City of North Charleston, SC, Seeks Entries for 20th Annual Statewide Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition – Deadline March 15, 2022

Fine craft artists from across the state of South Carolina are invited to participate in the 20th annual “South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition”. As the state’s longest-running fine craft competition and exhibition, objects selected for the show may compete for cash prizes totaling up to $6,500. The exhibition is presented as a component of the annual North Charleston Arts Fest, to be held May 4-8, 2022, in North Charleston, SC.

A $15 entry fee applies. Artists may submit up to four entries. The application is strictly available online and may be accessed via the link at (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply).

Deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

Artists in need of assistance with the application process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person.

Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this unique exhibition offers fine craft artists from across South Carolina the opportunity to exhibit their inspiring objects in the media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and three-dimensional mixed media. Thousands have enjoyed the refined talents of South Carolina fine craft artists during past annual exhibitions.

We are pleased to announce the juror for the 2022 competition is Tiffany Thomas, a contemporary painter and potter who runs a studio and artisan shop called Tthomas Arts in Florence, SC. A native of Florence, SC, Thomas was raised on a farm and experienced the ups and downs of living a farm life. She incorporates her childhood into her paintings by using bright colors and utilizes reclaimed wood that her family discarded from old houses, buildings, and dumpsters in her collage works. Her clay of choice is translucent porcelain, fired with colorful stains and glazes. Her ceramic work focuses on an array of designs; from cups and mugs to light fixtures and table pieces. All of her pieces are hand carved. Thomas graduated from Francis Marion University in 2012 with a degree in Visual Arts with concentrations in ceramics and painting. Her work has been exhibited in numerous shows such as the South Carolina Arts Commission Gala, The North Carolina Museum of Art’s Art of the Auction, Spartanburg Juried Competition, The Heritage Festival, and The Pee Dee Regional Art Competition.

The 20th Annual “South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition” will be on display May 4-8, 2022, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston, SC. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Convention Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, from 6-8pm.

For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, “Palmetto Hands”, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854, e-mail to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org), or visit (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com).

City of North Charleston, SC, Calls for Entries for “16th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition” – Deadline February 25, 2022

Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the sixteenth annual “National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition”, which opens in conjunction with the 2022 North Charleston Arts Fest in North Charleston, SC. Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $19,750. A $1250 honorarium is given to all artists accepted into the show to assist with transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. Once all pieces are installed, the juror will award Best in Show ($1000), Outstanding Merit ($500), and up to three Honorable Mentions ($250 each). The application is strictly available online and may be accessed via the link at (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply). An application fee of $35 allows artists to submit up to four entries for consideration.

Deadline for submissions is Friday, February 25, 2022.

Artists in need of assistance with any part of the application process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person.

Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this 11-month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures throughout the picturesque North Charleston Riverfront Park. Set on the banks of the Cooper River, Riverfront Park features ten acres of walking paths, a boardwalk and fountain, an expansive lawn with performance pavilion, children’s play areas, and picnic sites. An estimated 50,000 people visit this public park annually to enjoy the amenities located in the heart of the city’s arts community.

The juror for the 2022/2023 competition and exhibition is Dr. Julie Sasse, Chief Curator at the Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) in Arizona where she has served since 2000. She has organized more than 100 group and solo exhibitions and has written more than 40 publications about diverse subjects and artists including hybridity, the environment, Indigenous art, Latinx art, and women artists. In 2020, she released Southwest Rising: Contemporary Art and the Legacy of Elaine Horwitch, published by Cattle Track Press and TMA. Sasse received a Clark Art Institute fellowship (2008); a Latino Museum Studies Fellowship in Washington, DC (2007); a Louise Foucar Marshall Foundation Graduate Fellowship (2013); and fellowships in 2016 and 2017 at the Women’s International Study Center in Santa Fe. She recently authored an essay for Daddy-O’s Book of Big-Ass Art, published by Texas A&M University and the feature essay for a recently published monograph on New Mexico artist Patrick Mehaffy, published by Fresco Books.

The “16th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition” will be on display May 4, 2022, through March 19, 2023, at North Charleston Riverfront Park, located at 1001 Everglades Avenue in North Charleston. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, from 6:00-8:00pm.

For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, the “National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition”, or 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).

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

Lowcountry artists are invited to submit their works of art for The Society of Bluffton Artists’ (SOBA) “27th Annual Judged Show”, to be held at the Center for Creative Arts, from March 1 – April 5 with opening reception from 5-7pm March 3, 2021, in Bluffton, SC.

