City of North Charleston (SC) Seeks Designer for Industrial Tank Mural – Deadline Postmarked June 30, 2013

The City of North Charleston (SC) seeks to commission a graphic artist to design a large outdoor mural for a privately owned storage tank located at 1003 East Montague Avenue near the Olde Village area of North Charleston.

Professional graphic artists residing in the Tri-County area (Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties) are invited to submit their qualifications for the public art project. A Mural Committee comprised of city officials, business leaders, and community leaders will select one artist to create the mural design. The total budget for this project has been set at $5000 and involves all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: artist’s design fees, materials, production costs, travel, documentation, and any permits, license, or insurance.

The mural will measure 140’w x 40’h and will be fabricated on cast white vinyl and professionally mounted to the carbon steel tank.

Interested artists should contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854 or by e-mail to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org) for the complete commission prospectus. Application materials must be hand delivered by 5pm on Friday, June 28, 2013, or postmarked by Sunday, June 30, 2013. Artists will be notified of the commission award by July 10, 2013.

The mural design must be created using Adobe Illustrator or equivalent graphic design software and incorporate the logo of the tank owner, ODFJELL. The final design must be completed by August 31, 2013, to allow the mural fabricator adequate time to manufacture and install the mural in September.  The ideal design would create excitement and interest for the community, honor the history of the community, compliment the redevelopment initiatives of the community, and be appropriate to the location.

Graphic artists applying for the commission must demonstrate the skill and ability needed to produce this type of commissioned design work. The selected artist must be willing to learn about the community and is expected to collaborate with city staff and the Mural Committee through a series of meetings to develop concepts for the mural and the final design. Communication and coordination with city staff, the Mural Committee, and the mural fabricator throughout the design and installation process is necessary to ensure quality and compatibility.

In order to be considered for the commission, graphic artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following materials:

A. Letter of Interest describing specific interest in the project, potential approach, and any relevant past experience (1 page limit)

B. Current resume/CV

C. A minimum of ten slides, quality photographs, or digital images of artist’s work that accurately represent the artist’s aesthetics and style.  All images must be accompanied by a brief description of the artwork, title, location, size, and completion date.

D.   A list of three professional client references. The list must include complete address and telephone number for each reference.

E.   A self-addressed stamped envelope should be included if materials are to be returned.

F.   Optional application materials – the artist’s web site may be listed and/or up to three additional materials may be submitted such as reviews, news articles, awards, or other related information.

The City of North Charleston reserves the right to reject all applications and/or adjust the project time line. Application materials should be submitted by the deadline to the City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Director, Marty Besancon. Hand-deliver to the Cultural Arts Department office on the second floor of North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane, or mail to City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, PO Box 190016, North Charleston, SC, 29419-9016.

For more information about the ODFJELL tank mural commission, contact Marty Besancon at 843/740-5850 or e-mail to (mbesancon@northcharleston.org). To learn more about other programs and artist opportunities offered by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit (http://bit.ly/culturalarts).

Art Trail Gallery in Florence, SC, Calls for Entries for the Pee Dee Artist Guild Member Exhibit “Sand in My Shoes” – Deadline June 15, 2013

The Art Trail Gallery in Florence, SC, is calling for entries for the Pee Dee Artist Guild (PDAG) member exhibit “Sand in My Shoes”, which will be on view from June 25 – July 27, 2013. A reception will be held on June 28, from 4:30-8pm.

•         Members of the PDAG can enter up to three pieces of beach themed artwork.

•        If maximum size: 24” x 36” (including frame) it is considered as two pieces.

•        Due to space limitations, other must be smaller.

•         All work must be original, created within the last two years.

•         Only one of the submitted artworks may have been previously shown at the Gallery.

•         Two labels are required: one for the back of the work and one to be put on the wall beside the art.

•         Each label must include: artist’s name, ATG Vendor #, artwork title, medium, and price (or NFS).

•         The Gallery’s commission is 20%, so price work accordingly.

•         No substitutions for art work may be made after the last day of registration, June 15th, 2013.

