Starving Artist Market owner seeks move to Port Royal

Jim Torcum is what you'd call the "artsy" type. He majored in art in college, went to interior design school in Chicago and flipped homes in New England before moving to the Lowcountry and returning to his original passion: painting.

Torcum, of Fripp Island, now wants to help out fellow creators -- what society likes to call the "starving artist" type.

So began the idea for his open-air market for artists, appropriately named The Starving Artist Market.

"It's a way for artists to display their work without requiring a gallery," he explained.

Torcum started the market this summer on Saturday mornings at Boondocks Restaurant on St. Helena Island, but he's ready for a more central location.

"(Boondocks) was a start," he said. "We saw what we liked, what we didn't like."

Torcum has his eye on 1503 Paris Ave., in Port Royal, a "liberal community" that has an appreciation for artists, he said.

But before he can set up shop, Torcum will meet with the town's Design Review Board on Sept. 3 to discuss plans and get approval for the market.

"I want to (operate) it in conjunction with the farmers market," Torcum said, adding that Starving Artist could also be open during festivals and special events in Port Royal.

Torcum said he has space for about 20 artists and wants to feature original art only, including painting, sculpting and jewelry-making.

"I had artists set up easels at Boondocks," he said. Shoppers would watch the artists work and some even requested to buy a painting once the artist was finished. "People loved it. It was a nice plus for the artists."

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Starving Artist Market owner seeks move to Port Royal."