Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, Celebrates 50 years of Inspiration, Creativity and Resilience – Oct. 29, 2022

Enjoy Unique Exhibitions, Classes and Special Events!
“Save the Date” for the 50th Anniversary Gala- October 29, 2022, at Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island, SC.

Art League of Hilton Head announces its 50th Anniversary Celebration with the theme of “Inspiration, Creativity and Resilience.”

“We invite all residents and visitors to come and experience the joy of the visual arts,” said Pat Batten, Art League of Hilton Head President, “and to celebrate with us the impact Art League has had over the last 50 years.” The 50th Anniversary Celebration is designed as an expanded, year-long series of exhibitions, classes, and special events to allow the community opportunities to participate in the diverse offerings of the Art League, its Art Gallery and Art Academy.

Art League got its start when Walter Greer met with nine local artists to discuss forming an art league on Hilton Head Island. Fifty years later, Art League of Hilton Head now boasts a membership nearing 500 supporters and a full schedule of visual arts programming.

On March 22, Art League will celebrate its official founding with a Birthday Party for members and invited guests, featuring live music, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and the cutting of a birthday cake. The evening will include a short program on the legacy and future of the organization, as well as a proclamation for Art League of Hilton Head Day presented by the Town. “We are honored and proud to have the Town of Hilton Head recognize the contributions Art League has made to the community and to all of its visitors over these decades,“ Batten said.

The year-long celebration began in January with a free and open to the public Kick-Off Reception at the annual Member Show at Art League Gallery, with music by the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra, wine, hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast and an exhibit of new work by over 180 member artists.

“The Member Show is an annual tradition that dates back to Art League’s earliest events,” said Batten. ”For 50 years, the Member Show has been a constant in our history and so it was a very meaningful place to launch our celebration.”

Also part of the January Kickoff was the special exhibition Artists that Teach, held at the Art Academy at Cordillo Parkway. The exhibit showcased the artwork of Academy instructors and was the first in a series of planned special Academy exhibitions. Free art demonstrations were held by instructors throughout January and February for the public to learn from and enjoy at both the Art Gallery and Art Academy locations.

In addition, a special commemorative art calendar was created to honor the League’s 50 year legacy. “The calendar includes a history of Art League milestones, historic photos, and the artwork of over 30 of our current members,” Batten said. “It also serves as a fundraiser to help support Art League’s programs.” The calendar is for sale at the Art League Gallery and Academy.

Art League continues the year with a full schedule of upcoming exhibitions and receptions at both the Art League Gallery and the Art Academy, through December 2022. Art exhibitions for the year have been carefully curated to represent some of the best new and legacy artists in Art League’s ranks. Currently at Art League Gallery is the exhibition “Addison’s Paintings Honoring 50 Years” featuring artworks by Addison Palmer March 8-April 16. Other highlighted exhibits include artists Peter Dallos, Dennis Lake, Saundra Renee Smith and Robin Sue Ross; as well as a monthly exhibit of Gullah art in an on-going collaboration with Native Island Business & Community Affairs Association (NIBCAA).

Upcoming Art Academy classes and workshops include Plain Air painting, watercolors, and pastels with a special year-long schedule of both free and fee-based art instruction by nationally recognized guest instructors from across the country. An exclusive week-long Guest Instructor event in October featuring artists TJ Cunningham and Adam Clague will include free art demonstrations, individual and combined workshops, a special free Guest Instructors reception and an art sale.

Other events include the Academy Student Show & Awards, now through March 18th, the popular Got Art? fundraiser on March 24, the fun “Fabulous Fakes” exhibit in June, a special Past Members Exhibition and Reception in September, among many others.

Art League also wishes to announce a “Save the Date” of October 29, 2022 for the Art League of Hilton Head’s 50th Anniversary Gala to be held at the Sonesta Resort and Spa.

Art League of Hilton Head is proud of its past and is looking toward the future to continue its mission of inspiring the visual arts for the community and its visitors through exhibitions, education, and partnerships.

