Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg (SC) Awards Community Grants to Local Artists

The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg in Spartanburg, SC, awarded $3,000 through its Community Grants program during the recent winter quarter to five local organizations and artists who are promoting the cultural arts in Spartanburg. Annually, a total of $12,000 is awarded to people or programs that are “actively engaged in the performing, visual, literary or folk arts.” Grants generally range from $500 to $1,000. The Grants panel is chaired by Chris Crowly and nine other local citizens.

Those who received these most recent grants are…

· Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate, Imagemakers Program, Visual Art, $1,000

· HubCity Writers Project, SC First Novel Prize, Literary Art, $500

· Vivianne Carey, SPACE Sculpture Installation, Visual Art, $500

· Jody Raines, Threads of Our Heritage, Visual Art, $500

· Patty Wright, The Dupree House Photo Exhibit, Visual Art, $500

The next grant deadline is Mar. 9, 2012. Grants made at that time will be for projects that must end by June 30, 2012. To apply, please visit online at (www.ChapmanCulturalCenter.org) and search under “The Arts Partnership” and “Community Grants.”

The ImageMarkers program will provide seven digital photography and photo-editing workshops to about 200 Boys & Girls Clubs members in the 4th through 8th grades. The workshops will take place January through May at 10 Boys & Girls Clubs locations throughout Spartanburg County. ImageMakers is designed to promote self-expression and communication through photography by teaching photography as a way of seeing, expressing, documenting, and storytelling. The workshops will culminate with youth exhibit at the Chapman Cultural Center, May 8-July 1.

The HubCity Writers Project will use its funds to underwrite the judging and the award of the South Carolina First Novel Prize, a developing program coordinated by a partnership that includes the SC Arts Commission, the State Library, and the SC Humanities Council. This project will include at least four Spartanburg readers—all with advance degrees in writing or literature—to do the first level of judging in this statewide project. The Spartanburg group will select six submitted novels, which will be forwarded to Charleston novelist Josephine Humphreys, who will pick the ultimate winner. The winner will receive a $1000 book advance and the opportunity to have his or novel published and marketed by Spartanburg’s Hub City Press.

Local artist Viviane Carey will use her grant to create and install a commissioned sculpture in memory of Janet White, a local woman who loved the outdoors but who died of cancer after a 10-year battle. She was also the owner of Broadway Bagels, a local eatery. In coordination with the Spartanburg Area Conversancy (SPACE), the sculpture will be at the Beechwood Drive public entrance to the Cottonwood Trail, where Ms. White often walked in prayer and meditation.

Jody Raines’s Threads of Our Heritage project will produce 15 quilts depicting historical homes, churches, and places of interest in Spartanburg County. Her focus will be on promoting the natural, historical, and manmade beauty of the county. As a fiber artists, quilter and photographer, the Spartanburg native used hand-dyed, commercial and painted fabrics, specialty textiles, threads and embellishments and free-motion thread paint by machine. She hopes to exhibit this collection throughout the region in museums, galleries, schools and other venues.

Patty Wright’s project will enable her to photograph and showcase her work on the Wallace Dupree House, one of the oldest homes in Spartanburg. In her May show with the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, she will display at least 20 of her photographs that depict this historic house. Two of her goals are to educate the community on the history of the house and to provide a glimpse of the past and the demise of a historic architecture when left alone.

“All of these projects are very strong in their focus and in the advancement of the cultural arts in Spartanburg,” President of the Chapman Cultural Center Jennifer Evins said. “We are very proud to offer Community Grants to artists in our community because the work they do is so very important on many different levels. They preserve, educate, honor, and find new ways to engage people in the arts. They actually produce the images, the words and the ways and means for the rest of us to enjoy some of the most important aspects of life itself.”

The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg’s quarterly Community Grants program is supported in part by its donors, the County and the City of Spartanburg, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.

For further information contact Steve Wong, Marketing Director, Chapman Cultural Center by calling 864/278-9698

Tryon Gallery Trot in Tryon, NC, Takes Place – Mar. 24, 2012

The Tryon Downtown Development Association proudly announces its first scheduled “Tryon Gallery Trot” of 2012 on Saturday, Mar. 24, from 5 to 8pm. Join 10 participating galleries, businesses and restaurants for opening art receptions, music, and special events. Participating businesses are Richard Baker’s Studio, The Book Shelf, Bravo Outdoor Marketplace, Green River Gallery, Kathleen’s, The Pine Crest Inn, Skyuka Fine Art, Tryon Painters & Sculptors, and Upstairs Artspace.

