Greenville Center for Creative Arts in Greenville, SC, Calls for Entries for “Annual GCCA Member Show” – Deadline July 16, 2020

Did you know that membership at GCCA grants you entry to exhibit your work in our Annual Showcase? If you’re an artist in or near Greenville, this is an outstanding opportunity to gain exposure, meet other artists, and even sell your work! In 2019, more than 160 members participated in the Annual Showcase, making it our largest and most popular exhibition of the year. GCCA’s 5th Annual Showcase opens August 7, 2020, so be sure to become a member, if you aren’t already, and RSVP now to save your spot!

Entry Requirements:
Artists must be a current member at GCCA in order to submit.
Only one piece of artwork may be submitted per GCCA member.
Only original work, created within the last 3 years and not previously shown at GCCA will be accepted.
All work must be no more than 36″ in any direction (including frame and bases). Due to limited space, the artwork will be measured at check-in. Any artwork over 36″ in any direction (including the frame and bases) will be declined.
If your work needs a pedestal, please let us know in advance so that we can reserve one for you. Due to limited supply, pedestals are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
All RSVPs must be sent through the webform (click the Reserve Your Spot button below). No submissions will be accepted via mail-in entries or e-mail.
GCCA reserves the right to decline acceptance of artwork that does not meet the requirements listed.
We can’t wait to highlight the work of GCCA’s amazing visual arts community!
The deadline to RSVP is Thursday, Tags:

at 5pm.

Learn about membership at this link (https://www.artcentergreenville.org/gccamembership?utm_source=GCCA+Email+List&utm_campaign=159ec5484b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_20_01_18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_48d3372785-159ec5484b-166555533).

Enter the GCCA Member Show at this link (https://www.artcentergreenville.org/membershow?utm_source=GCCA+Email+List&utm_campaign=159ec5484b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_20_01_18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_48d3372785-159ec5484b-166555533).

Greenville Center for Creative Arts in Greenville, SC, Calls for Applications for Brandon Fellowships – Deadline July 9, 2020

The Greenville Center for Creative Arts in Greenville, SC, is seeking artists to apply for the 2020-21 Brandon Fellowship, a high-profile, 12-month program for artists between 21 – 30 years of age who are eager to advance their careers as working artists. Successful candidates will demonstrate promising talent, self-motivation, and goal-orientation. Each year, three artists are selected for the program which includes:

A free university-style studio at GCCA

Mentorship from another local artist

Complimentary classes and workshops at GCCA

Presentation of an ARTalk lecture

Participation in an exhibition in August – September

Opportunities for networking, collaboration, and participation in other local arts events

A visit to a local or regional museum of interest

Broad exposure as an artist in Greenville and beyond

How to Apply
The application is open June 4th – July 9th. Click below to read the full list of criteria for eligibility and more details on how to apply.

Learn more at (https://www.artcentergreenville.org/brandonfellowship?utm_source=GCCA+Email+List&utm_campaign=3a4a91deb3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_20_01_18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_48d3372785-3a4a91deb3-166557057).

Questions?

Contact Marlowe Schuck by e-mail at (marlowe@artcentergreenville.org) or by phone at 864/274-0353.

MacKenna Smith, a Senior at Wofford College, in Spartanburg, SC, Presents Virtual Exhibition

MacKenna Smith, an art history and chemistry major from Mount Pleasant, SC, will take over the Johnson Collection gallery’s social media account beginning Monday, May 4, to share her senior capstone project – a week of educational, interactive digital programming in support of the exhibition “Care Through Conservation: Behind the Scenes at the Johnson Collection.” Smith, who curated the exhibition as an intern with TJC, will offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on the process of conserving and restoring paintings.

MacKenna Smith

On Friday, May 8, the takeover culminates in the opening of a digital exhibition via the johnsoncollection.org. Smith will host a virtual gallery talk and live question-and-answer session at 6pm that day via TJC’s Instagram account, (@thejohnsoncollection).

Smith entered TJC’s competitive internship program with a passion for art conservation and restoration. This spring, she has conducted research in TJC’s office, worked directly with conservator Colin Post to care for paintings in the collection and created a digital exhibition initiative remotely from her hometown.

