AnnualReport

On behalf of the Greenville Center for Creative Arts Board of Directors, we are thrilled to share the following annual report on our 2022 fiscal year with you—our donors, our artists, and our friends. GCCA is in a new phase of growth, and the Board has been working tirelessly to chart a path forward that is sustainable and stays true to our vision of service to our community.
2022 was a year of great change, starting off with the completion of a transformative renovation project and continuing with the addition of three professional staff members. Gratefully, a national search led by Capital Development Services led us to our new CEO Jess Burgess.
Jess came to GCCA in May 2022 with more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit arts administration, including nearly a decade as the Executive Director of Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. Our Board was immediately persuaded by her proven track record of fiscal responsibility and experience with growth-phase organizational leadership and development, as well as her history of advocacy for artists and arts organizations.
We are confident in Jess’s leadership to usher in GCCA’s next chapter as the premier visual arts organization in Greenville. Thank you as always for your support and for investing your time, resources, and creativity in GCCA.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Julian Chair, GCCA Board of DirectorsYvonne Julian, Chair Retired, Sales Executive The Dow Chemical Co.
Bradley Wingate, Vice Chair Director of Visual & Performing Arts, Greenville County Schools
Tony Callander, Treasurer Retired, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP Managing Director, Tony Callander Consulting, LLC
Jim Gorman, Secretary Artist
Anne Q. Barr Executive Director, FRESH Innovation Hub, Clemson University
Diana Farfán Artist
Earle Furman Chair, NAI Earle Furman
Daniel Hartway Upstate Business Banking Manager/SVP, First Citizens Bank
Ben Hepner Attorney, HPLP Law
Sam Jenkins Project Manager, Cely Construction
Blair Knobel
Founder & CEO, Knobel Media
Kate Lacher Artist & Creative Coordinator, Craig Gaulden Davis
Lindsay Odom Project Manager, SYNNEX Corporation
Vee Popat Director, Fine Arts Center, Greenville County Schools
Rhonda Rawlings Neighborhood Engagement Director, Mill Community Ministries Community Affairs Host, 107.3 JAMZ/Hot 98.1 FM
Nathan Reynolds Aviation Specialist, Navesink Aviation
Heather Wheless
Sr. Director of Human Resources, Thermo Fisher Scientific
To enrich the cultural fabric of our community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration
To be a recognized hub for accessible visual arts education and experiences through our work to energize and empower the arts community
• Ar t should be accessible to everyone
• The people served by GCCA represent the richness of diversity within our community and feel a sense of belonging in our mission and space
• We believe in the importance of highquality education and the artistic excellence that comes from hard work
• Creativity and innovation have the power to transform communities
Wow! What a year! I can hardly believe that I have officially completed my first year at GCCA and what an exciting time it has been.
I immediately fell in love with Greenville when I visited for interviews last spring, and I have only grown more appreciative of Greenville’s steadfast support for the arts and spirit of philanthropy. I took on the role of CEO knowing that GCCA had limitless potential and a special role to fill in Greenville’s arts economy, especially with its focus on artist development and being a welcoming place for all in our community to experience art.
This past year, I have focused especially on building a highly skilled team of staff members and helping them imagine and strategize ways we can better serve our constituents. Together, we’ve been dedicated to envisioning and formulating innovative approaches to enhance our support for various stakeholders. This includes our studio artists, who are keen to showcase and market their creations, Art School students aspiring to refine their abilities, and Members eager to foster connections within our vibrant art community.
GCCA is for you—to have a place where you can enjoy art, where you can experiment with a new medium, where you can get to know local and emerging artists, and where you can meet others who share your interests.
Thank you for all you do to make GCCA a vibrant community for art and artists. We couldn’t do it without you.