Sponsors of Art League’s 50th Anniversary year include the Glover Family, Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, David and Janice Gray, Diana Riggle, Frank and Donna Barnako, Gary Bezilla of Bezilla Kinney Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Publix Super Markets Charities and The Great Frame Up.

For a list of upcoming events, membership and 50th Anniversary sponsorship information, or to purchase a commemorative calendar, please go to (www.ArtLeagueHHI.org), call 843/681-5060, or stop by the Art Gallery located at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

City of Charleston, SC, Calls For Submissions for Its “2022 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition” – Deadline Apr. 15, 202

The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs is proud to present the “2022 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition”, juried by photographer Marie Carladous.
Awards for the Exhibition include $100 each for Best Photography, Best Printmaking, Best Sculpture, Best Painting, and Best Drawing; Best in Show is $500.

Open to all SC residents, the “2022 Juried Art Exhibition” will be held at the City Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC, with an art delivery date of May 16, 2022. The exhibition will be on view at City Gallery May 27 through June 12, 2022.

Applications are due by April 15, 2022.

Entry Specifications:
Submitted work must have been completed within the last two years. Work previously exhibited in the “2021 Piccolo Spoleto Festival Juried Art Exhibitions”, the 2021 or 2020 MOJA Arts Festival, at the City Gallery at any time, or exhibited at the 2022 ArtFields or that will be entered into the “2022 North Charleston Judged Art Exhibition” will not be considered.

Craftwork or jewelry is ineligible. 2D fine artwork in all media is eligible. Traditional oil, watercolor, acrylics, etchings, and pastels as well as fiber art, collage, and other media are acceptable. Artwork must be original and not copies of the work of others. Painted or enhanced photographs must be submitted in the Photography category. All types of fine art photography are acceptable. All artwork must be framed or have a finished edge wrap and be gallery ready for hanging. No pieces will be accepted with saw-tooth hangers.

City Gallery reserves the right to exclude work based on the way a piece is framed and mounted to ensure a cohesive look for the exhibition and the right to exhibit sculpture in alternate locations to accommodate work of varied size or scale.

Submissions
Deadline: April 15, 2022
Application Fee: $20.00 (USD)
Application Link:
(https://cgwp.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/65686)

Selections for the exhibition will be made by early May and artists will be notified of their status by e-mail.

For More Information:
Please contact Anne Quattlebaum, City Gallery Manager at
843/958-6484; or e-mail to (QuattlebaumA@charleston-sc.gov); or City Gallery, 34 Prioleau Street, Unit A, Charleston, SC 29401; or visit (www.PiccoloSpoleto.com).

Gibbes Museum of Art Announces Inaugural Week-long Visual Arts Festival – May 9 – 13, 2022

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC (https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/), Charleston’s premier art museum, has announced a new annual festival of visual art, Art Charleston, which will take place May 9 – 13, 2022. Four main events, the Amy P. Coy Forum, Art of Design, Soirée and Gibbes on the Street, will anchor the festival celebrating creative freedom. Additionally, participants will partake in artist lectures, gallery walks, professional workshops, exhibition tours with experts and an art auction during the week-long event. This year’s theme of creative freedom is inspired by the museum’s major spring exhibition, “Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice,” which is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and premiering at the Gibbes before its national tour.

“Visual art not only reflects our local history and culture but has the power to inspire our imaginations and nourish our souls,” says Angela Mack, executive director of the Gibbes Museum of Art. “We hope this week, and the many annual events to come, will not only be educationally enriching but will also be fun. We hope to inspire all participants to celebrate the creative freedoms that we all have and the groundbreaking artists who are expressing their freedom.”

Amy P. Coy Forum
Monday, May 9, 2022
Stephanie J. Woods, 2021 winner of the museum’s 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art, will be recognized at the Amy P. Coy Forum. An avant-garde of contemporary Southern art, Woods’ body of work examines performative behavior and the cognitive effects of forced cultural assimilation through the exploration and utilization of textiles, photography, video, sculpture, community-engaged projects and material language. Museum visitors may view Woods’ multimedia work, Lavender Notes, in the Mary Jackson Modern and Contemporary Gallery for the duration of 2022. The forum will feature a presentation from Woods followed by a Q&A with audience members and a cocktail reception to kick off Society 1858’s annual Art Auction. Tickets for this event are $40 for members or $50 for non-members and can be purchased here at (https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/programs-events/amy-p-coy-forum-/666).

