South Carolina Watermedia Society Announces Spring Digital Show Winners

The South Carolina Watermedia Society is pleased to announce the winners for its Inaugural Spring Digital Show. The show includes artwork by 56 SCWS members.

Congratulations to:

Best of Show – Jackie Wukela

Work by Jackie Wukela

2nd Place – Lynda English

3rd Place – Gary Johnson

Honorable Mention: Denise Greer, Lynne Hardwick, Anne Hightower Patterson, Kathy Kitz and Steven Nisbet.

Toni Elkins, an artist from Columbia, SC, judged the show. She is a signature member of 18 elected societies including NWS, Watercolor USA Honor Society, and Nautilus Fellowship of International Society of Experimental Artists. She has won over 160 national awards including Best-of-Show San Diego Watercolor. In 1999, Governor Jim Hodges awarded her The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for her contributions to SC art. She also won the award for contributions to SCWS. The work of Elkins has been selected as juried into over 300 national exhibitions the latest being selected to represent Missouri Watercolor in China in 2018.

You can either click here (scwatermedia.com/2018-spring-digital-show-2) to view the entire digital show, or copy the link and paste into your browser.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

For further info visit (www.scwatermedia.com).

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HotWorks Announces Professional Artist Award Winners at Asheville Fine Art Show in May 19 & 20, 2018

Hot Works’ 2nd annual Asheville Fine Art Show held May 19 & 20, 2018 indoors at the WNC Ag Center’s David Event Center in Fletcher, NC, brought professional artists to showcase and sell their art in all forms of disciplines including: painting, sculpture, clay, glass, wood, fiber, digital, jewelry, photography and more. This fine art and fine craft show was juried by art professionals with an art education and/or art show experience. Many artists were in North Carolina for their very first time. All artwork was original and personally handmade by the artists who participated in the show. There was something for everyone, in all price ranges.

The Asheville Fine Art Show is sponsored by Hot Works, a professionally produced fine art fair with an outstanding national reputation for producing top-notch art shows. Hot Works has four other established quality juried fine art and fine craft shows in Fort Myers and Boca Raton, Florida and West Bloomfield, Michigan – all voted top 100 art shows in the nation. Institute for the Arts & Education is the associated 501(c)3 non-profit organization which focuses on visual arts, cultural diversity, community enrichment and fostering art education among youth.

As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, the Youth Art Competition for students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 was integrated into the art fair. This year included 22 entries from 9 schools and one home-schooled. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, there were four prizes with $250 in Youth Art awards. This program exposed students to the entrepreneurship of doing something they love for a living, which is creating their art. It also brought families to the art show who may not have otherwise attended, and exposed them to great art.

In order to recognize exceptionally talented artists in the show, there were seventeen Professional Artist Awards. Constance “Connie” Vlahoulis, a resident of Mills River and painter with 30+ years’ experience, was the “Artist Judge”. On Saturday, she judged the artists, with criteria centered on technique/execution, originality, and booth appearance.

Following the selection of awards, a “Prize Patrol” team distributed the awards. Included were:
· Constance “Connie” Vlahoulis, Artist Judge
· Mayor Rod Whiteside, Town of Fletcher
· Patty Narozny, Executive Producer, Hot Works Asheville Fine Art Show

Each of the 17 winning artists were met and greeted by the “Prize Patrol” team and provided with a beautiful two-foot long ribbon that they displayed in his/her booth for the remainder of the art show. It was a very positive experience for the artists to meet Mayor Whiteside, who took the time to attend the art show, be there to distribute ribbons, and to congratulate the winning artists in the show. On behalf of Hot Works and the artists in the show, we are very grateful to have had Mayor Whiteside present at the show; we look forward to returning to the WNC Ag Center for many more years to come.

