“Beyond the Edge” Art Exhibition Featuring Ana Vizcarra Rankin & Lindsay Godin Opens April 4 at GCCA’s Main Gallery

“Beyond the Edge” Art Exhibition Featuring Ana Vizcarra Rankin & Lindsay Godin Opens April 4 at GCCA’s Main Gallery

by | Mar 24, 2025 | News

Greenville, SC – The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is pleased to present Beyond the Edge, an art exhibition featuring the work of Ana Vizcarra Rankin and Lindsay Godin, two nationally recognized artists whose work challenges the way we see and interpret space—both terrestrial and cosmic. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 6-9 PM, and remains on view through Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Beyond the Edge is generously supported by media sponsor TOWN.

Ana Vizcarra Rankin “Red Flags [atmospheric particulates]”, 2022, mixed media on cotton canvas, 96″x48″

Beyond the Edge explores human propensity to observe, discover, and then control space, both terrestrial and cosmic. Ana Vizcarra Rankin’s paintings challenge the supposed objectivity of maps, revealing how they reflect power structures and shape our understanding of place. By reimagining erased histories and offering alternative perspectives—such as unconventional map orientations and cosmic reinterpretations—she invites viewers to question dominant narratives and consider new ways of seeing. Lindsay Godin’s “Futurisms” photography series examines humanity’s enduring fascination with uncharted territories, from early celestial observations to modern space exploration. Her work highlights how technological advancements—such as telescopes and rockets—extend our reach beyond Earth, transforming observation into an act of possession. By exploring the tension between curiosity and control, “Futurisms” reflects on the relentless human impulse to claim the unknown.

Lindsay Godin, “Space Station”, Archival Inkjet Print on Epson Ultra-Premium Presentation Paper Matte, 24″ x 30″

Together, their works expose a deeper ambition—not just to observe, but to claim both physical and conceptual spaces. Beyond the Edge ultimately asks us to reflect on the ongoing tension between the nature of preservation and technological progress. Through these perspectives, the exhibition encourages both wonder and responsibility, reminding us of our power to shape the future of our planet and beyond.

 

 

 

About the Artists

Ana Vizcarra Rankin is a research-driven artist whose work explores themes of mapping, data visualization, and our connection to the universe. Born in Uruguay and raised in both South and North America, Rankin creates perceptual art that investigates the intersections of science, history, and culture. Her work, which ranges from monumental canvases to delicate, diminutive objects, considers events that occur in subatomic space time all the way to global and cosmic perspectives.

Rankin’s art is held in prominent collections, including the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum, Brandywine River Museum of Art, and the Uruguay Cultural Foundation for the Arts. She has exhibited internationally in venues such as the Montclair Art Museum in NJ, Centro de Memoria Paz y Reconciliación in Bogotá, and Cherry Street Pier in Philadelphia. She has participated in artist residencies in Ecuador, Italy, and Mexico. Awards received include a Project Stream Grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Creative Capital x Skoll Grant, and the Judy McGregor Caldwell Purchase Prize.

In addition to her studio practice, Rankin is the founder of BrobDinGnag International, a curatorial exchange program fostering cross-cultural dialogue and ecological awareness. She holds an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a BA in Art History from Temple University. Currently, she teaches at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Lindsay Godin (b.1992) was born in central New Jersey and got her MA & MFA in Studio Arts (emphasis in Photography) at the University of Iowa in 2018. She researches photography curricula and is a fine arts documentary photographer. Her photography sheds awareness of contemporary cultural norms and political values and how these effect society on the macroscale. Lindsay was the recipient of PDN’s 2017 Photo Annual Award for her student work. Her work is also on permanent collection at the Albright-Knox Gallery in New York and with other work having been exhibited nationally and internationally. As of August 2020, Lindsay is the Photography Coordinator and an Assistant Professor of Photography and Design at Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Exhibition Weblink: https://artcentergreenville.org/exhibitions/beyond-the-edge/

Interview with Christine Moore-Bonbright

Interview with Christine Moore-Bonbright

by | Jun 14, 2024 | What Will You Create Today?

