Charleston, South Carolina – Charleston’s art scene is expanding with a new gallery, and the owner is leveraging his own experiences to give other artists “a seat at the table.”
Arun Drummond is thrilled to announce the opening of his new art studio, Drummond Studio Gallery. Even as an artist, he stated that he is not focused on his own work.
“My experience paved the way for a seat at the table. I was a gallery manager for 16 years. I’ve built my own art career over the last five or six years, so I’ve seen artists wanting to be represented in galleries, as well as being an artist who wants to be represented. So, knowing how tough it was sometimes to receive that representation drove me to make room for others and offer them a seat at the table. And this isn’t just for Charleston. That applies to the gallery and museum systems throughout the country. But let’s start here,” Drummond stated.
Drummond Studio Gallery, located at 12 Line Street, was previously only a shell of a building. However, since February, Drummond has been trying to revitalize the intimate space and bring his vision to life. Months later, the studio’s existence indicates a larger trend in the surrounding neighborhood.
“I believe it is critical that people understand our location on the historic East Side, which has long been disregarded. But now, we want to focus on the wonderful things that are happening in our community, as well as the positive things that I intend to contribute,” Drummond said.
For him, those enhancements take the shape of making art more accessible and magnifying the voices that create it. Demetrius Bing, a lowcountry performer, is among them.
“My style is abstract expressionism. It’s full of emotions, energy, and trauma that you can or cannot deal with, and you can use it to convey messages through the colors, shapes, and brush strokes,” Bing explained.
Drummond chose him to headline the gallery’s inaugural “Full Spectrum” exhibition in October. Bing is not taking this opportunity lightly.
“I recall hearing a lot of ‘no’s. I went to several galleries and was told ‘no’. And with the flip of a switch, a year or two later, they send you an email. So, you know, it’s funny how things happen. “It’s a full circle moment,” he explained.
Bing is relatively new to the art world, stating that his first encounter was roughly five years ago.
“When I was 29, I said, ‘I want to create pieces.'” But I was not an artist back then. I just wanted to express myself, but I said, ‘I want to do it in an artistic form,'” Bing recalled.
With his abstract expressionism form, Bing claims to have found purpose in delivering joy to people through his art.
“I want people to feel their emotions like I do mine. I don’t want them running away from them. For me, being happy and sad is okay because it allows you to feel both feelings as a human,” Bing remarked.
Drummond stated that his objective for the community cooperation is to put people at the forefront of Drummond Studio Gallery.
“The most essential thing I want people to understand is that this area is for everyone. I want people to feel at ease when they walk into this space, like they’re welcome, and like they can see themselves mirrored in the art that we have here,” Drummond said.
The “Full Spectrum” exhibition will be held on October 10 at 12 Line St. in Charleston from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is free and accessible to the public. Drummond Studio Gallery will also stage a group art display titled “For the People” in November. Drummond has issued a call to artists who want to showcase their modest pieces of work.
