Black Creek Arts Center and Hartsville Memorial Library in Hartsville, SC, Call for Entries for Annual Carolinas! Photo Competition – Deadline May 27, 2022

Amateur and professional photographers of all ages who live, work or create in the Pee Dee Region dust off your cameras (or phone) and go exploring for your submission to Carolinas!

To enter, simply bring your photo(s) to Black Creek Arts Center or Hartsville Memorial Library between May 2nd through May 27th, 2022.

Three entries per person are allowed and the prices are $15 for one entry, $25 for two, and $30 for three. All pieces are to be show-ready when submitted. (please refer to “Carolinas Important Information, regarding show-ready).

Categories:
Heroes – Help us showcase your heroes and heroines in South Carolina. Is it a teacher, a first responder, a nurse, a family member, or a do-good stranger turned superhero? Share with us the unseen and seen heroes in your life so we can celebrate and behold these Carolina champions.

Dirty Jobs – Weak-stomach, hypersensitive to particular smells, or can’t take the heat? This photography assignment might not be your ‘cup of tea.’ We are interested in exploring South Carolina’s dirty jobs. Whether that means recording extremes in manufacturing or examining skull removal in taxidermy, we want to see the dirty jobs of South Carolina’s economic engine displayed on our walls. This is an open invitation to all who wish to help us catalog unsavory, demanding, or vexatious work.

Local Watering Holes – Who remembers watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, where the zebras went to quench their thirst at the watering hole before the lions attacked? Luckily, human watering holes tend to be safer havens in our local communities. Pubs, dives, and bars became favored watering holes to drink socially, enjoy conversation and foster companionship. Show us your local watering holes and display people and activities that spur a sense of belonging.

Newfound Hobbies – A recent survey discovered that 6 in 10 Americans adopted a new hobby as Covid-19 turned our world topsy-turvy in 2020. The effects of this sweeping viral outbreak resulted in the adoption of activities to combat social, economic, and political uncertainties. Newfound hobbies (cooking, gardening, meditation, reading, photography, DIY projects, coding, etc.) served as self-medication mental health cures for lengthy lockdowns; we would like to explore this phenomenon. This is an open invitation to participate in our photographic journey of recording newly discovered hobbies during the pandemic and post-pandemic. Whether you are a professional photographer, fresh hobbyist, or digital photos hoarder, please share with us photos displaying how you or your subjects have wrestled, resisted, and effectively boycotted the pandemic with newfound hobbies.

**Images created via any form of photography will be accepted (i.e. shot on film, shot digitally, shot with cell phones, unaltered shots, digital manipulations, alternative processes, mixed media, montages, photograms, etc.), so long as part of the image is photographically created. Amateur and professional photographers of all ages are invited to enter at this link (https://blackcreekarts.org/all-events/carolinas-annual-photography-competition-g5pm9).

Florence County Museum in Florence, SC, Announces Competition Juror for “2022 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition” – Deadline Nov. 14, 2021

The Florence County Museum in Florence, SC, is pleased to announce South Carolina contemporary artist Claudia O’Steen as juror for the “2022 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition”, sponsored by Chick-fil-A of Florence.

Claudia O’Steen is a mixed media, sculpture, and installation artist whose work explores ideas of navigation, perception, the experience of being lost, and the ways in which information is distorted through instruments that capture and translate transitional moments and places in time.

O’Steen has been awarded residencies at Rural Projects, Montalvo Arts Center, The Arctic Circle, and The National Centre for Contemporary Art St. Petersburg, Russia, and has exhibited both nationally and internationally at venues such as apexart and Flux Factory, NY.

She is currently Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Winthrop University. O’Steen earned her MFA in Digital + Media at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Artists’ entries for the “2022 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition” will be taken online at (flocomuseum.org), from Friday, October 1 through Sunday, November 14, 2021. Any artist native to the Pee Dee area or currently living in Florence, Horry, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties are eligible to enter.

A cash prize of $1000 will be awarded to the competition’s first place winner.

Competition prospectus, schedule, and registration details can be found at (flocomuseum.org/regional). Questions may be directed to Florence County Museum, 843/676-1200.

