Seacoast Gallery

Art At Its Best Along the Grand Strand by Melissa LaScaleia The Seacoast Artists Gallery is a non-profit 501(c)(3), whose mission is to provide an atmosphere conducive to creativity, sharing, and mentoring for artists in the Grand Strand area. The gallery functions as an artist and art-lovers community spot, where chosen members can showcase their art to the public.  “We want to make sure we have a place for local artists to congregate, to mingle and mix and support each other, and share their skills with other artists in the area,” says Nick Mariano, the gallery’s director.  “Our Art Buddies group meets monthly, and was formed so members can offer constructive critiquing of each other’s work in a learning-focused, supportive environment.”  The gallery is associated with the Seacoast Artists Guild, which has over 300 members from a wide geographical area that encompasses the Grand Strand, Calabash, the Charleston area, Columbia, and even other states.   As director, Nick’s priority is to share the gallery’s art with the community, which showcases selected works from the gallery’s 70 member-artists.   “The gallery hosts a wide variety of art in many mediums,” Nick says. “We have beach and landscape photography and paintings; still life photography; bronze castings; ceramics and pottery; glass-blown sculptures; and sculptures made from old instruments. This is not your typical gallery; it’s quite a lot of fun. The selection is ever-changing, with new art displayed every month. There is something here for every taste and every budget.”  The gallery showcases works from visiting as well as member artists, to bring the community a diverse array of local art at its finest. Many local businesses struggled during Covid, but Nick is grateful that the gallery has been flourishing.  “People have been buying a lot of art over the past year,” he says. “I think because people have been at home more and are interested in revitalizing their space, improving it and looking at something new.”  Nevertheless, Nick is always trying to attract more people who are walking by off the street and into the gallery.  “Many people stop and look in the window, but they don’t come inside,” he says. “I’ve added members’ art along the front window in order to catch people’s attention and draw them in. I’ve also started a monthly Visiting Artist program. For this, I display the works of an artist who is not a member of the gallery, but has a following elsewhere. Many of these artists have won prizes for their art both locally and nationally. Some are instructors and have taught over the years in the Grand Strand area. A few even have their own galleries, but are thrilled to be able to show their work at Seacoast.”   As an additional way to reach out to the community, Nick has been putting together promotional videos and expanded the gallery’s Facebook page. There is also a scannable QR code at the gallery’s front door, so passersby can be immediately connected to the gallery’s current artists and activities.  “On our Facebook page, we highlight one member artist each day for a week,” he says. “It’s a nice way of promoting our artists and sharing with everyone what the artist has been up to, as well as getting people interested in what the gallery has to offer. People locally and from out of state are beginning to notice us and want to join the guild or display in the gallery.”  The gallery is currently hosting art classes in a variety of mediums that are open to the public. They also host one-day specialty classes, in which artists explain their craft and methods, and teach people techniques so they can refine their creative process.  Nick is looking forward to the time when the gallery will be restarting their monthly receptions, so members and the public can see what the gallery is doing in a more festive environment.  Their Fall Art Show is scheduled for October, and this year it will be live. Last year’s was virtual due to Covid. Members and the public are welcome to attend the awards ceremony and social. It will be advertised in the Insider ahead of time.  The gallery is a space where everyone, including beloved furry companions, are welcome to convene to share ideas, be inspired, and enjoy what’s on display. For Nick, the purpose of his work at the gallery isn’t just to sell art, but to afford people the chance to see it.  “It’s not about trying to get people to buy things,” he says. “We just want people to know that we’re here. We’re one of the bigger art galleries in the area, and we showcase teaching artists— many of whom have won numerous awards.”  In keeping with their mission of supporting and promoting artists of all ages, the guild offers two annual scholarships of $1,000 to high school seniors who are pursuing the field of art in college to help them further their art education— one to a Horry County student, and one to a Georgetown County student. This year they gave a grant to a local school to purchase art supplies so they could expand their art program.  The Cushman Fund was started in honor of one of the gallery’s deceased members. It funds grants and scholarships that promote art within the community. Gallery members create art and donate it to the gallery; all proceeds from those sales directly support the Cushman Fund.  “It’s our way, as artists, of giving back to the community and helping young people pursue a career in art,” Nick says. “We want to be a gallery that serves our community. It is surprising that many people who have lived in the area for years still don’t know that there is an art gallery in the Market Common.  “We hope that after they read this article, they’ll stop by and see the various categories of art that we have on display and for sale. We also encourage artists to join our guild and take … Read more

