Three Ring Circus

Presenting: Scrum & Shimsuda’s Three Ring Circus! !

Set to be unveiled on Friday May 16th, Michael Mitchell Gallery presents Scrum & Shimsuda’s

Three Ring Circus featuring Hirona Matsuda, Trever Webster and Lisa Shimko. Taking on the alter egos of Fortune Teller, Ring Master, and Beast Tamer respectively, their artwork will reflect and elaborate on these roles. They will also be coming together for a spectacular collaborative installation, on view for a limited time only. This is Matsuda and Shimko’s third show together at the Michael Mitchell Gallery but are excited to be reunited with Webster for this installment. The trio emerged 

onto the Charleston art scene together in 2007.

Circus/Masquerade attire is welcome for the opening night’s festivities. The opening will also

feature live music by Nick Jenkins. Michael Mitchell Gallery 438 King St. 6-9 pm.

About the Artists:

Hirona Matsuda "Fortune Teller" creates miniature installations and contraptions using

materials from her towering library of found objects. Her assemblages each contain a history

and tell a story. It is easy to be drawn into the oddly familiar but alternate world that exists there. 

Lisa Shimko “Beast Tamer” has been in the South Carolina low country painting since 2000.

Her colorful paintings feature many a feathered and furry friend, usually with a bit of a

surrealistic/magic realistic bend. Shimko agrees with the anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss,

“animals are good to think with”, while she continues to use them as the vessels for metaphors

and human emotional situations. 

Trever Webster “Ring Master” will be working with rather familiar subject matter to him. He

enjoys creating carnivals and roller coasters in a variety of conditions. There will be a strong

focus on the big top and all the colorful hyperbole used by a ring leader to create excitement

and wonder.