In a conversation with GCCA’s Gallery Director,  Christine Moore-Bonbright provides insight into her experience in the Brandon Fellowship at GCCA, the evolution of her art practice, and the impact of strong community support on her art career. As she continues to navigate her Fellowship experience through August, Christine’s stories will help other navigate life’s experiences through her digital illustrations.

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Christine, I have had the pleasure of getting to know you as an artist over the past year, and you first came to the program as a traditional pen & ink / charcoal drawing artist. It now seems, roughly ¾ into the Fellowship, that you have changed course a bit. Has the Brandon Fellowship program given you the opportunity to adjust the trajectory of your art career? And how are you making art differently than when you entered?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: So when I first entered the Fellowship, I had thought that I needed to continue creating the traditional drawing & painting works that I made in college. Those works I made in college were deeply personal to me and they touched on things like family, culture, and identity struggles. I think at first I felt a pressure from within and also an external pressure from my cultural community that I should or I have to continue making those works because I need to represent the communities that I belong to. I felt that pressure a lot and in the early months of the Fellowship, that led to some artistic stagnation and indecision. But as I came to be surrounded by the artists at GCCA, meeting with you and Brandon Fellow alumni, and participating in mentor critique meetings, it made me realize that I really should just create the art that I want. So I asked myself, what does my artistic trajectory actually look like?

While I still love traditional art like drawing with charcoal and it’s fantastic to have those technical skills from that medium, I found it isn’t the medium that will take me to where I want to go. Digital art really is the medium that I am most comfortable with, and I feel like where I create the best art that represents me and my experiences. I think I definitely see myself now, especially as sort of a representative of the digital art community here in Greenville.

A turning point of me wanting to move more into digital painting, character design, and comic work was when I was introduced to my mentor, Honie Beam. After working with her, honing in on what it is I want to accomplish, and getting endlessly fruitful feedback about my process, I felt comfortable doubling down on my new path. And I definitely think that my trajectory and the fellowship would have been different if stuck to my original plan in my traditional mediums, as I probably would have taken the time allotted to me through the Fellowship to explore another facet of my art identity.

Character reference sheet from Christine’s Black Sheep graphic novel

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Let’s talk a bit more about the mentors and community you get to work with. Each Fellow gains access to critical, professional advice and networking opportunities from a mentor group of professional artists that are hand-picked each year to specifically meet the needs of that year’s Fellowship class. How important is having a community of support as you explore the themes and mediums you want?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: After I moved to Greenville back in 2022, I very much felt isolated as an artist. I actually came to the 2022 Annual Showcase on a whim and was pleasantly surprised that a program like the Brandon Fellowship was being offered so I decided to apply the following year. The power of finding my community can not be understated. Not only having the professional support through connections I have made but more important are the friends that I have made through this process. Connecting with Brandon Fellow alumni and the GCCA community has created an atmosphere of belonging for me which has only emboldened my purpose as an emerging artist.

It was also a fun process to work with you to hand pick the mentors we wanted for our Fellowship year. Honie seemed like the ideal mentor for me as she has experience with art & literary agencies, and obviously creating amazing works of art of her own. I told myself that I have this opportunity right here to have a mentor that is literally doing what I want to do in the future, creating illustrative, agency work, and graphic novels. I did not want to waste any time and I made sure I would soak up as much information as possible. We do get to meet during our critiques sessions that we have quarterly with the other Fellows and mentors, but I make an effort to meet and talk with Honie as often as I can. For instance, we met for coffee some months back and she basically sat down with a huge binder of her entire catalog of comic work and files and was like, “So, here’s how I got my agent. Here’s the difference between an art agent and a literary agent. You know, here’s the contracts and how they work, etc”. It was eye opening to have the opportunity to see what it was like to be a contracted, professional illustrator, and what that path may look like for me. It was really important to me to gain those insights so that I can set realistic expectations for myself and hopefully get my foot in the door after the Fellowship.