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 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 at the SOBA gallery. An awards ceremony will take place from 5-7pm, on March 3. 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 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.

David 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. David 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, Ohio, with his wife, Deanna.

The Society of Bluffton Artists 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.

At ‘Got Art?’ EVERYONE gets art! From the Art League of Hilton Head, SC – Oct. 1, 2020

The Art League of Hilton Head’s annual fundraising benefit, Got Art?, makes collectors out of art enthusiasts. Each $100 ticket provides participation in the live Zoom drawing and guarantees one original piece of art. Only 100 tickets will be sold. This popular event is sure to be a sellout!

The event takes place online on Thursday, October 1, starting at 6pm.

Artwork donated by Art League member artists may include paintings, drawings, photography, collage, jewelry, ceramic, and sculpture. Each piece of art is valued at $200 or more.

What makes this event exciting is that ticket holder’s names are selected at random. This allows each person to select one piece of art. You never know when your name will be called or which pieces will still be available when it’s your turn to choose. Got Art? always proves to be a lively event!

Work by Michael Murphy

WHEN: Thursday, October 1, starting at 6pm. When your name is drawn, choose an original piece of art. Everybody is a winner!

FREE PUBLIC PREVIEW: See the artwork in person at Art League Gallery. More than 100 Got Art? artworks will be on display at Art League Gallery September 29 – October 1, from 10am-4pm. Make a list of your top favorites to prepare for the live Zoom event on October 1, 6-7:30pm.

The artwork will also be viewed online on our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ArtLeagueHiltonHead/) and our website (www.artleaguehhi.org).

ARTWORK PICKUP: All artwork may be picked up from the gallery the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 2, 3 and 4, following the event during our business hours Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm.

Work by Peg Weschke

HOW: Purchase a $100 ticket. Visit (www.artleaguehhi.org/gotart) or call 843/681-5060. Tickets also available at Art League Gallery and Art League Academy.

Only 100 tickets will be sold. You must have a ticket to participate in the live Zoom event. Each ticket awards one piece of art.

Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy. Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels, even true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and workshops that change monthly. Art League Gallery features local artwork in all media created by more than 200 member artists. All artwork on display is for sale and the exhibits change every month. Located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, next to the box office. Art League Gallery is open every day: Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12-4pm and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance.

“Inspiring visual arts for our community and its visitors through exhibitions, education and partnerships” is Art League of Hilton Head’s mission.

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

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

Art League of Hilton Head Launches 2021 Membership Campaign on Hilton Head Island, SC

Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, is now offering three free months of membership (October-December 2020) for new members that sign up for a 2021 membership.

“We’re really the best value out there for artists or art lovers who want to learn, exhibit, or be involved in the arts community,” says Membership Chair, Peg Weschke. “We have a large, engaged membership and some of the lowest rates in the area. Our gallery was voted “Best Gallery” at the end of 2019 and our 2020 membership grew by 25%. Before the Covid-19 crisis, we were well on our way to outpace gallery attendance records and sales.”

“During the lock-down, our staff initiated innovative ways to deliver online workshops, receptions, gallery sales and auctions. This has allowed us to continue to serve our local members and to reach out to snow-birds and new geographically-remote members.”

“We’ll be turning 50 in 2022, and we’re more committed than ever to keeping our offerings exciting, fresh and fun as we continue our core mission of inspiring visual arts for our community and its visitors.”

A year-long membership is $55 for Members and $150 for Exhibiting Members. Both memberships come with discounts on classes, workshops, demos and more. For more information, or to join or donate to Art League, please visit (ArtLeagueHHI.org).

Art League of Hilton Head was named SCORE’s Client of the Year in part for its innovative and diverse offerings for artists and art lovers such as gallery space with regularly rotating shows, juried shows such as CraftHiltonHead and Biennale, the annual Gullah show and other community events, classes, lectures, and volunteer and donor opportunities.

Art League of Hilton Head is responding to the COVID-19 crisis with increased online offerings for artists and patrons. Multi-week classes are still available, and weekly online demos and workshops are offered for $9 and $20 respectively. The quality of the instruction remains high; registration is limited to ensure students get individual attention.

Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy.

Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels, including true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and workshops that change monthly.

Art League Gallery features local artwork in all media created by more than 170 member artists. All artwork on display is for sale and exhibits change every month. Located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, next to the box office. Art League Gallery open daily Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm & Sunday 12 – 4pm plus 90 minutes prior to all Arts Center Performances.

“Inspiring visual arts for our community and its visitors through exhibitions, education and partnerships” is Art League of Hilton Head’s mission.

