Marion Mason and Ginny Merritt at Jasper's Sidewalk Gallery

The Jasper Project has been delighted to include the work of two former visual arts educators, Marion Mason and Ginny Merritt, as well as that of Lucy Bailey and Judy Sellers in out Sidewalk Gallery at the Meridian Building on Washington and Sumter Streets in Downtown Columbia this spring.

About his work, Marion Mason says, “I am a visual artist who taught high school Art for
forty-two years. I earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree in studio art (sculpture concentration) from the University of South Carolina, and the Master of Fine Arts Degree (in sculpture) from the University of Georgia. In addition, I earned the Master of Education
(adult & community education) from Carolina. I began my 42 year HS Art teaching career as the artist-in-residence, and on-site coordinator, at the former Richland District One Artistically Talented and Gifted (ARTAG) High School Program. Currently I teach various visual arts courses and serve as the Fine Arts Department Head at White Knoll High School.
Since retiring from teaching in January, 2019, I am now a full-time professional artist again, and exhibit and sell my sculpture, pendants and earrings. Over the years I have shown and won awards at many local, state, regional, and national competitive and invitational exhibits.”

 According to Ginny Merett, “My collage work shows the deconstruction of beauty and an escape from reality inspired by stylish women in my life and around the world. I am nostalgic about family gatherings, women’s fashion in the early 1900’s and by personalities I meet day to day. My focus is on taking parts and pieces from current-day media to create present moments, social commentary, and new personalities. My art has been shown in solo and group exhibits at 701 Whaley Hallway: community art gallery, Stormwater Studio, ArtFields, Koger Center for the Arts, the Jasper Project, USC’s McMaster Gallery, SC State Library and Fair, and other local venues like Sound Bites Eatery, Trustus Theater, She Festival, Cottontown Art Crawl and Melrose Art in the Yard. Her work is published in the Jasper Project’s Jasper Magazine Spring 2019 and Fall 2022 editions, and in Sheltered: SC Artists Respond During the 2020 Pandemic; and in Bullets and Band-Aids, Vol. 3.”

Join Jasper's Al Black, Ginny Merrett, and Cindi Boiter for an Ekphrastic Poetry Event Sunday, July 9th

Al Black and his friends are generously reading their ekphrastic poetry about Ginny Merett’s Tall Women series in what Al calls “Poetry Church.” Meet us at the hallway: community art, 701 Whaley, from 2-4 July 9, 2023 for what will be a show highlight!

Artists include:

Songwriter, Alison Trotter

Songwriter , Alyssa Stewart

Poet, Janet Kozachek

Poet, Jane Zenger

Poet, Tamar Miles

Poet, Cindi Boiter

Poet, Michal Rubin

Poet, Jennifer Bartell

Poet, Kristine Hartivigsen

RETRO SPACE FUTURISM AND IRMO'S KIMBER CARPENTER

Her Adventure

Jasper: When did you first begin to pursue visual art? Where and when did you train,
or are you self-taught? 

Kimber: About 10 years ago. Then I was re-inspired when my mom discovered her talent and love of art in her retirement. I have been engaged heavily in art for the past 3 years. I am a self-taught artist and am always absorbing new ways to create.

Jasper: What mediums in visual arts do you typically use and why? 

Kimber: I use acrylics on canvas, mostly. I love to also combine brush painting with mixed media materials to create interesting abstract pieces. I love the vibrance that acrylics offer, especially the heavy bodied acrylics. I will also use alcohol markers to enhance or create shadows and highlights throughout the paintings.

The Damsel

Jasper: Where do you work now and where do you show your work? 

Kimber: I am a graphic artist by trade and have a freelance business, Grassroot Graphics. I am a member of the Cayce Arts Guild and am a Cottontown Art Crawl artist. My work has been featured at the Cottontown Art Crawl, Melrose Art in the Yard, Noma Warehouse, SCA Autumn Faire, SCA Mad Hatters Art Faire, Rob Shaw Gallery, Land Bank Lofts, Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Home, 14 Carrot Foods, Musicians Supply, The Coop in Winnsboro, Nicky's Pizzeria in Lexington, State & Frink, Aloft Downtown Columbia, the Irmo Chamber of Commerce and Carolina Imports.

Jasper: Who have been your greatest influences as an artist? 

Kimber: I really enjoy Matt Dixon, who has created a robot character that he puts in various environments and stories. I love his style and how his work comes alive with a simple robot trying to find his way through life. I also LOVE Alexander Jansson, who is a digital mixed media illustrator, photographer, and animator. I could stare at his works for hours.

Pod Travel

Jasper: What do you feel makes your art unique? 

Kimber: I feel like my art stands out the most when I am creating my space-futurism series. This series uses colorful backgrounds from my days as an acrylic fluid artist. I love to create new scenes, using vintage imagery from sci-fi posters, graphic novels, coloring books, etc. I love the nostalgia these pieces offer and the unique colorful backgrounds that are one of a kind and have an out-of-this-world vibe.

Jasper: Who is your favorite SC-based visual artist and why? 

Kimber: Ginny Merett. Her style is incredibly unique and extremely recognizable. Every piece tells a story and I love seeing something different every time I look at her work. I keep a tiny gallery piece on my desk titled "Radical Woman" and it inspires me daily.

Space Prisoner

Jasper: What are you working on now, will we get to see it, and if so, where, and when? 

Kimber: I am currently working on more space futurism, specifically a series of paintings of ray guns to compliment my mixed media space pieces. I currently have my space futurism pieces exclusively at NoMa Warehouse and hope to have new work available there soon. I would also like to do a showcase in the future, so I will see about doing that soon.

Ray Gun 2

Ray Gun 1