Exhibition Proposal Submission Form University Place Gallery, FMU’s Gallery in Florence, SC, Taken Through Jan. 15, 2021

2022 Exhibitions | Francis Marion University | University Place Gallery | Florence, SC University Place Gallery is currently seeking proposals for the 2022 Exhibitions Calendar. Submissions will be reviewed by the Exhibition Committee in the order in which they are received. Please submit your information below and include the following: CV, Bio, Artist Statement, Proposal including a portfolio of 10 artwork images in pdf reduced size format. Artists may include a schedule of expenses, if applicable. PDF format is preferred for all documents.

The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2021.

Please contact Colleen Critcher by e-mail at (ccritcher@fmarion.edu) with any questions regarding the application process or gallery specifications.

Apply at (https://form.jotform.com/92746588921169).

For further info call Colleen Appleton Critcher, Gallery Coordinator at 843/661-4637 or visit (https://www.fmarion.edu/universityplace/).

Florence County Museum in Florence, SC, Announces Competition Juror for “2021 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition” – Deadline Nov. 15, 2020

The Florence County Museum in Florence, SC, is pleased to announce South Carolina contemporary artist Margaret Curtis as juror for the “2021 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition”, sponsored by Chick-fil-A of Florence.

Margaret Curtis has lived and worked as a professional artist for much of the past 30 years, living in New York and North Carolina. Reviews and features of Curtis’ work have appeared in “Art Forum”, “The New York Times”, “Art in America”, “Art News”, “Modern Painters”, and “New Art Examiner”, among others.

Curtis has taught painting at The School of Visual Arts in New York for several years, and has been on the boards of both The Flood Gallery in Asheville, NC, as well as The Upstairs Gallery in Tryon, NC. She is represented by Tracey Morgan Gallery in Asheville, NC.

A cash prize of $1000 will be awarded to the competition’s first place winner.

Artists’ entries for the 2021 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition will be taken online at (flocomuseum.org), through Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. Any artist native to the Pee Dee area or currently living in Florence, Horry, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties are eligible to enter.

Competition prospectus, schedule, and registration details can be found at (flocomuseum.org/pee-dee-regional). Questions may be directed to Florence County Museum by calling 843/676-1200.

Governor’s School of Science & and Math in Hartsville, SC, Announces GSSM Senior, Shelby Moore of Anderson County, Wins First Place in National Youth Art Month State Competition

GSSM Senior, Shelby Moore of Anderson County, won first place in the high school division of the National Youth Art Month State Competition through the South Carolina Art Education Association.

Sargent Art provided art supplies and a certificate as student and teacher prizes to Shelby Moore and Patz Fowle, GSSM Visual Arts Coordinator.

Work by Shelby Moore

“Shelby Moore is in my Advanced 2-D Art Exploration course and she exemplifies excellence in the field of visual arts at GSSM,” said Patz Fowle, GSSM Visual Arts Coordinator. “Shelby has grown from a person who disliked painting, to having it become her favorite thing. She has become a highly talented, 2-D, and 3-D student of art whose techniques, subject matter and style is recognized and honored. I’m so proud of her and her accomplishments!”

Shelby Moore at work painting

Created in 1961 by The Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), Youth Art Month was an event to emphasize the value to children from participating in visual art education. Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including problem-solving, creativity, observation, and communication.

For further info e-mail Patz Fowle at (patzfowle@yahoo.com).

City of Florence, SC, Installs Statue of Native Artist William H. Johnson

The City of Florence, SC, installed a statue of native artist, William H. Johnson, in the West Evans Street breezeway, in the growing arts district of downtown Florence. The statue was created by sculptor Alex Palkovich, who once lived and worked in Florence, but now lives in Israel.

Alex Palkovich sitting in front of the statue he created.

William H. Johnson was born in 1901 in Florence. After deciding to pursue his dreams as an artist, he attended the National Academy of Design in New York and met his mentor, Charles Webster Hawthorne. After graduating, Johnson moved to Paris, traveled throughout Europe and was exposed to new kinds of artistic creations and artists. Upon his return to the United States, Johnson used a primitive style of painting in conjunction with what was considered a “folk” style, using bright colors and two-dimensional figures. He spent his final 23 years of life in a mental hospital in Central Islip, New York, where he died in 1970.