Future Trot dates are: May 12th, June 23rd, August 11th, September 29th, and November 3rd-mark your calendars!

Find “Tryon Gallery Trot” on Facebook, or go to (www.downtowntryon.org) for more information, e-mail Kim Nelson at (info@skyukafineart.com).

A few of the scheduled events are:

Richard Baker Studio continues to demonstrate his commitment to painting scenes of the Foothills and will be exhibiting his new works of 2012.  Richard’s oils proudly depict the beauty of “Our Back Yard”.

Skyuka Fine Art hosts an opening reception for “Historic Tryon Artists.” This show features famous artists who were part of the historic Tryon artists’ colony such as Homer Ellertson, Lawrence Mazzanovich, Elizabeth Paxton Oliver, Amelia Watson and Will Henry Stevens. The art has been contributed by area dealers and collectors.

Also opening is Tryon Painters & Sculptors’ exhibit “Green Piece”; fascinating two- and three-dimensional art made with recycled materials and reused or found objects. Many outstanding artists present their imaginative, clever and fun pieces that are environmentally friendly.

The Upstairs Artspace has a major exhibit “Artists Among Us: 100 Faces of Art in Spartanburg” showcasing art in many mediums by a dazzling number of Spartanburg’s finest artists.

Vines & Stuff is featuring the porcelain work of Tiffany Gipson, a Southern Highland Craft Guild member, and the clay pottery of Claude Graves of Little Mountain Pottery.

Rockingham County Arts Council in Wentworth, NC, Gears Up for 2012 Artists Open Door Studio Tour – Nov. 9 – 11, 2012

The Rockingham County Arts Council has started planning for the 2012 Artists Open Door Studio Tour. All area artists are encouraged to reserve the weekend of Nov. 9-11, 2012, to participate in the tour.

New this year will be extended days and times to allow visitors the opportunity to visit artists in different parts of the county on different days. As with last year, there will be an exhibit of participating artists’ work at the Dan River Art Market & Gallery the weekend of Nov. 9, along with a closing reception to celebrate the art and artists in our county on Sunday, Nov. 11.

The tour is a wonderful opportunity for area artists to showcase their work and workplaces to area residents as well as the numerous out-of-town visitors that attend the tour. This year, area businesses are encouraged to participate in the tour by hosting artists who may not have their own workspace but who still wish to be part of the tour. Special marketing and promotions will be offered to participating businesses.

The Arts Council is seeking area artists and businesses to lend their voice to the planning process for this year’s tour. If interested, please contact Executive Director Kathryn Gauldin at 336/349-4039 or e-mail to (info@artsinrockingham.org). For information about the Arts Council, please visit (www.artsinrockingham.org).

The Rockingham County Arts Council (RCAC) is the focal point/umbrella organization for the arts, and information about the arts, in Rockingham County. Founded in August of 1969 as a non-profit organization, we provide grassroots grants to local artists, arts organizations, and schools and encourage community participation in and support of the arts.

Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, Throws Street Party – Apr. 19, 2012

For the third year, the Gibbes Museum of Art will throw a street party in front of the museum at 135 Meeting Street in Charleston, SC. “Gibbes on the Street: Renovation Celebration” will celebrate the museum’s future renovation plans and invite patrons to enjoy an evening of food, fun, and music in the middle of Meeting Street. The festivities will take place on Thursday, Apr. 19, 2012, from 8-10:30pm on Meeting Street between Cumberland and Queen.

Guests will enjoy a melding of the visual and culinary arts with savories and sweets provided by Charleston’s most celebrated chefs. Participating restaurants and purveyors include Caviar & Bananas, Charleston Grill, Circa 1886, Cypress, FIG, Hank’s, The Macintosh, McCrady’s, Next Door, Roots Ice Cream, Slightly North of Broad, Trattoria Lucca, Wild Olive, and WildFlour Pastry. An open bar will feature Ciroc ultra premium vodka and wines by The Rutherford Ranch Winery.

“Our street party always surprises and delights all who attend. This year we’ll have our party hard hats on as we begin to envision the beautifully restored Beaux Art building,” said Gibbes Executive Director Angela D. Mack.