Art of Design
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Lewis Miller, a New York floral designer known for his pop-up urban flower installations, will be the featured speaker of the 12th annual Art of Design. This glorious daytime lunch and lecture will take place in the museum’s classical European-style Lenhardt Garden. Each spring, the museum hosts an internationally renowned expert in the world of design. Miller, referred to as the Banksy of floral design, is also the author of “Flower Flash” and “Styling Nature: A Masterful Approach to Floral Arrangements.” Tickets go on sale for this event on Feb. 23 for $150 each and can be purchased here at (https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/programs-events/art-of-design-lewis-miller/667).

Soirée
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
A group of Charleston’s world-class chefs will take inspiration from the creative freedom expressed in the design and aesthetic of this formal, intimate, fine dining experience. The evening will begin with special behind-the-scenes tours and cocktails in the Campbell Rotunda, followed by an elegant four-course dinner from award-winning chefs. Following dinner, guests will also enjoy dancing under the stars in the museum’s Lenhardt Garden. Tickets for this event are $1,000 and can be purchased here at (https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/programs-events/soiree/671).

Gibbes on the Street
Thursday, May 12, 2022
The museum will once again celebrate the city’s extraordinary culinary scene at the annual Gibbes on the Street, a lively culinary street fair backdropped by the museum’s Beaux Arts-style building. Stretching across one block of Meeting Street in front of the museum, the event will feature more than 15 of Charleston’s most extraordinary chefs serving up sweet and savory dishes, an open bar and live music. Guests will be captivated by the sights and sounds as live music will be performed under a beautiful Charleston night sky. Tickets for this event are $175 for members or $200 for non-members and can be purchased here at (https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/programs-events/gibbes-on-the-street/672).

This year’s Art Charleston event is inspired by the museum’s spring special exhibition Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice. William H. Johnson painted his Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, performers and international heads of state working to bring peace to the world. He celebrated their accomplishments even as he acknowledged the realities of racism, violence and oppression they faced and overcame. Some of his fighters—Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Marian Anderson and Mahatma Gandhi—are familiar historical figures; others are less well-known individuals whose determination and sacrifice have been eclipsed over time. Drawn entirely from the collection of more than 1,000 works by Johnson given to the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the Harmon Foundation in 1967, this exhibition is the first-ever presentation of this series in Johnson’s home state of South Carolina. Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum with generous support from Art Bridges, Faye and Robert Davidson, and the Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation. The exhibitions will be on display at the museum from Jan. 21 – Aug. 7, 2022.

Art Charleston is sponsored by Garden & Gun, Croghan’s Jewel Box, Lou Hammond Group, Maris DeHart, Rhode’s Boutique, KW Realty – Andrea Woodfield, The George Gallery, Jahde Leather Atelier, The Dewberry Charleston, The Drifter, Gretchen Cuddy Florals, Technical Event Company, The Charleston Place, MIX Charleston and MCG Photography.

For more information about Art Charleston, please visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org/art-charleston).

Home to the Carolina Art Association, established in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art is recognized among the oldest arts organizations in the United States. Housing one of the foremost collections of American Art from the 18th century to the present, the museum’s mission is to enhance lives through art by engaging people of every background and experience with art and artists of enduring quality and by providing opportunities to learn, to discover, to enjoy and to be inspired by the creative process.

For more information, visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

Redux Contemporary Arts Center in Charleston, SC, Offers New Program for Artists

The Lightning Residency at Redux is a fast-paced 6-week long residency program that creates opportunities for emerging artists by providing them with access to studio space and an opportunity to showcase their work, at no cost.

