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Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition opens entry period

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 [caption id="attachment_52174" align="aligncenter" width="948"]Visitors to North Charleston Arts Fest browse entries displayed on tables at Palmetto Hands in an indoor exhibition hall Browsing the Palmetto Hands exhibition at North Charleston Arts Fest. Submitted photo.[/caption]


Fine craft artists from across the state are invited to participate in the 21st 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 3-7, 2023. A $16 entry fee applies, which covers the artist’s first entry if accepted into the exhibition. Each additional piece the artist chooses to enter will be $15. 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 Wednesday, March 15, 2023. 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 2023 competition is Karen A. Stock, professor of fine art at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. Stock earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She began teaching at Winthrop in 2004. Her specialty is modern and contemporary European art. She guest-curated an exhibition at Winthrop titled “Performing Gender” and investigates gender issues in her scholarship. Stock also received a Fulbright teaching scholarship and spent six months teaching art history in Beijing.
The 21st Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition will be on display May 3-7, 2023, at the Charleston Area Convention Center (5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston). A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Convention Center on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. 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, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

Submitted material

Palmetto Hands seeks entries for 20th annual craft event

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Fine craft artists from across the state 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
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. A native of Florence, Tiffany 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. Tiffany 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 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 (5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston). A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Convention Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. 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, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

Milly

Fine craft entries sought for statewide competition and exhibition

19th annual S.C. Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, March 15, 2021

Fine craft artists from across the state are invited to participate in the 19th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition.

[caption id="attachment_34666" align="alignright" width="150"] The world-famous Hub Calls for Art Megaphone.[/caption] 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 April 28-May 2, 2021. 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 Monday, March 15, 2021. 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. Following the close of the show, up to 20 works will be selected to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2021/2022 Traveling Exhibitions Program. Sites across South Carolina may request the exhibit to tour in their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists. Because the the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 competition and exhibition, Karen Watson returns to serve as the juror for 2021. Watson has been executive director of the Sumter County Gallery of Art in Sumter since 2005. Before assuming the directorship, her professional background was in biomedical research. Watson’s path from biomedical research to gallery director is not as unlikely as it seems on the surface; she and her former husband were serious collectors of contemporary art. They had the opportunity to meet and befriend many artists and arts professionals within the state and beyond. Watson has a passion for the visual arts and the Sumter County Gallery of Art. She is committed to presenting challenging contemporary and traditional art exhibitions by culturally diverse artists and providing art education opportunities to all the citizens of Sumter County—an extensively rural, economically depressed region of the state isolated from the major art centers of the U.S. Watson served as the juror for the 2009 Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Juried Exhibition at Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum (Myrtle Beach), was a juror for the inaugural CCA 701 Prize in 2012 at 701 Center For Contemporary Art (Columbia), and has been a judge for several local art competitions throughout the years. The 19th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition will be on display April 28-May 2, 2021, at the Charleston Area Convention Center (5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston). A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Convention Center on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, from 6-8:30 p.m. 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, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

Submitted material

It’s time to enter the statewide Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition

Calling all 'Palmetto Hands'

Entry deadline: Sunday, March 15, 2020
The South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition is calling fine craft artists from across the state  to participate in the 19th annual event, the state’s longest-running fine craft competition and exhibition. [caption id="attachment_34666" align="alignright" width="150"] The world-famous Hub Calls for Art Megaphone.[/caption] 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 running April 29-May 3, 2020. 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 Sunday, March 15, 2020. 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. Following the close of the show, up to 20 works will be selected to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2020/2021 Traveling Exhibitions Program. Sites across South Carolina may request the exhibit to tour in their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists.

Juror

The juror for this year’s exhibition is Karen Watson. Watson has been the executive director of the Sumter County Gallery of Art in Sumter since 2005. Before assuming the directorship, her professional background was in biomedical research. Watson’s path from biomedical research to gallery director is not as unlikely as it seems on the surface. She and her former husband were serious collectors of contemporary art. They had the opportunity to meet and befriend many artists and arts professionals within the state and beyond. Watson has a passion for the visual arts and the Sumter County Gallery of Art. She is committed to presenting challenging contemporary and traditional art exhibitions by culturally diverse artists and providing art education opportunities to all the citizens of Sumter County—an extensively rural, economically depressed region of the state isolated from the major art centers of the U.S. Watson served as the juror for the 2009 Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Juried Exhibition at Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum (Myrtle Beach), was a juror for the inaugural CCA 701 Prize in 2012 at 701 Center for Contemporary Art, (Columbia), and has been a judge for several local art competitions throughout the years.
The 19th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition will be on display April 29-May 3, 2020, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Convention Center on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, from 6-8:30 p.m. 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, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

2019 North Charleston Arts Fest coming May 1-5

Performances, activities, and exhibits will take place throughout city


The annual North Charleston Arts Fest is now just weeks away, set to take place May 1-5.