“Gibbes on the Street: Renovation Celebration” is sponsored by U. S. Trust, William Means Real Estate, Carriage Properties, All Occasions, Production Design Associates, Ciroc, Rutherford Ranch Winery, and Local Palate magazine.

Tickets are $100 for museum members and $135 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online at (www.gibbesmuseum.org/events) or by calling 843/722-2706 x22. Tickets must be purchased in advance and all ticket holders must be at least 21 years of age. The event will be held rain or shine.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905.  Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives that serve the community by stimulating creative expression and improving the region’s superb quality of life.

Hickory, NC’s Oktoberfest 2012 is Accepting Applications for Arts and Crafts Vendors – Deadline Sept. 1, 2012

Hickory, NC’s Oktoberfest 2012 is now accepting applications for Arts and Crafts vendors. Celebrating its 27th year, this annual festival will be held Oct. 12, 13, and 14, 2012, in Downtown Hickory. Estimated attendance is more than 100,000 for the three day event.

Hickory’s Oktoberfest is a three-day, outdoor festival held annually on the second weekend in October.  It features five stages of non-stop live entertainment ranging from traditional polka to rock & roll, two beer gardens, amusement rides and carnival games, a juried arts and crafts show, along with food and commercial vendors.

Oktoberfest hosts more than 100 vendors, including food from around the world, commercial vendors and non profit organizations. The Juried Arts & Crafts include paintings, sculpture, pottery, handmade swings and furniture, jewelry, photography candles and much more.

Oktoberfest’s Arts and Crafts show is a juried event, with prizes given for the top three artisans. Booth spaces are 10 x 10 and limited to one craftsperson per booth. Early registration (postmarked by Aug. 1, 2012) is $100.00. Regular registration will be accepted until Sept. 1, 2012 and is $150.00. Late registration, if space is still available (postmarked after October 1, 2012) is $250.00 Electricity is available for an additional $25.00. Applications are available on line at (www.hickoryoktoberfest.com).

Applications for commercial and non profit organizations are also available online at (www.hickoryoktoberfest.com).

For more information on Oktoberfest 2012, applications and guidelines or sponsorship information please visit the website or e-mail to (info@downtownhickory.com).

Rockingham County Arts Council in Wentworth, NC, Calls for Entries for Eco Logical Art – Deadline Apr. 13, 2012

Rockingham County Arts Council in Wentworth, NC, calls for entries for Eco Logical Art exhibit to be on view from Apr. 19 through May 31, 2012, with a reception being held on Apr. 19, from 5-7pm.

In Celebration of Earth Day, re-use and re-cycle awareness pleases join us in an exhibit of up-fitted and repurposed art and craft!

Here are the details!

We invite 2-d and 3-d work from middle-school age students in all media, particularly with recycle and earth day in mind. We encourage you to use your imagination! Consider jewelry from found objects, sculptures, costume and wearable art, collage and mosaic. Use plants in your artwork, wind to power it, photography of environmental topics, and a PowerPoint presentation to make your statement.

Submission requirements
Please have all submissions to the Arts Council by Friday, Apr. 13, 2012. There is no entry fee. We do have limited space and will accept up to 3 pieces by each artist.

Submitted work requires the following information:
Artist’s name
Title of work
Media
Brief statement on the artwork (up to 50 words)
School you attend
Sale price or NFS (not for sale)
Work may be picked up Monday, May 28, and Thursday May 31 or by appointment.

RCAC is the focal point/umbrella organization for the arts and information about the arts in Rockingham County. Our mission is to nurture and enrich the cultural life in Rockingham County.

Questions? Contact the Rockingham County Arts Council’s Kathryn Gauldin, Executive Director by calling 336/349-4039 or e-mail to (director@artsinrockingham.org).

North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, Offers Two Special Events Related to It’s Current Exhibit – Mar. 10 and Apr. 14, 2012

Plan to join us for two special event days complementing our current exhibit: What’s Upstairs? Seeing the NCPC’s Hidden Treasures.

A frequent complaint of museum-goers is that much of a museum’s collection of objects and artifacts is stored away out of view and is rarely seen by anyone but staff and qualified researchers. Understandably, museum collections can be vast in size and public exhibition space is often large enough to display only a fraction of an institution’s holdings at any one time.

