[Scmusenet] For Immediate Release - AWARDS ANNOUNCED FOR ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION AT THE PICKENS COUNTY MUSEUM

[Allen Coleman]

For Immediate Release

April 24, 2006

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AWARDS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 

27TH ANNUAL JURIED SOUTH CAROLINA ARTIST'S EXHIBITION


AT THE PICKENS COUNTY MUSEUM





 


     The Pickens County Cultural Commission is pleased to announce that the Pickens County Museum of Art & History is once again open to the public. A ribbon cutting and reception for the "27th Annual Juried South Carolina Artist's Exhibition" was held on Saturday April 22 with more than 500 attendees on hand for the ceremonies and awards presentations. The exhibition will continue through June 2, 2006.

 

     The Curator of Exhibitions at the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro NC, Xandra Eden served as juror for this year's competition. Ms. Eden's recent exhibitions at the University of North Carolina facility include John Duff (2005), Eve Sussman: 89 Seconds at Alcazar (2006), and Uneasy Nature: New Perceptions of Nature in Contemporary Art (2006). She was formerly assistant curator at The Power Plant in Toronto. Eden has published numerous reviews and written essays for a variety of art magazines and exhibition catalogues. After receiving a BFA in Studio Art from the State University of New York at Purchase, Eden earned her Master of Arts degree in curatorial studies from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, one of the foremost programs of its kind. 

 

     Eden spent the day of April 8 looking at, and contemplating 557 works of art representing 216 South Carolina artists. The vast array of paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, ceramics, fiber and other mediums made for the difficult task of selecting works for, and eliminating works from, the final show. The impressive final selection of 166 works of art represents 125 individuals currently creating visual art in this state. 

 

     Speaking about the task of jurying such a competition, Eden said, "South Carolina's history represents a rich and colorful mosaic. Known for its natural beauty... and healthy doses of southern hospitality, the state is a true cross-section of American culture, the pulse of which is readily apparent through the creative endeavors of its inhabitants. The 27th Annual Juried South Carolina Artists Exhibition at the Pickens County Museum is no exception."

 

     She continued, "A wonderfully diverse group of artworks was submitted for review, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, basketry, quilting and more. With 557 works presented for selection, the task of winnowing the number of works down to a smaller group seemed overwhelming. However, if it's true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the same must be said of art, and the works that I selected were ones that struck a double chord with me, both personally and within the realm of art history. The exhibition reflects investigations of personal and cultural identity, the dichotomy between man-made and natural worlds, investigations of symbolic form, realistic and abstract representations of nature, and portraiture. Many of the works deal with private subject matter, while others speak to a broader audience. Yet they all, in one way or another, work to bridge the gap between individual experience and universal understanding. I hope that those who come to the newly renovated Museum to see this exhibition will be, as I was, surprised and delighted by the cornucopia of creative expression they encounter." 

 

     The awards for this year's competition represent not only a cross section of what is taking place in the visual arts of South Carolina today, but are also a fair representation of the variety of artists actively "at work". Ms. Eden chose the painting "The Orchestra Eclectic" by Greenville's Mark Mulfinger as the First Place Award. Second Place was presented to Sam Wang of Clemson for his photograph "Don". The Third Place honor went to Greenville's Linda Williams McCune for the charcoal, watercolor and wax piece "Stress Series # 5 (Ropes)". Honorable Mentions were bestowed upon Deborah Tidwell Holtzscheiter of Aiken for her painting "Always" and to Cayce's Grant Jackson for his painting "Room".

 

     In addition to the above awards, Eden asked that a special "Juror's Choice" accolade, denoting artwork of special interest, be presented to Columbia's Jim Arendt for his painting "The Deluge", to Donald Collins from Pickens for his photograph "Urban Landscape # 2", to Easley's Rickey Morgan for his painting "The Burning", to Maxine Riley of Greenville for her woven basket "Antler I" and to Honea Path's Margaret Whitford for her painting "Hunter's Paradise".

 

     Thanks to the kind sponsorships of Pickens County & the Pickens County Cultural Commission, Roger & Susan Benjamin, Connie & June Bowers, Central Textiles Inc., Greystone Industries Inc., Seth & Doreen Heimlich, Liberty Denim LLC, Robinson Funeral Home, Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, and John & Judy Rozelle, the Pickens County Museum selected eight works that, within the scope of their mission directive, will be added to the museum's permanent collection. The Pickens County Cultural Commission's Purchase Award honoring Shirley Sarlin was presented to Russell Jewell of Easley for his watercolor "Religious Awe". Additional Museum Purchase Awards were made to Central's Liz Smith Cox for her watercolor "The Girls", to Denise Detrich from Walhalla for her porcelain "Vase", to Seneca's Nancy Oppenheimer for her pastel "Yellow Glowing", to Elizabeth Snipes of Clemson for her "Untitled" screenprint and solar plate, to Seneca's Chris Troy for her ceramic works "Acorn and Leaves Platter" and "Soup Tureen with Ladle" and to Christie West of Denmark for his wood marquetry piece "Chinese Vase with Daffodils".

 

     In addition to the eighteen works of art singled out for special mention, there are one-hundred and forty-eight more on the walls and pedestals throughout the museum's Sealevel Gallery, Second Floor Gallery and Focus Gallery. No matter where your individual taste in art may lead, you will find some satisfaction in this exhibition. The variety of work represented is a generous reflection of the community of artists presently at work in South Carolina.

 

     The Pickens County Museum of Art & History is funded in part by a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

 

      The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m till 5:00 p.m., Thursdays from 9:00 a.m till 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The museum is located on the corner of Hwy. 178 at 307 Johnson Street in Pickens, SC 29671. For more information, please call the museum at (864) 898-5963.

 

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