May 2018 Asheville Fine Art Show Professional Artist award winners were:

Two – Best of Show – $500 Award Winners: Lily Engebretsen, Wood, Fort Mill, SC, and Kent Epler, Sculpture, New Albany, IN

Five – $100 Awards of Excellence: Amy Brandenburg, Jewelry, Asheville, NC; Michael Brennan, Mixed Media, Tallahassee, FL; Scott Deming, Wood, Butler, TN; Tanya Gerard & Rob Thomas, Wood, Beach Mountain, TN; and David Goldhagen, Glass, Hayesville, NC

Ten – Awards of Distinction – Non-Monetary: Derrick Crossland, Wood, Islamorada, FL; Holly Sue Foss, Printmaking, Minneapolis, MN; Raul Hernandez, Mixed Media, Hialeah, FL; Bill Hickman, Sculpture, Raleigh, NC; Craig Kassan, Wood, Franklinton, NC; Don McCoy, Jewelry, Salida, CO; Steve Miller, Wood, Black Mountain, NC; Sheree & Ken Sorrells, Fiber, Waynesville, NC; Kim Thompson, Jewelry, Waynesville, NC; and Kathleen Weir-West, Fiber, Hendersonville, NC

Save the Dates
Hot Works’ bi-annual Asheville Fine Art Shows
October 27 & 28, 2018 – outdoors at Pack Square Park, Asheville
May 18 & 19, 2019 – indoors at WNC Ag Center, Fletcher

For more info visit (www.hotworks.org).

City of North Charleston, SC, Announces “2018 North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Fine Art & Photography” Competition Winners

Fine artists and amateur and professional photographers from across the state were invited to participate in the “2018 Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions & Exhibitions”, organized annually by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and presented May 2-6 as a component of the 2018 North Charleston Arts Fest. A total of 343 fine art entries were accepted in the categories of oil, acrylic, watercolor, drawing, printmaking, pastel, and 2D mixed media. Cash awards totaling $6,350 were made at the sole discretion of the judge, Zinnia Willits. Willits is Director of Collections and Operations at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC. She received her MA in Public History from the University of South Carolina and has worked at the Gibbes since 2003, where she manages the museum’s permanent collection and oversees museum operations as well as logistics for its active exhibition and loan programs.

A total of 169 entries were accepted in photography, which were split into the divisions of Professional/Advanced and Amateur and categorized as color or monochrome. Cash awards totaling $1,450 were made at the sole discretion of the judge, David “Sully” Sullivan. A native of Charleston, SC, Sullivan has lived and worked in New York and California, and currently resides in Charleston, where he maintains a studio when not on location. He regularly shoots on film and his work runs the gamut of fashion, portrait, lifestyle, travel, editorial, and product photography. Recent clients include Volvo, Oscar de la Renta, and The Wall Street Journal.

In addition to awards given by the judges, five pieces were selected for City of North Charleston Purchase Awards. These selections will be added to the City of North Charleston’s Permanent Public Art Collection, which is on display within North Charleston City Hall throughout most of the year.

Congratulations to the winners:
Best in Show – Fine Art
“Tranquilo” (oil) by Gretchen Trees (Charleston, SC)

Outstanding Merit – Fine Art
“After A Long Day” (mixed media) by Susanne Frenzel (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

Mayor’s Choice – Fine Art
“Spring I” (acrylic) by Amanda Richards (Charleston, SC)

Best Oil – Fine Art
“Landscape Looking Glass” (oil) by Rick Austin (Folly Beach, SC)

Best Acrylic – Fine Art
“I Saw You in a Dream” (acrylic) by Christine Blythe (Charleston, SC)

Best Drawing – Fine Art
“I’ve Heard A 1000 Stories” (drawing) by Bob Graham (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

Best Pastel – Fine Art
“Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice” (pastel) by Laura Cody (Summerville, SC)

Best Watercolor – Fine Art
“Main Street” (watercolor) by Victoria Ellis (Summerville, SC)

Best Mixed Media – Fine Art
“Gold Rush” (mixed media) by Deborah Kinnard Barrineau (Johns Island, SC)

Best Printmaking – Fine Art
“Moon” (printmaking) by Katherine Martinez (Goose Creek, SC)

