SECCA in Winston-Salem, NC, Seeks Guest Curator for Fall 2021 Exhibition – Deadline Feb. 12, 2021

The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem, NC, is seeking a guest curator for an upcoming project. We are looking for new voices, and new perspectives.

Duration: This will be a part-time position with flexible hours, based on the development and implementation of the exhibition. SECCA anticipates an average of 10 hours of work per week during the development of the exhibition, and 30 hours per week for 2-3 weeks of the installation and opening of the exhibition. Additional hours for programming development and implementation may evolve for this project and will result in additional compensation.

Duties: The guest curator will work with the Curator of Contemporary Art to develop an open call, solicit artists and groups to be involved, work with a team to select participants in the exhibition, determine the exhibition checklist, assist with the layout and installation, write label copy for the exhibition, and be present for the opening reception and other events to be decided in conjunction with the rest of SECCA’s staff. One of the first tasks of the guest curator will be to work with the staff at SECCA to develop a letter of understanding for duties involved, to ensure fair and equitable distribution of labor and resources in the development and implementation of the exhibition.

The Exhibition: SECCA is interested in developing a collaborative exhibition that showcases work being produced in response to the current moment, primarily the onset of and quarantine surrounding COVID-19 and the protests and events surrounding the death of George Floyd and the wider Black Lives Matter movement. As a contemporary art center, it is our obligation to present work that responds to current events. Ideally this exhibition will involve works of art that look back on 2020, and look ahead to the future, with an emphasis on healing and growing. SECCA does not anticipate that works of art will be borrowed from institutional collections. The guest curator will focus on working directly with artists.

The exhibition will be mounted in SECCA’s Main Gallery, a 6000 square foot space, with opportunities for other installations in the wider community. We will consider projects that explore the wider range of creative expression, including graphic design, documentary film and photography, and performing arts. It is our hope that the guest curator can help develop a dynamic and democratic open call for submissions and work with artists and creatives who may not have experience with museum spaces. SECCA is open to an organic and evolving installation that changes over the course of the exhibition run, as long as the exhibition features high quality works of art.

SECCA does not anticipate that the exhibition will travel to other organizations or produce a physical catalog. The exhibition run will likely start in November 2021 and run for 5 to 6 months, with the exact dates established by the guest curator and Curator of Contemporary Art as the project evolves.

The Candidate: The ideal candidate will be familiar with the NC Triad region (Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point), have or be able to develop solid working relationships with community organizations outside of SECCA’s normal reach, and have the ability to identify and analyze the socioeconomic and political issues facing Black and minority communities in the region.

Previous experience with museum exhibitions and a familiarity with SECCA is a plus but is not required. A degree in art history, studio art, arts administration or museum studies would be beneficial but is also not required. The position is designed for someone seriously considering a future career in museums and the art world.

Must have reliable transportation for attending meetings at SECCA, meeting with members of the community, and visiting artist studios, although much of the work may be conducted remotely.

Compensation: $5,000 (which represents 20% of the anticipated exhibition budget)

Application Process:
Resume: 1-2 pages
Cover Letter: 1 page, explaining who you are, why you are interested in this position, and some of the skills that you can bring to the table
Optional: Samples/portfolio of previous exhibitions (in PDF format); a curatorial vision statement

SECCA is an EOE/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer.

Deadline for submission: Friday, February 12, 2021

Applications and further questions can be submitted to Wendy Earle, Curator of Contemporary Art at SECCA, by e-mail at (wendy.earle@ncdcr.gov).

Learn more at (https://secca.org/news-detail.php?ArticleId=901691634).

Founded in 1956, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art offers a front-row seat to the art of our time. Through visual art exhibitions, education, music, film, dance and theater, SECCA starts conversations that engage diverse communities and perspectives. SECCA is an affiliate of the North Carolina Museum of Art and a division of the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. SECCA receives operational funding from The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Additional funding is provided by the James G. Hanes Memorial Fund.

Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, Announce Stephen L. Hayes Jr. as the 2020 Winner of the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, is proud to announce Stephen L. Hayes Jr. as the 2020 winner of the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. A North Carolina-based artist, Hayes makes works – woodcuts, sculptures, installations small and large – from found materials that draw on social and economic themes ingrained in the history of the US and African Americans. Hayes will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize and will be recognized at the Society 1858 Amy P. Coy Forum scheduled for February 5, 2021.

“Amidst the challenges of 2020, Society 1858 and the Gibbes are thrilled to be able to continue celebrating the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art,” says Angela Mack, executive director of the Gibbes Museum of Art. “We are also excited to announce Stephen as this year’s winner. His creations contribute to the understanding of the South and demonstrate a powerful vision from an artist on the forefront of contemporary southern art. We were extremely impressed by all of the finalists this year and would like to thank everyone who submitted an application for the Society 1858 Prize.”



