G Home: If Walls Could Talk

The Metropolitan Arts Council’s fearless leader is not ashamed to admit that he has exactly zero artistic ability. But that’s precisely why Alan Ethridge, executive director of MAC since 2006, surrounds himself with the beautiful creations of those who are artful. “They greatly inspire me,” he offers from his Augusta Street office, where he is surrounded by colorful paintings. “I want my office to be chock full of work by them because there is so much talent in our city. Besides, negative wall space is not a bad thing.”

Animal patterns and colorful reproductions are interspersed with original artwork by more than a dozen Upstate artists. Among those is a watercolor of technicolor pigs by Lynn Greer (2007), which is one of his favorites: “I adore this piece because of the yellow and purple used to shade the three pigs,” he says, explaining that he’s always been drawn to Greer’s use of color.

A framed photograph by Kim Sholly (2004), MAC’s projects director, showcases one of his favorite local shutterbugs. “Her recent photographs taken with a pinhole camera are outstanding.” And a series of three 12x12 paintings, purchased during a recent Greenville Open Studios event (which MAC sponsors), are by photographer Charlie Slate (2008), painter Carl Blair (2002), and metalsmith Ryan Calloway (2009).

And still another photograph, this one by Rebecca Stockham (2009) depicts rust formations on discarded metal. “The colors are brilliant, and the photograph has a very painterly feel to it.”

To help organize and hang the art, Ethridge worked with Sholly. “Being a photographer as well, she has an excellent eye for composition, and she did an excellent job of grouping the art either by style or artist.”

Ethridge hopes the artwork will inspire others who visit his office: “It is important to Greenville’s arts community that local artists are supported by individuals and businesses.”