The celebration of arts and culture highlights the talents of national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and literature. Performances, activities, and exhibits are scheduled to take place in a variety of venues throughout the city of North Charleston, including libraries, community centers, businesses, and parks. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced.

Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event in both 2008 and 2018, the North Charleston Arts Fest is now entering its 37th year. Arts Fest offerings include:

  • concerts ranging from classical to contemporary,
  • theatre presentations,
  • dance performances,
  • children’s programs,
  • workshops,
  • demonstrations,
  • lectures,
  • exhibitions,
  • receptions,
  • public art installations,
  • and more.

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, which organizes and presents the event, is introducing some major changes to this year’s festival programming.

Most notable is the discontinuation of the two-day Arts Fest Expo at the Charleston Area Convention Center, and introduction of the one-day World Arts Expo at North Charleston Riverfront Park. The new event will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission and parking.

“A number of factors have encouraged us to switch our focus in 2019 to a new event that highlights some of the most popular components of the Arts Expo we’ve previously produced at the Convention Center,” explains Cultural Arts Director Kyle Lahm. “The World Arts Expo is our new flagship event celebrating visual and performing arts from cultures around the world. Patrons can enjoy the spring weather while experiencing a diverse line-up of music and dance performances, live art demonstrations, multi-cultural food offerings, art & craft vendors, hands-on activities, roving entertainment, and a kid’s zone.”

Despite this change, Exhibit Hall A at the Charleston Area Convention Center will continue to host the Arts Fest’s Judged Art & Photography, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft, and Tri-County Youth Art Exhibitions during the entire run of the Arts Fest, May 1-5. Viewing hours are Wednesday, May 1, 6-8 p.m. (opening reception); Thursday-Saturday, May 2-4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, May 5, 12-6 p.m.

Another new event called the Arts Fest Exhibition Encore will be introduced in 2019 as a means to spotlight these exhibits. The Exhibition Encore on Sunday, May 5, from 12-6 p.m., serves as a closing reception and celebration, allowing patrons to view the artwork in a festive atmosphere and make final decisions on purchases. In addition to the vast array of artwork on display, the event offers musical entertainment, live art demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more.


Theatre and Dance

Theatre and dance offerings during this year’s Arts Fest include everything from showcases and improv comedy sketches, to one-woman shows and full stage productions.

  • Award-winning sister act Gracie & Lacy make a dazzling return to the Arts Fest in a dinner theatre performance of Gloriously Gatsby on Wednesday, May 1, at the North Charleston Marriott. Their Jazz Era throwback production showcases the glitz and glam of the 1920s & '30s through song and dance.
  • Theatre 99 will be doing a little song and dance of their own by taking on-the-spot audience suggestions during their popular Improv Riot! comedy show, which is popping up at The Sparrow in Park Circle on the same evening.
  • Lady in White Productions will offer a one-night-only performance of Big Mama on Friday, May 3. The original musical, written by Ade Ofunniyin and directed by Samelia Adams, centers on performers’ experiences as members of the Theatre Owners Booking Association, the vaudeville circuit for African American musicians, comedians, and actors in the 1920s.
  • Arts Fest patrons can also catch a musical at Midtown Productions. Their reprise of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s West End and Broadway hit musical Tell Me On a Sunday has a 10-show run taking place between May 2 and 18. The production stars Allison Sharpley and is directed by Sheri Grace Wenger, who received the 2013 Theatre Charleston Award for “Outstanding Director of a Musical” for her work on this production.
  • Dancefx Charleston will present its second annual storybook show, Wonderland, on Saturday, May 4, at the Fort Dorchester High School Auditorium. The production features a series of dance performances woven together with narrated scenes from the beloved tale of Alice in Wonderland.
  • Fort Dorchester will also host a Youth Dance Showcase featuring performances by Dance Moves Youth Company and Summerville Dance Academy on Sunday, May 5.