“I’ve really enjoyed shadowing Colin as well as getting to know all of the conservation work that has gone on at TJC,” Smith says. “A lot of effort has been put into making sure all of the art is very well taken care of. It’s been interesting getting to know TJC from the perspective of conservation and learning each piece’s unique story.”

Originally, Smith had planned for her capstone project to be an exhibition hung at TJC’s gallery in downtown Spartanburg, with her providing an in-person gallery talk during the week. “Because of the coronavirus, it was decided that the best way to proceed was to create a virtual exhibition, live-stream a gallery talk and get the public excited for the show using a social media takeover,” says Smith.

“While I was disappointed that my experience would not be exactly how I envisioned it, this process has taught me a great deal about how to communicate virtually and engage an audience with art although they are not viewing it in person,” she adds.

Smith has been interning at TJC for her project for a class with Dr. Karen Goodchild, Chapman Family Professor of Humanities/Art History and chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

“Specifically, I want to discuss the material make-up of different paintings and the various types of damage that can affect them,” Smith says. “I will explain the unique ways conservators clean, restore and stabilize these works. Using paintings from TJC’s collection, I will feature behind-the-scenes photos from their conservation treatments. Additionally, all of these paintings happen to be by female artists. This is consistent with TJC’s celebration of The Year of the Woman.

“I am extremely thankful for this opportunity to dive deeply into an area I’m so passionate about,” says Smith, who will move to Chicago after graduation to work as a restoration assistant for a company producing restoration-grade masonry materials. “I have gained invaluable knowledge and experience about curatorial work and how a collection like TJC functions on a day-to-day basis. This internship has allowed me to venture further into the field of art history and really work in a way that will be beneficial in my endeavors moving forward.”

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, SC. It offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of 1,725 undergraduates. Nationally known for its strong academic program, outstanding faculty, study abroad participation and successful graduates, Wofford is recognized consistently as a “best value college” and is among the “New York Times” “Top Colleges Doing the Most for the American Dream,” a ranking based on accessibility for low- and middle-income students. The college community enjoys Greek Life as well as 19 NCAA Division I athletics teams.

Wofford College is equipped with a ReadyCam Studio where we can provide you with live satellite interviews with sources from the college or the region. For information about the ReadyCam capabilities, contact Laura Corbin by e-mail at (laura.corbin@wofford.edu) or call 864/597-4180 or go to (https://www.wofford.edu/about/news/media-center#readyCamStudio).

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in Upstate, SC, is Always Expanding

260 Churn Dash
Sponsor: UHQT
Quilter: Bessie May Conger Stribling (1868-1941)
Painters: Ravenel Elementary Students

This quilt block is based on a-top that is part of the Lake Hartwell Country’s (what used to be named Pendleton District Commission) artifact collection. Bessie May Conger Stribling (1868-1941) of Oconee County created it. She was the wife of J.P. Stribling and the father of David W. Stribling. This “wrench” or “churn dasher” quilt-top was assembled in the late 1930s but was never finished due to her declining health. She lived at the Stribling family farm, Walnut Hill, in the Richland community from 1891 until her death in 1951. The quilt was donated to the Lake Hartwell Country by Bessie Stribling’s granddaughter, Davy-Jo Stribling Ridge in 1994.

The hand painted panel was completed by students during the 2019 Artists on the Green Event (AOTG). Volunteers from the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail were on hand to share information about quilting and assist over 120 students with the painting. This event has been held annually at Ravenel Elementary since 1992 to celebrate the fine arts. AOTG was established by the art teacher at the time, Beverly Robinson. Each year, dozens of artists from the community come and demonstrate their talents to the students at Ravenel. Dancers, jewelry makers, choral groups, puppeteers, potters, quilt makers, painters, and actors are a few of the groups that perform each year. Some artists have demonstrated their talents to the school from the event’s inception!

The art teachers that have continued the tradition at Ravenel are Teena Hunt, Christy Garrett, and now Vince Gaulin.

261 Historic Crazy Quilt
Sponsors: Judy Goosen & UHQT
Site: Judge Mauldin’s office at the Hagood-Mauldin House
104 North Lewis Street, Pickens, SC 29671

When Judy Goosen purchased this crazy quilt years ago from Sandy Henderson, a friend with a really good “eye,” in Atlanta, GA, little did she think it would someday be reproduced as a barn quilt in Pickens, SC. Judy moved to the Cliffs subdivision in northern Pickens County a few years ago and when she discovered the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail, she thought it would be a great way to memorialize her quilt, which was showing signs of age. The Pickens studio crew started looking for an appropriate site for the project. Ken Nabors and Wayne Kelly of the Pickens Historical Society identified the perfect location on the Judge’s Quarters of the Hagood-Mauldin House overlooking Legacy Square in downtown Pickens. An 8 x 8 size was suggested, and the UHQT funded half the project to supplement Judy’s contribution.