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Can you give me some insight into your digital and illustrative artwork that you are creating throughout the Fellowship? What are some of your inspirations and prominent themes now seen in your work?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: Right now, I am in the throes of working on my first graphic novel, “Black Sheep”. This is the project I have been working on for some time now but chose this story for my fellowship work because it is heavily character focused and I have always been drawn to character design. I wanted to see my experience represented in the digital and printed mediums. Each of the characters in this story have bits of myself expressed in their design and personality. “Black Sheep” is really a coming of age story. It explores how, in those early stages of our lives, we often attempt to escape from difficult situations. It is scary to confront difficult issues at any age but especially so in those formative years of our lives. Maybe it’s unrequited love that isn’t fulfilled and accepting that you need to let go. Maybe it’s feeling the stress of not having solid career plans after school. It also delves into parental figures impacting how you see yourself and how you subsequently navigate the world.

The first of my inspirations obviously came from the internet. The main inspiration for my work comes from a comic series called “Backlash” by Amber Houston. I have been following it since it began back in 2014 and I was intrigued by the female characters not fitting into traditional female archetypes. Their identity was not centered on traditional roles females occupy in adventure stories and that really resonated with me and where my stories and artwork could go. Other than Amber Houston, I would say my digital painting style has been influenced by Sui Ishidia and the “Toyko Ghoul” series and the character designs of Tas Mukanik.

BACKLASH by Amber Houston

Toyko Ghoul manga cover art by Sui Ishida

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: The Brandon Fellowship exhibition at GCCA is quickly approaching. You and the other Fellows will be installing your own exhibition displays that will be on view from August 2nd – September 25, 2024. What can visitors expect from your exhibition?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: My exhibition will be a fully finished display of my pilot chapter of my “Black Sheep” graphic novel in various forms. In a 20-25 page pilot, visitors can read part of the graphic novel somewhere beginning in the middle of the story. To give additional context, I will be printing character reference sheets, digital illustration, concept art, and the cover of the comic as large format fine art prints. I will also be displaying a spread of sketches, scripts, and thumbnails that show the editorial process with my mentor, Honie Beam.

Comic spreads from Christine’s Black Sheep graphic novel

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Finally, what comes next for you after the Fellowship is over?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: Well, the whole process of writing, editing, and illustrating my graphic novel has definitely given me some perspective on how much work goes into publishing graphic novels. While I was writing the whole plot out, I was like, oh, my gosh, this is a much more complicated story than when I started. So I think moving forward, I definitely want to experiment with maybe shorter stories or maybe an adaptation of something that already exists to experiment with graphic novel work. I’ve also been considering getting into agency work, but I might start off with freelance opportunities in illustration, character design.

I also think it would be amazing to begin a digital artist collective in the Greenville area so that digital artists can foster a community in the Upstate where we can meet up, critique each other’s work, and explore new ideas together. 

Be sure to visit Christine in her studio at GCCA and follow her on social media to tag along in her journey through the Brandon Fellowship this year:
Website: CLICK HERE
Instagram: CLICK HERE

Anyone interested in applying for the Brandon Fellowship, please make sure to subscribe to GCCA’s emails or visit https://artcentergreenville.org/brandon-fellowship/ to learn more! Any questions can be directed to Gallery Director, Ben Tarcson at ben@artcentergreenville.org.

Interview with Kephira Davis

Interview with Kephira Davis

by | Mar 20, 2024 | What Will You Create Today?

In an illuminating conversation with GCCA’s Gallery Director, 2024 Brandon Fellow Kephira Davis provides insight into the Brandon Fellowship at GCCA, the evolution of her art practice, and the profound influence of family on her artwork. As she continues to navigate her Fellowship experience until August, her dedication to authenticity and meaningful storytelling shines through, promising a future in the world of contemporary art.


Kephira in studio. Photo credit: Gwinn Davis. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Kephira, could you provide a snapshot of where you are in regards to your journey within the Brandon Fellowship?

