"Morning Light" by Karl Zurfluh
As fall approaches in Charleston, the Gibbes Museum of Art invites guests to embrace the start of the season with a vibrant array of events and exhibitions in September. This month, engage in a virtual discussion on the global influence of Cuban art, enjoy Spike Lee film screenings in anticipation of his upcoming Distinguished Lecture Series event and explore the captivating works of visiting artists Karl Zurfluh and Tiangxing Xu. As Charleston’s home for historical, modern and contemporary art, the Gibbes remains dedicated to capturing the spirit of the city and the season through diverse exhibitions and events. See below for more details on this month’s offerings at the Gibbes.
Events and Programming
Cuba Talks: Cuban Art Beyond Borders, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6 – 7 p.m.
Join the Gibbes Museum of Art for an engaging virtual conversation featuring Laura Salas Redondo, author of Cuba Talks and an international curator; Reynier Llanes, contemporary Cuban American artist; and Patricia Diaz, art historian and curator. Together, they will explore the profound influence of Cuban artists and the diaspora, spanning from Havana to Charleston to Paris and beyond. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, click here.
Price: Free | Advanced registration required
Gibbes Film in Focus: Spike Lee Series, Sept 12, 19, 26
In anticipation of the museum’s upcoming Distinguished Lecture Series on Oct. 15, Gibbes Film in Focus returns with a series of highlights from Spike Lee's oeuvre. The Gibbes is proud to partner with the Terrace Theater to screen these films, so join them on James Island as they prepare for Lee's landmark lecture on the intersection of cinema and the visual arts.
- Do the Right Thing, Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 – 9 p.m.
- Malcolm X, Thursday, Sept. 19, 6 – 9:30 p.m.
- BlacKkKlansman, Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
Price: $12
Visiting Artists
Karl Zurfluh, Sept. 9 – Oct. 20
Zurfluh’s painting series, Light Pilots, cultivates a new visual language by utilizing and rearranging representational symbols deeply rooted in his past. These paintings are created with charcoal, acrylic, latex and aerosol paint; allowing him to build a myriad of layers, resulting in an atmosphere that feels thick and tangible.
Tiangxing Xu, Sept. 9 – Oct. 20
Xu presents a collection of paintings, prints, installations and artist’s books that serve as building plans for an imagined amusement park. Like pages ripped from a diary, each work seeks to capture the emotions of an important day long forgotten. He explores printmaking, installation, book making and integrate them into amusement park series and exhibitions.
Call for Visiting Artists, Now – Sept. 30
The Gibbes’ Visiting Artist program features eight artists annually whose work contributes to a new understanding of art in the South. The Gibbes extends invitations to both emerging and nationally recognized artists of all backgrounds. Visiting Artists receive a weekly honorarium and one-time materials stipend. Following the residency, artists will have the opportunity to exhibit works in the Ruth and Bill Baker Art Sales Gallery and collaborate on exclusive products to be sold in the Museum Store. For more information and to apply to the 2025 Visiting Artist program, click here.
Exhibitions
Artist Spotlight: David Driskell and Edward Middleton Manigault, Aug. 23 – Dec. 1
The rotating artist spotlight series continues in August with two new spotlight explorations. One focuses on renowned American artist and art historian David Driskell, whose painting and printmaking practice was influenced by nature, abstraction and African imagery. The other spotlight features early modernist Edward Middleton Manigault, whose fanciful paintings were well-respected during his short lifetime and included in major modernist exhibitions, such as the 1913 Armory Show.
Art Sales Gallery Exhibit: I Can Make a Difference: An Exhibition by the scholars of Metanoia's Freedom Summer, Opening Sept. 4
On this 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer of 1964, which inspired Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools in operation across the U.S. today, scholars of Metanoia Freedom School have collaborated with the Gibbes Museum of Art to present a community art exhibition. This year, the Freedom Summer Scholars focused on photography, capturing the art within their own lives. The photography displayed gives an inside look into the Metanoia community, through the lens of a young artist. Thematically, each week of Freedom School focuses on the overarching theme of Making a Difference. Collages and photos featured in this exhibit will display images and words that reflect the thoughts and dreams of these young scholars and will showcase their desire to make a difference within their community.