When Pickens District was divided into Oconee and Pickens Counties in 1868, the Hagood-Mauldin House was disassembled, each board and beam carefully numbered, and it was loaded onto wagons, moved from the original county seat of Pickens Court House and reconstructed at its present site in the “new” town of Pickens. Later, Judge Thomas J. Mauldin made additions to the house and added, just to the south of the house, a smaller Classical Revival style building, (now known as the Judge’s Quarters), that he used as a law office. This was built in 1904, near the time our unknown quilter was diligently embroidering her many quilt pieces together!

According to quilt historian, Laurel Horton, while this quilt of unknown origin, is most likely from late 19th or early 20th century, it includes, in addition to a variety of embroidery stitches and symbolic silhouettes, velour flowers, painted transfers, silk, velvet and taffeta fabrics. Sandy Henderson, a friend from whom Judy bought the quilt , says, “I bought it in a coal mining town in Madisonville, KY, from my friend Gigi Kesterson. Her business, Kesterson’s Antiques is in a building that was her parents’ neighborhood grocery store for many years. Lots of children bought candy there, remember those little grocery stores?”

Judy’s historic crazy quilt is the second block to grace the Hagood-Mauldin site, see also the Carpenter’s Wheel, #140 on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail website. Explore the Pickens County Historical website to learn more about Judge Mauldin and his wife, “Miss Queen” Hagood, who inherited the house from her father, James Earle.

For further information visit (http://www.uhqt.org/).

Artists Collective | Spartanburg in Spartanburg, SC, Offers 10th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser – Mar. 21, 2020

Artists Collective | Spartanburg, formerly West Main Artists Cooperative, is celebrating its 10th anniversary and rebranding with a fundraiser, “Sparkle & Shine,” March 21, 6 – 8pm. The event will feature an art exhibit with works for sale by member artists, performance art by the Madddartist, an interactive art installation by Jimmy O’Neal and a scavenger hunt, as well as hors d’oeuvres and wine.

This fundraising event is a coming-out party for the organization’s new image, one that it hopes will showcase more completely the over 50 member artists who live in all parts of Spartanburg and surrounding counties. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the 32 artists’ studios that are housed in the former church building at 578 W. Main St. in Spartanburg.

“Our name, West Main Artists Co-Op, suggested a neighborhood organization with a small number of members and a limited reach in the community,” Dave Sawyer, fundraising chair of Artists Collective | Spartanburg, explains. “We came to realize that a clear and defining name and a dynamic and recognizable logo are extremely important to the overall success of our organization and the fulfillment of our mission.”

Beth Regula has been the Chair of the Management Board for the past seven years and witnessed the growth, challenges and change. “I know that opportunities have not always been available for young artists or young-at-art artists, and this is what keeps me involved,” she says of the process of creating art space out of an abandoned church that now houses the largest collection of locally-made art for sale in the county.

The organization became increasingly aware of the fact that to be sustainable they needed to tell their story better and increase sources of funding through grants and sponsorships. This fundraiser is a step toward involving the community in the important process of realizing the mission of making art and artists more accessible.

Tickets for the event, $40 for singles, $75 for couples, may be purchased online at (artistscollectivespartanburg.org), at the Retail Shop at 578 W. Main Street, or at the door the night of the event.

Art donated for the Sparkle and Shine fundraiser will be on display and for sale in Galleries 2 and 3 and for sale for the month of March. All proceeds will benefit the collective.

For information contact Artists Collective | Spartanburg or Beth Regula, by calling 864/804-6501, or e-mail to (chair@artistscollectivespartanburg.org).

Hub City Empty Bowls in Spartanburg, SC, Kicks Off Its 12th Year in 2020 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Jan. 20, 2020

The Hub City Empty Bowls will present its first two bowl-making sessions of 2020 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, at Wofford College, in Spartanburg, SC, from 10am-noon and 1-3pm.

