Art and Photography Show by Robbie Bell in Greenville, SC, will Benefit the South Carolina Diabetes Association – May 12, 2016

The family of artist Robbie Bell (1957-2015) announced today that his paintings and photography will be displayed and auctioned, on May 12, 2016, to benefit the South Carolina Diabetes Association. Bell, who died in December of last year, has been featured in exhibits in Charleston, Clemson and Greenville.  He was a professional photographer as well as an award-winning graphic artist.

Photo by Robbie Bell

Practicing the art of American Realism Bell’s paintings combine wildflowers from the meadow behind the painter’s studio with simple, meaningful and historic objects.  “These paintings bring it all together,’ the artist once said, “objects I love to paint, scale, weight, lights and darks,…wildflowers with a bit of refinement. Paintings, I hope, with a quiet presence.”

Robbie Bell, a native of Greenville, and was a standout athlete at Greenville High School and a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Georgia State University. He began his creative career working as a project coordinator for John S. Frey Porcelain, fabricating panels for Atlanta’s High Museum of Art. He held several creative positions, including Senior Art Director for DMB&B, Walker Studios, and later taught art in the Greenville County School District. Bell donated much of his work to organizations including Camp Greenville, First Baptist Church and Surgeons for Sight.

The Silent Auction of Still Lifes and Meadows will take place on May 12 at The Artisan Traders in Greenville, SC. The show begins at 6pm with bidding ending at 8pm.

View Bell’s work at (http://robbiebell10.wix.com/scstilllifes).

For further information call 415/577-6422 or e-mail to (derbybet28@yahoo.com).

South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, SC, Receives $1.4 Million Donation for Acquisitions and Conservation

The South Carolina State Museum Foundation received the largest private monetary donation in its history in the amount of $1,425,000. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has gifted the donation to specifically serve as a tool for the conservation and acquisition of artifacts and objects for the museum’s collection.

This donation will ensure that the museum’s acquisition program remains active, providing funds so that the museum is able to continue to acquire and preserve important artifacts. These artifacts provide a tangible connection to the stories told through the museum’s exhibitions.

“The South Carolina State Museum collection helps tell the stories of our state,” says Paul Matheny, Director of Collections for the State Museum. “The museum preserves artifacts and objects from the past so that we can tell these stories in the future.”

The funds used in this acquisition process will help the museum close gaps within the museum’s collection. A procedure that is very specific, requires objects to be presented by curators to the museum’s acquisition committee for consent and approval. Selections are based on curator’s knowledge of need within their respective collections of natural history, art, cultural history and science and technology.

“We are so appreciative of this generous donation which will be essential in providing the necessary funding to continue our mission of collecting and preserving artifacts representing South Carolina’s wonderful history” said Willie Calloway, executive director. “These objects will be used to provide educational environments that entertain, inspire imagination and creativity, and enrich the lives of our visitors”

Founded in 1980, the State Museum Foundation was established as a non-profit ((501(c)(3)) organization to support the mission of the South Carolina State Museum. The foundations helps promote the programs and welfare of the museum, sound educational programs and exhibits, and give the public an opportunity to become involved in the educational efforts, history, natural history, science and technology, and art of South Carolina.

As the state’s largest and most comprehensive museum, the South Carolina State Museum, offers a unique, entertaining and educational experience to visitors throughout its 225,000 square foot facility located in the heart of downtown Columbia’s Congaree Vista. The State Museum is housed in one of its greatest artifacts, an 1894 old textile mill full of character and charm. In addition to beautiful meeting spaces throughout the facility, guests can explore outer space in one of the largest planetariums in the Southeast, watch an interactive 4D movie and look through a vintage telescope in a one-of-a-kind observatory. These exciting opportunities are all in addition to the four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history and science/technology that guests can experience.

For further information visit (www.scmuseum.org).

Artspace in Raleigh, NC, Calls for Entries for FRESH Exhibit – Deadline May 2, 2016

FRESH is an exhibition of new works by North Carolina artists. But with a creative twist! All submitted artwork will be on display and available for sale during the FRESH Preview May 19-30, 2016. The final juried exhibition opens June 3 and runs through June 24, 2016.

Two events held before the jurying process allow visitors to view all the artwork entered into the exhibition before the jurying takes place. All entered artwork will be available for sale during these events even if it is not selected for the final exhibition.

Exhibition proceeds support the Artspace Inspiration Fund, nurturing the next generation of visual artists.

Open to NC artists, 18+. All media. Must be new work, less than 2 years old, limited in size to a max of 36″ wide and 48″ high and available for purchase. Artists may submit one piece. Artists will receive 50% commission of sales. Artists may choose to designate all or a portion of art sales to Artspace for a tax-deductible donation.

