A glimpse at the artsier side of West Ashley
by Jenny Peterson | Staff Writer
As Charleston prepares for the 47th season of the annual Spoleto Festival USA, an internationally-recognized performing arts festival over 17 days from May 26-June 11, we couldn’t help but wonder: what is the arts scene like in West Ashley?
Turns out, the area is buzzing with activity on the stage, in front of the camera, on the exterior walls of buildings, and at a new fine arts gallery which is set to become the area’s first art gallery and café. These businesses are allowing creativity and talent to thrive in our corner of Charleston.
CURTAIN CALL
Charleston’s Stage’s West Ashley Theatre Center, which includes the 130-seat Pearl Theatre, is run by long-running Charleston Stage and brings youth of all ages into the exciting world of performing arts.
The multi-use facility at 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. includes a dance and rehearsal space and a theatre, all available for rent. Classes for students in grades K5-12 are held at the West Ashley Theatre, taught by nine full-time professional actors who make up Charleston Stage’s Professional Resident Acting Company. Students explore the craft of acting and learn the discipline of performing, as they develop their own unique creative voices. Students develop poise, movement, speaking, and acting skills as they explore improvisation, theatre games, character development and the many skills of professional actors. Summer camps start in June. Visit CharlestonStage.com/Education.
More students on stage can be found through The West Ashley Theater Arts at West Ashley High School, which has a robust theater production calendar throughout the year including three upcoming performances of Crazy For You to be held May 4,5,6. An opening night “red carpet” event will be held on May 4. Tickets can be purchased at www.westashleyhighschool.ludus.com. The school is located at 4060 W. Wildcat Blvd.
STUDIO SUCCESS
For any multimedia need, including flexible space for filming music videos, a backdrop for professional photography for advertising to an audio booth for recording the next big hit, Rift Studios off Wappoo Road is a 3,000 square-foot-space that supports many creative pursuits, including national TV shows like Southern Hospitality, which airs on Bravo.
“It’s really for creatives to come in and have as little limitations as possible,” said Chris Hanclosky, managing partner of Rift Studios. “We’ve done music videos, TV film production, shows that are happening in and around Charleston, political marketing and messaging videos, lifestyle and portrait photography or, product showcasing, we’ve had people film workouts on a green screen with high energy environment behind them, we’ve had a golf apparel company bring in a golf cart and models.”
The studio was created out of TargetMarket marketing and advertising firm, where Hanclosky worked with firm founder Nick Nydegger. They soon discovered a need for large studio space that can be rented for a variety of uses and expanded to Rift Studios about a year ago. The space includes not just state-of-the-art rooms and equipment for rent, but also a hair and makeup room and many offices for producers, editors and talent. Their location of choice? West Ashley.
“It’s a central location close to Hwy 17, I-526 and close to downtown and very close to the airport for a lot of people that are flying in and have a lot of equipment,” Hanclosky said. “West Ashley is already an ‘art’ kind of area. There’s a lot of very just creative people here.” Learn more at www.riftstudios.com.
ART ABOUNDS
Stono Gallery, a fine art gallery at 3874 Savannah Hwy opened in March, displays more than 120 individual works on the walls in its incredibly eclectic and curated portfolio.
Simon Schatmeyer, a lifelong art lover and art collector, decided to open a gallery that appealed to everyone’s taste. He represents 20 local artists and has a collection of international artists’ work on display in the gallery.
“The goal was to have something that anybody who likes any form of art would fall in love with,” Schatmeyer said. “I come from a family of artists. My mother, my grandfather, brother and sister are all artists. Even my daughter is a performing artist. I was a teacher for a long time, and this combines my passions.”
Artwork can be found at various price points and in various styles and mediums, from abstract, realism and expressionism to wood carvings, sculpture and pottery. The gallery is open every day except Monday and Schatmeyer is planning to add a café with an Italian espresso machine to the space—the first art gallery café combo in the area.
Schatmeyer said the West Ashley/Ravenel and Hollywood areas are prime art communities.
“It’s unbelievable how many incredibly talented artists have come to the gallery already and I’ve signed and represent now,” Schatmeyer said. “I consider myself a West Ashley Art gallery. West Ashley has a cooler, younger demographic and that’s why I wanted this gallery here. I thought it would be the best audience and everybody would find something really cool in here.”