Stephen L. Hayes Jr. grew up in Durham, NC, with his older brother, Spence, and his mother, Lender, who were pivotal in shaping and sparking his creative approach. When Hayes was in first grade, he broke a remote-control car. His brother took it apart and attached the motor to a battery, bringing it back to life. Amazed, Hayes began breaking all kinds of things to see how they worked and what he could create with the pieces. By second grade, his mother had given him a real workbench; she and Hayes’ brother would also bring home abandoned equipment for tinkering. Working with his hands took many forms and by high school, he learned to crochet.

Hayes went to North Carolina Central University, aiming to transfer to North Carolina State University in order to study mechanical engineering. Instead, through a friend, he discovered graphic design. His new major led to a ceramics course, where his enthusiasm and skill allowed him as much time as he wanted on the wheel. He threw enough pots to develop a strong portfolio, leading to a residency at the acclaimed New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Hayes earned a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture at Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. His thesis exhibition, “Cash Crop,” has been traveling and exhibiting for nearly a decade. In his work, Hayes uses three symbols: a pawn, a corn, and a horse to explore America’s use (or misuse) of black bodies, black minds, and black labor. Artists, he believes, are as much translators as they are creators. He started teaching at the college level in 2011; currently, he is a professor of sculpture at Duke University.

“Thank you to the Gibbes Museum and Society 1858 for the honor of receiving the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art,” says Hayes. “I initially began creating as a way to impress my mom and brother and now I use my works to tell stories, connect people across generations and ignite intercultural dialogue. I am passionate about my work, so seeing it also resonate with others makes the endless hours of work worth it.”

Hayes is currently in the middle of creating a monument of the United States Color Troopers that marched through Wilmington, NC, that is slated to be unveiled in November 2021. Hayes has always been known to say that he wants to make his artwork famous and his name legendary.

For further information call the Gibbes at 843/722-2706 or at (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, Announces Winners of Virtual Photography Exhibition

Photographers from Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba counties in North Carolina were invited to enter the “Exposures Photography Competition”, a program of the Caldwell Arts Council. Judge Lynn Willis of Valle Crucis, NC, judged the competition entries, and has selected the following award-winning photographs.


Best of Show ($200) – “Reflection” by Lily Laramie, Lenoir, NC

First Place, Traditional ($100) – “Some Pig” by Pam Helton, Lenoir, NC

First Place, Abstract ($100) – “Perspective” by Cindy Hedrick Day, Lenoir, NC

Honorable Mention ($50) – “Embracing Death Valley” by Jeff Cline, Hickory, NC

Honorable Mention ($50) – “Noir Homie” by Jordan K. Ellis, Hickory, NC

Honorable Mention ($50) – “Flustered” by Bill Karr, Lenoir, NC

Honorable Mention ($50) – “Saint Johns” by Lydia Stewart, Lenoir, NC

Due to COVID-19, there will be no traditional gallery show of entries or opening reception. Instead, the showcase of entries will be exhibited virtually on the Caldwell Arts Council website at (www.caldwellarts.com).

Southern Highland Craft Guild Offers Free Craft Demonstrations to Visitors to Folk Art Center in Asheville, NC

The Southern Highland Craft Guild invites visitors to experience daily craft demonstrations at the Folk Art Center in Asheville, NC, from March through December 2021. Every day from 10am-4pm, two artists of differing medias will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booth. These free educational events are open to the public.


Kim Adams – glass beads

Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase a piece from the demonstrators, and walk away with fine craft that came to life by the hands of its maker. Viewers are invited to discuss craft, ask questions, and learn the importance of preserving these practices while visiting the Folk Art Center.

This is a free opportunity provided by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and its volunteering members. For the purpose of shared resources, education, marketing, and conservation of craft, the Guild educates the region and arts community on the importance of craft and its ability to impact the local creative economy.


Susan Taylor – baskekry

The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1930 to cultivate the crafts and makers of the Southern Highlands for the purpose of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation. The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

For further information call the Guild at 828/298-7928 or visit (www.southernhighlandguild.org).

South Carolina Watermedia Society Offers Virtual Exhibition

We would like to begin by congratulating the winners of the “2020 South Carolina Watermedia National Online Exhibition”. We have had a very positive response especially from the members of the state museum who say they look forward to exhibiting such a quality show with the “2022 45th Anniversary Exhibition”.

Welcome to the “43rd Annual National Exhibition”! Due to COVID-19 and in the interest of the health and safety of SCWS members and lovers of art, this year’s exhibition is completely online. This year’s show was juried by renowned portrait artist Ted Nuttall. While the show certainly speaks for itself, you can also read statements from both SCWS President Russell Jewell and Mr. Nuttall about the show at (https://scwatermedia.com/statements/).