Bowl-making sessions are public events where anyone from professional potters to beginners can make hand-shaped pottery bowls. Volunteers will provide you with materials and assist you when necessary. The bowls are then glazed and fired by members of Carolina Clay Artists and other volunteers.

“Most people find these bowl-making events to be fun and creative,” said HCEB chairperson, Bruce Bowyer. “This is perfect for people who have never done pottery but want to try, or for experienced potters to give back to the community. It is also a great place to come with your family. We love seeing everyone having fun while they make bowls.”
Every year, HCEB partners with a charity to donate their proceeds to. For the past few years, they have partnered with TOTAL Ministries, a nonprofit that donates food to locals in need.

In the fall, Hub City Empty Bowls hosts Soup Day, a public event that allows patrons to donate $20 and receive a previously-made bowl. In addition, patrons get to enjoy soup donated to the event by local restaurants.

“We are now going into our 12th year of Hub City Empty Bowls,” said Bowyer. “Time and again, Empty Bowls has proven to be one of Spartanburg’s most popular fundraisers. Last year, we donated more than $25,000 to TOTAL Ministries, and it was all done by members of the community who made simple pottery bowls.”

For more information and to find out about upcoming events, visit (hubcityemptybowls.com) or check out their Facebook page, Hub City Empty Bowls.

Hub City Empty Bowls is one of Spartanburg County’s most respected and successful grassroots fundraisers organized by Carolina Clay Artists. Its purpose is to use the making of pottery bowls as a means to raise money that will help feed local citizens who don’t have enough to eat. Each year, Hub City Empty Bowls raises tens of thousands of dollars that are given to a local charity that is aligned with this purpose.

Greenville Center for Creative Arts in Greenville, SC, Calls for Participation in Makers Market – Deadline Jan. 10, 2020

The Greenville Center for Creative Arts in Greenville, SC, is calling for participation in the 2020 Makers Market, to be held on Sat., Feb. 15, 2020, from 10am-3pm in the Gray Loft at GCCA.

Application deadline: January 10th, 2020 by 5pm.

All makers, crafters, and artists with a GCCA membership are welcome to submit an application to the 2020 GCCA Makers Market!

If you’re an artist or a maker in or near Greenville, SC, the Makers Market is a great opportunity to sell your work, gain exposure, and meet other artists! Become a member, if you aren’t already, and apply now to save your spot. Only 30 spaces available so be sure to check out the application and guidelines to apply by January 10th.

Application & REQUIREMENTS

Click below for Makers Market details including eligibility, rules, requirements, and important dates. Please review the guidelines before submitting your application.

Submit an application by 5pm on January 10th, 2020. You may either download and mail your application or apply online. For additional help, contact Coordinator Julie Hamer by e-mail at (julie@artcentergreenville.org) or call 864/735-3948.

To apply visit (https://podio.com/webforms/23666853/1705152).

Stamie Cline From Anderson, SC, is the 2019 Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail Quilter of the Year

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail (UHQT) honored Stamie Cline, from Anderson, SC, as the 2019 Quilter of the Year. The Quilter of the Year award was initiated in 2010 to recognize a quilter who has provided community service and leadership through their quilting. She was present her award on Nov. 2, 2019, at a reception provided by the Prickly Fingers Quilt Guild and the UHQT, held at the Anderson County Library and attended by family and community members.

Stamie Cline

Stamie is small in stature with a voice and passion for life that belies her physical self. She started sewing at the age of 12 making her own clothes and learning to embroider. During the Bicentennial in 1976, she began quilting. As a young adult, maybe 25 – 26 years old, she went to the local library in Dyer, Indiana, and searched through all 141 books of patterns, ideas, and sewing directions. Her plan was to display handmade items – clothing and quilts -in the glass case at the library featuring these books.

Stamie comes from a long and distinguished family of seamstresses. Her Aunt Nell taught her to sew and both grandmothers sewed. Her mother’s Aunt Jeanine made custom suits for men. Stamie still has the Slant-a-Matic Singer machine she learned how to sew on as a girl. Her Aunt Floss also inspired her because she did alterations on wedding gowns. Stamie said, “I can still see her at night in a pool of light bent over her machine.”