One of Johnson’s works from the Florence County Museum.

You can see works by Johnson at the Florence County Museum, not far from where the statue sits.

Alex Palkovich’s creations fall into the category of figurative art with elements of mannerism, capturing the nuances, personalities and stories of his subjects using subtle physical cues, attention to detail and expressive realism in features and stance. He is best known for his portraiture and his work in relief, although in recent years Palkovich has been involved in the creation and installation of many monumental pieces in and around Florence. These include an award winning memorial in Florence Veteran’s Park and a giant sculpture of Francis Marion installed in a historical park at Venter’s Landing near Johnsonville, SC.

For further information visit (http://alexpalkovich.com/).

Florence County Museum in Florence, SC, Announces Winners of the “2020 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition”

Thursday evening, January 30, 2020, marked the formal opening of the “2020 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition” at the Florence County Museum’s Waters Gallery in downtown Florence, SC.

This year’s competition juror was South Carolina artist and paintings conservator Jeff Donovan of Columbia. The “Pee Dee Regional” has been presented annually since 1954 and is one of the longest-running competitive art exhibitions in the state.

Attendees at the reception were welcomed by Stephen W. Motte, curator of the Florence County Museum, followed by remarks from Mr. Blake Pate, representing corporate sponsor Chick-fil-A of Florence, who announced the winning selections, congratulating the artists with a presentation of the cash awards.

The $1000 First Place prize was awarded to Ashley Arakas, for her watercolor, “Bore”. The painting is both an evocative portrait and a careful study in the interplay of negative and positive space, which the artist has used for dramatic emphasis of the painting’s subject. Arakas’ paintings in oil and watercolor have entered the competition several times in past years. In 2017, she took Third Place in the Pee Dee Regional with her painting, “Apprehensive Love”, one in a series of works exploring the psychological effects of divorce on children. Arakas was also recently awarded Best in Show at the “42nd Annual National Exhibition of the South Carolina Watermedia Society”. She is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina.

Ashley Arakas pictured with her 1st place award winning watercolor painting, “Bore”.

A Second Place award of $600 went to Kevin Spaulding for his large oil on canvas, “Requiem”. Although a relative newcomer to South Carolina, Spaulding’s paintings have quickly gained recognition on the competition stage. He has won awards at three of the past four Regional competitions, as well as at Artfields 2018 where his painting “The Sacrifice”, won the people’s choice cash award in the paintings category.

left to right: Ashley Arakas (1st Place), Alexandra Knox (Honorable Mention), Charles Clary (3rd Place), and Kevin Spaulding (2nd Place)

“Spaulding’s paintings are deep and rich, visually and conceptually,” said museum curator Stephen W, Motte. “All of his works invite the viewer to approach slowly, to come closer, but within that closeness, each leaves you with a cold, distant impression. It’s a challenging thing to accomplish as a painter, I believe.”

Third Place ($250) went to Charles Clary for his hand-cut paper relief assemblage “Memento Morrididdle Movement # 502”. In 2016 Clary took Top Prize at ArtFields for his installation piece, “Be Kind, Rewind”. He received his MFA in painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009, and has been represented in galleries throughout the eastern United States. He has been featured in the popular contemporary art magazine “Hi-Fructose”, and on the Discovery Channel program, “Daily Planet”. In addition to being a full-time artist, Clary is a lecturer and teacher, and currently works at Coastal Carolina University.

Honorable Mention ($100) was given to Alexandra Knox of Loris, SC, for her sculpture “Stockpile”. Knox is a veteran of the “Pee Dee Regional”. In 2019 she was awarded second place, and in 2018 also won recognition for her three-dimensional mixed media work, “Five to Nine”. Her art frequently utilizes raw materials like plaster, wax and construction waste lumber.

“Knox’s works are very visceral and direct,” said Motte. “She has a unique ability to transform simple, familiar media into forms which communicate complex ideas.”

