“She’s Music, She’s Art” Concert and Art Exhibit

The Society of Bluffton Artists presents “She’s Music, She’s Art” from August 6-September 2

Opening art reception for Gayle Miller from 3-5 p.m.  August 12

Wine, art and concert featuring jazz singer Jan Spencer at 2:30 p.m. August 19

 Gayle Miller, a watercolor artist and president of The Society of Bluffton Artists, and veteran jazz singer Jan Spencer are teaming up for a special art exhibition and concert at the gallery on the corner of Church and  Calhoun Street in Old Town Bluffton.

Miller’s art exhibition will feature a collection of jazz-, blues- and ragtime-inspired paintings from August 6 through September 2  with an opening art reception for Miller from 3-5 p.m. August 12 at the gallery.

A special wine, art reception and concert featuring popular and original music performed by singer/songwriter Spencer is slated for August 19th at the Center for Creative Arts, the building next door to the gallery. The public is invited for wine and art at 2:30 p.m. and Spencer’s performance at 3:15 p.m. in the Center for Creative Arts. Spencer’s CDs will be on sale at the gallery during and after the events. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at sobagallery.com. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Naomi McCracken Scholarship fund, given to deserving Bluffton High School graduating seniors who have been accepted to an accredited art college and plan to major in the visual arts.

 “People will be seated theater style,” Spencer said, adding, “Perhaps do a bit of dancing in the aisles, or just tapping their feet and smiling.”

 When the artist and the singer met, there was an instant collaborative spark.

Music has always been an inspiration for Miller. She began creating figurative paintings of musicians, instruments and dancers, their movement, color and flow. 

“When I paint, I want the feeling of motion in the painting and of course music inspires the mind and the body to move, dance and sing,” Miller said. 

Spencer has been performing music with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, the late Lou Rawls, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Tony Bennett in venues around the world for 20 years. 

“I sing and play music that makes people smile, and laugh with the memories it brings and dance a little bit because they're happy as they listen,” said Spencer. “Whether I'm singing blues, my original love songs or more contemplative, motivational songs, I see my purpose being to lift the spirits of my listeners and remind them that they are not alone.”