Best of Show – Stacy Lund Levy, for “Bliss”

The online show is comprised of seventy-one pieces. The top thirty pieces, along with their awards have been prepared and presented for you in the Exclusive Traveling Show Brochure. All seventy-one pieces along with their details, artist information, and respective awards have been detailed in our Complete Inventory at (https://scwatermedia.com/complete-inventory/). In the online exhibition below, you can view each image in “full screen” simply by clicking the image. Once you are finished viewing, click the back button to return to the full show.

If you are interested in purchasing any pieces, please e-mail SCWS president Russell Jewell at (jewellart@charter.net).

Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, Calls for Entries for National Juried Exhibition – Deadline Mar. 19, 2021

Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, invites artists to enter the “2021 Biennale”, its 27th National Juried Exhibition, held every other year across multiple media types including; Oil or Acrylic, Pastel, Watermedia, Photography, Mixed Media, Three-Dimensional, or All Other. Over $5000 in cash prizes will be awarded. All works of art selected by jurors will be on display at Art League Gallery. This gallery provides the finest exhibit space with high tourist and community visibility.


Work by Aldo Muzzarelli, Frist Place winner in 2019

The deadline for applications is March 19, 2021.

For more information and to enter, go to (https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=7545).

The 27th “Biennale” judge is Marc Hanson, a nationally known, award-winning landscape artist currently based on Tybee Island, near Savannah, GA. He is a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America (O.P.A.M.) having won awards of excellence over numerous years at the OPA National Exhibit, including a Bronze Medal for Painting Excellence in 2011. He has also placed four times in The Pastel Journal’s ‘Pastel 100’ competition, among many other prestigious awards throughout his career.

Hanson has been published in national art publications, including being featured on the covers of “Plein Air” and “Southwest Art Magazine”, and in the book “Oil Painting Secrets With The Masters,” by Cindy Salaski. His work has been shown in museums and galleries throughout the United States and abroad and can be found in both private and public collections. In addition to painting, Hanson teaches landscape workshops both in-studio and en Plein air, locally and around the country.

The “2021 Biennale” exhibition will be free and open to the public from May 2 – 26, 2021 at Art League Gallery, located inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island, SC. An opening reception and awards ceremony will take place on Friday, May 7, from 5-7pm.

For further information call the League at 843/681-5060 or e-mail to (admin@artleaguehhi.org).

Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, Calls for Entries for “27th Annual Judged Show” – Deadline Mar. 1, 2021

Lowcountry artists are invited to submit their works of art for The Society of Bluffton Artists’ (SOBA) “27th Annual Judged Show”.

Winners will be awarded first, second and third place cash awards in the following categories: acrylic, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, watercolor or 3D.

Registration is required by completing a registration form available at the gallery, located at 6 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton, SC, or by registering online at (http://bit.ly/27thjudgedshow).

The cost to register is $25 for SOBA members and $45 for non SOBA members. The deadline for dropping off your art is from 9-11am, March 1, 2021, at the Center for Creative Arts, located next door to the SOBA gallery at 8 Church Street. No entries will be accepted after 11am.

Registration and a full list of rules are available online at (http://bit.ly/27thjudgedshow).

The Judged Show exhibit will be on display from March 1 – April 5, 2021, at the SOBA gallery. An awards ceremony will take place from 5-7pm, on March 3, 2021. These events are free to attend and open to the public. Artists can pick up unsold artwork at the end of the show from 9-11am, on April 5, 2021, at the SOBA gallery.

The judge for the show is David Rankin. Rankin’s award-winning watercolors are in public and private art collections in the US, India, and China, have been featured in more than 150 museum exhibitions, and are included in the North Light’s series, “Splash: The Best of Watercolor”, and “Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing”, and in numerous art magazines.

Rankin promotes conservation and appreciation of the natural world through his paintings and has worked with organizations such as the International Crane Foundation, the Wild Bird Society of Japan, the Corporate Conservation Council-Japan and the Smithsonian Institution. He is a Signature Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, Artists for Conservation, and the Society of Animal Artists where he has served on the board since 1990. Rankin is one of the true modern-day masters of transparent watercolors, exuding a dynamic passion for the medium in his lectures, demonstrations, and workshop instruction. His art reflects his profound passion for both watercolor and nature. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and lives in Cleveland, OH, with his wife, Deanna.

SoBA is the heart of the flourishing art hub in Old Town Bluffton’s historic district at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. As a non-profit art organization, SoBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions, scholarships, outreach programs and more.

Please visit (www.sobagallery.com) for a complete calendar of events and other information or call 843/757-3776.

Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC, Receives NC Cares Grant

Editor’s Note: Pay special attention to this notice SC Commercial Gallery owners.