Applications and work due May 2, 2016. Submission fees: $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

The exhibition and awards will be juried by Marshall N. Price, Nancy Hanks Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, Nasher Museum of Art, Duke University. Cash awards for Best in Show ($1000), 2nd place ($500), 3rd place ($250), and People’s Choice ($100).

FRESH Look: Pre-jury Viewing Party on Thursday May 19, 6-8pm
FRESH Fun: Family Day Event on Saturday May 21, 10am-1pm
FRESH Opening: First Friday June 3, 6-10pm
FRESH Gameshow: Thursday June 16, 6-8pm

Apply at (http://artspacenc.org/events/fresh-at-artspace/)

For further info e-mail to (info@artspacenc.org).

North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, Features Clay Talks! Lecture with Matt Jones – May 5, 2016

Join the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, on Thursday, May 5, 2016, at 6pm for a slide talk by Matt Jones, a potter based in Leicester, NC, and a participant in NCPC’s current exhibition, “Flower Power: Pottery and Plants.”

Jones was born in Minnesota but raised in Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, SC. After taking a pottery class in college, he opted to become an art major; after graduation, he served as an apprentice to Todd Piker in Cornwall, CT, and Mark Hewitt in Pittsboro, NC. In 1998, Jones built his pottery and kilns in Leicester’s Big Sandy Mush Valley and has been continuously producing work since then. He has several pieces in the Mint Museum’s permanent collection and has participated in shows and exhibitions throughout North Carolina.

“All potters struggle to find a balance between form and function, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Pottery can be a full education. From aesthetics to geology, history, anthropology and philosophy, pottery can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit.,” Jones says. “I am proud to make strong, functional wares out of locally dug clay, walking the tightrope between our cultural past and twenty-first-century tastes. I mine and process most of my own glaze materials and borrow aesthetic concepts and techniques from around the world. My best work is simultaneously humble and dynamic.”

Jones’ slide talk will focus on his work, process, and inspiration. A potluck at 6pm will begin the evening’s events, followed by the slide talk at 7pm. Come out for a great night of food and community!

The NCPC Educational Building located behind the NC Pottery Center at 233 East Avenue, Seagrove, 27341.

This presentation is free and open to the public.

This ongoing lecture series is facilitated by Josh Floyd, the Artist-in-Residence at the Pottery Center.

For more information, call the center at 336/873-8430.

Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach, SC, Announces Winners of High School Art Competition

Sixteen area high school artists received cash prizes Sunday, Apr. 17, 2016, at the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum’s Horry-Georgetown County High Schools 15th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, sponsored by HTC and Mr. Billy Cave.

The 94 pieces of student artwork chosen for display from 350 entries will remain on view at the Museum through May 22, 2016.

Zoe Williams of the Academy of the Arts, Science and Technology, garnered a Best in Show for her oil piece, “Awake”.

Zoe Williams, Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, Best in Show, “Awake”, Oil on Canvas

First, second and third-place prizes in two-dimensional works went to Kena Patel, Academy of the Arts, Science and Technology, Bailey Smith, Socastee High School and Kira Knoop, Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology.

Kena Patel, Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, First Place 2D, “Center of Oscillation”, house paint

First, second and third-place prizes in three-dimensional work went to Heidi Whelan, Carolina Forest High School, Glenn Courtney, Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology and Sophia Sadr, Carolina Forest High School.

Heidi Whelan, Carolina Forest High School, First Place 3D, “Devil Dog”, Clay

Honorable Mentions, two-dimensional, were awarded to Stephanie Branton, Vine and Branches Home Educators, Jordan Lucina, Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology and Sierra Ely, Socastee High School.

Honorable Mentions, three-dimensional, Alex Ramirez, Loris High School, Avery Rose Higgins, The Georgetown School of Arts and Sciences and Sydney McPherson, Carolina Forest High School.

The Waccamaw Arts & Crafts Guild also sponsored one honorable mention award and the Judge’s Award. Allie Mitchell, Vine and Branches Home Educators took home the Carolyn Powell, Guild President, award for the most effective use of color and the Judge’s Award went to Jacqueline Brown, Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology.

One additional award was presented this year; a Juror’s Award went to Thomas Shelburne, Myrtle Beach High School for his piece, “New Orleans’ Dream”.

This year’s judge was Jim Arendt. Arendt, Assistant Professor and Gallery Director at Coastal Carolina University, is regionally renowned for winning the $50,000 top prize at the first ArtFields©, which took place in Lake City, SC. Arendt received his BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design (MI) and his MFA with concentration in painting from the University of South Carolina.

Gallery hours at the Museum are 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 4pm Sundays. Admission to the Museum is free but donations are welcome.