With gratitude,
Jess Burgess Chief Executive OfficerBryant Brown
Carrie Burns Brown
Linda* and Earle Furman
Tracy T. Hardaway
Rebecca R. Johnson
Patricia and Don Kilburg
* In Memoriam
Jess Burgess, Chief Executive Officer
Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director
Chelsea Rudisill, Development Director
Alicia Mizuno, Operations Manager
Hailey Chapman, Visitor Experience Associate
Randolph and Allen Armstrong24 Emerging artists who have advanced their careers through the Brandon Fellowship
311 Youth program experiences in summer camp and arts enrichment activities
23 Studio artists making their home at GCCA
98 Classes & workshops
1,093 Art School students expanding their creativity
169 Participants sharpening their entrepreneurial skills in free Business Toolkit classes
18 Innovative exhibitions
270 Exhibiting artists from six different states
11 First Friday openings with over 2,000 attendees
From October 2021 to January 2022, GCCA completed a milestone renovation project that almost immediately transformed how we interact with the community. The redesigned lobby expanded GCCA’s capacity for visitors to free First Fridays and other events. The relocation of the Community Gallery downstairs enabled visitors to seamlessly flow through the gallery spaces, as well as increased the visibility of exhibitions featuring local artists.
The renovation has also allowed GCCA to set a regular rotating schedule of exhibitions, meaning there is a new exhibition opening in either the Main Gallery or the Community Gallery each month, creating continuous opportunities for visitors to see new and exciting work. And, the addition of 11 affordably priced artist studios further expanded the resources available for local artists.
At a Glance
• 11 New Artist Studios
• Relocated Community Gallery
• Jewelry and Printmaking Classrooms
• Redesigned Lobby
• Flexible Meeting Space
Linda Quinn Furman Building
Anonymous
Mary Jane Hipp Brock
Bob & Syd Bruce
Martha Bruno
John M. Campbell, Jr.
Jane Chew
Jolley Bruce Christman
William “Billy” C. Clinkscales III
Judy Furman Collins & Mike Collins
Judy Iselin Cromwell
Jane Rush Davenport & Jim Musselwhite
Betty Farr
Justin, Quinn, Noah, Patrick & Caroline Fletcher
Carol Furman
Earle Furman
Felicia D. Furman
Jody & Katherine Furman
Kate Furman Patterson & Ben Patterson
Nancy & Richard Furman and Family
Anna & Jeremy Gall
Fielding & Gally Gallivan Family
Peggy & Ed Good
Mary Simms Furman Gregory
Tracy & Charles Hardaway
Barry & Elizabeth Harms
Becky & Bobby Hartness
Jean & Peter Helwing
Mary & Joseph Highsmith
Wyline & Edward Holder
Gerald D. Huskamp
Dru & Ennis James
A. Wayne King
Becky & Fletcher Kirkland
NAI Earle Furman
Stephanie & Edgar Norris
Jean & Heyward Pelham Family
Martha Pellett
Cindy & Bill Poe
Jane Earle Furman Pressly
Jane Roy
Minor & Hal Shaw
Sydney & Ed Taylor
Sherri & Chuck Timmons
Pat & Rick Timmons
Neill M. Timmons
Cris & Steve Timmons
Alex & Philip Whitley
Randolph New Armstrong & Carrie
Burns Brown Community Gallery
dedicated by Friends & Family
Stuart & Frances Anderson
Anonymous
Allen & Lynn Armstrong
Randolph & Allen Armstrong
Sandlin Armstrong
Anne Q. Barr
Elizabeth & Clyde Baucom
Linda Beazley & Kris Bierbaum
Harriett Bell
Marietta Bolt
Anthony & Theona Brown
Lilly Skok Bunch
Bland & Joye Burkhardt
Alan & Jane Todd Butcher
Heyward & Helen Clarkson
Judy Iselin Cromwell
Lillian Darby
Patrick & Jane Doyle
Betty Farr
Bill Fitch
Dave & Wyn Foland
Allen & Madeline Freeman
Earle Furman
Andy & Harriet Goldsmith
Paul & Nancy Goldsmith
Pat & Ann Grayson
Tracy & Charles Hardaway
Georgia Harrison
Jean & Peter Helwing
Sally-Jo & Charlie Houser
Robert & Bev Howard
David & Carey Lee Hudson
Lester & Jane Hudson
Joseph & Ann Jennings
Lamar & Deborah Jordan
Yvonne Julian
Patricia & Don Kilburg
Adrian & Louisa Kirk
Don & BJ Koonce
Nancy Magee
Eleanor Mierzejewski
Mary Louise Mims
Marilyn Murrell
William & Casey Neel
Jane Linker & Terrance O’Leary
Kathleen & Glenn Oxner
Marvin Parker & Kay Bingner
Joyce Parks
Alexander Patrick
Phil Patrick
Lee & Bonnie Powell
Cal & Mary Ratcliff
Judith Root
Virginia Rostick
Gordon Sherard
Sharon & Adrian Steinmann
John Stitt
Ward S. Stone Jr.