Music

This year’s musical offerings vary widely, with numerous afternoon and evening concerts scheduled throughout the five days of the festival. In addition to performances of contemporary jazz, blues, soul, and variety tunes at the usual Arts Fest venues like North Charleston’s public libraries and senior centers, this year’s festival also includes musical offerings at new venues such as The Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel on the former Charleston Naval Base and Midtown Theatre. Another addition to the 2019 Arts Fest music line-up is the Park Circle Pickin’ Crawl, taking place in four locations along East Montague Avenue in the Olde Village area of North Charleston on Sunday, May 5. The day-long series of bluegrass & Americana concerts are all within walking distance from one another with no cover charge at any of the venues.


Visual Arts

Visual art offerings unique to this year’s festival include Honoring the Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement, an exhibition of quilted swing coats by Patricia A. Montgomery of Oakland, Calif.; Balancing Act, a collection of new paintings by the Arts Fest’s poster design competition winner Joseph Kameen; and The Culture: Part 2, a display of new work by the City of North Charleston’s current artist-in-residence Quintin Chaplin.

Other visual art exhibitions include the aforementioned Judged Fine Art and Photography Exhibitions, Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition, and the inaugural Tri-County High School Sculpture Exhibition, and the 18th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Exhibition on view in Exhibit Hall A at the Charleston Area Convention Center; the 14th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition installed at North Charleston Riverfront Park; and the 13th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition: BLACK GOLD on display at North Charleston City Hall. In addition, the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is continuing its partnership with the College of Charleston School of the Arts Sculpture Department to present public art installations in green spaces throughout the City. These installations, as well as a number of the exhibitions presented as components of the festival, will remain on view well after the festival concludes on May 5.


  • Complete information on all 2019 North Charleston Arts Fest offerings, including event and exhibition details, site maps, and social media contest rules, are available at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.
  • Applications are currently being accepted for booth space at the World Arts Expo at Riverfront Park and Arty Block Party. Entry instructions for the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition, and Tri-County High School Sculpture Exhibition, as well as volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Forms can be downloaded at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply.

Submitted material

2018 S.C. Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition Winners

Fine craft artists and artisans from across South Carolina were invited to participate in the state’s only juried fine craft competition and exhibition: the 17th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition. Presented May 2-6 as a component of the 2018 North Charleston Arts Fest, the show is organized annually by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department. After an extensive pre-jury process, 42 applicants were asked to participate and 81 entries were submitted in the categories of clay, fiber, metal, glass, wood, and 3D mixed media. Cash awards totaling $6,500 were made at the sole discretion of the juror, Rachel Reese, associate curator of modern and contemporary art at Telfair Museums in Savannah, Ga. “The quality of artwork submitted is a testament to the ongoing value that visual artists contribute to material culture, and this presentation of artworks exemplifies the vibrancy, imagination, energy, and great talent of South Carolina artists working today,” Reese said. Reese also selected pieces from the show to assemble a South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Traveling Exhibition, which will tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2018/2019 Traveling Exhibitions Program. Galleries, museums, and art centers across the state can request the exhibit to visit their facilities on its tour. Four pieces were selected for City of North Charleston Purchase Awards. These selections will be added to the City of North Charleston’s Permanent Public Art Collection, which is on display within North Charleston City Hall throughout most of the year. Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition: [caption id="attachment_35128" align="alignright" width="250"] "A Lively Live Oak"[/caption]

Best of Show

“A Lively Live Oak” (fiber) by Peg Weschke (Hilton Head Island)

Outstanding Merit

  • “Sashay” (clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest)
  • “Mosaic Cherry Bowl” (wood) by Dale Fort (Charleston)

City of North Charleston Purchase Awards

  • “Rising Waters” (encaustic) by Marty Biernbaum
  • “Spot On: Chartreuse Raku #1” (clay) by Nancy Waterhouse (Bluffton)
  • “Summertime Tea Time” (clay) by Marsha Nordyke (Summerville)
  • “A Small Disturbance in the House of Pluto” (mixed media) by Robin Howard (Mount Pleasant)

Honorable Mention

  • “Summertime Delight” (clay) by Marsha Nordyke (Summerville)
  • “Charleston Box #66” (mixed media) by Robin Howard (Mount Pleasant)
  • “Refraction” (fiber) by Connie Lippert (Seneca)
  • “Segmented Bowl” (wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston)
  • “A Little Birdie Told Me…” (mixed media) by Bob Thames (North Charleston)
  • “A Farewell to Arms” (wood) by Robb Helm Kant (North Charleston)
  • “Featherweight” (stoneware) by Justin Guy (Trenton)
  • “Swirls III” (fiber) by Beth Andrews (Greer)
  • “Three Stone Necklace” (mixed media) by Rachel Weiss (Charleston)
  • “Melting Point” (porcelain) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach)
  • “Lean on Me” (clay) by Sherrie Nesbitt (Summerville)
  • “Spot On: Chartreuse Raku #1” (clay) by Nancy Waterhouse (Bluffton)

