Art Museum, the Guild Gallery, Galley East, Art Lounge, and TJC Gallery. Books will be for sale at each site, and a free trolley, sponsored by the Community Healing Arts Program, will move between the galleries.
Artists Among Us is a large-size, color coffee-table book that spotlights the people who have shaped—and are continuing to shape—a remarkably robust art community
“If people visit all eight galleries, they can get dozens and dozens of signatures on this one night,” said Ed Emory, organizer of the city’s Art Walk. “This may be the biggest Art Walk night ever.” The Showroom at HUB-BUB, at 149 S. Daniel Morgan Ave., will exhibit up to 100 wrapped canvasses with Stinson’s artist portraits. “Seeing all these remarkable photographs at one place at one time is an amazing opportunity,” said Stephen Long, director of the Showroom.
West Main Co-op, 582 West Main Street, will host an art show and sale of the artwork by the artists featured in the book.
The book, which sells for $19.95, has been years in the making. Emory conceived of the photo project as a way to give attention to Spartanburg visual arts. He enlisted long-time Spartanburg photographer Stinson to bring it to life. Hub City Press, with more than 50 titles in print, decided to turn their project into a book.
Converse faculty members included in the book are: Mac Boggs, Dianne Bagnal, Andrew Blanchard, Susanne Gunter, Geri Hurlbut, Teresa Prater, David Zacharias and studio art adjunct professor Rick Conn. Converse alumni include Carolyn Fulmer Alexander, Monta Anthony, Betty Jean Bramlett, Julia Bowling Burnett, Vivian Carey, Nikki Caulk, Jane Dempsey, Geri Dye, Katie Hodge, Linda Hudgins, Jill Jones, Sam Kasparek Mitchell, Nancy O’Dell Keim, Melissa Pitman, Ann Stoddard, Mary Ellen Suitt, Thomas A. Tucker, Doris Turner, Lalage Warrington, Kaaren White, Edyth Wise and Kathy Zimmerli Wofford.
“What’s startling about this group of artists is how widespread their backgrounds are,” said Betsy Teter, Hub City executive director. “They have settled here from the Kentucky coal country, the Illinois prairie, rural Ireland, the countryside of France, the industrial Midwest, the wild swamps of Louisiana, and all points in between. Others are homegrown, blossoming after finding their way to master teachers at our local schools and colleges.”
Emory, who curated the list of artists in the book and chose their artwork, said he selected these 100 because of their contributions to the visual arts community in Spartanburg. “As a group, they contribute day-in and day-out to our collective efforts in Spartanburg. This book is a striking calling card for our arts community and an important historical document.”