March Artist's Spotlight: Mike Fowle

Mike Fowle's New Blue Shirt

Black Creek Arts Council is pleased to honor Mr. Mike Fowle with the March Artist’s Spotlight. Fowle is being acknowledged for his creative accomplishments and efforts in arts education. BCAC is not the only organization taking note of Fowle’s artistic ability. One of his sculptures is currently being recognized statewide in an exhibition featured at the South Carolina State Museum.

Ultimately, Mike Fowle is a self-taught contemporary visual artist. He mainly focuses on creating sculptures. Fowle creates sculptures by using metal, clay, wood, and other materials that he finds suitable to create a piece of fine art. Whenever he begins creating a sculpture, Fowle is able to envision the final product of his piece from the reassembled recycled materials and objects he has discovered. When not working on a sculpture, Fowle likes to test his talents by oil painting.

For the last thirty years, Fowle has been working with his wife, Patz, in various art-related ventures. However, Fowle states that he only began creating “his own artwork” about three years ago. He has created about a dozen pieces.

Fowle had the opportunity to broaden his art studies through international travel. In 2005, Fowle went to Tokyo. While in Japan, he enjoyed the experience of staying in a traditional Japanese home, as well as studying the people and cultures. His visit also included going to the Historic Pottery Village of Mashiko. Fowle’s visit to the Historic Pottery Village allowed him to do research on traditional Japanese potteries. At the same time, Fowle provided assistance to Patz in an International Artist-in-Residence program at the American School in Japan.

Fowle enjoys creating sculptures from recycled plastics. In 2008, this desire earned him much recognition. A sculpture that he created from reassembled recycle metal was chosen to be exhibited in the Palmetto Hands Traveling Arts Exhibition. The sculpture (entitled “New Blue Shirt”) has traveled throughout the state of South Carolina. The show was exhibited in the South Carolina State Museum’s Education Hall.

While Fowle enjoys creating sculptures and other fine art, he contributes much more to the arts community than works of art. He is also an approved artist for the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Arts in Education Program. He also maintains active membership in many organizations and guilds that include the Sumter Artists Guild and the Florence Visual Arts Guild. Fowle is also a lifetime member of the Florence Museum.

Fowle works in his own studio where he creates art for both public and private collections. Fowle states that his inspiration comes by simply “being able to create, having the material to work with, and imagining how the finished piece will look.” In 2008 Fowle was commissioned to create a permanent Wall Installation Sculpture commemorating the Environmental Discovery Center at the Lynches River County Park in South Carolina.

Darlington County, as well as the rest of South Carolina, is fortunate to have Mike Fowle among its contributing artists. Through creating and educating, Mike Fowle has made and will continue to make a difference in the lives of many people, both young and old.

The Artist’s Spotlight is a monthly honorarium presented by Black Creek Arts Council that recognizes those artists and supporters of the arts in the Darlington County area. If you would like to nominate a Darlington County artist or supporter of the arts for the Artist’s Spotlight, please send your nominations to Jessica Barnes at blackcreekarts@gmail.com

February: Willard Jacobs

Black Creek Arts Council is pleased to honor Mr. Willard Jacobs as the inaugural artist of the month. Beginning this month, the Artist’s Spotlight honors artists and supporters of the arts who have made a significant impact in Darlington County.

Mr. Jacobs’ recognition results both from his accomplishments as a sculptor, and his selfless dedication to the arts. His public devotion to the arts began during his early role as the Director of the Hartsville Community Arts program. His leadership and contributions paved the way for the currently thriving arts scene in Darlington County.

In the seventies and eighties, Mr. Jacobs was well known for establishing the Hartsville Community Arts program. He did so by helping create a variety of activities that were offered in the Community Center Building (present day facility of Black Creek Arts Council). While having a full-time job as an Industrial Engineer at Sonoco, he also dedicated time to support other programs in the arts. His contribution and membership included those at Kalmia Arts, the Historic Museum Commission, and the Hartsville Community Players. Mr. Jacobs’ was involvement in many of the organizations that provided for the formation of Black Creek Arts Council.