For further information, call 843/238-2510 or visit (www.MyrtleBeachArtMuseum.org).

Dare County Arts Council in Manteo, NC, To Host Annual Watercolor Society of NC Convention and Exhibit – Deadline for Entries May 30, 2016

The Watercolor Society of North Carolina’s 71st statewide convention and exhibit will be hosted by the Dare County Arts Council in downtown Manteo, NC, from Oct. 9 – Nov. 18, 2016. The exhibit’s opening reception will be held at the Gallery on Sunday, Oct. 9 from 2-4pm.

“I am looking forward to having outstanding artists of this caliber sharing their talents with the residents of the Outer Banks,” said award-winning watercolorist and event co-chair Peggy Saporito.

View of the 2015 exhibition.

Artists wishing to participate in this year’s exhibition can find a prospectus online at (ncwatercolor.com).

The deadline for entries is May 30, 2016.

The exhibition is open to any watermedia artist over the age of 18 who is a resident of North Carolina and a current member of WSNC. You can easily become a member online at (ncwatercolor.com).

In addition to the exhibit, the Dare County Arts Council will also host four seminars, the annual meeting, a luncheon and a workshop with award-winning watercolorist and juror Mark Mehaffey for members of the WSNC.

The Watercolor Society of North Carolina’s annual statewide convention and exhibit is sponsored by the Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series.

“We are excited about the WSNC exhibition and pleased to be working with the Dare County Arts Council. Our founder Don Bryan was an accomplished painter. With this show, we will return to our roots in the visual arts,” said President of the Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series John Tucker.

For more information about the Watercolor Society of North Carolina’s annual statewide convention and exhibit, please visit (ncwatercolor.com) or (darearts.org).

Spring Art Sale at UNC Asheville Apr. 22-23, 2016, Featuring Ceramics, Prints, Photos, Paintings, Glass and Sculpture in Asheville, NC

UNC Asheville’s Department of Art and Art History will hold its annual Spring Art Sale from 4–7pm on Friday, Apr. 22, and 10am–2pm on Saturday, Apr. 23, 2016, in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, located on the ground floor of Owen Hall on campus in Asheville, NC. The sale is open to the public.

A wide variety of functional and decorative pottery, drawings, prints, paintings, photography, glass and sculpture crafted by UNC Asheville students will be on sale with pieces beginning at $5. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Department of Art and Art History.

For more information, call 828/251-6559.

Annual North Charleston Arts Fest Takes Place Throughout North Charleston, SC – Apr. 29 – May 7, 2016

The annual North Charleston Arts Fest, that takes place in North Charleston, SC, is less than a month away, set to kick off on Apr. 29 and conclude on May 7, 2016. Now entering its 34th year, the nine day event has matured into one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to experience the talents of national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature. More than 100 festival offerings are scheduled to take place in a variety of venues throughout North Charleston and the surrounding area, including libraries, community centers, schools, civic auditoriums, and parks.

Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Fest offers something for everyone. The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department organizes and presents the event each year, striving 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.

“The variety of Arts Fest offerings and the inclusiveness of the event have really become a point of pride for the City of North Charleston,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “From humble beginnings as a one-day community celebration at Park Circle, the festival has developed into one of our most anticipated annual City events, allowing residents and visitors from throughout the Southeast to be exposed, engaged, and inspired by the arts.”

The Arts Fest Premiere Weekend, held on Saturday, Apr. 30, and Sunday, May 1, at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, offers free admission and parking to a variety of performances on four stages. Other features include judged fine art and photography exhibits; the 15th annual “South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit”; youth art and photography from Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Society show and sale; Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children’s activities at Box City and Creation Stations; art & craft vendors, a food court, and much more.

Stand-alone events take place throughout the nine days of the festival at various locations. An exciting array of free and ticketed offerings include concerts; a street dance; theatre presentations; film screenings; art lectures, workshops, and demonstrations; an art walk; children’s programs; and the Grand Finale at the beautiful North Charleston Riverfront Park.

Visual art exhibitions on view during the festival include the 11th annual “National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition”; the 10th Annual “African American Fiber Art Exhibition”, “A Piece of Peace”; paintings by Boca Raton, FL, based artist Andrew Brown; an installation of mixed media works by Statesboro, GA, artist Kimberly Riner; and more. This year’s Grand Finale on May 7 features the 3rd annual Tri-County School Steel Drum Festival, a slam poetry show, children’s activities, a food truck rodeo, and an evening concert by The Secrets Band. The event concludes with a fantastic fireworks display over the Cooper River.

Applications are now being accepted for participation in the festival’s Art Walk, as well as for art & craft vendors. Entry instructions for the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, and Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition, as well as Volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Forms can be downloaded at (www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply).