Sunset River Marketplace, the 10,000 square foot art gallery in Calabash, NC, has been awarded a COVID-19 reimbursement award through the North Carolina Arts Council NC Cares for Arts Program and Brunswick Arts Council.

Brunswick Arts Council’s NC Cares for Arts Program received requests totaling $412,949.60 from 23 Brunswick County organizations. The group’s NC CARES sub-committee reviewed applications and approved awards for $163,737.36. The total amount to fund was pre-determined by NC Legislature at $1.15 per head/population.

The purpose of the grant is to support expenditures made during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 1 – December 30, 2020.


Ginny Lassiter

Ginny Lassiter, an abstract artist and owner of Sunset River Marketplace, said, “I am so grateful to North Carolina Arts Council and Brunswick Arts Council for this grant. We were closed for eight weeks and – even since reopening – we have had to severely curtail our programming to meet social distancing mandates. A gallery of this size has quite a large overhead. This grant has absolutely helped us keep our doors open.”

The gallery is currently showing “Mark Gordon: Works In Clay”, a comprehensive collection of pieces by the well-known Wilson, NC clay artist that includes his distinctive spheres, tumblers and raku urns. The show has just been extended through Saturday, January 23, 2021.

Since its inception in 2002, Sunset River Marketplace has evolved into a community art hub. Lassiter and her staff have hosted multiple fundraisers for nonprofit groups such as domestic violence advocate Hope Harbor, teen shelter Providence Home, and hospice provider Lower Cape Fear LifeCenter. The gallery has also hosted art shows and receptions for two hospice patients whose last wishes were to present their art to the public. For several years, the gallery was a sponsor and provided the venue for Brunswick Arts Council’s annual black tie fundraiser, An Evening of Miniature Masterpieces.

“We are so fortunate to have legislators at both state and local levels who value art and understand the crucial role it plays it the wellbeing of our community. Once again they’ve shown us that they care.”

Sunset River Marketplace caters to both tourists and a growing local community of full time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, the eclectic gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.

There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes are currently being offered on a limited basis. Call the gallery for details.

Special COVID-19 Notice: To meet North Carolina State mandates, Sunset River Marketplace requires that patrons wear face coverings and requires the use of hand sanitizer plus six-foot social distancing between gallery visitors and at the cash register. The gallery staff conducts thorough cleaning of surfaces upon opening and closing and during the day and has placed complimentary hand sanitizer throughout the gallery for visitor use.

The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11am-5pm. For more information, call 910/575-5999 or visit the website at (www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com). Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, noon-5pm and by appointment. Call framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910/368-7351.

The North Carolina Arts Council builds on our state’s long-standing love of the arts, leading the way to a more vibrant future. The Arts Council is an economic catalyst, fueling a thriving nonprofit creative sector that generates $2.12 billion in annual direct economic activity. The Arts Council also sustains diverse arts expression and traditions while investing in innovative approaches to art-making. The North Carolina Arts Council has proven to be a champion for youth by cultivating tomorrow’s creative citizens through arts education. Learn more at (NCArts.org). 

The mission of Brunswick Arts Council is to support, sustain, enhance and cultivate the arts in Brunswick County making cultural events, arts education and appreciation of the arts available to the diverse range of county residents. Learn more at (BrunswickArtsCouncil.org).

The January 2021 Issue of “Carolina Arts” is Now Ready to Download

The January 2021 issue of “Carolina Arts” is up on our website at (http://www.carolinaarts.com/121/121carolinaarts.html) – all 50 pages of it. That’s 6 less page than last month’s issue, but then again it is Winter in the Carolinas – some places had snow for Christmas.

This month’s cover is a view of the “Blood & Honey” installation by Adrian Rhodes of Hartsville, SC, who was selected to be the winner of the 2020 701 CCA Prize, an award from the 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC. I’ve had my eye on her work and knew she was going to be a rising star in South Carolina’s visual art community and in North Carolina too. You can read about the award on our blog, “Carolina Arts News” at (https://carolinaartsnews.wordpress.com/2020/12/14/the-winner-of-the-701-cca-prize-2020-is-adrian-rhodes-of-hartsville-sc/).

So download that PDF and dig in – it makes for good reading when you’re ordered to stay at home. And, don’t forget to find a way to thank our advertisers – they make this publication possible. Visiting their websites would be a way to start, you might be surprised what you’ll find there.

And help us spread this issue around by sending this link to your friends.

Don’t forget that the deadline for our February 2021 issue will be Jan. 24 at 5pm – so don’t be late. Send us info about what you’re offering our readers, so that those who can and wish to respond can.

Thanks – Tom and Linda Starland
“Carolina Arts”
843/693-1306
info@carolinaarts.com