Through Feb 2012: Costumes in Anastasia and Friends Gallery

Four of Natalie’s costumes and a few framed photos by Scott Bilby are on display at Anastasia Chernoff’s gallery at the Free Times on Main Street. The show premiered at the January First Thursday event, featuring Natalie as a performer on top of the infamous bathroom platforms. The show will continue through the month of February, and a second reception will take place on Thursday, February 3. Read on for Anastasia’s official press release:

“For this month’s first Thursday art crawl on Main Street, Lindsay Wiggins and I are co-hosting a redux of The Surreal Show. Surrealism is a movement in art and literature which began in the 1920′s that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, characterized by the evocative juxtaposition of incongruous images in order to include unconscious and dream elements. All of the artwork featured in the show was created using the surrealist approach and will include paintings, mixed media, photography, textiles and sculpture by Natalie Brown, Janice Dittmar, Nathan Fiveash, Libby Gamble, Kirill Simin, Lyra Stephens, Michelle Rogers, LIndsay Wiggins and me.

Surrealism stems from the subconscious mind so it only made sense to invite Columbia’s most revered hypnotist! Dr. G. Fredric Mau, board-certified hypnotist and owner of Watermark Hypnosis in Columbia, will offer rapid induction performance art as part of the show. Dr. Mau will move volunteers into a hypnotic state very quickly–in 10 to 30 seconds–leading them through a variety of subconscious effects, including catalepsy, memory tricks and anesthesia.. The rapid-induction performance will explore the way participants react to suggestions using the subconscious mind. “The transition from an awake state to a hypnotic state can be achieved very quickly–almost as fast as turning a switch,” Mau said. “We do some of our best creative work when we relax, as anyone who has come up with a great idea in the shower knows. Hypnosis and art are collaborative partners.” We are honored and excited to have Fredric as a part of the evening’s opening.

Many thanks to the Roe Young State Farm Agency for sponsoring wine and cheese during the first Thursday reception.

The Surreal Show will run though February 23rd. The gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and by appointment. For more information, contact Anastasia Chernoff at 803 665 6902.”