Carole Tinsley
Beverly Whitten
Charles Wofford & Nancy Thomas
Studios & Classrooms
Christine Windley Stephenson Studio dedicated by Bill Stephenson
Connie Timmons Studio dedicated by Tracy & Charles Hardaway
First Citizens Classroom
Harriet Wyche Studio dedicated by Mimi Wyche & Davis Enloe
James Felton Julian Jr. Studio dedicated by The Julian Family
Kate & Lindy Studio dedicated by Earle Furman
Premier Arts Collective Studio
Rachel McKaughan Studio dedicated by Tracy & Charles Hardaway
Lillian Coleman Darby
Conference Room
dedicated by
Randolph & Allen Armstrong
Carrie Burns Brown
Gayle & Bryant Brown
Tracy & Charles Hardaway
Patricia & Don Kilburg
Founders Lobby dedicated by Anne Maddrey Carpenter in honor of
Randolph & Allen Armstrong
Bryant Brown
Carrie Burns Brown
Linda & Earle Furman
Tracy T. Hardaway
Rebecca R. Johnson
Patricia & Don Kilburg
Additional Renovation Support
Steven A. Chapp
The Daniel Mickel Foundation
F. W. Symmes Foundation
Skip & Carrie Gordon
John I. Smith Charities
Merit Technologies
Gifts of $500 or more made between 1/1/2022 and 12/31/2022
Abacus Planning Group
AFL Global
Anonymous in honor of Elizabeth Fletcher
Randolph & Allen Armstrong
Anne Q. Barr
Lee Bowman
Gayle & Bryant Brown
Carrie Burns Brown
Lilly Skok Bunch
Alan & Jane Todd Butcher
Anthony Callander
Kenneth & Stephanie Carroll
City of Greenville
Community Foundation of Greenville
Duke Energy
Jeffery & Andrea Edenfield
The Elbert W. Rogers Foundation
Stephen & Nancy Finch
Justin, Quinn, Noah, Patrick & Caroline Fletcher
Earle Furman
Fielding & Gally Gallivan Family
John & Kathy Gilbertson
Skip & Carrie Gordon
James & Mary Gorman
Greenville County
Robert & Jo Hackl
Tracy & Charles Hardaway
Hart-Oeland Foundation
Pat & Mary Lou Hartness in honor of Lynn O’Dell
Daniel Hartway
Rob & Kim Hassold
Dawn Hayden
Hollingsworth Funds
Illinois Tool Works
Samuel T. Jenkins III
Joseph & Ann Jennings
Lamar & Deborah Jordan in honor of Carrie Burns Brown
Yvonne Julian
Patricia & Don Kilburg
Becky & Fletcher Kirkland
Kate Lacher
George & Catherine Manning
Metropolitan Arts Council
Damien F. Michelin
Clark Mickel
Microsoft
Jane Linker & Terrance O’Leary
Piedmont Natural Gas
W. Roy & Susan Phillips
Susan Priester
Cal & Mary Ratcliff
Catherine Paul & Sean Scuras
South Carolina Arts Commission
Sharon & Adrian Steinmann
Bill Stephenson & Mike Cobb
Martha Team
Peter & Diane Tilkemeier
Sherri & Chuck Timmons
Flavio Varani
Joseph Wright & Martha Sutherland-Wright
Jane’s artistic journey began at five years old when she attended a special art school in Syracuse, New York. With her mother’s encouragement, she explored different art classes throughout her youth and developed a deep-rooted interest, even pursuing art as a major in college.
