Woman captures pieces of history in art

Looking through the eyes of Carolyn McCoy Govan, the world is painted in bright, rich, vivid hues and everything tells a story or captures a piece of history. That is how she paints.

“The paintings I like the best are the ones that tell a story,” said Govan.

Govan said many of her paintings are based on historical facts, like one depicting Dr. Martin Luther King and Pres. Barack Obama in front of Washington, D.C., landmarks. She painted Dr. King’s likeness from a photo in a booklet her husband had from the ‘60s. Her husband participated in the march on Washington in the 1960s, and they attended the inauguration of Pres. Obama. She said it was as though they had come full circle.

The Hartsville native recently received an honorable mention for her piece, “Corridor of Shame,” in the 56th Annual Pee Dee Regional Art Competition at the Florence Museum. The exhibit is on display through Sept. 27. Govan said she has submitted artwork in this particular art competition for the past 10 or 12 years. “I have had my work chosen six or seven times and have had an honorable mention before,” the artist said.

Govan said she taught in one of those schools in Lee County and felt compelled to paint a picture to express her feelings after viewing the film about the Corridor of Shame.

“I wanted to show the neglect,” she said of her award-winning piece.

She currently has three works in Aiken on display, and she is working on a piece to submit to the S.C. State Fair for judging. This piece will pay tribute to topiary artist Pearl Fryar and Charleston blacksmith the late Philip Simmons. It shows topiary with an iron gate in front.

Seated in the art studio that her husband, Charles, built for her behind their house, Govan talked about how she got started. One of her first painting was an abstract blending African and Oriental cultures together.
She is the oldest of 10 children, and every one of them has artistic talent. Her mother, Dorothy McCoy, still lives in Hartsville.

“I am just the only one who pursued it professionally,” said Govan. “I have a brother who draws better than I do, but I paint better than he does.”

“My father was interested in art,” she said. “He always gave me pencils and markers. I was interested as a child, as a young teenager, I lost interest.” But she said she quickly regained her interest and sought a college major in art.

Govan was the first art major to graduate from South Carolina State College (now university).

“Dr. Leo Twiggs was the first to introduce me to painting,” she said.

Govan has also studied at Francis Marion University, Governor’s School for the Arts, Clemson University and others. She is a member of the Pee Dee Artisan Group, Black Creek Arts, South Carolina Arts Association and the Florence County Arts Association. Govan was the Black Creek Arts Council Artist Spotlight for April.

She is an entrepreneur and has eight of her painting as prints and two series of note cards – Down Home Folks and Lady in Hats.

“I wanted to have something for those who couldn’t afford an original,” Govan said.

There are four images in each set of note cards. Govan said she hopes to be online soon where she will have her work available for purchase.

Govan has also taught art for more than 33 years in schools in Darlington, Lee, Marlboro, Sumter and Williamsburg counties. She currently teaches at Blenheim Middle School in Marlboro County.

Whether painting or teaching, Govan finds art a rewarding career.

Through her teaching, Govan said she hopes to have her students explore the global world around them and the world of beauty. She wants to inspire others to paint or to appreciate the works of others.

When not teaching or painting, Govan enjoys sculpting, lecturing on “From Africa to the Harlem Renaissance and Beyond,” bowling, reading and traveling.

The Govans have three grown daughters. Two live in the area. Wanda is a curriculum director with the Darlington County School System, and Dione is a registered nurse at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center. Michelle is a teacher in Charleston. They also have three grandchildren, Jasmine, Tahjae and Jaswan.