Vintage Charleston art at Payne Fine Arts

The history and beauty of Charleston, South Carolina, are featured in the current exhibition at Payne Fine Arts.

From paintings, including an unusual WPA-era view of the College of Charleston, to the silhouettes of Carew Rice, to a burgeoning field in Charleston collecting, that of original vintage photographs and Albertypes,  to historic engravings, the "Charleston Collection"  has something for all those who have fallen in love with the "Holy City."

For our friends and collectors of Kentucky and regional art, the site has recently added artworks and prices that should prove tempting. From a fine watercolor by Edward Fisk, to an etching of Frankfort by Paul Sawyier, to George Caleb Bingham's "County Election" engraving, the focus is on the commonwealth.

For those of you who haven't yet seen our book, "Clear as Mud: Early 20th Century Kentucky Art Pottery," the first history of art pottery in the state, there are fewer than 200 copies left of the 1,000-copy edition. The book recently was named a Bronze Medal Winner for Best Regional Non-Fiction (South-East) in the Independent Publisher Book Awards 2011 (the IPPY Awards).  The editor will be at the Locust Grove antiques show on June 26 to sign copies. The book should be in every school and municipal library in the state; you might think of donating one.

And, as always, the Payne Fine Arts site has a page devoted to events we deem of special interest to our clients and another page highlighting books that relate the art history of Kentucky. The books are linked to ease purchasing.

Have a great summer and don't forget that two of the best antiques shows in the state are held this month: the Locust Grove show in Louisville, on June 26, and the Shakertown (Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill) show near Harrodsburg, on June 18 and 19.