While living in Indiana, Stamie joined a group of women and learned to hand quilt. When she was 28, she moved to Simpsonville, SC, and two years later to the Anderson area. Now, as a retiree, she devotes her time to philanthropy sewing efforts. Stamie is the philanthropy coordinator for both of Anderson’s quilt guilds, Electric City and Prickly Fingers.

She also is active in the Production Team of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail and assists in painting the blocks and teaching others how to master the craft every Friday. She had been teaching a friend, Laura Shiffler to sew – simple blocks and nine patches for PAWS- cats and dogs. Laura says, “Stamie was an introvert when we first met- shy and quiet. Now she is self-confident and when she talks- you know it is her heart coming out.”

Stamie spends much of her time making quilts for children, Quilts of Valor, the Cancer Association and sometimes family or custom orders. After Stamie’s mother passed, she chose to donate the use of that home for teaching quilting, promoting philanthropy efforts, utilizing a midarm quilting machine, and storing the guilds’ library and donated fabrics. Stamie is also part of Quilts of Valor for Veterans and thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to have classes there.” The house, dubbed the Sew Inn, is open to anyone who wants to learn sewing and machine quilting on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

In 2009, Stamie lost her job at Bosch and recounts, “I believed my dream of the Sew Inn was unattainable. But I remembered what Pastor Berry said and stepped out in faith – and look where we are now!” When asked what encouraged Stamie to be involved in philanthropy sewing she said, “Pastor Berry used to say, ‘Pursue your passion – God gives everyone a gift- find your gift, your passion, and pursue it.’” Stamie continued saying, “When you pursue your passion, you will find your purpose. These children who receive our quilts and other gifts will never know who we are. But as adults, they will remember someone did something for them who didn’t have to – and I hope that makes a difference.”

At one point, Stamie owned her own craft shop and was dedicated in teaching many students and encouraging their creativity. Her work – much of it unique and her own design – has been displayed in several venues, including the Anderson County Museum, the Anderson County Library, and the Anderson Quilt Show.

Across the nation, many quilters see that the art of quilting is enjoying a resurgence. Stamie states it is because “People have a need for self-expression that remains after we are gone – something that says I was here – a legacy of love and time.”

For further info call 864/723-6603 or visit (www.uhqt.org).

Greenville Center for Creative Arts in Greenville, SC, Calls for Exhibit Proposals – Deadline Jan. 10, 2020

Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) invites established and emerging artists (ages 18+) to submit proposals for consideration in either solo or group exhibitions for the 2021/2022 exhibition calendar. Our Main Gallery provides approximately 2,000 square feet of exhibition space and features the work of local, regional, national, and international artists from all disciplines in 6 shows per year. All mediums will be considered for an exhibition.

The Deadline for Exhibition Proposals for the 2021/2022 Calendar is Friday, January 10, 2020. Exhibition proposals submitted after the January 10 deadline will not be reviewed until January 2021.

Exhibition proposals will be reviewed and scored by the GCCA Exhibition Committee using the following criteria:

Work reflects consistency of quality

Work reflects clear objectives and a strong overall concept or theme

Work represents GCCA’s mission to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration

Only original artwork created and executed by the applicant will be considered for exhibition

Submission Requirements:

Artist Statement and Exhibition Description

Artist Bio

CV or Resume

6 – 8 images of artwork

A non-refundable $30 application fee submitted electronically with the application form

Please note: GCCA will not accept exhibition proposals submitted via e-mail or snail mail. To submit an exhibition proposal please complete the application form that follows.

Additional information and instructions are available on our website at (www.artcentergreenville.org). Contact Gallery Manager Ben Tarcson by e-mail at (ben@artcentergreenville.org) if you have any questions.

Sumbit here at (https://www.artcentergreenville.org/exhibitionproposal?utm_source=GCCA+Email+List&utm_campaign=c451372444-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_20_01_18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_48d3372785-c451372444-166555533).

West Main Artists Co-op in Spartanburg, SC, Announce the Winners of its First Regional Juried Show

The first-place winner in West Main Artists Co-op’s first four-state juried art exhibit, “WMAC 2019” is Cindy Shute of Lockhart, SC, for her oil-on-linen painting “Peacemaker: Hrair Balian”. She receives a cash prize of $2,500 that was given in memory of Frank P. Cyrill, Jr.

