Orangeburg artist Gene Nelson's work is currently on display in the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center's Lusty Gallery. The show, which opened for viewing March 3, will run through March 31 during the center's normal business hours.

A drop-in reception and meet-the-artist event is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, in the Lusty Gallery. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served. OCFAC is located in Edisto Memorial Gardens.

Nelson has exhibited previously in Orangeburg, but it has been more than 15 years since he has had a public showing. Almost all of the paintings currently on display have been completed since that time. This will be the first showing for most of his artwork.

Nelson's work is unique in content and style. Although he has painted a number of realistic pieces, he prefers the surrealistic style in which to tell a story with his pictures and has dubbed this approach "Social Political Surrealism." He also enjoys drawing political cartoons.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Nelson began painting when he was in the U.S. Navy 40 years ago while stationed in Charleston. He served aboard two different nuclear submarines during his military time. He and his family have lived in Orangeburg County for more than 35 years.

Nelson said there have been times when he has been very productive in his painting, and he has gone through periods in which he has done no painting. He hopes that with retirement in the near future, he can devote more time to the passion he has for painting. Nelson has had no formal classes and is, for the most part, self-taught.

Nelson has sold more than 50 paintings, which are now in private Orangeburg collections. He has also painted a number of commissioned pieces, which have generally been pictures of the customers' homes. The artist has two signed and numbered prints available: "Elloree High School" and "Fourholes Station." He has entered paintings at the Orangeburg County Fair and has won numerous awards.

Nelson is a past president of the Orangeburg League of Arts. He and his wife owned and operated Something Different Antiques and Art Gallery on Broughton Street for nearly 12 years. During that time, his work was displayed at that location. He is currently employed as the building official and zoning administrator for Orangeburg. Nelson has two children and three grandchildren.

His work is posted online at www.e2philosophy.com.

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