Our Local Community Art Spot by Melissa LaScaleia The Seacoast Artists Gallery in the Market Common is a non-profit 501(c)(3), created for the furtherance and development of the arts in the Myrtle Beach area. It’s an organization which exists to create an atmosphere of cooperation, sharing, and mentoring amongst artists in the Grand Strand area. The Seacoast Artists Gallery was started about six years ago by the Seacoast Artists Guild. The gallery functions as an artist and art-lovers community spot where guild members can showcase their pieces to the public, as well as convene to share ideas and give and receive support. Today, the guild has over 300 members from a wide geographical area that encompasses the Grand Strand, Calabash, as far south as Charleston, and inland to Columbia, as well as out of state. The guild holds monthly meetings as well as presentations on art topics by a guest lecturer, affording members the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with other artists. “We want to make sure we have a place for local artists to congregate, to mingle and mix and mentor each other, and share their skills with other artists in the area,” says Nick Mariano, the gallery’s new director. “Covid-19 has put a temporary halt to these meetings but we hope to resume them when things improve.” Nick took over the position of director two months ago. A former special agent with the State Department, Nick and his wife lived all over the world, traveling for eleven years, before Nick retired in 1996 and they moved to Myrtle Beach. “I’ve always taken pictures, but my travels inspired me to take more,” he says of how he found himself in the Myrtle Beach art scene. “My wife Pat is an artist too, and encouraged me to submit my pictures to art shows.” Over the years, Nick has produced a wide range of visual art, and has won many awards both locally and nationally. His newest hobby is writing books; he’s published over twenty on Amazon, including his autobiography. As director, Nick’s main goal is to share with the community everything that the Seacoast Artists Gallery, which is the biggest repository of art along the Grand Strand, has to offer. “The gallery hosts a wide variety of art,” he says. “We have beach and landscape photography and paintings; long murals that portray the current political climate in America as well as traditional still lives; photography; bronze castings; ceramics and pottery and handmade ceramic earrings; glass-blown sculptures; and sculptures made from old instruments.  “This is not your typical gallery. It’s quite a lot of fun. We have over 70 artists and many mediums with new offerings every month. There is something here for every taste and every budget. “We have art classes that are open to the public in a lot of different mediums, which we’re hoping to recommence by November. I’m trying to draw more people walking by off the street and into our gallery. Many people stop and look in the window, but they don’t come inside.  “We want people to come in even if they’re not looking for art; just stop in, come meet us, look around, and appreciate what we have to offer. We are not intimidating. We want everyone to feel welcome to simply come and see the artistic expression of our local community.” As part of his effort to add a fresh vibe to the gallery and attract more visitors, Nick selects an artist who is not affiliated with either the guild or the gallery and showcases their work as a featured visiting artist throughout the month. “Many of the artists aren’t sure they want to be shown in a gallery, but I think their art is so good, I give them the space to try it out,” Nick says. “I’m also displaying monster-size art pieces in the gallery windows to catch the eye of passersby; and rotate this art every two weeks. “We’re putting together videos to promote the gallery; and are highlighting an artist per day on our Facebook page. It’s a nice way of promoting the artist and sharing with everyone what the artist has been up to, as well as getting people interested in what the gallery holds. People from out of state are beginning to notice, and are wanting to join the guild or display in the gallery.” “I’m really enjoying coming up with new ideas to entice visitors,” he adds. “I’ve brought in cloth face masks from artists in California, and those have been very popular. I’m really looking forward to a time when there can be a reception in person.” For Nick, the purpose isn’t just to sell art, but to afford people the chance to see it. “It’s not about trying to get people to buy things,” he says. “We just want people to know that we’re here. We’re one of the bigger art galleries, and we showcase teaching artists— many of whom have won numerous awards.” In keeping with their mission of supporting and promoting artists of all ages, the guild offers two annual scholarships of $1,000 to high school seniors who are pursuing the field of art in college to help them further their art education— one to a Horry County student, and one to a Georgetown County student. Funding for the guild’s operational costs, as well as the scholarships, comes from guild members’ dues and art sales. The gallery hosts two art shows, one in the spring and one in the fall— usually April and October, respectively. The shows are open to anyone, not just gallery or guild members, and juried by two artists from outside the area. Winners receive prizes for their work. “Right now we’re in the process of getting ready for our Fall Art Show that begins in October and runs from October 2-15,” says Nick. The Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild bi-annual art show always directly follows the show sponsored by the Seacoast Artist Gallery. In the fall, … Read more