Work by Cindy Shute

Second prize of $1,000 was taken by Gordon Dohm of Greenville, SC, for his photograph “Fungi Fantasy”.

Work by Gordon Dohm

And, third-place of $500 was won by Tracey M. Timmons of Spartanburg, SC, for “Manacle of Justice”, a bracelet made of vitreous enamel, copper, silver, brass, and photography.

Work by Tracey M. Timmons

The seven merit awards of $100 and $250 went to Mark Flowers of Alexander, NC; Lee Sipe of Columbia, SC; Sabrina Barilone of Macon, GA; Tom Dimond of Seneca, SC; Christina Dixon of Roebuck, SC; David Stuart of North Augusta, SC; and Martha Worth of Hilton Head, SC.

“WMAC 2019” opened on Saturday, Sept. 14, and closed on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. It was open to all adult visual artists in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Two-hundred-forty-one (241) artists from the four states applied, and 66 were admitted into the show based on the judgement of jurors Ann DerGara and Mike Vatalaro.

The winners were announced on Saturday, Sept. 21, during a reception and awards ceremony. Seventy-four (74) works of art in this exhibit were on display at the Co-op, which is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm. There is no charge to see the exhibitions.

“We could not be happier with our first juried show,” Chair, Beth Regula said. “This is something we had wanted to do for several years, and it took more than a year of planning, but it was worth it. Having a show of this magnitude and with these cash prizes establishes West Main Artists Co-op as an art agency that is leading Spartanburg in its quest to be an art Mecca in South Carolina and throughout the South. It says we have the creativity, the knowhow, the professionalism, the resources, and the desire to take the Co-op to the next level. Next year will be even better!”

“I’m so excited to be a part of WMAC’s world,” Shute said. “This first exhibition was as professionally conducted as I have ever seen. When I was told I was Best in Show, at the time, honestly, I was shocked. It’s not that I didn’t think my painting is good. As a professional artists mature, we know our good work from our less successful efforts — I think that’s a key part of being a professional. So I wasn’t surprised to have been included in the show.

“When I arrived that evening and saw the body of work I was thrilled. Virtually every piece in the exhibition is good — very good. A couple of pieces took my breath away. So, I felt particularly honored to be included. With ‘Peacemaker’, I had pushed myself into a new space with portraiture. In my early work I tended to avoid background, contextual elements, thinking at the time that the subject should convey their story a priori — that the essence of the sitter should be codified in the presentation of their likeness, and if successful, the minimalist approach would say everything that needed to be said. So this new approach for me, including symbolic elements to tell the story, was a big leap.

“I honestly feel validated,” she continued. “I wasn’t sure if the piece worked. So now I’m really charged up about this new direction, and ready to take on more portrait-stories. And I’m so very grateful to WMAC for giving me a big hug along the way!”

The Co-op is a membership-based nonprofit arts agency with more than 50 members, who are visual artists and performing artists. It is housed in a former Baptist church near downtown Spartanburg on West Main Street. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Co-op houses 31 artists studios, two stages, three galleries, a printery, a ceramics studio, and the largest collection of for-sale locally made art in Spartanburg. Each month, the Co-op normally installs three exhibits by its members and guest artists.

In their jurors’ statements, Ann DerGara said: “ I am amazed at the quality of work that was entered. I think that opening the show to additional states has made this become an important show for the region and Spartanburg. The arts are growing rapidly in the region and this show will make Spartanburg known as art venue as well as Asheville and Greenville. As the Arts grow so does the economy. WMAC produced this show and jury with professionalism and expertise.”

Mike Vatalaro said: “The very nature of a juried exhibition celebrates a broad range of medium and imagery. I enjoyed the task of identifying works that well represented the mediums chosen, techniques accomplished and the subjects investigated. The exhibition reveals a broad selection of work which I believe demonstrate an individual vision within both conventional and experimental genres. I was very impressed by the quality and richness demonstrated in all of the mediums displayed. I hope you will find each work invites close examination and has something unique to offer.”

A list of all accepted work can be found online at (www.WestMainArtists.org).

“This is a vast and diverse show,” Regula said. “I invite the public to come see it and to take in the talent and creativity that surrounds us here in the South. A large show such as this one, expands our appreciation for the art that is readily available to us. It makes a statement that West Main Artists Co-op are striving and succeeding at making Spartanburg THE art community in South Carolina and beyond.”