So, for the first time, many objects not previously included in NCPC exhibits have been brought downstairs for visitors’ viewing and enjoyment. In addition, a sample of the Center’s significant collection of art pottery produced by Lee County’s North State Pottery is displayed. In the future, more of the stored objects will be added to the permanent collection exhibit and others will be incorporated into upcoming short term exhibitions.

Back jug unknown from Catwaba Valley and front jug by
Burlon Craig

Open for viewing through Apr. 28, 2012, What’s Upstairs? Seeing the NCPC’s Hidden Treasures will be complemented by two special event days on Mar. 10 and Apr. 14 (noon – 2pm each day). In addition to speakers on each day discussing both personal and institutional collection of North Carolina pottery, experts will be available to identify and discuss visitors’ own North Carolina pottery brought in for identification.

The NCPC will also release a new color catalog on Mar. 10, of Alamance County Historical Stoneware, highlighting in print the first time a large group of these spectacular pots which haven’t been seen together since they emerged from Alamance County kilns about a hundred and sixty years ago. The text is by potter and curator Mark Hewitt.

Face jug from Brown Pottery

On Apr. 14, along with the festivities, two catalogs will be released. The first catalog highlights pieces from the North Carolina Pottery Center’s permanent collection with text by the curator of this exhibit, Steve Compton author and pottery collector. The other catalog being released is a first of its kind, a rare grouping of nineteenth and twentieth century Grave Markers that take many forms and often have names, dates, and epitaphs inscribed on them. The catalog text is by Dr. Charles Zug, author and curator of a number of pottery exhibits

Both events are open to the public and will be educational and entertaining. The catalogs will be for sale and the curators will be signing catalogs and answering questions. We encourage you to bring in old North Carolina pottery pieces to find out more about them. We will also have instructions for donating pottery to the NCPC’S permanent collection, which is a taxable deduction. Light refreshments will be served.

The mission of the North Carolina Pottery Center is to promote public awareness of and appreciation for the history, heritage, and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina.

The Center is located at 233 East Avenue in Seagrove, NC. Hours of operation are Tue. – Sat., 10am – 4pm.

For more information, please call 336/873-8430 or visit (www.ncpotterycenter.org).

27th Annual Sculpture Celebration Takes Place in Lenoir, NC – Sept. 8, 2012

The 27th Annual Sculpture Celebration takes place on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, from 9am-4pm, at T.H. Broyhill Walking Park, 945 Lakewood Circle in Lenoir NC

Sculpture Celebration brings over 70 sculptors with over 200 sculptures from all over the eastern US to compete for cash prizes totaling over $10,000. Preview dinner Friday evening is free to sculptors, $15 for guests. Meet sculptors and judge Jerry Bolas, newly appointed Executive Director of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission.

Last year’s top winner by Wayne Trapp

Sculpture Celebration is free to visitors; sculptors pay to compete.

If you would like to participate contact Cathy McCoy, at the Caldwell Arts Council by calling 828/754-2486, e-mail to (info@caldwellarts.com) or visit (www.caldwellarts.com).

Artspace in Raleigh, NC, Launches Shop Artspace Spring Fundraiser to Support Young Artists – Apr. 12-14, 2012

Artspace in Raleigh, NC, will launch a spring fundraiser, Shop Artspace, held on Apr. 12-14, 2012. The weekend event is designed to allow shoppers to support local Artspace artists and promote art access for at-risk youth through the Artspace Summer Arts Program Scholarship Fund and the Artspace Outreach Program.

The Artspace Summer Arts Program Scholarship Fund provides 50 need-based, full-day scholarships to at-risk youth so they may participate in the unique and inspiring classes the Summer Arts Program offers. The Artspace Outreach Program partners with local social service agencies to guide students through the conceptualization and creation of a large-scale, collaborative art project.

“Artspace’s spring fundraiser is devoted to raising much-needed funds that allow us to engage community youth with the art-making process,” said Artspace Executive Director Mary Poole. “This year, we want to open our doors for a full weekend and allow guests to not only support our local youth but also experience Artspace’s creative energy and take advantage of the opportunity to purchase gifts for graduation, the wedding season, Mother’s Day, and more.“

The three-day open-house event includes the following events:

Thursday, Apr. 12, 7-10pm – Kickoff event: Shop & Hops
Guests can indulge in a beer tasting and shop for artwork from Artspace studio artists, as well as from artists affiliated with Artspace through the Artspace Artists Association, the Regional Emerging Artist in Residence Program, the Artspace Outreach Program, and Artspace’s educational programs. Entry is $15 for non-members and $10 for members.  All event tickets include two drink tickets. Information about ticket purchasing is available on Artspace’s website at (www.artspacenc.org).

