The large and diverse exhibition of South Carolina art as collected by the late Mark B. Coplan will be in the spotlight Nov. 15 at the South Carolina State Museum during Vista Lights.
The exhibit, The Mark B. Coplan Collection of Art at the South Carolina State Museum, showcases more than 110 pieces collected over 20 years by the art enthusiast. “It’s an amazing collection,” said Paul Matheny, State Museum curator of art. “There is everything from pottery, paintings, wood carvings, drawings, photography, printmaking and sculpture by such artists as Leo Twiggs, Corrie McCallum, Cecil Williams, Beverly Buchanan and many others.”
In conjunction with the annual art crawl Vista Lights, the State Museum will host the opening public reception for the Coplan exhibit from 7-9 p.m. The Museum will open at 6 p.m. for Vista Lights, and the Museum store, the Cotton Mill Exchange, also will be open to guests. No admission will be charged that evening.
“What is exciting about the reception is that an additional number of works collected by Coplan will be added,” said Matheny. “These pieces will be positioned like they were at his house. And we are fortunate that several members of the Coplan family will be in attendance.”
The Coplan collection represents works of art by emerging and established, fine and folk artists primarily from South Carolina, added Matheny.
“Like Mark, we want to preserve and promote South Carolina artists and their work, which is a large part of our mission,” the curator said. “This collection represents some of the best work of South Carolina artists who were producing art when Mark was alive, because he was not only an enthusiastic collector, but also very discriminating.”
For more information on the exhibit and reception, contact the State Museum at
(803) 898-4921 or visit the museum web site, www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org
Artworks such as “Surfers,” a woodcut piece by Charleston artist Corrie McCallum, can be seen at the State Museum during the opening reception for the exhibit The Mark B. Coplan Collection of Art at the South Carolina State Museum, Nov. 15 during the annual art crawl Vista Lights.
Photo courtesy S.C. State Museum
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