South Carolina Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selections

  • “Summertime Delight” (clay) by Marsha Nordyke (Summerville)
  • “A Lively Live Oak” (fiber) by Peg Weschke (Hilton Head Island)
  • “Go Ask Alice” (embroidery on canvas) by Liz Holt (Conway)
  • “Green Vessel” (felted fiber vessel) by Pam Shanley- (Summerville)
  • “Ivy Relief” (wood) by Ben Pendarvis- (St. Helena Island)
  • “Old School” (mixed media) by Patz Fowle- (Hartsville)
  • “Charleston Box #66” (mixed media) by Robin Howard (Mount Pleasant)
  • “Segmented Bowl” (wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston)
  • "Solution” (metal and wood) by Robb Helmkamp – (North Charleston)
  • “Dr. Seuss Teapot” (clay) by Mark Vail – (Charleston)
  • “Petting Zoo” (fiber) by Evelyn Beck- (Anderson)
  • “Shawl Spring Sunrise” (textiles) by Iryna Toney- (Summerville)
  • “Mosaic Cherry Bowl” (wood) by Dale Fort (Charleston)
  • “Three Stone Necklace” (mixed media) by Rachel Weiss (Charleston)
  • “Lean on Me” (clay) by Sherrie Nesbitt (Summerville)
  • “Spot On: Lapio Raku #2 and Denim #3” (clay) by Nancy Waterhouse (Bluffton)
  • “Sashay” (clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest)
North Charleston Arts Fest also featured a judged fine art and photography competition. You can find out the winners of that here.

Submitted material

Call for art: SC Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition

[caption id="attachment_29133" align="alignright" width="180"]Palmetto Hands Click to view larger image.[/caption] Application deadline is March 15. Fine craft artists from across the state are invited to participate in the 16th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition. Cash prizes will total up to $6,500. Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department as part of the North Charleston Arts Fest, this unique exhibition offers fine craft artists the opportunity to exhibit their objects in the media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and three-dimensional mixed media. Following the close of the show, up to 20 works will be selected to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s Traveling Exhibitions Program. Sites across South Carolina may request the exhibit to tour in their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists. The exhibition will be displayed at the Charleston Area Convention Center May 3-7, 2017. The juror is Michael W. Haga, associate dean at the College of Charleston School of the Arts in Charleston. Haga has served as a slide juror for the Piccolo Spoleto Craft Exhibition for several years and is president of the Advisory Board of Fine Craft Shows Charleston, LLC. Haga has judged numerous exhibitions in the Southeastern United States and has been a grant panelist for organizations such as the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, and the Oregon Arts Commission. A $15 entry fee applies. Artists may submit up to four entries. The application is strictly available online at www.NorthCharlestonCulturalArtsDepartment.SlideRoom.com. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Artists in need of assistance with the application may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person. 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, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition winners announced