Knox has been a faculty member of the art department of Coastal Carolina University since 2014.

Competition juror, Jeff Donovan, said, “This year’s award winners were selected not only for their formal merits, but for their respective uniqueness of concept,” adding that, “The juror’s role is to recognize the inherent subjectivity of an artwork while measuring its success by objective criteria.”

Donovan is an artist and professional paintings conservator in Columbia, SC. He studied art at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, FL, and at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina.

As in previous years, the 2020 Pee Dee Regional was opened to submissions of contemporary art created within the last two years by all artists within the state’s northeastern Pee Dee region.

The exhibit is now open to the public and will remain on display through Friday, April 3, 2020 in the FCM Waters Gallery, 135 South Dargan St. Visitors are invited to join the awards selection by casting their ballots for the Jo Ann Fender Scarborough People’s Choice Award. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open through Friday, March 27. The winner will be announced Monday, March 30.

The exhibit can be viewed at the Florence County Museum Waters Gallery, 135 South Dargan Street, Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm, now through Friday, April 3, 2020.

For more information about the “Pee Dee Regional Art Competition” and other upcoming exhibits and events, please contact the Florence County Museum at 843/676-1200 or visit the website at (flocomuseum.org).

CREATE Conway in Conway, NC, Presents the Spring Indie Market 2020 – April 18, 2020

CREATE Conway in Conway, NC, presents the Spring Indie Market 2020 with live music, food truck vendors, and over 50 exhibiting artists, artisans, designers, and vintage makers. Attendance at Indie Market continues to grow larger and larger. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join your local creative community.

When: Saturday, April 18th from 10am – 4pm
Where: Laurel Street to Second Avenue
Historic Riverfront District of Downtown Conway

All products sold at this event must be handmade, homemade, and/or designed by you, the seller. Reselling commercial products is strictly prohibited from this event. Vendors who do not abide by this disclaimer will be asked to leave the event and no refunds will be issued.

CREATE! Conway active members receive a FREE outside space.
CREATE! Conway active members inside space is $30
Non-members outside space is $45 and inside space is $75
Food Truck Vendors outside space is $45
Be sure to check out our money saving offer below before you reserve your spot.

NOTE: The City of Conway now mandates that all vendors have a City of Conway business license. If you already have one, please bring a copy with you on the day of the event. If you do not have one you will be required to pay an additional $5 when you check-in on the day of the event.

Applications are being accepted now through April 5, 2020.

Have questions? E-mail inquiries to (createconway@gmail.com) or call Brian at 843/997-0902.

A Trip to Florence, SC, to See Some Art

I just made a post on our blog “Carolina Arts Unleashed” about a trip I made to Florence, SC, to see a couple of exhibits. You can view it at (http://carolinaarts.com/wordpress/?p=3427). It was the first time I’ve been back to Florence to see some art in about five years and things have really changed. I got a look at the South Carolina Watermedia Society’s new national exhibit at the new Francis Marion University’s University Place Gallery in downtown Florence and the Jim Boden exhibit at the Florence County Museum’s Waters Gallery. Check it out.

Work by Ashley Arakas, Best of Show in the Watermedia exhibit

Work by Jim Boden from the “Out of Paradise” exhibit

CREATE! Conway in Conway, SC, is Calling All Artists, Artisans, Crafters, and Food Truck Vendors for HOLIDAY BAZAAR 2019 – Dec. 14, 2019

CREATE! Conway in Conway, SC, presents HOLIDAY BAZAAR 2019 complete with live music, food truck vendors, over 50 exhibiting artists, designers, and crafters. We will be transforming the auditorium and parking lot of Ekklesia Christian Church into a holiday shopping wonderland and we need you!

When: Saturday, December 14, 2019, from 10am – 5pm
Where: 2469 Highway 501 East, Conway, SC (Ekklesia Christian Church)

10′ x 10′ indoor space is $60
10′ x 10′ outdoor space is $35
Food Truck Vendor space is $50

Have questions? E-mail inquiries to (createconway@gmail.com) or call Dee at 810/923-3334.