SC Philharmonic performs
Pictures at an Exhibition

The early death of artist Victor Hartman inspired his grieving friend Modest Mussorgsky to compose a group of piano pieces in 1874. Since then, the musical collection has been arranged for full orchestra, and has become known and performed as Pictures at an Exhibition.

Last year, ideas from Toni Turbeville, of the SC Philharmonic and Vista Studios artist, Laura Spong, merged to create a unique fundraiser. The philharmonic is performing Mussorgsky’s score Saturday night (April 30) and local artists have created their own versions to compliment the performance.

As concert goers arrive, they will be able to see a juried collection of original paintings and sculptures created in response to the classical music in the Koger Center lobby. Local artists who chose to participate in the project were asked to listen to Pictures at an Exhibition , then paint what the experience conjured up.

Artists’ interpretations vary greatly from work to work. Since few of Hartman’s paintings survived, artists were not influenced by earlier examples.

Paintings chosen to move from Vista Studios to the Koger Center for the concert, and those that remain on view at 808 Lady Street are available for purchase. Following the concert the paintings will be assembled again at Vista Studios as part of Artista Vista. They will be on view and on sale through May 12.

The works were juried by Booth Chilcutt, City of Sumter cultural director; Martha Greenway, Sumter County Cultual Center executive director; and Peggy Chilcutt of the Sumter County Cultural Center.

Artists for the project are Bobbi Adams, Jill Allen, Barbara Alston Yongue, Jason Amick, James Blackburn, Eileen Blyth, Margaret Carter, Stephen Chesley, Sharon Collings Licata, Laura Dickson, Toni Elkins, Claire Farrell, Jan Fleetwood Porter, Dylan Fouste, Gretchen Gayden Dawson, Pat Gilmartin, Bonnie Goldberg, Dee Hanson, Andrew Hayes, Susan Lenz, Lee Monts, Richard Christopher Patterson, John Quirk, Laura Spong, Susan Spradlin, Nini Ward, Charlene Wells, Lindsay Wiggins, and David Yaghjian.

Irmo Middle School art students worked with Susan Lenz and Maurice Hood to create posters to promote Artista Vista and Pictures at an Exhibition.

Proceeds from the sale of the art benefit both the artists and the philharmonic.