Best Portrait/Figure – Fine Art
“Smiling at Dede” (drawing) by Dorthea Gerber (Summerville, SC)

Best Landscape – Fine Art
“Spin Drift” (oil) by Faye Sullivan (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

Best Still Life/Interior – Fine Art
“Ceiling-East Bay St. III” (watercolor) by Lynn Mizell (Johns Island, SC)

Best Animal/Wildlife – Fine Art
“Elephant Charging” (oil) by Robert Maniscalco (North Charleston, SC)

Best Abstract/Experimental – Fine Art
“Rowan” (oil) by Caroline McLeod Self (Summerville, SC)

Honorable Mentions – Fine Art – “Praise Dance” (oil) by Marvin Youngblood (Charleston, SC); “Designer Pets, Designer People” (acrylic) by Meyriel J. Edge (Summerville, SC); “Flying Home” (acrylic) by Sally Accetta (Goose Creek, SC); “Tempestuous” (acrylic) by Tracy Gransraw (Mt. Pleasant, SC); “Porch Pup” (drawing) by Kirsten Kelly (North Charleston, SC); “Model Figure” (pastel) by Peggy Howe (Mt. Pleasant, SC); “Three’s Company” (watercolor) by Suzanna Wolfe (Mt. Pleasant, SC); “Overflow” (mixed media) by Sage Jadrnick (Chester, SC); “The Fleet” (acrylic) by Sean Patrick (North Charleston, SC); and “Fest” (acrylic) by Pedro Rodriguez (Goose Creek, SC)

Professional Photography – Color
1st place – “The Look” by Jennifer Hunt (Andrews, SC)
2nd place – “Egret Eye” by Raymond C. Murray (Charleston, SC)
3rd place – “After the Rain” by Matthew Krausmann (Summerville, SC)
Honorable Mentions – “Morning in the Marsh” by Kathy Hare (Charleston, SC); “Early Morning Beach Walk” by Vanessa Kauffman (Charleston, SC); “Below the Milky Way” by Robert Loe (North Charleston, SC); “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Pamela Oliveras (Hanahan, SC); “Three Black Hats” by Sonny Regal (Mount Pleasant, SC); and “Universal Love” by Jim Miller (Mount Pleasant, SC)

Professional Photography – Monochrome
1st place – “The Boys Watching the Girls” by Jim Miller (Mount Pleasant, SC)
2nd place – “Washed Out” by Sean Hartman (Summerville, SC)
3rd place – “Distinguished” by Angie Bridges (Summerville, SC)

Amateur Photography – Color
1st place – “Naomi” by Olga Terechova (Charleston, SC)
2nd place – “A Maine Daybreak” by Rick Dandridge (Summerville, SC)
3rd place – “Flowers and Vegetable Garden” by V. Kirsten Colquitt (Charleston, SC)
Honorable Mentions – “The Two of Us” by Phillip W. Ravenel (Goose Creek, SC) and “Believe” by Heike Helbig (Summerville, SC)

Amateur Photography – Monochrome
1st place – “Park Knight” by Paul Bryant (Summerville, SC)
2nd place – “Making Memories” by Scott Lynch (North Charleston, SC)
3rd place – “Feminine Youth” by Renee Porcu (Goose Creek, SC)
Honorable Mentions – “Resurrection” by Paul Bryant (Summerville, SC); “Sign of Experience” by Paul Bryant (Summerville, SC); “Mere Appearance” by Francis McLeod (Charleston, SC); and “M- powered” by Christopher Cross (Moncks Corner, SC)

For information about additional exhibition opportunities offered by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, call 843/740-5854, e-mail to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org), or the Arts & Culture section of (www.northcharleston.org). For details on the North Charleston Arts Fest, visit (www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com).

City of North Charleston, SC, Announces 2018 “SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition” Winners

Fine craft artists and artisans from across South Carolina were invited to participate in the “17th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition”, the state’s only juried fine craft competition and exhibition. Organized annually by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, in North Charleston, SC, the show was presented May 2-6 as a component of the 2018 North Charleston Arts Fest.

