Patz Fowle of Hartsville, SC, Is Having A Busy Spring

On Apr. 28, from 10am-4pm, Fowle will participate in the Congaree Arts Festival at the SC State Museum in Columbia, SC, held on the grounds of the SC State Museum. She’ll have lots of her clay friends available to be purchased.

Whimsical Mystery Tour

Two of Fowle’s sculptures were chosen for the 2012 South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Exhibition presented during the 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival, hosted by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department. The Palmetto Hands Exhibition will be at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, SC, from May 5-12, 2012.

Palmetto Sprout

The book Patz Fowle in Progress was just published by Black Creek Arts Council in Hartsville, SC. Here’s what was written about it.

South Carolina artist Patz Fowle is no stranger to having images of her work published in text books or having her drawings used as illustrations for children’s books. She has even written her own children’s book, Remember When available on (www.Amazon.com).

Fowle can now add having a book about her unique clay handbuilding technique, the Patz Process, and the evolution of her artistic inspiration to her long list of accomplishments. Patz Fowle in Progress just arrived at the Black Creek Arts Center and copies of the book are headed to each public school library in Darlington County, SC.

Patz Fowle in Progress came about after Fowle completed an artist residency at each school in Darlington County during the 2010-11 school year. “One of the aims of the book is to show local young people that successful, practicing artists live and work in their communities,” said Fowle. “What better way than to show them than a book about an artist that they know and have worked with.”

Patz Fowle in Progress contains images of Fowle’s works from the 1980s up to some of her most recent, including her sculpture of famed topiary artist Pearl Fryar and painting of the multi-talented painter and performer Ilona Smithkin. Additionally, the book tells the story of Fowle’s inspiration for her clever clay creations and shows the artist at work on many of her whimsical sculptures.

The book was published by Black Creek Arts Council, which, along with the Darlington County School District through grants from the South Carolina Arts Commission, funded the artist residencies Fowle completed in 2010-11. Black Creek Arts Council’s Sub granting Program, which provided assistance for this project, is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, the John & Susan Bennett memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

To get your copy of Patz Fowle in Progress, contact the Black Creek Arts Center by e-mail at (bartscounc@aol.com) or call 843/332-6234 or Patz Fowle at (patzfowle@yahoo.com).

Annual North Charleston Arts Festival Set for May 4-12, 2012, Takes Place Throughout North Charleston, SC

Now in its 30th year, the North Charleston Arts Festival will take place May 4-12, 2012. The nine day event draws thousands of residents and visitors each year and is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, highlighting national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature.

Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the festival strives to maintain the spirit of a public celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performances, exhibitions, and activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced. Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival offers something for everyone.

My Muse by Elena Barna, acrylic on canvas.

“The Arts Festival is truly a point of pride for the City of North Charleston,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “It provides our residents and thousands of visitors with a myriad of opportunities to experience high quality entertainment, exhibits, and programming from every arts discipline in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings.”

The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over forty performances on four themed stages: General Audience, Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, and Bands. Other features include judged fine art and photography exhibits; the 12th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; youth art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Society show and sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children’s activities at Box City and Creation Stations; art & craft vendors, a food court, and much more.

The Festival continues with over fifty events throughout the week at various locations. An exciting array of free and ticketed events include concerts, street dances, theatre presentations, film screenings, art workshops and demonstrations, an art walk, children’s programs, an Art & Fine Craft CoOp Gallery & Sale, the 7th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful North Charleston Riverfront Park. This year’s Grand Finale on May 12 features a Tri-County school showcase, dance performances, a slam poetry show, children’s activities, and an evening concert by The Shem Creek Boogie Band. The event concludes with a fantastic fireworks display over the Cooper River.

Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, Art Walk, Opening Processional, and Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition. Volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Applications can be found at (http://northcharlestonartsfest.com/).

For more 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including event details and venue information, visit (http://northcharlestonartsfest.com/) or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843/740-5854.