Though she loves watercolors, these days Jane has a particular fondness for crafts (some of which you can find in The Shop at GCCA), especially crocheting and rugmaking. “It’s long and you have to dedicate yourself to it,” she says, insisting that rugmaking is not difficult, mainly timeconsuming. From hooked rugs to braided ones made from silk ties, Jane is always excited to experiment with new materials and techniques.
When she first heard about GCCA, Jane was impressed by all that its Founders
managed to accomplish in a short time, and she admired their commitment to providing education for artists of all ages. She recalls the fun she had taking a drawing class with her goddaughter. And, though she notes that Greenville’s arts scene has come a long way in the 25 years she’s been here, GCCA is still the only place in the area offering those kinds of learning opportunities.
Jane also actively supports other community organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, but the depth of her love for the arts shines through as she discusses other notable art events around town, from an exhibition at Greenville County Museum of Art to the new galleries and performance facilities at First Presbyterian Church. With her enthusiastic advocacy and ongoing artistic exploration, Jane makes her mark in Greenville’s vibrant arts community.
Kevin Kao’s first experience with GCCA was attending the 6th Annual Showcase opening in August 2021. He had recently moved to the area to take on a role as Assistant Professor of Art at Furman University, specializing in sculpture and ceramics, and was curious to learn more about Greenville’s arts offerings. “I was impressed with the amount of studio spaces, and it seemed like a really great place full of energy and community. It signaled that Greenville has a rich appreciation for the arts.”
Soon thereafter, GCCA staff asked Kevin to serve on the Brandon Fellowship selection committee. Kevin believes in the Brandon Fellowship because it’s vital to have an explicit pathway providing support, mentorship, and energy to act as an incubator for emerging talent. For him,
the program shows GCCA’s commitment to “the people, the art community, and the artists, especially young, black, brown, queer, and other artists that might not always see themselves represented in art spaces.”
This theme of representation echoes through even as Kevin discusses the importance of the student exhibition from Greenville County Schools that is currently on display. He often sees students held back by a feeling that they can’t do something or that what they make won’t be perfect, but opportunities like the ones at GCCA offer critical validation for their burgeoning talent. “If students believe that art is something they can do, then they will feel that the things they create matter.” A true educator, he feels that the act of creation has power beyond the finished product. We just have to take the leap.
[GCCA shows] commitment to the people, the art community, and the artists, especially young, black, brown, queer, and other artists that might not always see themselves represented in art spaces.
In 2022, GCCA welcomed three new Fellows: Faith Hudgens, Orlando Corona, and RaAmen Stallings.
In addition to their artistic ability, all three of these Fellows bring their unique backgrounds and perspectives to their work and are deeply engaged with the local community.
Since its inception in 2015, the Brandon Fellowship has earned its reputation as a valuable opportunity for emerging artists to gain real-world professional experience in a supportive environment. With a network of 24 total Fellows and alumni, GCCA is working to cultivate a new generation of artists and creative entrepreneurs who will contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our community.
The Brandon Fellowship is a 12-month educational program that aims to develop three emerging artists each year between the ages of 21 and 30 who represent the cultural diversity of our community. Now in its eighth year, this program targets Greenville County-based artists who are eager to advance their careers as working artists and who demonstrate talent, self-motivation, and goal-orientation.
The 2022 Brandon FellowsThe fellowship has changed my art career in ways that would have taken me years to achieve; it has allowed me to connect with my community and find ways to give back.
— Orlando Corona Brandon Fellow
As part of its commitment to community engagement and outreach, GCCA has ongoing relationships with several neighborhood community centers, including Freetown Community Center just up the road in the Village of West Greenville.
GCCA facilitates after-school artist workshops throughout the year with the Aspiring Artists program and welcoming community, as well as welcoming community center students to Summer Art Camp at no charge. Last year, GCCA, along with Freetown staff and Greenville County Parks and Recreation, undertook a community mural project to beautify the area around Freetown with a unique piece of public art.
Through a series of community meetings, muralist Adam Schrimmer of Blank Canvas Mural Company facilitated conversations with GCCA staff and community members to distill the defining characteristics of the neighborhood, its identity, and its history to create a one-of-a-kind mural design. Schrimmer then worked with students who participate in GCCA’s free Aspiring Artists programs at Freetown Community Center to paint the mural, which was unveiled as part of the community center’s Fall Festival in October.