Fine craft artists and artisans from across South Carolina were invited to participate in the 15th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, the state’s only juried fine craft competition and exhibition. Organized annually by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the show was presented April 29-May 6 as a component of the 2016 North Charleston Arts Fest. Following an extensive pre-jury process, 36 applicants were asked to participate, and 82 entries were submitted in the categories of clay, fiber, metal, wood, and 3D mixed media. Cash awards totaling $5,000 were made at the sole discretion of the juror, internationally exhibiting contemporary silversmith Kaminer Haislip. After making her selections, Haislip stated, “The wide range of media, quality of craftsmanship, and originality of concept was so impressive that I found it very challenging to judge. After considering all aspects of each entry very carefully, I arrived at the awards I felt each piece deserved. For the S.C. State Museum Traveling Exhibition, the award winning artworks were immediately chosen. The remaining selections were made in order to create a cohesive and balanced show with a variety of media. I feel this traveling exhibition will represent the exceptional, contemporary, craft happening in South Carolina today.” After awarding ribbons, Haislip also selected pieces from the show to assemble a South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Traveling Exhibition, which will tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2016/2017 Traveling Exhibitions Program. The Traveling Exhibitions Program gives galleries, museums, and art centers across South Carolina the opportunity to request the exhibit to tour their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists. In addition to awards given by the juror, two pieces were selected for City of North Charleston Purchase Awards. These pieces will be added to the City of North Charleston’s Permanent Public Art Collection, which is on display within North Charleston City Hall throughout most of the year. Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition: Best of Show Fellowship (Mixed Media) by Tom Boozer (Yonges Island, SC) (pictured above) Outstanding Merit Boot Scoot (Mixed Media) by Patz Fowle (Hartsville, SC) Continuum (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC) City of North Charleston Purchase Awards Rice Plantation at Brookgreen (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC) Gosu Basket Form (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC) Honorable Mention Rosewood Box (Wood) by Duane Dunning (Charleston, SC) Green Covered Jar with Balls (Clay) by Mark Vail (Charleston, SC) Blueberry Tart Cake (Clay) by Margaret Weinberg (Charleston, SC) Koi (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Ladys Island, SC) Queen Bee Totem (Mixed Media) by Kim Keats (Okatie, SC) Five Points Pavement IX (Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC) Vessel No. 373 (Metal) by Lee Sipe (Columbia, SC) Sam Doyle (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC) SC Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selections Wrench Wench (Mixed Media) by Selma Andrews (Mt. Pleasant, SC) Fellowship (Mixed Media) by Tom Boozer (Yonges Island, SC) Gameboard (Glass) by Tanya Craig (Charleston, SC) Natural Edge Maple Bowl (Wood) by Duane Dunning (Charleston, SC) Triangular Rosewood Box (Wood) by Duane Dunning (Charleston, SC) Boot Scoot (Mixed Media) by Patz Fowle (Hartsville, SC) Continuum Totem (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC) Haida #6 Totem (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC) Sam Doyle (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC) Wormloe Plantation (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC) Handle With Care (Mixed Media) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach, SC) Five Points Pavement IX (Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC) Butterfly Bowl (Clay) by Mary Nicholson (Johns Island, SC) Koi (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Ladys Island, SC) Raku Bowl with Dots (Clay) by John Turner (Reidville, SC) Green Covered Jar with Balls (Clay) by Mark Vail (Charleston, SC) Salty (Mixed Media) by Matt Wilson (North Charleston, SC) For more information about the South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition and other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. Organizations interested in hosting the traveling exhibition should contact the South Carolina State Museum Traveling Exhibits Program at 803-737-4159 or tep@scmuseum.org. Via: North Charleston Cultural Arts Department

SC fine craft artists: apply for Palmetto Hands Juried Competition and Exhibition

Fine craft artists from across the state are invited to participate in the 15th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition, the state’s only dedicated fine craft competition and exhibition. Objects juried into 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 April 29 - May 7, 2016. A $15 entry fee applies. Artists may submit up to four entries. The application is strictly available online and can be accessed via www.NorthCharlestonCulturalArtsDepartment.SlideRoom.com. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, March 15, 2016. [caption id="attachment_24914" align="alignright" width="300"]Kathy Oda, Koi Pond Kathy Oda, Koi Pond[/caption] 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. Following the close of the show, up to 30 works will be selected to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2016/2017 Traveling Exhibitions Program. Sites across South Carolina may request the exhibit to tour in their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists. Internationally exhibiting contemporary silversmith Kaminer Haislip will jury this year’s exhibition. Haislip, a South Carolina native, is a jeweler and sculpture artist who creates original, handcrafted designs in silver and gold. She earned her BFA in Jewelry and Metals and her MFA in Silversmithing and Design from Winthrop University, studying under internationally acclaimed English silversmith Alfred Ward. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and featured in a number of print publications including Eide, Traditional Home, Elle Décor, Garden & Gun, Southern Living, Charleston Magazine, and Charleston Weddings. In 2012, Kaminer was honored with the Made in the South Award in the Home category from Garden & Gun magazine and in 2011 with The Eric Berg Prize for Excellence in Metal at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. The Historic Charleston Foundation honored her with the Samuel Gaillard Stoney Conservation Craftsmanship Award in April 2014, and more recently she collaborated with Reese Witherspoon’s Southern lifestyle company Draper James on a silver bowl. Kaminer currently lives and works in Charleston and has a studio at Redux Contemporary Art Center. The 15th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition will be on display April 29 - May 6, 2016, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Convention Center on Friday, April 29, 2016. For more information about the North Charleston Arts Festival, Palmetto Hands, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843)740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.

