| Published December 2007 The Little Museum
That Could BY CONSTANCE
E. RICHARDS MOVING INTO ITS SHINY NEW DIGS in the Chapman Cultural Center, the newly renamed Spartanburg Art Museum (SAM), certainly has something to show for its years of long suffering hard work in an obscure space just beyond downtown. The slight aroma of paste wafting out of classrooms no longer linger in the halls. No pitter pat of young dancers filing past the exhibition galleries echo through the space. The Spartanburg Art Museum, in the humble venue of a former school for years, long ago matured into the state-of-the-art space it will receives with the Cultural Center. But for all its obstacles the small museum has done remarkably well in mounting significant exhibitions, holding nationwide juried competitions, highlighting its permanent collection and showcasing artists of the region. "Our strength really lies in showcasing local and regional artists– executive director of SAM, Theresa Mann. "We know there are other museums that have very fine collections of very fine Southern artists, and we know we can't compete. Nor do we want to. Because our strength lies in the local artists who live here." the growth of a collection It is largely upon that premise that the museum was conceived. The museum began quietly enough as an arts and crafts club in 1907. Spartanburg residents Josephine Sibley Couper and Margaret Law organized the Club to "cultivate the art spirit" and "to bring an exhibition of good paintings here," according to the Museum's documentation, The first exhibition was held in April of that year with more than 100 paintings by leading artists Robert Henri, William Chase, Elliott Daingerfield, F. Luis Mora, Anna Heyward Taylor, Mrs. Couper and Miss Law. One of the paintings exhibited was Henri's stunning "Girl with the Red Hair" which the Arts and Crafts Club decided to purchase as the nucleus for the local collection. According to the museum's historical accounts, a subscription list was circulated to collect the $500 for purchase. Active members of the Arts and Crafts Club sold '$5 and under' coupons on the street. One of the largest contributors was a newly arrived immigrant from Greece, the Spartanburg Daily Herald noted. With only $400 raised for the purchase of the painting, a telegram was dispatched to Mr. Henri for an extension of two weeks to see if more money could be raised. On Thursday, May 9, 1907, "The Girl With the Red Hair" was hung with ceremonies in Kennedy Library on Magnolia Street where the Courthouse now stands. The piece became the first in the collection of what would eventually become the Spartanburg County Museum of Art, now SAM. The Spartanburg Arts and Crafts Club disbanded during World War I and a new group of citizenry devoted to art appreciation began the Spartanburg Art Club in 1923. The club took its turn in caretaking the collection that was alternately stored in attics when the library fell into disrepair during the Depression, and returned to the library after its restoration in the I 950s. Two separate collections were eventually combined under the Arts Association, which brought the collection together as the Spartanburg County Museum of Art, housed in the former elementary school. showcasing the region "Part of what we've been doing is slowly collecting some quality pieces," says assistant director and exhibits coordinator Scott Cunningham. "Since we don't have a huge collection to draw from to display, we've been trying to have representation of roughly one-third area artists, one-third regional, and a third from outside the region." And that is precisely what has made the Museum's exhibitions so remarkable. In only the second Hub City Biennial Juried Art Competition this year, some 270 entries from both Carolinas and beyond were received. Of the museum's 300 pieces in the permanent collection, most come from artists who call–or called–the Upstate home. Capturing slices of life as seen through artists' eyes is as much of historical significance as it is culturally significant. Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet says, "Our multitasked Museum of Art has been at the heart of the commitment to culture that has been key to this community for several generations." "Anchoring our Spring Street center," he continues, "this talented group of professionals and volunteers contributes in many ways to offer space and venues for our artists, young and old. Add to that programs like COLORS, and one can sense their impact across the face of Spartanburg. The placement of their work in the new cultural center can only enhance and expand the potential and value of SAM to the people of our county." Indeed, the museum maintains several educational programs, including COLORS–an innovative open art studio for Spartanburg's inner city youth. It provides the opportunity for participants to develop artistic talent through painting, drawing and ceramics. The COLORS Academy is offered by invitation to artistically gifted at-risk teens. Additionally, the Museum's Art School is a program for studio and on-location art instruction that offers a wide range of classes and workshops for people of all ages and abilities throughout the year. An annual Art Lecture Series features experts speaking on fine arts, art history, decorative arts, and folk art. The Museum's summer art camp, annual sidewalk art show, and continued exhibitions of regional groups such as the South Carolina Watermedia Society and the Artists' Guild of Spartanburg further serve to bring together a Community within the arts. opening
hearts and eyes - Another endeavor that has blossomed under the Spartanburg Art Museum's outreach is introducing the works of international artists living in the region. Not content to just show the work, exhibition coordinator Scott Cunningham long ago decided that these international exhibitions will be such in every sense of the word. All literature about the exhibition, as well as the titles and descriptions of works are bilingual. "One of the things we've tried to recognize is that there are a lot of foreign nationals in the area," explains Cunningham. "When they show their art, they are showing a part of their culture, their mother tongue is a part of their culture, so the written material is done bilingually." In the past three years exhibitions have showcased works of Japanese, Russian, Finnish, and Chinese artists. The point of the bilingual shows, says Cunningham, is not so much to accommodate the foreign-born population that lives here, but rather to demonstrate that "the language is an integral part of the artists' culture and reflects in their work." changing of the guard Yet even with innovative concepts and a snazzy space, a bottom line for most museums is funding. With less-than-adequate facilities, the Spartanburg County Museum of Art suffered somewhat, in donations of both art and finances. "People are not inclined to give you work when your repository is not up to snuff," Cunningham allows. "That will be the major thing that will let our collection grow." has been the largest gift ever received by the Museum, says Theresa. "And it means that we will always be able to take care of the collection we have already started,” she says. But the charge to find more corporate donors and sponsors for exhibitions and collections remains strong. With its greater visibility in the Chapman Center off Barnet Park and with adequate security, climate control, and storage facilities, the Spartanburg Museum of Art has already scheduled its share of national touring exhibitions to augment the local and regional shows. Those national exhibitions don't come cheap. Museum membership stands at about 350 members. But in a county of some 250,000 "that is a low number," says Mann." The location we have been in and the facility itself have just not inspired people to become members." The swank new venue, catchy name change and morphing into a slightly hipper new identity hopes to attract a younger audience in addition to its current supporters. Dr. Kirsten Krick-Aigner, a professor at Wofford College became a member not long after moving to Spartanburg. A foreign language and culture instructor, she encourages her students to explore the arts. "When I was a student in Washington, D.C. a huge part of my education was visiting the Smithsonian on the weekends. When I lived in Vienna as a grad student and young adult, visiting Museums and galleries were as much a part of socializing as they were experiencing a marvelous part of the culture," she says. Mann promises the creation of a young collectors group aimed at young professionals, with planned events throughout the year, as well as informational seminars about art collecting. "We can help them, and anyone, understand that they can collect art without a huge pocket book," says Mann. "It's about education and expanding what people know," states Cunningham. "We try to have a combination of shows that we know people will really like, as well as one that at least challenges what they like–and sometimes that means they hate it." Ah, the power of art. For SAM and its hardworking crew, it's a all in a day's work. And thanks to its new home–a Much more satisfying day's work. |