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Alvin B Glen in his own words

Media

Here are select video and text articles.

Here’s a brief view of the studio gallery as we prepare for the exhibit.

Studio tour

The Steven F. Gately Gallery previously called the University Place Gallery

Dates 1/11/2024 - 5/15/2024. Location The Doctor N. Lee Morris Gallery 509 S. Dargan Street Florence, South Carolina 29506

Gullah Cultural Series: Gullah Me, Gullah You

presented by The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and Historic Mitchellville Freedom Park,
and Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at SoundWaves 

2024 Gullah Celebration:  Art & Culture

Join us at SoundWaves as our Gullah concert event series continues its second year celebrating highlights of the February 2024 Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration, embracing the inspiringly unique native island art and culture we have all around us here on Island. Recognized by the prestigious Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast, the 2024 Gullah Celebration, titled A Captivating Journey Through Time, is presented by Hilton Head Island’s Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association. Annually, this monthlong event showcase captivates travelers from around the globe with a diverse lineup of events promising an unforgettable and immersive experience in Gullah Culture.

Flexing skills gained through her own impressive upper administration university career at multiple Historic Black College and Universities, the evening’s emcee, NIBCAA Board Chair, Dr. Roselle Wilson will expertly guide us through the evening first chatting with South Carolina native, artist Alvin Glen, who will speak both from the perspective of an artist and art teacher, sharing his beautifully creative perception of common people, emotions, and ideas of the Lowcountry environment through his artistic depictions of the community around us. Wilson will also speak with Port Royal and St. Helena Island native Tendaji Bailey, visionary artist and founder of the Gullah Geechee Futures Project, and his dedicated work educating the public about the rich history and culture of Gullah Geechee communities. The two sets are interspersed with music performed by GCS house band, the Lavon Stevens Trio, led by Lavon and featuring Tendaji....

Immerse yourself in the Gullah culture through the 'Arts Ob We People' exhibition on Hilton Head
 Alvin B Glen
Featured Artist
The Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration 2024 
 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. —

The annual Gullah Celebration is back on Hilton Head Island.

In this week's Lowcountry Living, I’m giving you a sneak peek inside one of the art galleries.
 

Now through March 1, you can immerse yourself in the "Arts Ob We People" exhibition on display at the Art League of Hilton Head.

This year’s featured artist is Alvin B. Glen, and he says one of his favorite ways of expressing himself is through his work.

“It’s a way that I can communicate with folks without having to have a long conversation," Glen said.

One thing that makes Gullah art so unique is the bright, vivid colors used to tell a story.

"Color was a part of that joy. And I learned to use it to express the joy and happiness, even in rough times, and also good times. Nothing is bad always or forever. There’s always that little glimmer of hope. And when I’m doing my work, even if I have to give you a harsh message, I want it to be pleasing to your eyes so that you can still be hopeful," Glen said.

Mortar and Pestle: Rhythm Makers

Aug 1st - 23rd

Reception August 1st 5:30 pm - 8: pm

​

artist statement

This body of work offers a reimagined perspective on Lowcountry rural women and children. Celebrating their resilience, brilliance, and central role in sustaining agricultural life. As Black men increasingly gained access to factory and seaport jobs after the end of Jim Crow, women became the primary stewards of the farms. Their labor—often unseen—was vital, rhythmic, and powerful. This work honors both the chaos and coordination of their efforts, highlighting a workforce rooted in strength, creativity, and endurance.

Exhibition Title: Mortar and Pestle: Rhythm Makers

Mortar and Pestle: Rhythm Makers draws its name from the essential tools used to process Carolina Gold rice in the Lowcountry—labor first performed by enslaved Africans and later sustained by Gullah communities. These tools symbolize endurance, movement, and rhythm, capturing the dynamic energy of rural farm life and the constant motion of its workers.

 

Through a series of vibrant, figurative pastel works, this exhibition conveys the pulsing rhythms of the rice fields—the steady pace of labor, the songs sung while working, and the ever-changing Lowcountry landscape. Bold colors, layered textures, and expressive mark-making evoke both physical strength and communal harmony, translating movement into visual rhythm.

 

The paintings pay homage to my grandparents, who, I was told, grew a small patch of rice. From this history, I imagine scenes of my father, his sister, and their parents at work—reconstructing memory through gesture, color, and form. These imagined narratives serve as a bridge between personal history and collective cultural memory.

NIDUM Gallery
2154 Noisette Blvd Suite 140, , North Charleston, South Carolina 29405

​Nidum (pronounced “Need-um”) is a local art gallery and private tattoo studio that recently opened in the Storehouse 9 building in the Navy Yard near Park Circle. Founded in September 2024 by husband-and-wife duo (and North Charleston residents) Bradley and Betsy Butler, along with partner Dave Riley, the space is split into two — literally and figuratively. Walk in and veer right, there’s the art gallery, which specializes in work from area artists. Go left and you’ll find the body art salon.

Nidum offers an experience that feels separate from and different than either of its halves would suggest — its vibe matches neither that of a traditional gallery nor tattoo shop. And yet, it makes complete sense the moment you walk in the door. According to Betsy Butler, this is intentional and a natural reflection of the symbiosis between the two artistic realms.

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