Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2018

69 www.HurricaneMagazines.com | www.HurricaneFlorenceMagazine.com | www.HugoMagazine.com feature A rt: something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or expresses important ideas or feelings. At least that’s what comes up when I Google the term, “the definition of art.” I can’t help but snort and wonder about what other nonsense the internet is feeding people. If I believed art had to be something beautiful and express important ideas, sitting here in my comfy sofa chair and typing this article would easily become an epic failure. That’s way too much pressure. So back to square one: What is art? The founder of Charleston Creative Community, Carrie Davis, would argue that it’s something you discover within yourself – that includes you, Mr. Engineer, Ms. Lawyer, mother of three and high school varsity football player. You’re all as much an artist as you are a human being. And Charleston Creative Community inspires just this track of thinking. The group serves as a community base for artists in the Charleston area to network and build on artistic gifts. “We really target two main audiences,” said Davis. “First are those who’ve identified themselves as creative. … they have a gift and understand what that gift is. They need a place to come and be a part of something bigger. The second audience is one I see myself belonging to. It’s targeted toward those of us who want to be creative or have an interest but aren’t really sure how to produce something artistic. We want to be a home base for people to come and fan the flame for these gifts that are already inside of them.” Davis’ artistic journey is one most of us can relate to – and starts with her uncle. He noticed a creative side to her when she was a child and encouraged her parents to keep her involved with artistic things. She was really good at art in high school and majored in studio art at Furman. “I was definitely not the strongest artist in the whole program, and I think it’s so hilarious that I’m a professional artist now,” Davis confessed. “At the time, I BY VALERIE SMITH Fanning the Flame Charleston Creative Community Photos courtesy of Carrie Davis.