Following an extensive pre-jury process, 42 applicants were asked to participate and 81 entries were submitted in the categories of clay, fiber, metal, glass, wood, and 3D mixed media. Cash awards totaling $6,500 were made at the sole discretion of the juror, Rachel Reese, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Telfair Museums in Savannah, GA. After making her selections, Reese stated, “The quality of artwork submitted is a testament to the ongoing value that visual artists contribute to material culture, and this presentation of artworks exemplifies the vibrancy, imagination, energy, and great talent of South Carolina artists working today.”

After awarding ribbons, Reese also selected pieces from the show to assemble a “South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Traveling Exhibition”, which will be available to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2018/2019 Traveling Exhibitions Program. The Traveling Exhibitions Program gives galleries, museums, and art centers across South Carolina the opportunity to request the exhibit to tour their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists.

In addition to awards given by the juror, four pieces were selected for City of North Charleston Purchase Awards. These selections will be added to the City of North Charleston’s Permanent Public Art Collection, which is on display within North Charleston City Hall throughout most of the year.

“A Lively Live Oak” (fiber) by Peg Weschke (Hilton Head Island, SC) – Best of Show

Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 “SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition”:

Best of Show – “A Lively Live Oak” (fiber) by Peg Weschke (Hilton Head Island, SC)

Outstanding Merit – “Sashay” (clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC)

Outstanding Merit – “Mosaic Cherry Bowl” (wood) by Dale Fort (Charleston, SC)

City of North Charleston Purchase Awards – “Rising Waters” (encaustic) by Marty Biernbaum (Charleston, SC); “Spot On: Chartreuse Raku #1” (clay) by Nancy Waterhouse (Bluffton, SC); “Summertime Tea Time” (clay) by Marsha Nordyke (Summerville, SC); and “A Small Disturbance in the House of Pluto” (mixed media) by Robin Howard (Mount Pleasant, SC)

Honorable Mention – “Summertime Delight” (clay) by Marsha Nordyke (Summerville, SC); “Charleston Box #66” (mixed media) by Robin Howard (Mount Pleasant, SC); “Refraction” (fiber) by Connie Lippert (Seneca, SC)
“Segmented Bowl” (wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston, SC); “A Little Birdie Told Me…” (mixed media) by Bob Thames (North Charleston, SC); “A Farewell to Arms” (wood) by Robb Helm Kant (North Charleston, SC); “Featherweight” (stoneware) by Justin Guy (Trenton, SC); “Swirls III” (fiber) by Beth Andrews (Greer, SC); “Three Stone Necklace” (mixed media) by Rachel Weiss (Charleston, SC); “Melting Point” (porcelain) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach, SC)’ “Lean on Me” (clay) by Sherrie Nesbitt (Summerville, SC); and “Spot On: Chartreuse Raku #1” (clay) by Nancy Waterhouse (Bluffton, SC)

SC Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selections:
“Summertime Delight” (clay) by Marsha Nordyke (Summerville, SC)
“A Lively Live Oak” (fiber) by Peg Weschke (Hilton Head Island, SC)
“Go Ask Alice” (embroidery on canvas) by Liz Holt (Conway, SC)
“Green Vessel” (felted fiber vessel) by Pam Shanley (Summerville, SC)
“Ivy Relief” (wood) by Ben Pendarvis (St. Helena Island, SC)
“Old School” (mixed media) by Patz Fowle (Hartsville, SC)
“Charleston Box #66” (mixed media) by Robin Howard (Mount Pleasant, SC)
“Segmented Bowl” (wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston, SC)
“Solution” (metal and wood) by Robb Helmkamp (North Charleston, SC)
“Dr. Seuss Teapot” (clay) by Mark Vail (Charleston, SC)
“Petting Zoo” (fiber) by Evelyn Beck (Anderson, SC)
“Shawl Spring Sunrise” (textiles) by Iryna Toney (Summerville, SC)
“Mosaic Cherry Bowl” (wood) by Dale Fort (Charleston, SC)
“Three Stone Necklace” (mixed media) by Rachel Weiss (Charleston, SC)
“Lean on Me” (clay) by Sherrie Nesbitt (Summerville, SC)
“Spot On: Lapio Raku #2 and Denim #3” (clay) by Nancy Waterhouse (Bluffton, SC)
“Sashay” (clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC)

