Susan Perkins’ Visual Vigil

Charleston, SC– The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents Visual Vigil, an exhibition by artist Susan Perkins, was originally scheduled to be on view in March, 2020, but was rescheduled due to the pandemic. On view June 24 through August 15, 2021, Visual Vigil is designed to be an active conversation on the effects of mass shootings; the installation is made up of contemplative pieces that represent the lives lost and communities affected by mass violence from 1903 through present day.

The works in Visual Vigil are unframed works of ink on paper. Each is a reaction to an episode of gun violence. The work is contemplative, and is clean and simply presented, yet speaks loudly. Perkins uses a restrained pallet for less distraction, to create empty space, and to remain neutral – allowing the viewer to bring individual significance to her works. Perkins began working on the Visual Vigil project after the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel, in her hometown of Charleston, SC.

As a part of her personal meditation, Perkins regularly engages in mark making with sumi ink on kozo paper — her personal calligraphy. The meditation marks are torn, collaged, and transformed to symbolize the on-going shifting and reshaping of life. Lokta paper weavings are created in a grid pattern then painted on kozo paper making a grid impression. The grid represents the collected energy field that we all live within. She believes we are interlinked — if one is affected, we are all affected. She further believes our greatest strength comes from our connectivity to one another. Perkins’ hope is for the art to serve as a backdrop for conversations around the societal and psychological effects of mass violence. “Through art making, I found a cathartic outlet to express my feelings, compassion, and tried to process the senseless violence,” she says. “Moreover, I began to take note of the societal effects.” The artist has been pondering the effects of mass violence on herself and her community, such as how we, as a society, process the fear of violence, how individuals deal with the psychological stress of lockdowns and live shooter drills, and how we function in a world where we don’t feel safe anymore. Perkins’ hope is that the exhibition will prompt discussions between reformers, activists, experts, educators, and survivors on the issues surrounding gun violence in our communities.

ABOUT SUSAN PERKINS:

About the artist:

Susan Perkins lives in Charleston, South Carolina. She began her professional life in the field of journalism, her creativity blossomed through training in visual & applied arts. After years working in oil landscapes from the natural world, the earlier method of investigation & storytelling made way for engagement in the life of the spirit. Through simplicity and vulnerability, a conversation begins. Perkins studied at the University of South Carolina. She has exhibited in Texas and South Carolina, and received the 2012 New Texas Talent award.

For more information about Visual Vigil, please visit www.visualvigil.com.

For more information about Susan Perkins, please visit Here.