Along with his involvement in community arts programs, Mr. Jacobs has been creating artwork for over fifty years. Sculpting has been Mr. Jacobs’ life-long passion, but his artistic pursuits go beyond this art form. To this day he continues to study many other art forms and styles. Recently, he has taken time to perfect his sculpting by engaging himself in the Master Sculptors program at Brookgreen Gardens. Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve located near Murrells Inlet. Mr. Jacobs had the opportunity to experience three weeklong courses (within the last five years) with world-renowned Master Sculptors. Through his time with the Master Sculptors, Mr. Jacobs has been inspired to keep mastering his craft.

“Keep mastering” is relevant phrase for Mr. Jacobs. Throughout the years, he has been recognized for his talents as a sculptor. In 1975, the Florence City-County Bicentennial Commission asked Mr. Jacobs to create a sculpture in celebration of America’s 200th birthday. The sculpture (entitled “We, the People”) took him nine months to complete. It was also the longest time he ever devoted a single work. During the sculpture’s production, he was also working full-time at Sonoco. Mrs. Judy Jacobs, his wife, recalled a statement he made in which he worked nights and weekends to complete the sculpture in time for the Bicentennial celebration. In 2005, Mr. Jacobs was asked to refurbish the sculpture. After the refurbishment, the sculpture was rededicated. The sculpture is still standing today and can be seen at the Florence City-County Complex.

Mr. Jacobs’ gift of being able to create fine sculptures from clay, metal, and plastic has been noticed by a variety of organizations and institutions, including his church. The Altar Guild at Wesley United Methodist Church of Hartsville had for Mr. Jacobs to create a statue of Jesus for them. He has also completed a sculpture displaying the figures of The Last Supper. This particular piece will be displayed in the All Saints Hall at Wesley United Methodist Church

“Many people are surprised when they see Willard's artwork because of the low-key approach he has when it comes to creating his art”, states Mrs. Jacobs. Although Mr. Jacobs has received recognition for his artwork throughout his career in sculpting, she revealed that he enjoys creating artwork mostly for his own enjoyment.

Black Creek Arts Council is proud to dedicate the first Artist’s Spotlight to Mr. Willard Jacobs. “He has made a tremendous contribution towards the flourishing arts programs in the Darlington County community. We thank Willard for helping to lay down the foundation for this success,” states BCAC board member, Mrs. Frankie Bush.

Mr. Jacobs is an artist who continues to grow both in his art and in his character. His being honored through this month’s Artist’s Spotlight reflects BCAC’s current gallery theme; “Every Child Is An Artist”. Bruce Douglas, Executive Director of Black Creek Arts Council, states “Mr. Jacobs truly epitomizes the solution to Pablo Picasso’s quote that ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.’”

The Artist’s Spotlight is a monthly honor presented by Black Creek Arts Council that recognizes those artists and supporters of the arts in the Darlington County area. If you would like to nominate a Darlington County artist or supporter of the arts for the Artist’s Spotlight, please send your nominations to Jessica Barnes at blackcreekarts@gmail.com

BCAC Announces Artist's Spotlight

Beginning in February and continuing on a monthly basis, Black Creek Arts Council will honor a distinguished artist or patron of the arts through a new program called The Artists’ Spotlight.

In order to choose those artists and patrons that reach (or have reached) the most people in our community, BCAC welcomes suggestions from visitors to our website. Please send your suggestions to Bruce Douglas at blackcreekarts@gmail.com.

The requirements for consideration are that the nominee be a resident of Darlington County or a major contributor (monetarily or through volunteering, performance, or other artistic merit) to the arts in our county. In your suggestions, please include a paragraph or two about the person you have chosen.

The first honoree will be named on February 16th.