For more information about the “South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition” and other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854, e-mail to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org), or visit (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com). Organizations interested in hosting the traveling exhibition should contact the South Carolina State Museum Traveling Exhibits Program at 803/737-4159 or e-mail to (tep@scmuseum.org).

2nd annual HotWorks Asheville Fine Art Show will Take Place May 19 & 20, 2018, at WNC Agricultural Center

The 2nd annual HotWorks Asheville Fine Art Show will take place at a new location indoors at the WNC Agricultural Center, Davis Event Center, in Fletcher, NC.

Professional Artist Applications Now Being Accepted
Electronically Via Zapp at (https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=5832). Deadline to apply Feb. 7, 2017.

Juried Fine Art & Fine Craft Show
All Categories Are Open!

What you need to know:

The Asheville Fine Art Show is produced by Hot Works fine art and fine craft shows, a company that has earned a national outstanding reputation for top-notch, high quality juried fine art and fine craft shows in Florida, Michigan and North Carolina.

Asheville is, by far, North Carolina’s most affluent and sophisticated art-buying and art-loving audience.

Institute for the Arts & Education is the associated 501c3 non-profit organization that focuses on visual arts, ethnic diversity, community enrichment and fostering art education among youth

All art must be original and personally handmade by the artist who is at the show – please do not apply if you do not personally make the work

Juried by Art Professionals whom have an art education and experience with coordinating art shows

$1,500 in professional artist awards

Hot Works Executive Producer Patty Narozny has a loyal artist following because:

She works hard to keep out the buy/sell – and does the research to keep it out

She knows how to work the media, and brings in cultivated patrons with money to purchase high-end art

Narozny’s unique brand of marketing with Hot Works has consistent, proven success

Narozny respects and always does her best to do what’s right for the artists and for the art fair industry

Narozny has 30+ years’ experience as a successful event and media producer and the know-how to connect artists with art-buying audiences

Each artist’s booth sign states emphatically, “All work in this booth is personally handmade by…”

No stages or pulsating music! Music is low key so you don’t have to shout to sell your art.

WNC Ag Center/Davis Event Center provides:
A newer-built facility that is well-attended for a variety of events throughout the year

Plenty of free parking

An indoor facility where “weather” is controlled and always pleasant

A location where patrons come specifically to purchase art

Deadline to apply February 7; notifications by February 25

Rent includes 8’ white pipe and drape to separate space between booths plus a pole to go across the top front of your booth to hang lights, if needed

Absolutely no more than 180 artists (or less)

Limited onsite marketing opportunities, sponsorship and community enrichment packages are available

If your first priority is sales, then Hot Works shows are for you.

Except for Asheville, NC – our brand-new show in 2017 – all of Hot Works shows are voted top 100 art shows in the nation – they include:

20th & 21st bi-annual Estero Fine Art Shows
November 18 & 19, 2017 and January 6 & 7, 2018
Gulf Coast Town Center, Fort Myers, FL – outdoors

9th annual Boca Raton Fine Art Show, January 27 & 28, 2018
Downtown Boca Raton, FL – outdoors

16th annual Orchard Lake Fine Art Show, July 28 & 29, 2018
West Bloomfield, Michigan – outdoors
Voted top 100 art shows in America by Sunshine Artist –10 years in a row!

Interested? Please contact Executive Producer Patty Narozny by e-mail at (patty@hotworks.org), or call 248/684-2613 or 941/755-3088.

At Hot Works, your art is our passion!

For more info visit (www.hotworks.org).

Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County in Fayetteville, NC, Announces Award Winners for “People’s Choice Show”

The Arts Council walls and pedestals of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, in Fayetteville, NC, are covered with over 200 colorful creations! During the show’s opening, these winners were chosen as the People’s Choice:

1st Place: “Venezia Grand Canale” by Robson Spinelli

2nd Place: “Timshel” by Michelle Bir

3rd Place: “My Dream” by Sunyoung Kim

Honorable Mentions:

“Delightfully Redundant” by Griffin Carrick
“Bear Family” by Nancy Whaley Chandler
“The Wonderland of Childhood” by Marlene Wellard

Brought to you by Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Public Works includes art by people of all ages and abilities from our community. The artwork is on display through July 22, 2017.

The Arts Council’s galleries are free and open to the public 6 days a week during exhibitions. Come visit us!
The Arts Council’s 2016-17 exhibitions are curated by The Ellington-White Community Development Corporation.

The Arts Council’s grants, programs and services are funded in part by contributions from businesses and individuals, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

For further information visit (www.theartscouncil.com).

2017 Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Shows in Charleston, SC, Announces Show Award Winners

For three weeks every year beginning on Memorial Day weekend, downtown Charleston, South Carolina becomes an arts mecca with two major arts festivals running concurrently. The Spoleto Festival USA, is an arts festival with over 150 performances, and the companion Piccolo Spoleto Festival features over 500 events in the preforming, visual and literary arts. Combined, the events bring over 250,000 arts enthusiasts into the downtown Charleston area.

Fine Craft Shows Charleston proudly presents the Piccolo Spoleto Craft Shows for 2017. These three-day shows represent our 38th year participating as a part of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. We strive to provide festival attendees with an overview of the high quality of original works currently being created in a variety of craft media. Approximately 120 fine crafts artists from around the US participate in the one or both of the shows, which are held on the first two weekends of the festival. Both emerging and experienced craft artists are invited to apply to participate. Artist demonstrations – both scheduled and impromptu – are a highlight for show patrons.

The first weekend of the Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Show had fine weather on Friday, May 24, 2017, for the judging and awards presentation. The judge for the show was Casimer Kowalski, a local visual artist. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and his wife Sandy presented the awards. Photos courtesy of Sea Star Arts Photography.

Best in Show: Jean Yao a basketmaker from Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Mayor John Tecklenburg, Best in Show winner Jean Yao and Sandy Tecklenburg

First Place: Addelle Sanders, a fiber artist from Charleston, SC.

Second Place: Doug Richard, a wood turner from Satsuma, FL.

Third Place: Christie May, a jeweler from Palm Beach, FL.

Honorable Mentions:

Nancy Michael Susaneck, a mixed media artist from Missouri City, TX.

Caleb Barnaby, a jeweler from Ormond Beach, FL.

Emerging Artist Grant: Alexander Bower, a jeweler from Charlottesville, VA.

Exhibitors’ Choice Award: Wilson Lee, a wood carver from Nashville, TN

Purchase awards:

Charles and Cindy Cecil, jewelers from High Point, NC.
Susan Marling, a fiber artist from Acworth, GA.
Tammy Rudd, a jeweler from Holly Hill, SC.
David Shipper, a photographer from Beaufort, SC.

The second weekend of the Piccolo Spoleto Crafts show began on June 2, 2017, another beautiful day. The judge for this show was Michael W. Haga, Associate Dean at the College of Charleston School of the Arts.

Best in Show: Tammy Rudd, a glass beadmaker and jeweler from Holly Hill, SC.

Show Judge Michael Haga and Best in Show winner Tammy Rudd. Inset a glass pendant

First Place: Colleen Williams, potter from Chattanooga, TN

Second Place: JoAnn Graham, a jeweler from St Helena, SC.

Third place: Susan Marling, a fiber artist from Acworth, GA.

Honorable Mentions:

Ed Bryan, a potter from Columbia, SC.

Jen Swearington, a fiber artist from Asheville, NC.