•         Each PDAG member, who has work hanging, can have up to ten prints available for purchase.

•         Prints must be brought in when artwork is entered.

•         Prints must fit in print racks and have backing, mats if appropriate, and plastic sleeves.

•         Label on print must include artist’s name, ATG Vendor #, artwork title, medium, and price.

•         Please use a consistent format, using a business card size label.

•         All other information included in the ATG website pertains to this exhibition.

REGISTRATION:

Artists must complete registration/participation form by  Saturday,  June 15th,  5pm.

Fill in the Participation Form online in ADVANCE of bringing your work to the Gallery.

Registration must include information included on the label requested above.

This will be on the new participation form.

Go to: (http://art-trail-gallery.com)

Complete Participation Form. Prefer this be done online!
Complete Hold Blameless Form. Bring this signed form with you.

ARTWORK SUBMISSION DATES:
Friday, June 21: 12 noon – 6 PM
Saturday, June 22: 12 noon– 5 PM.

ARTWORK PICK UP:
Saturday, July 27th. 12 noon – 5 PM;
Sunday, July  28th 1 PM – 5 PM.

Please volunteer assistance during the exhibition. Put this information on the Participation Form.

The Art Trail Gallery is open: Wednesday – 11am-6pm; Thursday – 11am-3pm; Friday – 11am-6pm; and Saturday – 11am-3pm.

The Art Trail Gallery is located at 185 West Evans Street in Florence, SC.

Website: (http://www.art-trail-gallery.com).

Facebook: Art Trail Gallery – group page and business page

This project is all-volunteer and associated with the Florence Downtown Development  Corporation.

Teaching Artists Sought for After School Arts Enrichment Programs in North Charleston, SC – Apply by July 10, 2013

Thanks to the dedication of Mayor Summey and City Council, the City of North Charleston, SC, continues to provide after school programs to several public elementary schools within city limits. One component of these programs is arts enrichment classes facilitated by the City’s Cultural Arts Department. The department is seeking teaching artists in all disciplines to offer these classes for the 2013/14 school year. Local artists with a willingness to share their talents and an ability to work with young students are invited to participate in this after school arts enrichment program.

Photo by North Charleston Cultural Arts Staff

Thirteen elementary schools in North Charleston are identified sites. Classes are held for one hour twice a week with instructors rotating to a new school site on a bi-monthly basis. The number of participants will vary at each site and teaching artists should anticipate working with large groups of children. A site staff person is available to offer assistance. Rate of pay for these part-time positions is $20 an hour and a limited supply budget is available depending on the needs of the arts discipline. A minimum two month commitment is requested, which results in 16 one hour classes. To insure the safety of the children, background checks are required.

Photo by North Charleston Cultural Arts Staff

Interested artists should submit a class proposal form and resume by July 10, 2013 to be considered for this program, as rotations begin in September. Forms are available for download from the Applications and Registration Forms page at (http://bit.ly/culturalarts). Application materials may be e-mailed to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org) or mailed to the attention of Nancy Rodriguez at City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Dept., PO Box 190016, North Charleston, SC, 29419-9016.

Photo by North Charleston Cultural Arts Staff
For more information, contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854.

The Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, Offers 34th Annual Arts Celebration – June 13, 2013

The public and Arts Council members are cordially invited to attend the Arts Council of York County’s 34th Annual Arts Celebration on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the Community Performance Center, 249 East Main Street, Rock Hill, SC, at 6pm.

The evening will include highlights from the past year, along with presentations of the Long Family Scholarship, the Ben Ardrey Volunteer Award, and the Business & the Arts Award. Our format has changed to include piano music by Olluwatobi “Tobi” Otekayi from Winthrop University, a performance by York County Ballet and a visual arts exhibition by the Friday Arts Project. New board members will be announced, and outgoing board members will be recognized during the night’s events as well. Please join us for a reception immediately following the celebration and performances. Guests will also have the opportunity to win prize packages that include gifts like concert tickets, t-shirts.

Please reserve your tickets on the Arts Council’s website, (www.yorkcountyarts.org), or call 803/328-2787 by Monday, June 10, 2013 at 5pm.