For further info visit (ArtLeagueHHI.org).

La Petite Gallerie in Bluffton, SC, Donate Part of Sales to Help the Bluffton Community

La Petite Gallerie artists were happy to donate a portion of May sales to Bluffton Self Help, a wonderful local organization that helps those in our community in need of food, clothing, educational and financial assistance. They provide programs that promote self-worth, dignity, and create a pathway to personal success. We couldn’t think of a better cause during these tough times! Thank you Rose Cofield for organizing us!

The gallery gals from (left) Murray Sease, Rose Cofield, and at (right), Lauren Terrent presenting $400 to Kim Hall, Executive Director of Bluffton Self Help. You may not be able to tell but we are smiling behind those masks and social distancing all around! Our guys (not pictured) also participating are Don Nagel, Bill Winn, Wally Palmer and Kevin Palmer.

For further info visit (lapetitegallerie.com).

Bluffton Arts District in Bluffton, SC, Offers the Fifth Annual Paint Out – Apr. 24 – 26, 2020

Bluffton Arts District announces our fifth annual paint out event! Our artistic, eccentric river town invites plein air painters to join us April 24 through April 26 2020. Come for the weekend and experience a picturesque small southern town on the May River, Bluffton, SC, that supports the arts throughout town both publicly and privately. Paint on the riverside, under the oaks, or amongst the azaleas all in view of historic homes.

Coordinated Events: Opening reception and welcoming party for guest painters (Friday 3-5), then on to our scheduled public art walk including all the galleries and shops in the arts district. Closing awards and sales with picnic lunches available, event is open to the public.

Format: Open
Judge: Dee Beard Dean, SC Plein Air Society
Award total: approximately $800.00
Contact: Charlene Gardner
E-mail: (fourcornersbluffton@gmail.com)
Phone: 843-757-8185
Website: (www.blufftonartsdistrict.com)

North Charleston Arts Fest in North Charleston, SC, Reveals 2020 Design Competition Winner

The City of North Charleston (SC) Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce Christine Bush Roman of Johns Island, SC, as the winner of the 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. As the winner of the statewide contest, Bush Roman’s mixed media painting, titled “Oak Circus”, will be used to promote the 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest, taking place April 29-May 3, 2020. In addition, the artist was awarded a $500 cash prize and the piece has become part of the City of North Charleston’s Public Art Collection.

“Oak Circus” by Christine Bush Roman

“Oak Circus” was one of 75 entries by artists from 17 cities across South Carolina that were submitted for consideration for the 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. Bush Roman created the painting specifically for the Arts Fest using acrylic, ink, pastel, and fabric. “When beginning this piece, I knew I wanted to illustrate the vibrancy and emotion of all kinds of creators coming together to share their work,” she says. “I began the painting with the simplified image of an oak tree spreading its branches because the oak is such a well-known visual for the Lowcountry. The tree is also an iconic symbol across many cultures of growth, transformation, unity, and enlightenment. I wanted all the other elements of the painting to react to the tree. Setting the tone of celebration, the colors and rhythm hint at all of the different art forms highlighted during the North Charleston Arts Fest.”

Christine Bush Roman received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from the University of Georgia in 2006 and returned to earn a Master of Fine Arts in the same concentration in 2013. She actively exhibits her paintings in solo and group shows both regionally and nationally. Rooted in drawing and painting, and oftentimes some elements of collage, her vibrant and dynamic works are executed in a variety of media with an emphasis on bright color, texture, pattern, and symbolism. Christine’s sincere affection for process and working with materials is revealed in the chunky, scraped, bumpy, gritty, and messy surfaces of her paintings. “Each piece endures hours of layering, destroying, and recreating,” she explains.

The improvisation and intuitive nature of Bush Roman’s work is guided both by the materials and the concept. When utilizing collage techniques, she chooses to only use personal or recycled materials because of her belief that the previous life of the fabric or paper used informs the direction of the work. Most often inspired by ideas of our perception of self, her colorful and busy paintings reflect a compressed narrative of an ever-changing personality; acting as illustrations of an inner story full of ups and downs, constant change, and growth. Her works are about how we are constantly being shaped by where we live, people we know, and major life events. Bush Roman currently creates in her home studio in Johns Island, SC, and instructs art classes for One HEART Connection and Art in the Park Art Lab, both in Charleston, SC. To learn more about the artist, visit (ChristineBushRoman.com).