Exhibitor’s Choice Award: Matt and Katie Wilson, metalworkers from North Charleston, SC.

Emerging Artist Grant: Joe Hiltabitel and Shelly Simmons, photographers from Travelers Rest, SC.

Slide Jurors’ Choice: Nancy Michael Susanneck a mixed media artist from Missouri City, TX.

Purchase Awards:

Uzo Ezekwudo and Nnamdi Ibenagu, fiber artists from Chapel Hill, NC.
Tom Homann, a potter from Comer, GA.
Jiri Kalina, a wood carver from Wilmington, NC.
Cynthia McFadden, a mixed media Jeweler from Charleston, SC.

For further information call Kasey Briggs at 843/364-0421 or e-mail to (piccolo@finecraftshowscharleston.com).

 

Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, Announces Winners of “Biennale 2017”

The Art League of Hilton Head awarded fifteen winners, five of which are local, at the opening reception of “Biennale 2017”, the 25th Biennale National Juried Exhibition on Friday evening, May 5, 2017. The exhibit runs through May 31st at Art League of Hilton Head Gallery located inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, on Hilton Head Island, SC. Over $7,000 in cash prizes were awarded.

On Saturday, May 6, approximately 22 people returned to Art League Gallery to attend a “Critic’s Coffee” where judge, Susan Mayfield, discussed her selection process, judging criteria and offered commentary on some of the winning artwork.

The Art League of Hilton Head Gallery located mid-island, inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC.

Biennale 2017 Award Winners:

1st: “Undefined #2”, Pastel by Tun Ping Wang, Long Island City, NY

2nd: “Studio Book Pages”, Acrylic by Laurie McIntosh, Camden, SC

3rd:  “One Cabin Left”, Photography by Zachary Grether, Hardeeville, SC

Honorable Mention: “Bonnet Aerial # 1”, Photography by Cate Brown, North Kingstown, RI

Honorable Mention: “Ancient Lady”, Raku by Jacqueline Charnigo, Bluffton, SC

Honorable Mention: “Charleston Sleeps”, Oil by Sally Hickman, Bluffton, SC

Honorable Mention: “Clayton”, Photography by John Huneycutt, Oakboro, NC

Honorable Mention: “Lue, FL”, Photography by Laird, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Honorable Mention: “Le Reve”, Mixed Media by Marsha Leinberger, Hilton Head Island, SC

Honorable Mention: “Local Color”, Pastel by Eve Miller, Saint Helena Island, SC

Honorable Mention: “Cedar Center Hardware”, Photography by Charles Mintz, Cleveland, OH

Honorable Mention: “Denny”, Charcoal by Jonathan Murrill, Roanoke, VA

Honorable Mention: “Red Brigade”, Oil by William Schneider, Vlg. Of Lakewood, IL

Honorable Mention: “The House That Built Me”, Clay with Terra Sigillata by Katty Smith, New Smyrna Beach, FL

Honorable Mention: “Face Book”, Acrylic by Randy Van Dyck, Boise, ID

For further information call 843/681-5060 or visit (www.artleaguehhi.org).

Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in Upstate, SC, Recognizes Tommy Forrest

Tommy Forrest was honored with this painted quilt by the members of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail Anderson Production team in November 2015. The quilt hangs in his quilting room at home in Anderson, SC.

Forrest is the one of the most loved and respected members of our Prickly Fingers Quilt Guild here in Anderson. He started quilting at age 68 with encouragement from his sister, Linda Hempel, following his wife’s death. His first quilt was “Winning Hand” which won a ribbon in a local area quilt show. He and his sister have made dozens and dozens of quilts and pillow cases for local charities and nursing homes since 2012.

Tommy Forrest, chairperson of Anderson area Quilts of Valor (QOV) program and Diane Schonauer , UHQT Anderson production leader presenting painted quilt panel in appreciation for Tommy’s dedication to veterans.

He is the chairperson of our area Quilts of Valor program.  A veteran himself, he feels strongly about his fellow soldiers. The QOV program has become a calling for him especially after being wrapped himself on October 23, 2013. Since then he has made 40 quilts for the program himself and his group has wrapped over 100 veterans here in Anderson County alone.