Every August through September, the Annual Showcase features works of art from GCCA’s Members alongside the current year’s Brandon Fellows. The exhibition highlights a variety of mediums, themes, and techniques used by artists across the Upstate and beyond.
The 2022 Annual Showcase featured 123 Artist Members whose artwork embodied the talent and diversity of GCCA’s vibrant visual arts community. From contemporary paintings to functional ceramics, GCCA’s Members showed the breadth of artistic practice in the region.
The Members Exhibition was also accompanied by an exhibition of work from GCCA’s Summer Art Camps as well as a spotlight exhibition by the 2021-2022 Brandon Fellows. Emerging artists Kim Le, Sienna Patterson, and Terrell Washington explored such themes as the inner psyche of young girls, spirituality, and personal experience in the culminating exhibition of their year-long Fellowship.
The First Friday opening on August 5, 2022, was GCCA’s biggest event of the year, with over 700 attendees!
Sharon and Adrian Steinmann met at, of all places, the Palmetto Ski Club. Though most may not associate Greenville, South Carolina with snowy winter sports, it turns out connecting over shared interests is a good way to meet new friends and maybe even your spouse. She hails from St. Louis, by way of Chicago, and he is from Switzerland. They both moved to Greenville in the 1970s, attracted by well-paying jobs and the relatively low cost of living.
Both Sharon and Adrian grew up in places where world-class museums and performing arts were the norm, and they credit their families for valuing education and instilling in them an appreciation for art and creative expression. They have lent their philanthropic support over the years to many of Greenville’s arts organizations, but they have been a part of GCCA since the very beginning.
Sharon used to own the gift shop “Just What You’re Looking For,” where she first connected with GCCA Founder Randolph Armstrong who played a pivotal role in their introduction to GCCA. They have been actively engaged with the Center since its inception, attending events like First Fridays and introducing friends and visitors to the vibrant arts community it fosters.
One of the things that energizes the Steinmanns the most about GCCA is supporting emerging artists, like those in the Brandon Fellowship program. “He was… maybe the third Fellow here, and he got so excited when we bought his picture,” Adrian shared about purchasing a work of art from a young artist. Their home is adorned with an eclectic collection of art pieces, so much so that their large walls are almost full. But, they point out, there’s always the staircase.
Craig Ragsdale craigragsdale.com
Sara Touchet saratouchetphotography.com
Lynn Shiflet Instagram: @selectnconnect
Savannah Ralph savvyralph.com
Will Crooks willcrooksphoto.com
Mary Whiteman (Finn) marymfinn.weebly.com
Mary Pauly greenvillearts.com/artsdirectory/mary-pauly/
Meghan Verret frenchiesfineart.com
Darius Ollison dariusollisonphotography.com
Suzanne Harned artcentergreenville.org/ studio-artists/suzanne-harned/
Jody Oesterreicher jodyoesterreicher.com
Eden Stern edenstern.com
Nick Burns ninjapicasso.com
Hans-Peter Bolz hans-peterbolz.com
Tania Rodriguez taniaroart.com
Jess Stone jessstoneart.com
Eli Warren eliwarren.com
Sarah Farrar sfarrarfineart.com
Steve Courchaine facebook.com/courchaine.artstudio
Diarmuid Kelly diarmuidkelly.com
Louisa Pyle Kirk louisapyle-kirk.squarespace.com
Danielle Fontaine daniellefontaineartist.com
Bonnie Flood www.bonnieflood.com
Lina Welle linawelleportraits.com
I am appreciative to GCCA for providing an affordable space for me to pursue my artistic passions. In particular, I am grateful for the community of diverse artists GCCA has created. I am always drawing inspiration from them.