For more 2016 North Charleston Arts Fest information, including event details, site maps, and social media contest rules, visit (www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com) or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843/740-5854.

Katie Ziglar Named Director of Ackland Art Museum at UNC-Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC

The Ackland Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, announced today that, following a national search, Katie Ziglar has been appointed as the Director of the Museum. Ziglar is currently the Director of External Affairs at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, a position she has held since 2003.

Katie Ziglar, who will begin as Director of the Ackland on July 6, 2016, brings to the position nearly 30 years’ experience as a museum professional. While at the Freer|Sackler, she substantially increased annual fund-raising, from $3M in FY07 to $12M in FY12, and participated in the leadership of the $1.5B Smithsonian campaign.

She has also contributed substantially to the successful management of other major cultural organizations including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and the National Gallery of Art.

“We are delighted that Katie Ziglar will join the Ackland Art Museum as the new director,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “Katie brings significant experience from her work at the Smithsonian Institution, where she contributed to increasing visibility and financial stability. We look forward to her leadership and vision for the Ackland Art Museum.”

“Katie’s experience with the Smithsonian Institution, most recently at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, brings a great depth and knowledge of building community affinity groups in working with collections, especially their Asian collection,” said James Keith Brown, chair of the Ackland Art Museum’s National Advisory Board. “Her background is key for the Ackland, given our various constituents, and our focus on Asian and contemporary works of art.”

Ziglar received a BA in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a John Motley Morehead scholar, and an MA in Islamic art and architecture from American University in Cairo. She currently serves as a board member of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as Director of the Ackland Art Museum, and I look forward to returning to UNC-Chapel Hill in this position,” said Ziglar. “The Ackland is a vibrant, inspiring resource for this important global public research university as well as the entire Triangle community, the state of North Carolina, and our nation. I am eager to build on the incredible work of the Museum’s staff to further and deepen the Ackland’s role in scholarship and especially public engagement.”

The Ackland Art Museum is located on the historic campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Ackland’s holdings consist of more than 17,000 works of art, featuring significant collections of European masterworks, twentieth-century and contemporary art, African art, North Carolina pottery, and folk art. In addition, the Ackland has North Carolina’s premier collections of Asian art and works on paper (drawings, prints, and photographs). In 2016-17, the Ackland-organized exhibition “Fever Within: The Art of Ronald Lockett” will travel to the American Folk Art Museum, New York, and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. GA.

The Ackland Art Museum is located at 101 South Columbia Street on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.

Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10-5, and Sunday 1-5. Admission is free.

More information about the Ackland is available at (www.ackland.org).

Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County in Camden, SC, Seeks Artist Submissions for Bassett Gallery’s 2016-2017 Season – Deadline is May 20, 2016

The Bassett Gallery at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC), in Camden, SC, is currently accepting artist materials for consideration for exhibition in the Bassett Gallery to be scheduled from September 2016 through May 2017. All submissions will be considered for both solo and group exhibitions.

Artists must submit samples via e-mail, linked to a “cloud” portfolio (Drop Box, Google Drive,) or by sending a CD or flash drive with at least 10 images. These images should encompass the artists’ methods and styles. A resume, submission form, description of the style of work, its size and medium used should all be included. Submissions must also include a brief artist statement and be representative of the work that will be on exhibition. All forms of artistic mediums will be considered.

Submission forms can be found on the Fine Arts Center website at (www.fineartscenter.org/gallery), or you may drop by the FAC Box Office to get a copy. Materials will not be returned unless requested.

Materials will be accepted through May 20, 2016.

Send to:
Bassett Gallery Exhibits Committee
Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County
810 Lyttleton Street
Camden, SC  29020

Please e-mail your submissions to (jpeterson@fineartscenter.org). For questions regarding submissions, contact Jane Peterson by e-mail at (jpeterson@fineartscenter.org) or by calling 803/425-7676 ext. 305.

Artists are responsible for load-in, hanging, and tear-down of the exhibit. Any expenses incurred by the artist(s) for travel, set-up, tear-down, etc. of any exhibition are not covered by the FAC. The cost of exhibiting in the Bassett Gallery is the full responsibility of the artist(s.) Artists should be willing to allow some or all of the pieces in the exhibition to be available for purchase. The selected artists will be notified by the FAC no later than June 30, 2016.
Exhibitions in the Bassett Gallery normally change every four to six weeks.

The Fine Arts Center is funded in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by the City of Camden, Kershaw County, and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina along with donations from businesses and individuals.

The Gallery is free and open to the public. Hours are 10am to 5pm Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 6pm, Thursday.  The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County is located at 810 Lyttleton Street in Camden.

For more information about the FAC, please visit (www.fineartscenter.org) or call 803/425-7676, ext. 300.