Sam Lovelace Discovering Your Arts Desire

Sometimes the best things come in small packages. One of my personal favorites is a small gallery tucked away off the “beaten path” in Saluda called Your Arts Desire. I recently had a moment to sit down with Sam Lovelace, co-op member of the gallery, and learn a bit more about this sparkling little gem of a shop.

How did you get involved with Your Arts Desire Gallery?
Local sculptor Linda Seagrove founded it and invited me to help her set it up.

How is the shop set up?
It’s an artists’ co-op and gallery. What that means is that local artists contribute art work, sitting time, a monthly fee to pay the over head. We have about twelve artists at this point. We would love to have more artists, because the more we have the less each has to contribute.

What do you mean by sitting time?
Each artist sits at the shop a certain number of days a month. We have a schedule and take turns. Some of us have regular shifts and some people just float and fill in and we even have “guest sitters” on occasion. It’s good because it allows each artist to meet the patrons and talk about their work. This also allows the opportunity to talk with an artist about another artists’ work. It’s almost like having a curator to help give you their perspective on the artwork. The gallery part of the shop gets missed sometimes.

So what kind of art is there right now?
Pottery, sculpture, painting, jewelry, fabric art, wood turnings, and stained glass. As we say, “Everything from Folk Art to Fine Art”. Because we have such a variety of contributing onsite artists we’re also able to offer a wide range of classes and accessibility to custom work. We’ve actually had people come in and ask for specific types of artwork and been able to introduce them to an artist that works in that medium with that flavor.

Who are the artists?
Linda Seagrove, Bonnie Bardos, Karen Dixon, Ellen Miles, Merci Weitzen, Dave Prudhomme, Ruth Nentwig, Sam Lovelace, Sherry Dinkins, and some who are less frequently showing their work. We like to keep at least twelve artists, but the more artists we have the better because it is a co-op.

What do you focus on?
We focus on local, whimsical, recycled, unique, found objects, etc. I call it art redemption more than recycled, things like old barn tin or vintage pearls for jewelry rather than new beads. We even have a guy who does Kudzu jewelry. But we also have fresh new fine art paintings. It’s a lovely blend looking at say Sherry Dinkins’ birdhouses with recycled tin in front of Karen Dixon’s landscape paintings.

What work do you have in there?
My main thing is my jewelry “Southern Charms.” My designs are based on my grandmother’s antique Mardi Gras beads. I also sell postcard, greeting cards, drawings, paintings, and my robot girl lives there.

When you say Mardi Gras, was you family from Louisiana?
Mississippi gulf coast, actually, “Bayou Straddlers.” I have a Mississippi Mother and my father was from Louisiana.

How did you end up in Saluda with a gallery?
I followed my arts desire (laughing) literally. I’m attracted to good people, good food and good art and this county has it in abundance.

Where else have you been?
Except for the comic book stuff and some art teaching and student film in college, I had never fully devoted my time to the arts until I worked here. I worked in the comic book industry for ten years and film about as long.

Where did you do that work?
Hattisburg, Mississippi. We filmed in New Orleans and toured the country with the comics, but all the work was based there.

What did you do for the for the comic book industry?
I specialized in pin-up girls. I did a little of everything, I inked, colored, penciled, but I specialized in pin-up art, I did some boy pin-ups too. I still have a comic diary because I can’t give that up entirely. (www.samsdayoff.com)

How is the comic book industry different from the art you’re doing now?
Comics are on demand. There’s an extreme deadline and very little room for creativity. It’s a commercial industry. Independent comics have a little more room for being creative, but there’s no money in that. I couldn’t stand to not love it any more, I couldn’t bear that.

Describe some of the pieces you have in the shop right now.
Some of my favorites are…Bonnie Bardos’ goddess painting which is part of a series. It’s just golden and the picture of intense concern for the whole world. Karen Dixon has several realistic local mountain landscapes that also have an emotional quality to them. Merci Weitzen’s new works are light painted Asian pottery pieces which are a totally new direction for her. I’ve watched her work over the past two years and it’s been interesting to see what she comes up with. Ellen Miles’ hand sculpted silver Earth Angel charms are really amazing.

What are your newest additions?
I got a bunch of 1940s theatrical sequins, odd colors, and I’m making very exciting earrings out of them. Like bluebirds out of sequins, and fall leaves. And of course, pearls and crystals on bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc. I don’t like for anything to match, so it’s all mismatched and asymmetrical, but drippy and sparkling is what I like.

What is group like to work with?
It’s like a family. It’s a co-op – cooperation. October marks the end of our second year, and what I’d really like to see in our third year are MORE NEW ARTISTS. New artists challenge us and bring new energy to help our family grow.

Your Arts Desire is located in Saluda’s Nostalgic Courtyard with the Wildflower Bakery, beneath the Brass Latch. Often you can find Sam’s sidewalk chalk art and poetry to lead you down the steps. Call the gallery 828-749-3154 or come by the shop if you are interested in becoming a contributing artist.