During the residency, artists will work diligently on a comprehensive project which will be installed in the back gallery of Redux when their residency has concluded. In addition to the mini exhibition, each Lightning Residency artist is encouraged to give an artist talk and connect with the Redux community at large.

This opportunity is open to all applicants. Please note that this is a need-based opportunity meaning Redux will be prioritizing applicants who would not traditionally be able to afford studio space.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please visit (reduxtsudios.org/studios) for more information on how to apply.

North Charleston Arts Fest Reveals 2022 Poster Design Competition Winner – Deborah Kinard

The City of North Charleston (SC) Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce Deborah Kinard of Kiawah Island, SC, as the winner of the 2022 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. As the winner of the statewide contest, Kinard’s mixed media painting, titled “Memories 222”, will be used to promote the 2022 North Charleston Arts Fest, taking place May 4-8. 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.

“Memories 222” was one of 80 entries by artists from 17 cities across South Carolina that were submitted for consideration for the 2022 North Charleston Arts Fest Poster Design Competition. The mixed media piece was created using paint and pen and incorporates collage, stenciling, and stamping techniques. “As a long-time supporter of the North Charleston Arts Fest, both as a former educator that brought my students to experience the event and as a practicing artist that has entered and won several awards in the Judged Fine Art Competition, it is a great honor for my artwork to represent this year’s festival,” Deborah says. “I believe the layers, textures, patterns, and colors in my work reflect the vibrancy and diversity that the event brings to our community each year.”

Recently retired from a 37-year career as an elementary and middle school teacher, Kinard has transformed her life-long passion for art from a pastime to a full-time endeavor, creating every day from her home studio on Kiawah Island. Curiosity, nature, and love of color inspire her work, which is often abstract, experimental, and produced through a layering process using a variety of substrates and materials. Kinard really enjoys experimenting with handmade papers, inks, hand-carved stamps, and various consistencies of paint. Her artwork typically initiates through her daily journaling practice, where she begins making marks intuitively and adding layers of colors and materials to create a journal spread. Sometimes these ideas become a bigger piece of artwork on canvas, paper, or wood. Through this process she finds her work constantly evolving.

Kinard has participated in many artist guild and juried exhibitions throughout the Lowcountry and has received numerous awards over the years. She is a member of the Charleston Artist Guild, Kiawah Artist Guild, Folly Beach Artist Guild, and the South Carolina Artisan’s Center, where her work is currently in display and available for purchase.

A collection of Kinard’s mixed media works will be on display at Park Circle Gallery May 4-27, 2022. The exhibit will feature her winning piece, “Memories 222”. The gallery is located 4820 Jenkins Avenue in North Charleston. Admission and parking are free. The public is invited to meet the artist at the gallery at a free reception on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 5-7pm. The reception occurs concurrently with the Arts Fest Arty Block Party, which takes place just around the corner from the gallery that evening on East Montague Avenue from 5-8:30pm. 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 or other competition and 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).

At ‘Got Art?’ Every Ticket is a Winner! Annual Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, Fundraiser

Art League of Hilton Head’s annual fundraising benefit, Got Art?, makes collectors out of art enthusiasts. Every ticket holder will receive an original work of art during the live drawing via Zoom. The artworks are donated by Art League member artists, and may include paintings, drawings, photography, collage, jewelry, ceramic, and sculpture. Each is valued at $200 or more.

Each ticket costs only $100, and only 100 tickets are sold. Participants are invited to preview the 100+ works of art at Art League Academy, located at 106 Cordillo Parkway. The preview will last three days—March 22-24, 2022, from 10am-2pm—prior to the virtual Zoom drawing on March 24, 6-7:30pm. During the drawing, ticket holders will choose a piece of art when their name gets called at random. 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 popular and lively event, so get your tickets today! Call 843-681-5060 or visit (www.ArtLeagueHHI.org) to get your ticket.

The event takes place, Thursday, March 24, 6-7:30pm. When your name is drawn, choose an original piece of art. Everybody is a winner!