2015 SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition winners announced

[caption id="attachment_20191" align="alignright" width="225"]Susan Lenz, In Box CXXXVII Susan Lenz, In Box CXXXVII (Fiber)[/caption] Fine craft artists and artisans from across South Carolina were invited to participate in the 14th Annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, the state’s only juried fine craft competition and exhibition. Organized annually by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the show was presented May 1-9 as a component of the 2015 North Charleston Arts Festival. Following an extensive pre-jury process, 41 applicants were asked to participate and 104 entries were submitted in the categories of clay, fiber, metal, wood, and 3D mixed media. Cash awards totaling $5,000 were made at the sole discretion of the juror, internationally renowned jeweler and paper artist, Jocelyn Chateauvert. After making her selections, Chateauvert stated, “The exciting part about jurying this show was imagining the hand working each element and surface of the artwork. It is evidence of the hand and choice of materials to convey a thought or feeling that is most compelling whether the medium be wood, ceramic, or the stuff from everyday life.” After awarding ribbons, Chateauvert also selected pieces from the show to assemble a South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Traveling Exhibition, which will tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2015/2016 Traveling Exhibitions Program. The Traveling Exhibitions Program gives galleries, museums, and art centers across South Carolina the opportunity to request the exhibit to tour their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists. In addition to awards given by the juror, four pieces were selected for City of North Charleston Purchase Awards. These pieces will be added to the City of North Charleston’s Permanent Public Art Collection, which is on display within North Charleston City Hall throughout most of the year. Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition: Best of Show Drawn Images from Garden (Mixed Media) by Cynthia Colbert (Okatie, SC) Outstanding Merit

  • Segmented Bowl (Wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston, SC)
  • In Box CXXXVII (Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC)
City of North Charleston Purchase Awards
  • Draped Vase (Fused Glass) by Tanya Craig (Charleston, SC)
  • Flower Pot (Clay) by Justin Guy (Trenton, SC)
  • Ebb & Flow (Porcelain) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach, SC)
  • Mosquito (Forged Steel) by Sean Williams (Charleston, SC)
Honorable Mention
  • Indigo in the Lowcountry (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
  • Cardinal and the Showgirls (Fiber) by Ron Hodge (Bluffton, SC)
  • Vessel No. 370 (Metal) by Lee Sipe (Columbia, SC)
  • In the Garden (Mixed Media) by Georgette Wright Sanders (McClellanville, SC)
  • Oblong Piece (Fused Glass) by Tanya Craig (Charleston, SC)
  • Nesting Firefly Bowls (Porcelain) by Miyako Fujiwara (Charleston, SC)
  • Flower Pot (Clay) by Justin Guy (Trenton, SC)
  • Tin Can Mitt (Mixed Media) by Dennis Vernon (Okatie, SC)
  • A Tiger for James (Mixed Media) by Sam Garvey (Charleston, SC)
  • Legs of Steel (Forged Steel) by Sean Williams (Charleston, SC)
  • Seaweed Bowl I (Porcelain) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach, SC)
  • Meeting Street House (Mixed Media) by Deane Bowers (Seabrook Island, SC)
SC Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selections
  • Segmented Bowl (Wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston, SC) Indigo in the Lowcountry (Fiber) by
  • Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
  • Untitled (Re-purposed Plastic)by Tabitha Ott (Cayce, SC)
  • Untitled (Re-purposed Metal) by Tabitha Ott (Cayce, SC)
  • Spirit Horse (Mixed Media) by Brian McBride (Summerville, SC)
  • Oblong Piece (Fused Glass) by Tanya Craig (Charleston, SC)
  • Flower Pot (Clay) by Justin Guy (Trenton, SC)
  • Seaweed Bowl I (Porcelain) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach, SC)
  • A Tiger for James (Mixed Media) by Sam Garvey (Charleston, SC)
  • Bone Twig Votive (Mixed Media) by Kim Keats (Okatie, SC)
  • Opening Day Jitters (Mixed Media) by Dennis Vernon (Okatie, SC)
  • In Box CXXXVII (Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC)
  • Meeting Street House (Mixed Media) by Deane Bowers (Seabrook Island, SC)
  • Barn on McCleod (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
  • Necklace and Earrings (Silver) by Jo Ann Graham (St. Helena, SC)
  • Intrinsic Memories (Glass) by William Austin Norvell (North Charleston, SC)
  • Drawn Images from Garden (Mixed Media) by Cynthia Colbert (Okatie, SC)
For more information about the South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition and other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. Organizations interested in hosting the traveling exhibition should contact the South Carolina State Museum Traveling Exhibits Program at 803-737-4159 or tep@scmuseum.org. Via: North Charleston Cultural Arts Department