Kephira Davis: Throughout all the experiences I have been exposed to, between jumping into teaching for the first time, creating designs for murals, or getting into my first solo exhibition, I have found that my main interest lies in the dynamic between being a full-time artist and gallery work. Half way through my Fellowship, I have my first solo exhibition at the Warehouse Theatre opening on April 4th, which I am very excited for! I also had the opportunity to join this year’s community gallery review committee at GCCA where I served as a panelist choosing the upcoming exhibition schedule through August 2025. Another new opportunity arose where the other Fellows and I have been given the opportunity to curate an online exhibition through GCCA that will open in July. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Have there been any moments or experiences during your Fellowship that may have opened new doorways for you career-wise? 

Kephira Davis: I did not expect to like teaching children. The Brandon Fellowship has given me the opportunity to teach after-school workshops through GCCA’s Aspiring Artist program at two of our local community centers.  Initially, the idea of teaching was daunting and scary. I didn’t want to mess up but I quickly learned how impactful my artistic knowledge was on shifting the children’s perspective on how they can creatively problem solve and make art. From these workshops, I have actually started teaching workshops at Wine and Paint establishments now too. On a separate note, it has been very odd that I am getting recognized as both a Brandon Fellow and visual artist around Greenville. Not that getting recognized is a bad thing but it was shocking at first. I have better adjusted to that now and I am excited for all the new opportunities for collaborations, commissions, and future exhibitions that are ahead of me. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Your artwork often explores themes of family and the Black female experience. What inspires these themes, and how do they manifest in your work?

Kephira Davis: I have many inspirations that inform my work but to give you one, I pull a lot of inspiration from photographer, Rashad Taylor. He documents his son with his camera and he examines themes of race, culture, family, and legacy and his images are a kind of family album. His images tell more than a family story; they’re a window into the Black American experience. These are themes that I talk about in my work, but with more emphasis on the experience of Black women in America and even more specifically Black female gaze. In my case, I explore the dynamics of familial experiences and the idea of growing up, maturing, and feeling the slow, bittersweet “slipping away” from family as we get older. As I have gotten older I feel it is easier and quicker to get frustrated with family than it is to be real, open and truthful with them. In my newer works, I paint my family members pulling on references from family albums photographs. The way the female figures gaze into the camera is critical for me. I find moments of complexity in their emotions and their expression often can be very relatable or taken vastly out of context. It is important that feelings of joy, anger, or frustration are blurred just as memories of the stories told about these moments may be obscured.  It is not my intention to make political statements with these works but I recognize that those politics exist and can be drawn upon. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Have you noticed any shifts in your approach to art since joining the Fellowship program? 

Kephira Davis: When I first came into the Fellowship, I felt like I was making safe artwork. Meaning that the artwork looked technically sound and pleasing to the eye but the concepts were vague enough that I could get away with avoiding true criticism. In my research about my family since getting my studio, I came to the realization that I have a responsibility to represent my community and uplift future generations. I don’t want to hold back now with regards to how the work is received, rather I want to make art that thoughtfully and directly represents my family and community with purpose.   

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Each year, the Brandon Fellows participate in a Main Gallery exhibition in August & September. Notably, each Fellow has worked tirelessly to prepare for what they will have on display. Looking ahead to your Brandon Fellowship exhibition at GCCA in August, what can visitors anticipate?

Kephira Davis: I plan to paint 5 or more portraits of varying scale that show the relationship between two or more family figures. These paintings specifically will reference family photos where the figures are neither smiling or frowning. Their gaze has an expressed ambiguity to suggest emotions and memories of these moments are more complex than what they appear. I will be pulling from family photo albums on both my mom and dad’s side of the family. 

 

Be sure to visit Kephira in her studio at GCCA and follow her on social media to tag along in her journey through the Brandon Fellowship this year:
Website: CLICK HERE
Instagram: CLICK HERE
Facebook: CLICK HERE

 

Anyone interested in applying for the Brandon Fellowship, please make sure to subscribe to GCCA’s emails to be notified when the call for application opens in June! Any questions can be directed to Gallery Director, Ben Tarcson at ben@artcentergreenville.org.