See the artwork in person at Art League Academy. More than 100 Got Art? artworks will be on display at Art League Academy March 22-24, from 10am-2pm. Make a list of your top favorites to prepare for the live Zoom event on March 24, 6-7:30pm.

All artwork may be picked up from the Academy on Friday March 25 or Monday, March 28—following the event during our business hours Monday-Friday 10am-2pm.

Purchase a $100 ticket at (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. The Academy is open Monday – Friday, 10am-2pm.

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 Academy located south-island at 106 Cordillo Parkway, call 843/842-5738 or visit (www.artleaguehhi.org).

The Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, Kicks Off New Outreach Efforts with Artists Retreat to Guatemala

The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) board members have been thinking outside-of-the-box to offer unique outreach programs for artists in the community.

This year, the non-profit art organization will offer trips to museums and exhibits in Savannah, Charleston and surrounding areas. Additionally, they’re planning international artists retreats every other year — well-curated trips with low-key learning mixed with history, beautiful scenery, fantastic food and five-star hotels.

The first international artists retreat will take place June 16-27 to Guatemala with an itinerary filled with explorations to Tikal Mayan ruins and nearby villages, as well as painting workshops with inspiring instructors. 14 spots are available for this artist retreat.

“The group will be accompanied by local, knowledgeable guides to introduce them to hidden treasures of the sites,” said Marie Burgeson, SOBA’s president. “And best of all, the travelers will be friends and fellow artists. This trip is perfect for the single traveler but will also work for couples since there will be special programs for non-artists as well.”

Anyone interested in the Guatemalan artist retreat and SOBA’s future outreach programs are invited to a special information reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres from 6-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 at SOBA’s Art School, 8 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton.

Burgeson was inspired to organize the trip for Lowcountry artists after visiting Guatemala with another painting group. The upcoming trip will be organized by the same boutique travel company called Explore Amazing Places. From first-class hotels and restaurants to quality individual care, Burgeson was impressed with the level of attention and knowledge by the Explore Amazing Places tour guides.

“The owners are Americans who lived in Guatemala for several years. They are charming and extremely knowledgeable about Latin America and will be with the group every step of the way,” Burgeson said.

The cost is $3,895 for double occupancy and $775 for single supplement — which includes hotels, most meals, all transportation in the country including airfare to Tikal, workshop tuition and gratuities. The deadline to register is March 25. A portion of the proceeds will benefit SOBA’s ongoing operational expenses.

For more information, e-mail Marie Burgeson at (sobaupdates@sobagallery.com) or visit (https://bit.ly/SOBAGuatemala). To register, visit Explore Amazing Places at (https://bit.ly/GuatemalaRegister).

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.

Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, Calls for Entries for “28th Annual Judged Show” – Deadline Mar. 1, 2022

The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) is preparing to host its annual showcase event next month at the SOBA Gallery in Old Town Bluffton, SC. The “28th Annual Judged Show,” featuring the best works from 100 Lowcountry artists, will be on display from March 7-April 3, 2022.

Admission to view the exhibit is free, and the artwork at the “Judged Show” exhibit will be available for purchase.

This year’s Judged Show will have its Awards Ceremony from 5-7pm, on Wednesday, March 9. The judge is Dan Graziano, an award-winning and nationally exhibited painter who has instructed workshops all over the country, including at SOBA.

Winners will be awarded first-, second- and third-place cash awards in the following categories: Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor, Photography, Drawing (pastel, pencil/graphite, pen & ink) and Miscellaneous (mixed media, collage, 3-D, stained glass).

Dennis Lake’s painting “Aegean Blue” captured the Best in Show award in last year’s event.

Lowcountry artists still have time to submit their work for the show. The registration deadline is March 1. Forms are available at the gallery, located at 6 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton, or online at (bit.ly/28thjudgedshow).

The cost to register is $25 for SOBA members and $50 for non SOBA members. Artists must drop off their art from 9-11am, March 7 at the SOBA Art School, located next door to the SOBA gallery at 8 Church Street. No entries will be accepted after 11am.

The Society of Bluffton Artists (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 843/816-3776.

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).