For more information about these awards or how to show your support for the arts, contact the Arts Council of York County at 803/328-2787 or (arts@yorkcountyarts.org).

Charleston Center for Photography in Charleston, SC, Offers Second Monday Lecture and Exhibit by Jen Ervin – June 10, 2013

Come join us on June 10, 2013, at 7pm for our Second Monday Lecture presented by Jen Ervin. Ervin is a visual artist currently working with Polaroid film. Her work is rich in sensory memory, often reflecting themes of solitude, intimacy and uniqueness of the ordinary.

Ervin is inspired by vagabonds, mystics, writers and musicians; and is drawn to photography’s ability to blur the lines between reality and fiction. With her Polaroid Land 100 in hand, she sets her intentions to find unguarded places that often hide for an inattentive eye. For these are the visceral places where imperfections can become synonymous with poetry and fiction.

The Charleston Center for Photography will also be displaying a number of works by Ervin entitled “Land & Family: This Side of Summer”. It is work from her series “This Side of Summer”, but much of it is new work that hasn’t shown before.

Ervin offers the following statement about her exhibit, “Land & Family: This Side of Summer” explores the ethereal world of childhood in the South through landscape and portraiture. The series was born out of long summer days spent with my children at our historic family cabin set alongside the Little Pee Dee River in South Carolina. Ark Lodge, our cabin refuge, was built in the 1940s and is surrounded by acres of tall, slender pines and hauntingly, beautiful swamps. It is a place where time stands still. The lodge is equipped with a very large, rustic fireplace and only basic amenities. It’s walls are paneled with cypress and lined with shelves that display an eclectic collection of found treasures. In the summer, it is hot and humid, mystical and buggy, poetic and banal, uncomfortable and calming. It’s most frequent visitors are wild turkeys, locusts, alligators, snakes, deer, ibis, and a wide sky of stars. Here, lies a wilderness with territory still left to explore. With camera in hand, I set my intentions to find unguarded places that often hide for an inattentive eye. For these are the visceral places where imperfections can become synonymous with poetry and fiction. Collectively we embark on these new adventures, blurring the lines of reality and imaginative play along the way while allowing fate to guide us.”

A self-published book of this series is in progress.

The Seating is first come first serve for the lecture. There is no admission for the event, and we will be holding a free raffle at the end of the lecture. The lecture will begin promptly at 7pm and will run until 8pm.

For more insight into Ervin’s work visit (www.jenervin.com) or call the Charleston Center for Photography at 843/720-3105 or visit (http://ccforp.org/).

Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in SC Gains Unusual Addition

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail has gained an unusual addition. Rather than a typical quilt block, this addition is a rendition of a cross stitch quilt called “Native Birds,” and was mounted on the home of its owner, Jacqueline Downes of Chartwell Point Road in Seneca, SC.

Made in the late 1950’s, the original quilt was made by June Fisher, Sadie German, Mable Peters and Florence Muth, Mrs. Downs’ mother, grandmother and great aunts, all of Allentown, PA, in Lehigh County.  Nine birds are depicted, with some repeats, however, it is the cardinal that is featured on the mounted quilt block.

“My mother would spend months stitching the pattern as she sat in her wheelchair – it was busy work. The ladies would arrive, set up a frame in the living room, and I would find them working every day when I came home from school.  Over time, the frame would be folded smaller and smaller, until the quilt was finished. Then mother would start on another.”

Cross stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery and can be found all over the world. X-shaped stitches in a tiled pattern are used to form a picture. It is often executed on easily countable evenweave fabric called aida cloth. The stitcher counts the threads in each direction so that the stitches are of uniform size and appearance. This is also called counted cross stitch to distinguish it from other forms of cross-stitch. Besides the aida cloth, other fabrics used in cross-stitch include linen and mixed content fabrics called ‘even weave.’ This name refers to the fact that the fabric is woven to make sure there are the same number of threads in an inch left to right and top to bottom. Fabrics are categorized by threads per inch, or ‘count,’ and can range from 11 to 40 counts.

