July Issue 2000
Hampton III Gallery in Taylors, SC, Celebrates 30 Years of Art
The Hampton III Gallery in Taylors, SC, just outside of Greenville, is celebrating 30 years of art, exhibiting new work by John Acorn, Dave Appleman, Jane Armstrong, Carl Blair, Emery Bopp, Jeri Burdick, Bob Chance, Bette Lee Coburn, Jim Craft, Jeanet Dreskin, Tom Flowers, Darell Koons, Laura Loe, Alice Munn, Ed Rice Tony Saladino, Carl Sublett, Leo Twiggs and Philip Whitley. The exhibition will also include three other separate displays of works created in the 70's, 80's and 90's which will include all the above artists and include the works of William Halsey and J. Bardin. Some of the works displayed in these decades will be from the artists' personal collections, including award winning works. This anniversary exhibition will continue through July 15, 2000.
In early 1970, Richard E. Rupp proposed the idea for the gallery to the original "three" - Greenville artists Emery Bopp, Carl Blair, and Darell Koons, all members of the Bob Jones University art faculty, and Hampton III Gallery was established in the summer of 1970 with Richard Rupp as director. Approximately two hundred guests viewed sixty paintings by the three artists at the opening reception in a rented building of 800 square feet in dimension.
Public acceptance was such that seven other artists were invited to exhibit: painters William Halsey, J. Bardin, Jeanet Dreskin, and Thomas E. Flowers; ceramicists Don Lewis and Tom Turner; and sculptor, John Acorn. By the time of the first anniversary reception in June, 1971, the gallery had reached its initial goal of demonstrating the commercial feasibility of a carefully juried collection of high quality art by established artists exclusively. In addition, the founding partners were satisfied that the gallery was contributing to the education, enlightenment and elevation of artistic taste and perception of the viewing public.
Consequently, plans to expand the scope and influence of the gallery were formulated during the latter months of 1971 and early 1972. In Apr., of 1972, Richard Rupp proposed the construction of a shopping and professional condominium centre with the Hampton III gallery at its center. Early in May, the R Corporation was formed to build Gallery Centre.
Construction was begun in Oct., 1972, and the new quarters were completed in time for an invitational preview opening on June 29, 1973.
In the interim, Hampton III Gallery, Ltd. had become a corporation and Edward Panosian was added to the original four owners, along with Elmer and Walter Rumminger.
Hampton III Gallery, Ltd. is the focal business of a shopping center called Gallery Centre in Taylors. According to Richard Rupp, founding director of the Hampton III Gallery, "the concept of a shopping center built around a commercial art gallery is most unusual."
An eight-foot sculpture by Clemson professor John Acorn was commissioned by the Centre in 1973. The cast aluminum work entitled "Interactive Forces" stands in front of the gallery. The artist states that his intent for the sculpture was "to create forms which embody my feelings and thoughts about the nature of existence. The forms are suggestive but not imitative of natural forms - rather, they are intuitive or a product of imagination. Each form is capable of standing alone, but in their composite they create an interaction - an interdependence, or even conflict. Such words as strong, forceful, energetic, elemental, stress, strain and struggle seem to be relative to my intent."
"I have a strong attachment to the Hampton III Gallery for many reasons. The primary reason is the supportive and warm relationships with the artists attached to the gallery and the commission that I received from Hampton III Gallery thirty years ago to create the sculpture piece that is placed in front of the gallery. I can easily recall the evening when the sculpture was received by the Greenville arts community. Many thanks to Carl, Emery, Darell, Richard and his daughter and director, Sandra," added Acorn.
In 1970 the gallery opened with the main purpose of providing quality art to the community. Painting, sculpture and printmaking would be the emphasis. Leading artists from the Southeast would be featured. Today the Hampton III Gallery represents over thirty professional, award-winning artists. The 2400 square foot gallery maintains an inventory of over 500 works.
"My association with Hampton III Gallery since July 21, 1970 has been a happy and positive relationship. Consistently, the gallery has been a prestigious and dependable locale where private and corporate collectors could consider selecting paintings and drawings from South Carolina and Southeastern artists," says artist Jeanet Dreskin, also adding. "Having a fine professional gallery director (Sandra Rupp) has had an impact on the quality and development of the reliable reputation of the gallery. The quality of the paintings, the interaction of the gallery artists, and the support of collectors all contribute to our successful gallery."
The inner gallery at Hamptom III hosts changing one-person or group exhibitions every 4 to 6 weeks with eight surrounding galleries offering a continuing display of works. Artists' lectures, demonstrations, discussions and special tours are provided to enhance the learning process. An extensive mailing list is maintained to keep clients informed of activities. Inquiries are welcome. Sandra Rupp, Gallery Director, is also available for private or corporate consultations.
On June 10, the gallery presented several demonstrations by Carl Blair, Alice Munn, Ed Rice, Philip Whitley, and Leo Twiggs in celebration of the gallery's anniversary.
For more info check our SC Commercial Gallery Listings or call 864/268-2771, or e-mail at (hampton3gallery@mindspring.com).
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