Friday, Apr. 13, 11am-3pm – Shop Artspace
Guests are invited to take a long lunch break to shop Artspace studios and visit the Artspace Trunk Show for jewelry, fiber arts, ceramic, and fine art gifts!  Artspace-affiliated artists will also be set up in the halls and galleries, and lunch stations will be provided so guests can snack while they shop. This event is free.

Saturday, Apr. 14, 11am-3pm – Shop Artspace
Artspace invites guests to spend their Saturday browsing artist studios, checking out work from Artspace-affiliated artists, and shopping the Artspace Trunk Show. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.  This event is free.

Artspace is a nonprofit visual art center dedicated to providing arts education and community outreach programs, creating an environment of more than 100 professional artists and presenting nationally acclaimed exhibitions. Located in downtown Raleigh in the historic Sanders Ford building, Artspace has been providing the community with the opportunity to interact with working artists and to participate in hands-on arts education since 1986.

More information about Shop Artspace or Artspace’s other initiatives, visit (www.artspacenc.org) or call 919/821-2787.

Media Arts Project and Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville, NC, Host Third Annual {Re}HAPPENING – Apr. 7, 2012

The Media Arts Project (MAP) and the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) in Asheville, NC, announce the third annual {Re}HAPPENING, on Saturday, Apr. 7, 2012, from 6pm to Midnight in the original dining hall of the former Black Mountain College, now Camp Rockmont. In partnership with the MAP, this BMCM+AC event pays tribute to Black Mountain College by bringing its dynamic energy into the present day. The project has developed as an innovative fundraising and community building collaboration between the two non-profits, balancing the history, innovation and experience of BMCM+AC, with the forward-thinking and media-based collective of artists that defines the MAP.

Among the more than fifty artists participating in this year’s event will be two projects supported by the MAP Community Grant, which was completely funded by the proceeds from the events in 2010 and 2011. “The {Re}HAPPENING provides an opportunity for the MAP and BMCM+AC to directly support local artists by helping to develop and showcase their projects, while simultaneously contributing to innovation and culture in Western North Carolina,” says Gene Felice, a member of the MAP Board of Directors and the {Re}HAPPENING’s artistic instigator. “The MAP is thrilled to once again offer the WNC arts community direct funding, after the outpouring of creativity and support that made the first two {Re}HAPPENING events a success.” Two projects were chosen and each funded with $1500 grants in the 2011-2012 grant cycle, supporting work from 3 local artists which will premiere at this year’s {Re}HAPPENING. Profits from this year’s event will enable future grant funding cycles.

The Apr. 7, 2012, event will begin with a cocktail hour, leading into a seated “family style” dinner. The second part of the evening will include drinks, light appetizers and an extended evening of art, performance & dancing. Tickets for the entire event including dinner are $60 ($50 for BMCM+AC and MAP members); dinner begins at 6pm. The second half begins at 8:30pm at a ticket price of $15 ($10 for members).  The overall event will end by midnight.

At each year’s {Re}HAPPENING, local restaurants provide flavors, scents and nourishment to both the audience and the artists. The evening brings together more than fifty artists from the region’s diverse creative communities in a setting that occupies a unique place in history.  The opportunity for contemporary artists and performers to collaborate and create new work in the dining hall, the roundhouse, the lodges, the outdoor grounds and waters of Lake Eden makes the {Re}HAPPENING a singular and deeply resonant event.

Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian will again provide the main course, and dozens of local restaurants will contribute.  The 2012 artist lineup will be announced soon, so stay tuned visit (www.rehappening.com).

The Media Arts Project (MAP) cultivates innovative arts & technology in western North Carolina. Because the media arts are integral to the vibrant cultural and economic life of the region, the MAP provides ways for media artists to connect with resources, professional opportunities, and one another through events, grant programs, and (www.themap.org), a dynamic portfolio and networking site.

The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) preserves and continues the unique legacy of educational and artistic innovation of Black Mountain College. We achieve our mission through collection, conservation, and educational activities including exhibitions, publications, and public programs.

For further information call the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center at 828/350-8484 or e-mail to (bmcmac@bellsouth.net).