For more information and pictures visit (www.uhqt.org).

Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, Announce 2013 Naomi McCracken Scholarship Awards

The Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, is pleased to announce the 2013 Naomi McCracken Scholarship Awards going to three very talented student artists. Each year SOBA awards scholarships to deserving graduating seniors from Bluffton High School who have been accepted to an accredited art college and plan to major in the visual arts.

Christina Andrews

Alexandria Craig

Christina Andrews was the first place winner, Alexandria Craig and Alexandra Ball were tied for second place. Andrews works in mainly with acrylic and pen and ink, Craig in a variety of media, and Ball is an up and coming photographer. They were judged based on their body of work and interviews with the SOBA scholarship committee. These girls are inspiring and all three are sure to be successful in their next level of artistic endeavors. Congratulations to them all! We have no photo for Alexandra Ball.

For further info call 843/757-6586  or at (www.sobagallery.com).

Hub City Empty Bowls 2013 Gets Off to an Early Start at the Spartanburg Art Museum in Spartanburg, SC – June 15, 2013

The popular grassroots fundraiser that helps feed the hungry in Spartanburg, SC – Hub City Empty Bowls-is cranking up early for 2013. The first two bowl-making dates are Saturday, June 15, 2013, from 10am-noon and 1-3pm at the Spartanburg Art Museum School in the Chapman Cultural Center, and Thursday, June 20, 2013, 6-8:30pm at the West Main Artists Co-op in Spartanburg.

The goal of the organizing sponsor, Carolina Clay Artists, is to make more than 1,000 handmade clay bowls to be used on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, when hundreds of people will donate cash in exchange for the colorful and creative bowls filled with soup donated by local restaurants. Everyone is encouraged to help make bowls. No experience in pottery is required. All materials and instruction will be provided free.

After four years of raising tens of thousands of dollars for different hunger-based charities in Spartanburg, the Carolina Clay Artists return for the fifth year determined to make the event even bigger and better. In the past, Empty Bowls has been about a three-month project. This year, it will run for five months in an effort to give citizens more opportunities to participate. It has been one of Spartanburg’s most successful events in helping feed the poor. The fundraiser – Soup Day – will be held in the lobby of the David W. Reid Theatre and in the plaza of Chapman Cultural Center on Saturday, Nov. 9, 11am-7pm. In addition to soup, bread and tea, live music, and fellowship are provided for a community event that generates a groundswell of grassroots charity, as well as much needed funds. Patrons especially enjoy taking home the clay bowls, as sentimental reminders of how they have contributed to Spartanburg’s advancement. Traditionally, patrons donate $15 per bowl. The soup is all you can eat, and there will be a variety of restaurants providing soup throughout the day.

Empty Bowls is an international phenomenon that is virtually administrative and overhead free. All work is done by local volunteers, most of whom are potters. All of the money raised stays in the local community. Last year, more than $12,000 was given to the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen. This year’s recipient of the funds will be TOTAL Ministries of Spartanburg. Public bowl-making events will be held at both the Spartanburg Art Museum School, located in Chapman Cultural Center, 200 East Saint John St. (10am-noon and 1-3pm) and the West Main Artist Co-op, 578 West Main Street (6-8:30pm).

The dates are: Spartanburg Art Museum/Chapman Cultural Center, Saturdays, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 14; West Main Artists Co-op, Thursdays, June 20, July 18, and Aug. 15—all of which are ArtWalk dates. Sponsors of the 2013 Empty Bowls fundraising event include: Carolina Clay Artists, Spartanburg Art Museum, Chapman Cultural Center, the West Main Artists Co-op and Chris Williams, owner of local pottery supply house, Clay-King.com.

For more information about Hub City Empty Bowls Soup, call 864/621-2768.

Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston, SC, Calls for Applications for Exhibitions

Redux Contemporary Art Center is the premier contemporary art venue in South Carolina offering opportunities for emerging to established visual artists to participate in an exhibition in historic Charleston, SC.

Exhibitions are not limited to any media, and the volunteer Exhibition Committee will consider all applicants for solo, two person, and group exhibitions for the six to eight available slots in 2014 and 2015.

