Art Design Competition Winner
Strings
by Pedro Rodriguez
The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce “Strings,” an oil painting by Charleston artist Pedro Rodriguez, as winner of the statewide competition for the official art design of the 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival. As winner of the competition, Pedro’s original design will be featured on all Festival publicity and promotional materials. In addition, the piece will become part of the City of North Charleston’s Public Art Collection.
When speaking about the work, Rodriguez states, “Strings is an attempt to stimulate the brain into hearing music through color and composition. By looking at the trio can you hear the piece?” The public will have the opportunity to see and “hear” Pedro’s piece, along with of several of his other works, at an exhibition at the North Charleston City Gallery during the Festival and throughout the month of May. Patrons may also meet the artist at the gallery, located within the Charleston Area Convention Center, during the Arts Festival’s Main Event, held on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1.
About the Artist
Born and raised in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pedro Rodriguez began painting while living on the New Jersey Shore, following his service in the Army. He started exhibiting his work while attending the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Master’s Degrees in Art Education, Spanish, and Art Therapy. After moving with his family to South Carolina, Rodriguez continued to participate in exhibitions, including the Statements of Heritage Exhibition (1991) and the Triennial Exhibition (1992), both at the South Carolina State Museum, and the Artists Who Teach Exhibition at the Gibbes Museum (1992). Rodriguez also displayed his work in the Piccolo Spoleto Juried Exhibition, the Coastal Carolina Fair, the North Charleston Arts Festival, the City Gallery at Dock Street Theatre, and the Gaillard Auditorium.
Pedro continued to paint throughout the late nineties in the midst of teaching and raising three children, but took a hiatus from exhibiting for many years. He has recently renewed efforts to exhibit through local venues and events, most notably the North Charleston Arts Festival, the MOJA Juried Exhibition, and a solo show at The Saul Alexander Gallery at the Charleston County Main Library in 2008. He has several paintings on display at Runaway Bay in North Charleston, a restaurant that features local artists’ work.
He has received various grants and awards for his artwork, including two grants from the Trident Community Foundation, now known as the Community Foundation, and the Lowcountry Quarterly Art Grant Program. He has taught Art or Spanish in the Charleston County School District for over twenty years and is currenty the art teacher at Garrett Academy of Technology.