What is Charleston Supported Art?

Modeled after the popular Community Supported Agriculture movement in which consumers invest in a local farm and receive recurring deliveries of fresh produce, Charleston Supported Art (CSA) will give art lovers the opportunity to purchase shares in exchange for original art created by a select group of local, emerging and established artists. The program is part of a nationwide movement that has developed in over 40 communities across the country and is the first of its kind in Charleston, SC.

How it works

CSA’s exciting model of art sponsorship and distribution supports artists in the creation of new work. The program aims to foster new relationships between buyers and artists with the potential for future art purchases.

• A total of 12 visual artists (4 per season) are selected through a juried process and receive a stipend of $1,500 to create 32 pieces of fine art or fine craft, such as paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textile, jewelry, and more.
• Only 96 shares (32 per season) are available for purchase at $425 + tax each. Purchases can be made by contacting us at [email protected].
• The shares are delivered through exclusive pick-up events for each season. The pick-up events offer shareholders the opportunity to mingle with the artists and fellow art enthusiasts, and pick up four new, original pieces of art to add to their collection. * All 2015 pick-up events have passed.

Apply to be a CSA artist!

For artists, the advantage to participate in CSA extends far beyond the monetary stipend. Being a CSA artist means that your work is guaranteed to find a home with 32 patrons who may wish to deepen the relationship by buying additional work in the future. The open call jury process for 2015 is now closed. Click HERE to join the mailing list and keep up-to-date on future artist calls.

Charleston Supported Art Founders & Owners

KRISTY BISHOP, artist, founder of CSA

Kristy Bishop is an artist, teacher, and curator from Charleston. She primarily works in textiles using a variety of dyeing techniques. Kristy teaches dyeing processes including Shibori (Japanese fold, bind, and dye techniques) and natural dyeing. She initiated the Charleston Supported Art program to better connect artist to patron and directly support local artists.

ERIN GLAZE NATHANSON, Arts Director

Erin Glaze Nathanson is an arts director and curator. A graduate of the College of Charleston, Nathanson planned and curated exhibitions for the City of Charleston’s City Gallery at Waterfront Park for nearly five years. She most recently created the foundation for the ArtFields 2013/2014 art competition in Lake City, South Carolina, which features 400+ artists from across the Southeast. Nathanson owns The Southern, a contemporary gallery with her husband, Justin.

CAMELA GUEVARA, Artist and Seamstress, Charleston Garment Manufactory

Camela Guevara is a studio artist at Redux Contemporary Art Center and a seamstress CrewLaLa. She enjoys adding tiny beads to fabric and sewing thoughtful garments. She also contributes to the fashion and art blog, Gemsounds.com.

ANNETRABUE WATSON NELSON, Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator, N.Charleston Cultural Arts Department

In addition to her position at the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, AnneTrabue also serves as the Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Redux Contemporary Art Center, and is on the Steering Committee for TEDxCharleston. She is a textile artist living in North Charleston. AnneTrabue moved from Birmingham to Charleston to attend the College of Charleston in 2001, where she received a degree in Art Management with a minor in Children’s Theatre. She previously worked as the Marketing Director of PURE Theatre, and as the Assistant Director and Graphic Designer for Martin Gallery.

ANN SIMMONS, Marketing & Development Coordinator N.Charleston Cultural Arts Department

Ann Simmons graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in Arts Management and minors in Art History and Business Administration. She is the Marketing & Development Coordinator for the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, a position she’s held since 2008. Previous experience includes internships with Redux Contemporary Art Center and The City Gallery at Waterfront Park and operational support for Holy City Bookings, a DIY venture that organized concerts and booked tours for indie and label backed musicians. She is a member of the Charleston Association of Grant Professionals and lives in North Charleston with her husband, Brad, and 2-year-old son, Avery.

* Photography by CSA Supporter Paige Schaberg, www.PaigeSchaberg.com.

Charleston Supported Art Founders

STACY HUGGINS, Executive Director, Redux Contemporary Art Center

Originally from New Bern, North Carolina, Stacy moved to Charleston in 2001 to attend College of Charleston, where she studied art history and dance. She served as Vice President of the Board of Redux for a year and half before joining the Redux team full time as Executive Director. Previously, Stacy was Editor of Art Mag, gallery director at Charleston Renaissance Gallery and Carolina Galleries. Stacy also serves on the Spoleto SCENE steering committee, in support of Spoleto Festival USA, and Pecha Kucha Charleston.

KAREN ANN MYERS, Artist and Associate director, Halsey Institute

Karen Ann Myers is an artist, educator and curator. Currently, she is serving as the Associate Director at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and teaches Gallery Fundamentals in the Arts Management Program at the College of Charleston. She received an MFA from Boston University and a BFA from Michigan State University. Her paintings and works on paper exist nationally and internationally in private collections. Myers’ work has been featured in numerous publications including Juxtapoz Magazine, Oxford American’s “100 Under 100: The New Superstars of Southern Art”, and New American Paintings.