A collection of Bush Roman’s mixed media paintings will be on display at the North Charleston City Gallery throughout May 2020. The exhibit will feature her winning piece, “Oak Circus”. The gallery is located within the Charleston Area Convention Center at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Admission and parking are free. The public is invited to meet the artist at the gallery during the North Charleston Arts Fest Opening Celebration & Artist Reception on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, from 6-8pm. T-shirts and posters featuring the winning design will be available for purchase during the festival.

For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, other competition and exhibition opportunities, or festival sponsorship, on-site marketing opportunities, and program booklet ad placement, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854, e-mail (culturalarts@northcharleston.org), or visit (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com).

Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, Calls for Entries for its 26th Annual Judged Show – Deadline March 2, 2020

Lowcountry artists are invited to submit their works of art for The Society of Bluffton Artists’ (SOBA) 26th Annual Judged Show, which takes place in Bluffton, SC.

Winners will be awarded first, second and third place cash awards in the following categories: acrylic, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, watercolor or 3D. To be eligible for an award, each category must have a minimum of seven pieces on display.

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

The cost to register is $25 for SOBA members and $45 for non SOBA members. The deadline for entries is from 9 to 11am, Monday, March 2, 2020, at the Center for Creative Arts, located next door to the SOBA gallery at 8 Church Street in Bluffton, SC. No entries will be accepted after 11am.

The Judged Show exhibit will be on display from March 2-April 6, 2020, at the SOBA gallery. An awards ceremony will take place from 5-7pm,Wednesday, March 4. These events are free to attend and open to the public. Artists can pick up their art from 9-11am, April 6 at the SOBA gallery.

The judge for the show is Mark Boedges. Boedges has amassed numerous awards and shown his work in many galleries. Boedges leads plein air workshops and is a well-known judge for shows throughout the country. His studio is located in Charlotte, VT.

After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in philosophy, Boedges pursued his passion for painting — particularly plein art, which would remain his focus for several years. Eventually, Boedges went back to school to study fine art at the University of Colorado, but he left the program after two years to study exclusively from nature. Among the many accolades, Boedges received the Grand Prize for Landscape and a spot on the cover of International Artist magazine. He recently received the Joseph Hartley Memorial award at the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City, Best in Show at the American Impressionist Society’s National Exhibition and Best in Show at the Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art.

The Society of Bluffton Artists 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 843/757-6586.

City of North Charleston, SC, Calls for Entries for 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition – Dec. 15, 2019

The City of North Charleston, SC, is calling upon South Carolina visual artists to participate in the 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. The winning piece will become the official poster design of the 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest, taking place April 29-May 3, 2020, and will be featured on all promotional materials and merchandise, including posters, billboards, print and digital advertisements, television commercials, program booklets, apparel, online, and more.

The winning artist will receive a $500 purchase award and a solo exhibition at the North Charleston City Gallery during May 2020. In addition, the winning piece will become part of the City of North Charleston’s Public Art Collection, which is displayed throughout City Hall.

The deadline to submit works for the competition is Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019.

There is NO entry fee to participate in the North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. The competition is open to South Carolina residents ages 18 and older. Categories of work accepted are: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, watercolor, and 2-D mixed media. Entries must be submitted online at (http://NorthCharlestonCulturalArtsDepartment.Slideroom.com) by the Dec. 15 deadline. Artists may enter a maximum of three pieces into the competition.

The North Charleston Arts Fest is organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department. The annual five-day celebration of arts and culture highlights national, regional and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, Media Art, and Literature. For more than 35 years the festival has made quality arts programming affordable and accessible to the widest spectrum of the public, attracting more than 30,000 residents and visitors from throughout the Southeast and beyond to experience free and modestly priced performances, workshops, exhibitions, and activities in a variety of venues, including libraries, community centers, schools, businesses, and parks. The event has matured into one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state of South Carolina. Previous Arts Fest Design Competition winners include Joseph Kameen of Graniteville, SC (2019), Hamed Mahmoodi of Greenville, SC (2018), Judy McSween of Charleston, SC (2017), Lisa Shimko of Charleston, SC (2016), Karole Turner Campbell (KTC) of North Charleston, SC (2015); Amiri Gueka Farris of Bluffton, SC (2014); Linda Elksnin of Mt. Pleasant, SC (2013); Elena Barna of North Charleston, SC (2012); and Pedro Rodriguez of Goose Creek, SC (2011).

For more information about the 2020 North Charleston Arts Fest and other participation opportunities visit (www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com), or contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office by calling 843/740-5854 or e-mail to (culturalarts@northcharleston.org). Artists in need of assistance with any part of the submission process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person.