The original was group project coordinated by Diane Schonauer. She shared that “this quilt pattern was found by my friend, Diane Kunzer, when we lived in Illinois. She put together a group of 10 women to do a Half-quarter square block exchange. Each participant utilized quarter square triangle paper and created 5 full sheets of red fabrics and 4 full sheets of cream/beige fabrics. Once sewn, these sheets were cut apart into Half-quarter squares, and divided by 10. Each person received their pieces and worked to complete the “stripes”. None of us repeated a fabric. Consequently, there are over 180 different fabrics used in the stripes.

“Each participant chose their own design for the star shield portion of the quilt. I selected the Ohio Star that was featured on the quarter square triangle paper package and made half square triangles in cream and blue which finish at 1,” said Kunzer.

“It was challenging to get all the points to match. I put this project away for a few years, moved to SC, and finally finished it in 2004. Nine of the participants are pictured on the quilt label. This piece hangs in my upper hallway where it greets me first thing each day.  It is a reminder of the great country we are fortunate to live in”.

For further info visit (www.uhqt.org).

Carolina’s Got Art! in Charlotte, NC, Awards More Money to Ceramic Artists in North and South Carolina

Carolina’s Got Art! (CGA!), North and South Carolina’s most anticipated juried art competition, awarded $26,000 in cash and prizes to winners at opening receptions at Elder Gallery in May and June. Mediums including paintings, photography, sculptures, weavings, drawings, glass and ceramics were included. CGA! continues to build on the success of its past competitions and attracted just under 3,000 entries this year.

Now in its fourth year, CGA! offers professional and amateur artists a unique opportunity to gain exposure among potential buyers, receive recognition in the art community, and compete for $26,000 cash and prizes.

Entries were reviewed by this year’s jurors, Eliza Rathbone, who served as chief curator of the Phillips Collection, in Washington, DC, for more than 20 years, internationally known ceramic artist, Peter Callas, and Larry Elder, owner of Elder Gallery.

The competition is a two-month long exhibition and sale.  Rathbone chose 110 pieces for a show during May and Elder selected 125 pieces which are on display throughout the month of June.

New to the competition this year is a special ceramics component selected by Callas who assisted in the awards ceremony on June 5th. Ceramic artists were awarded $6,000 in cash prizes and all selected pieces will be shown at Elder Gallery during the month of June.

Ceramic award winners from the exhibition of 31 pieces he selected from approximately 400 entries:

$3,000 First Place award to Eric Knoche of Alexander, NC for “Heavy Cloud”

$1,500 Second Place award went to Mark Gordon of Wilson, NC for “Cube Ring”

Third Place award of $750 went to Jennifer Halli of Taylors, SC for “Podcast 1”

A $375 Honorable Mention award went to Nick Lafone of Asheville, NC for “Strider”

Tacy Apostolik of Weaverville, NC was awarded a $375 Honorable Mention award

Juror’s Commendation for Excellence went to Carol Gentithes for “Chrometophobia”

Juror’s Commendation for Excellence went to Suzanne Zucker of Fairview, NC for “Blue Crouch”

“When I founded Carolina’s Got Art in 2009, I wanted to create a competition that would support local artists and help showcase the amazing talent within our two-state area,” says Larry Elder, founder of Carolina’s Got Art!. “For many artists, juried competitions are an important part of launching and sustaining successful careers. Our goal is to continue to offer opportunities to support their livelihood and to encourage their creative process.”

In 2009, as a reaction the economy’s impact on local artists, Charlotte gallery owner, Larry Elder, brought Carolina’s Got Art! to life to provide financial support to Carolina artists.  Now in its fourth year, Carolina’s Got Art! has emerged as the pre-eminent competition, exhibition and sale for Carolina-based artists and will have awarded over $60,000 in prizes since its inception.

For further information visit (www.carolinasgotart.com).