Fleming Markel’s “Pent Up Pink” to open at GCCA’s Main Gallery Exhibition opens First Friday, December 1st, 2023

Fleming Markel’s “Pent Up Pink” to open at GCCA’s Main Gallery Exhibition opens First Friday, December 1st, 2023

by | Nov 28, 2023 | News

Greenville, SC – Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is excited to announce the opening of their Main Gallery exhibition, Pent Up Pink by Fleming Markel. GCCA will hold the opening reception on Friday, December 1st from 6-9 PM and continues on display until Wednesday, January 24th, 2024. During the opening reception CEO, Jess Burgess, will give opening remarks for the exhibition. GCCA’s Main Gallery exhibition Pent Up Pink is generously supported by media sponsor TOWN.

“Pent Up Pink” features a solo exhibition showcasing the artwork of local Greenville artist, Fleming Markel. Markel’s sculptures question and defy consumerism, along with the methods and myths it perpetuates about womanhood and femininity. The exhibition consists of 12 life-sized, freestanding sculptures made from everyday feminine materials arranged in a maze-like exhibition space. This layout creates alcoves, enabling individual observation and interaction with each sculpture.

In American culture, beliefs and behaviors are influenced by institutional traditions, including governance, religion, society, and family. Many of these traditional beliefs are, indeed, myths. Fueled by consumerism, these myths wield substantial influence over our daily lives, particularly shaping the self-perception and worldview of and about women. Markel challenges these prescriptive myths by composing her sculptures with everyday consumer products marketed toward women. The approach is lighthearted, embracing the absurd, and paying homage to the Feminist Art movement of the 1970s. Markel’s sculptures are personal and autobiographical, symbolizing an ongoing effort to debunk these controlling myths one step at a time as part of a feminist life journey.

Fleming Markel
Fleming Markel currently lives and works in Greenville, SC. She is the Director of Greenville Technical College’s Benson Campus Galleries. She holds a BA from Winthrop University, a MEd from the University of South Carolina, and an MFA from Clemson University.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. GCCA’s galleries are open Tuesdays-Fridays from 9am – 5pm & Saturdays from 11am-3pm. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).

“Mono No Aware” to open at GCCA’s Community Gallery Exhibition begins First Friday, November 3, 2023

“Mono No Aware” to open at GCCA’s Community Gallery Exhibition begins First Friday, November 3, 2023

by | Oct 26, 2023 | News

Greenville, SC – GCCA will open a new Community Gallery exhibition, “Mono No Aware”, on First Friday, November 3rd from 6-9pm. ‘Mono No Aware,’ is a Japanese term meaning “beauty tinged with sadness.” More specifically, the term alludes to the bittersweet awareness that all things inevitably change form or come to an end. Both a deep ache and a deep appreciation accompany this awareness.

In “Mono No Aware,” exhibiting artist Leigh Mitchell presents over 30 black & white photographs inspired by the ephemeral nature of things and relating to ideas of impermanence, reverence, beauty, and loss. Included in the exhibition are images that allude to feelings of vulnerability and loneliness as well as to the feelings of awe one can experience while marveling at nature’s various manifestations. Underneath Mitchell’s personal associations and experiences is a deep concern for the damaging impact we are having on our environment. Mitchell’s work speaks to the tangled mess humanity and the earth are in and conveys an eerie sense of foreboding for what may lie ahead.

Mono No Aware will be on display from November 3rd – December 20th, 2023 and admission is free during open business hours.

Leigh Mitchell
Leigh Mitchell is a photographic artist and educator. She obtained a master’s degree in Studio Art from Western Carolina University, and she was a college instructor for twelve years, teaching Film Photography I and II, Digital Photography I and II, and Photography Appreciation. Her work has been exhibited in a variety of locations, including The Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, CO), The Asheville Area Arts Council (Asheville, NC), The SE Center for Photography (Greenville, SC), Rochester Contemporary Art Center (Rochester, NY), and The Asheville Art Museum. She was the juror for Knoxville Photo at the Emporium Center in 2018 in Knoxville, TN, was a Regional Scholastic Art Judge through the Asheville Art Museum in 2011, 2013, and 2018, and juried the Diverse Works exhibit at the YMI Cultural Center in Asheville, NC in 2015. Her sensibility is toward images that have a lyrical quality while, at the same time, are able to capture the tension and reality of life.

About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).