“
My Daughter Gathers Seeds
February 4 – March 23, 2022
featuring matthew anthony batty and Rachel de Cuba
Production Landscape
February 4 – March 23, 2022
by Meghan KirkwoodSight(s) Specific
April 1 – May 25, 2022
featuring Charles Geiger, Julia Morrisroe, and Meredith Stoudenmire
In Flux
June 3 – July 27, 2022
featuring Andy Holliday, Lijun Chao, Brent Dedas, and Tom Dimond
7th Annual Showcase
August 5 – September 28, 2022
Narratives Ending in Separation
October 7 – November 23, 2022
by Linda McCuneStrangely Familiar
December 2, 2022 – January 25, 2023
featuring Joseph Kameen, Mark Brosseau, and Heather Deyling
Get Home Safely
January 7 – February 23, 2022
by Malik Greene
City of Women Juried Exhibition
March 4 - April 27, 2022
Walt’s Waltz Step Out of Stigma
May 6 – June 22, 2022
featuring Eli Warren, Nick Burns, Sherrill Hill, Will Crooks, Mimi Wyche, Lisa Steffens, Traci Martin, Savannah Rose Ralph, Barbara Castaneda, Lisa M. Shimko, and Terrell Washington
Greenville County Schools
Award Winners Show
July 1 - August 24, 2022
The Contemporary Print Collective: Unmasked
September 2 – October 26, 2022
Square Roots
November 4 – December 21, 2022
by Sarkis ChorbadjianDonna has always been interested in the fine and performing arts, so an opportunity to connect to a new art center and be a part of its progress was very exciting to her. A practicing artist herself, she got involved early on at GCCA taking classes and volunteering, and she has continued to find value in GCCA’s artist community and learning opportunities.
Throughout her time as a volunteer, Donna has particularly enjoyed interacting with visitors at the front desk during exhibitions and sharing insights about the featured artists and the building’s history. As an experienced researcher and writer, she has embarked on a project to document the history of GCCA, focusing on the evolution from its inception to becoming the thriving art center it is today.
Her goal is to preserve the memories and stories of the Founders and the Center’s transformation over the years, ensuring it remains accessible to future generations. When asked what she thinks is GCCA’s most important work, Donna mentions giving artists exhibition opportunities, nurturing emerging talent through the Brandon Fellowship, offering scholarships to students, and getting to interact with her fellow creatives. “I would never have met artists in the community without the art center here,” she says.
GCCA’s classes and programming make an ideal venue for students and instructors to share and learn from each other, fostering meaningful connections and relationships through the arts. And that feeling of “home” keeps Donna coming back again and again.
GCCA held a special celebration on Tuesday, November 1, to dedicate the new Lillian Coleman Darby Conference Room, named in her honor by Randolph and Allen Armstrong, Carrie Burns Brown, Bryant and Gayle Brown, Tracy and Charles Hardaway, and Pat and Don Kilburg. GCCA was thrilled to receive this naming gift in honor of Lillian, one of the Center’s earliest supporters.
GCCA’s newly renovated Linda Quinn Furman Building still has several special naming opportunities available. Naming a space can be a meaningful way to honor a loved one or a family member or to show the community how much you value and support art and artists. For more information, visit artcentergreenville.org/support
Originally from the island of Cyprus, Sarkis has lived in Greenville, South Carolina since 1978. Formerly of the decorative arts, interiors, and gilding world, Sarkis’s background in color and design informs his current abstract expressionist painting style. Experiences from travel and memories of the ancient world play a major role in his artwork. His abstract landscape paintings are personal responses to places he has visited or imagined. The viewer is invited to travel with the artist, to feel and sense the memories, and to discover new ones.
Will Crooks found his way into photography through street portraiture focused on redefining expected conceptions of the South. After a decade-long career as a photographer, he still finds himself obsessed with what is the magic combination of luck, skill, and collaboration with a subject that creates a portrait that communicates far more than what is within the frame. Will spends his days making personal work revolving around otherness, identity, and memory in the South while roaming the Southeast doing editorial work for various publications including The New York Times, British GQ, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He feels lucky and honored to play a small role in helping form the visual narrative of his adopted home.
GCCA accepts many forms of philanthropic donations, including cash, gifts of stock, and grants through donoradvised funds. For more information or to discuss naming GCCA as a beneficiary of your estate, life insurance policy, or retirement account, please contact Chelsea Rudisill, Development Director, at (864) 274-0355 or Chelsea@artcentergreenville.org Three Ways to Give