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For Immediate Release, July 2021
Charleston Art Activation Launches in Historic King Street Building

Charleston Art Activation Launches in Historic King Street Building

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Bluestein’s Department Store Building on Upper King Street is now home to the first installation of the King Street Art Activation project, a collaboration between the Charleston art and business communities to beautify and revitalize the historic district.

The installation, entitled Mosaic of Life, is the brainchild of artist Lesya Malskaya and was born from the paradigm shift that has occurred in our lives over the last year and a half. The space explores our shared experience of living within the familiar and the unprecedented, the natural and the unexpected. The work journeys into the iconic natural beauty of the Charleston wetlands, altered and placed within a forest of the unreal.

The project was generously supported by artists Karl Beckwith Smith, Jason Paul Smith, and Jack Alterman, who are local to and currently reside in the Charleston area. The work features repurposed trees from Spoleto Festival's 2017 production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.

Thank you to Mike East, Director of Production for Spoleto USA for the use of the trees. Thank you to the building owner, Mr. Bluestein, the building representative, David J. Ingle, and the current tenants, the Charleston School of Law, for the use of the building. Thank you to Michele Seekings with Spire Art Services who coordinated the project. Thank you to Draughon Brothers and Custom Audio & Light for their expert technical support.

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About The Bluestein’s Department Store Building
The Bluestein’s Department Store Building was founded sometime between the years 1883 and 1885. In 1907, the building at 494 King Street became what is known as Bluestein’s today. In the coming years, the historic building was restored and thrived for decades before burning in a fire in 1987. The signature blue bricks seen today were eventually replaced.

About Lesya Malskaya
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Lesya Malskaya is an artist working in visual media including film, video, photography, installation and theater. Her work has been shown across Europe and the United States, including exhibits and performances in New York, London, Paris, Kyiv, and Moscow. She currently resides on Wadmalaw Island. www.malskaya.com

About Karl Beckwith Smith
An avid supporter of the arts in Charleston, Karl Beckwith Smith works extensively in the historic district of Charleston and the surrounding areas, creating custom artwork for architects, interior designers, builders, homeowners, restaurants and commercial businesses. A Princeton graduate, Karl has murals, including the Andre Michaux Mural that hangs along the front curb of the airport terminal, and decorative paintings adorning numerous homes and businesses in the Charleston area.

About Jason Paul Smith
Professional decorative painter, muralist, and fine artist, Jason Paul Smith’s art expresses rich, photo-realistic imagery. He works as a decorative painter and finishing professional in both interior and exterior building embellishments and enhancements.

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