LOCATED on Broad Street’s historic Gallery Row, Sweetgrass Gallery showcases the incredible talent of local and nationally recognized artists. With five separate salons, the gallery’s cutting-edge display features a 60-inch flat-screen TV for multimedia presentations of artists and their work. The gallery’s impressive roster includes renowned painters Alice Ann Dobbin, Anne E. London and sculptor Alexa King. It also introduces new talents, such as realist Mick Elam. Opened in September, the gallery will host a Grand Opening gala to meet the artists on November 1, 2019, from 6–8 p.m.
London is an internationally recognized artist whose work combines two of her passions: visual art and the conservation of endangered species. From her earlier intaglio engravings to her latest work with impressionistic charcoal and watercolor, London brings to life breathtaking portraits of wildlife in their natural habitats. Says London: “When I look at a lion, I see its uniqueness as an intelligent being. All animals have a rich interior life full of emotions; to ignore that fact is to miss something significant we share.” Through Arts for Animals, her nonprofit in Zimbabwe, thousands of children connect creativity with conservation to make a difference in their future. It provides scholarships in the arts, as well as funding for conservation efforts, such as anti-poaching police.
King, former artist-in-residence at Churchill Downs, is internationally recognized as one of the leading sporting sculptors in the world. Chosen from a field of 100 sculptors to create a full-sized replica of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, her sculpture is the culmination of a lifetime of studying movement in animals. Says the artist, “When I hold clay in my hand, I sense the movement of a horse.” Her sculptures are in the collections of America’s most prominent families and have been successfully auctioned at Sotheby’s as well as Christie’s in London. Recently, King broadened her scope to include birds and other wildlife.
Charleston artist Alice Ann Dobbin earned her latest recognition with “Best Painting” at the 2019 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition. Like the previous artists, her passion is nature. For the past 20 years, she has focused on the landscapes and wildlife of the Lowcountry. Her work transcends conventional realism to evoke a tranquility that is almost spiritual. Dobbin was a solo artist at the MacCallum More Museum in Virginia and has participated in prestigious invitational exhibits throughout the country. She is an avid supporter of animal rescue charities.
