Itta-Benna-Tracks, photograph by Ron Anton Rocz

Edward Dare Gallery will feature Blues inspired works by Charleston photographer Ron Rocz while visitors are entertained by Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner – back again at Edward Dare for the second year by special request. The soul shaking, foot tapping blues performed by this one of a kind harmonica and guitar duo provide the perfect ambiance for Rocz’s Mississippi Delta Blues Collection. These sepia-toned photographs convey a sense of what life was like in the early days of the blues, surrounded by cotton plantation life and work. As he often tells his viewers, “if weren’t for the cotton, there would have been no blues.”

Rocz’s photographs include old share cropper cabins, cotton gins, rural churches, juke joints, get-a-way railways, and local blues players. A few photographs include ghost-like images of early blues players dropped into present-day locations of blues fame.

Rocz’s blues photography collection has been well received at art shows in major cities across the nation. Blues enthusiasts and emigrants from the Mississippi Delta area, just south of Memphis, remark that his photographs have a “fidelity to the ambiance of the locale.”

At COCO VIVO Fine Art and Interior Design, collectors and lovers of fine art are cordially invited to experience the original still life wine art by Rodney Huckaby. Guests will view Rodney’s new collection of realistic still lifes of the world of wines and have the opportunity to meet the artist and discuss his work. His compositions of fine wines lit by romantic candlelight evoke special memories of the past. Musical guest Robert Lighthouse will perform for this special Blues on Broad event. Lighthouse, a native of Sweden, first came to the US at the age of 18, determined to learn more about the music he loves – Mississippi Delta Blues.

Lighthouse’s critically acclaimed debut CD, “Drive-Thru Love”, was released in 1998; his long awaited follow up “Deep Down in the Mud” was released in the summer of 2007 and also has received much critical acclaim. Lighthouse’s simultaneous work on guitar and harmonica on has received rave reviews in major blues publications throughout the United States, Europe and Australia. Lighthouse has been called the second coming of the late Dr. Ross. “…plays delta blues like the great masters” – HOHNER HARMONICA CO, “A supremely talented bluesman/mercurial talents” – Blues & Rhythm Magazine.

The  Hamlet Fine Art Gallery and Ellis-Nicholson Gallery entertainment will be provided by the homegrown Charleston talent of young bluesman Davis Coen who is currently enjoying heavy airplay on satellite radio. Coen’s music will be enjoyed from 6-7pm at Ellis-Nicholson Gallery and from 7-8pm at the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery. Coen sings in a lazy, slurring, Dylan-esque style that keeps you in suspense over whether he’ll even hit the right notes. You’ll find yourself absorbed by the muddled but highly rhythmic style. Enjoy his laid back, bare bones approach. Coen celebrated his new 2010 album release of “Jukebox Classic” .

M Gallery of Fine Art will feature the exhibit, Patina and Petals: Beloved Objects, an exhibition of the latest still life pieces from the collection of Sarasota, FL, artist, Susan J. Foster. The gallery will be featuring the music of Christopher Dean & Mike Mettalia Trio.

Mary Martin Gallery and Spencer Fine Art will also have entertainment and a wonderful variety of soulful art for art lovers and collectors.

For a full listing of the events scheduled for the Lowcountry Blues Bash, visit (www.bluesbash.com). For more information on the artists featured during Gallery Row’s Blues on Broad event, visit (www.charlestongalleryrow.com) or contact Stephanie Hamlet at 843/722-1944 for further information.

Work by Harry Neely

Come out and celebrate “White Lights and Red Boxes” by enjoying fine art and refreshments in the boutiques, fine art galleries, and bodegas on Gallery Row – historic Broad Street.  Participating galleries will have red boxes ready to receive your donation of a nonperishable can goods for the Lowcountry Food Bank.

Free downtown trolley service will begin on Monday, Nov 22, 2010, to serve the downtown shopping district. Key stops on the route include the art district of Gallery Row on historic Broad, King Street, the port’s cruise terminal, and Market and Meeting Streets in downtown Charleston.

A list of offerings on Dec. 3 include:

Spencer Gallery II will be featuring still lifes, landscapes and cityscapes painted in the early Pennsylvania style by artist, Harry Neely.

Spencer Gallery I will feature works by Claudette Bell, a well traveled artist, showing her realistic paintings of South Carolina, Europe, and various places in the US, including cityscapes and landscapes.

Both these exhibitions will continue through Dec 10, 2010.

As a special holiday treat, Edward Dare Gallery will feature miniature paintings – all sized and priced nicely for gift giving.  This show, Postcards from Charleston, will include little gems by Isabel Forbes, Leslie Pratt-Thomas, Ann Lee Merrill, Douglas Grier, Jim Darlington and Alice Botts as well as other gallery artists. These small treasures are available only during the holidays, but will capture memories to share with your loved ones for a lifetime.

COCO VIVO Fine Art and Interior Design will be filled with fabulous artwork by artists from around the world this holiday season. The exhibit and sale, A Special Holiday, will include works in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, sculpture, pottery, and fine art jewelry.  Our holiday event will feature gifts by contemporary artists – emerging through award-winning, established professionals.

The Ellis-Nicholson Gallery will feature the exhibit, Nocturnal Pursuits, featuring works by new gallery artist, Lenore Barnett, of Hendersonville, NC.

The Hamlet Fine Art Gallery will feature “Small Jewels”, 6″ x 6″ art works by Jane Woodward, Stephanie Hamlet, Kellie Jacobs, Melinda Lewin and Pat Forsberg. Come and meet the artists, including our famous, copper frog sculpture artists, Charles and Zan Smith.

Gallery Row Galleries include: Ellis-Nicholson Gallery, Hamlet Fine Art Gallery, M Gallery of Fine Art, Martin Gallery, COCO VIVO, Utopia, Atmah Ja’s, Edward Dare Gallery, Mary Martin Gallery, Bernie Horton Gallery, Spencer Galleries I & II, Ella Walton Richardson, and SCOOP Studios.

For further information call Stephanie Hamlet at 843/722-1944 or visit (www.Charlestongalleryrow.com).