April Issue 2000
Bernie Horton Gallery in Charleston, SC, Expands To A New Location
by Linda Annas Ferguson
Since Nov., 1997, Bernie Horton Originals Gallery has enjoyed a cozy spot on Church Street, just south of Broad in Charleston, SC. Now, after just a little more than two years, he has expanded to a new location at 111 Church Street, a few steps north of Broad.
Bernie is best known for his oils and acrylics
that capture the light and life of the Lowcountry. Creeks wind
themselves through the marshland under live oaks draped in pendulous
moss. Shrimpers and crabbers gather their feasts to the shore.
Others chase an elusive clam, shoes sunk in the mire of pluff
mud.
He came to Charleston from Pawleys Island, SC, where he owned
and operated Bernie Horton Studio. His paintings were received
with enthusiasm by Charlestonians and travelers alike from the
first day of operation. By the second year in business, the demand
for his work had doubled. As he began to outgrow his space, the
next natural step was to find a larger location.
Situated in the former Yaschik Enterprise offices, the new gallery is more than double the size of the former site. It has been completely renovated and modernized. The increased size and more sophisticated lighting more adequately serves the customers by allowing them to view the art from different perspectives. The interior is decorated in warm tones that complement his subject matter. Bernie commented, " I want the customer to feel welcome and comfortable. I felt the new gallery should be more spacious, yet just as inviting as the smaller previous location."
Now that he has established himself in the
Charleston area, he is being approached by numerous other galleries
up and down the east coast. He is now showing at the Red Piano
Gallery in Hilton Head, SC, and also looking at a broader market
with a national scope. Plans are in the process to establish a
web site which will help coordinate national advertising in the
near future.
Bernie correlates his growth to that of the overall Charleston
art venue. Since he came to Charleston, the French Quarter Gallery
Association has doubled in membership. Bernie recounts "Church
Street gave me my beginning. I wanted to stay in the French Quarter
area. I am particularly happy that we were able to move only a
few doors from our previous location. I have made a commitment
to this area and to Charleston. I appreciate Charleston's generous
response to my work."
Since his move on Mar. 1, the gallery has noticed a 25 percent
increase in traffic. He is located in the same block as a number
of other quality art galleries. Bernie added, "Everyone has
welcomed us to the block. We refer customers to neighbor galleries
and they refer customers to us. I think it is a given that when
there are several comparable galleries in the same vicinity, customers
gravitate there."
In addition to Bernie's work, the gallery also features the oils and acrylics by his brother, Mark Kelvin Horton, also a talented artist. Mark is developing a following of collectors, and will be shown as a guest artist on an ongoing basis.
Linda Annas Ferguson is a freelance writer and poet living in Charleston.
For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 843/958-0014.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
Subscriptions are available for $18 a year.
Carolina Arts
is published monthly by Shoestring
Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2000 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts
from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts
Online, Copyright© 2000 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved
by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use
without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina
Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.