For more information, visit our FAQ at (http://reduxstudios.org/exhibitions-faq/).

Your Slide Room (https://reduxstudios.slideroom.com/#/Login) application must include the following:

· Portfolio of recent works (5 – 23)
· Inventory list including titles, dates completed, sizes, and mediums
· Artist Statement
· Artistic Resume
· $35 Entry Fee

Contact: 843/722-0697 or at (www.reduxstudios.org).

Jim Harrison Begins Second Saturday Artist Days in Denmark, SC – June 8, 2013

Renowned Southern artist Jim Harrison will host Second Saturday Artist Day at his gallery in Denmark, SC, beginning Saturday, June 8, 2013, from 11am until 3pm. The featured artist for June is Christie West who works in marquetry. The public is invited to attend at no charge to view the exhibit with refreshments provided and a drawing for one of West’s pieces of work held for those who attend and sign the guest register. Art will also be available for purchase.

Marquetry is a decorative surface treatment in which thin pieces of wood, mother of pearl or metal are laid together in a pattern which is affixed to another sturdier support. West describes his work as combining “narrative and woodworking.”

“As a marquetarian, creating art using wood veneers presents some special challenges as there are limits on available colors, shading and gradation are not usually possible, and the images tend to be more graphic in design. But as there are limits, there are also possibilities. Using the unlimited variation in wood figure and patterns, it is possible to suggest, to lead, to create connections that might otherwise be impossible,” said Christie West. “I am always looking at nature for inspiration and have always been drawn to the fey and the fantastic, as well as the infinite beauty and possibility of the female face and form. It is always my challenge and my delight to assemble what are simply pieces of wood into what becomes an image of beauty, inspiration, or simply ‘How does he do that!’ I hope you enjoy the show.”

West began working as a marquetarian after attending a class with Clyde Badger at the John C. Campbell Folk School in NC. His extensive background and skills in woodworking led to a teaching position at the Campbell Folk School for more than a 10 year period. He is also a member of the Furniture Society where he became friends with Silas Kopf, one of the foremost marquetarians in the world. This led to taking a weeklong course of instruction with Kopf at the Tennessee School for the Crafts. His work has been juried into shows at the Anderson Arts Center, the Pickens County Art Museum, the The Bascom, in Highlands, NC, The Belton Arts Center, the Aiken Arts Center, The Blue Ridge Arts Center in Seneca, SC. He has received numerous purchase and merit awards in shows in Anderson, Belton, Pickens and Aiken, and has had shows in Anderson, Pickens, Aiken, Seneca, Orangeburg as well as Brevard, NC. West has also taught small classes in marquetry in Belton, Bamberg, and Seneca, SC. In addition he has served as the Vice President of the Anderson Artists’ Guild, President of the Aiken Artists Guild, Secretary of the Board for the Salkehatchie Arts in Allendale, SC as well as a member of the Bamberg Arts Council.

“As someone who has had the good fortune of enjoying a long career as an artist, I am keenly aware of the hard work and dedication required to be successful in this field. With all of this in mind, I will be hosting a fellow artist on the second Saturday of each month,” said Jim Harrison. “It’s an opportunity for me to ‘give back’ by helping the careers of other artists and bring something special to Denmark and our customers each month.”

Jim Harrison’s success is evidenced by four decades as a full-time artist. With talent, hard work and perseverance, he has more than 100 sold out limited editions of the prints made from his paintings and thousands of collectors of his work across the country. Harrison’s paintings are featured in personal and corporate art collections across the country including The Coca-Cola Company, The Maytag Corporation, Philip Morris Company, and the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. Harrison has also had successful one-man shows at the prestigious Hammer Galleries in New York City and the Conacher Gallery in San Francisco. His paintings have also been included in the annual shows at the prestigious National Academy Gallery in New York.

For more information on Jim Harrison, visit his website at (www.jimharrison.com). For further info about this event contact Teri Harrell by e-mail at (tharrell@jimharrisongallery.com) or call the gallery at 803/793-5796.