LOCAL LOVE:
An exhibition of Camden’s local fine artists! Featuring the works of Robert Ariail, Walker Canada, Tony Scully, Amy Sheheen, and P.A. Youngren
Exhibition NOW- March 29th
Open Thurs.-Sat. 12pm-6pm
LOCAL LOVE: Artist's Statements
Amy Sheheen
Born in Columbus Ohio, Amy began drawing and painting early in life. At the age of five, she began to interpret the world around her through art. After living 3 years in Pittsburgh during high school, she moved again and graduated from Walhalla High School in South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications. During her younger years and in college, she worked with sculpture, wood cutting, acrylics, oils, and every type of printed media.
Amy worked professionally in printing sales and design and continued off and on commercially in this field. She has painted public murals, which are on continuous display, and has had several paintings sold at private auction.
Amy continues drawing and painting. Over the years, she has attended various workshops at Brookgreen Gardens and the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County. Currently she works on commissions often focused on special occasions such as marriage proposals. Mostly working in oil her style is Natural abstract and Impressionism.
Tony Scully:
Tony Scully grew up in Washington DC. He is a graduate of Boston College and the Yale School of Drama. His plays have been produced on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, by the Yale Repertory Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, the WestBeth Theatre Center, NYC, The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, and in numerous staged readings in Los Angeles.
In 2023 he wrote and produced The Battle of Camden Play for the South Carolina Battlefield Trust.
He has published three books of poetry (400 poems) with Wipf & Stock publishers, and for many years has been a monthly columnist for Camden, South Carolina’s Chronicle-Independent.
As a painter, Tony painted portraits on commission for many years, but has recently begun showing his work. Last year, he had a joint exhibition of new paintings at the Kershaw County Arts Center with political cartoonist Robert Ariail. He has also exhibited for the last two years at the juried show at the Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC.
He has served on many boards, including The Humanitas Prize, Los Angeles, Irish Ethos, Los Angeles, and in South Carolina, the Columbia Children’s Theatre, the Upton Trio, and Historic Camden.
He served as Mayor of Camden, South Carolina from 2012 to 2016, and for several years has been President of the Kershaw County Historical Society.
Robert Ariail
Robert Ariail has been creating award winning editorial cartoons in South Carolina for 40 years. His work is distributed to over 600 newspapers by Andrews McMeel syndicate.
Robert’s cartoons have won international, national, regional and state awards including: The National Association of Alternative Newsmedia Award, 2023; The National Press Foundation’s Berryman Award, 2012; The United Nations Ranan Lurie Award, 2009; The Overseas Press Club’s Thomas Nast Award, 1997; The Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award, 1992; The National Headliner Award, 1990; The Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award (seven times); The SC Press Association’s President’s Award for lifetime achievement, 2016 and The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts, 2012.
Ariail was also a Finalist for The Pulitzer Prize three times.
Ariail is a South Carolina native and University of South Carolina graduate
Walker Canada
Walker Canada teaches Graphic Communications at the Woolard Technology Center in Camden. This is his 26th year teaching graphics, his first years were at the Sumter County Career Center. Walker graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with an Associate degree in Visual Arts, and The American College of Arts in Atlanta with a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Art. Canada has been instrumental in the arts scene in the Kershaw County area as a teacher, mentor and artist. Many posters and advertising for the Arts Center of Kershaw County, including the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival were designed by Walker. He loves to paint, but his job has him working in digital illustration all the time. One of his watercolors made the South Carolina Watercolor Society’s Traveling Show. In this exhibition, Walker shares his love of racing fast cars.
P.A. Youngren
P.A. Youngren holds a BFA from R.I.T. in Rochester, N.Y. She has been featured in galleries in New York, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Influenced by the Surrealist’s her work seeks to ennoble and amplify a view of simple subject matter. Her work is also on exhibit at the Rutledge Street Gallery in Camden, SC.
