Here they go:

Carolina Galleries in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Terri Katz Kasimov

Carolina Galleries in Charleston, SC, will present the exhibit, Lowcountry Series, featuring collages and abstract paintings by Terri Katz Kasimov, with an opening reception on Mar. 4, 2011, from 5:30-7:30pm.

Katz Kasimov received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting from the Ohio State University and her Masters of Fine Arts from State University of New York at Buffalo. She studied under Sam Russo of Niagara Falls, NY, and David Hockney, University of California at Los Angeles as well as at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and La Universidad de las Americas, Mexico City, Mexico.

Katz Kasimov works in a variety of mediums. Collage, watercolor, acrylic, and even using old canvases reworked into new paintings, she is always striving to produce engaging and communicative artwork. Her artwork is represented in numerous private. corporate and museum collections throughout the world. She currently divides her time between Buffalo, NY, and Kiawah Island, SC, just outside of Charleston.

For further information call the gallery at 843/720-8622 or visit (www.carolinagalleries.com).

The Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, Presents a Photography Exhibit

The Society of Bluffton Artists in Bluffton, SC, is presenting the exhibit, A View Thru the Lens of Bluffton, Low Country and More, juried by Jean-Marie Cote and Donna Varner, on view through Apr. 8, 2011.

An awards presentation and reception will be held on Mar. 6, 2011, from 3-5pm.

For further information call Sandra Wenig, The Society of Bluffton Artists ( SoBA) Publicity Chairperson at 843/247-2868.

UNC Asheville in Asheville, NC, Features Works by Norma Bradley and Vicki Essig

UNC Asheville’s Blowers Gallery in Asheville, NC, will present, Intimacy and Contemplation, a new exhibit of fiber art using unique approaches that invite the viewer to share the artists’ quiet contemplative space. The exhibit, featuring works by Norma Bradley and Vicki Essig, opens Mar. 7 and will remain on view through Apr. 2, 2011. There will be a closing reception with the artists from 2-4pm, Saturday, Apr. 2, 2011, in Blowers Gallery.

Bradley incorporates photography and digital processes into her fiber art, contrasting handwork with technology. Essig weaves natural elements and small found objects into her works, playing with light and translucency, and the dichotomy between fragility and strength. The works are very distinct, but both artists incorporate elements of time, nature and contemplation.

Work by Norma Bradley

Bradley, who relocated to North Carolina from her native New York City more than three decades ago, is Director of Education for HandMade in America and is a teaching artist in the North Carolina State Visiting Artist Program. Her works hang in private and corporate collections.

Work by Vicki Essig

Essig grew up in the Rocky Mountains but now lives and maintains a studio in Asheville. She is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Piedmont Craftsmen, is a founding member of Ariel Contemporary Craft Gallery, and has taught at Penland School of Craft. Her works are on exhibit at Blue Spiral 1 in downtown Asheville.

The Blowers Gallery is located in UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library, is free and open to the public, and is usually open 7 days a week.

For further information call 828/251-6436, or visit (http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library/exhibits/blowers/exhibits.html).

Dialect Design in Charlotte, NC, Presents Works by Sharon Dowell

Dialect Design in Charlotte, NC, will present the exhibit, Shift: New Works by Sharon Dowell, with an opening reception on Mar. 11, 2011, from 6-9pm.

Dowell captures the  energy of place, the economic boom and downturn, and explores the theme of man vs. nature. She is interested in the documentation of memory and incorporates references to our changing political and social environment in this exhibition of paintings and installation.

Dowell is a painter residing in Charlotte and exhibiting internationally. Her work is in major collections such as the BLT Steakhouse (Ritz Carlton), Duke Energy, Fidelity Investments, and The Federal Reserve Bank. Recent shows include the Kipton art auction at Christies New York, UNC-Charlotte, and Duke University. An Arts and Science Council grant recipient, she is currently working on public art commissions for Charlotte’s light rail and Durham’s bus line. In 2010, she was in residence at NES in Skagastrond, Iceland, and will be an Affiliate at the McColl Center for Visual Art, in Charlotte, from Apr. 11 – Aug. 23, 2011.

For further information call the gallery at 704/488-6811.

Stanly Arts Guild in Albemarle, NC, Features Works by Deb Russell

The Stanly Arts Guild in Albemarle, NC, will present the exhibit, Landscapes of Lake Tillery & the Uwharries, featuring breathtaking photographic imagery of Lake Tillery and the Pee Dee River Basin by Deb Russell, on view at The Stanly County Agri-Civic Center, from Mar. 1 – 31, 2011.

Hosted by the Stanly Arts Guild, in cooperation with Falling Rivers Gallery, the exhibit features two of Russell’s metallic gallery wraps on loan from HD Photo Lab. Their glossy finish and metallic appearance result in striking three-dimensional imagery. Photographers often describe the effect as “chrome on paper.”

The fine art exhibit includes a series of nearly 20 photographs, ranging from large gallery wraps hand-crafted by HD Photo Lab, a division of Bullock Professional in Albemarle, to framed metallic prints. Anchoring the show are two large canvas wraps of ethereal Lake Tillery at daybreak: Golden Swift Island and In Morning’s Glow.

The exhibit showcases Russell’s signature approach to landscape photography, captured so powerfully in her recently released book, Lake Tillery: Our River, Our Beauty.

“I like to create images which evoke an emotional response in me,” says Russell, further elaborating on her inspirations. “Dramatic light and interesting composition drive my photography, and my appreciation of art generally. Fortunately, if you’re ready to really see them, engrossing vistas unfold before you on and around Lake Tillery, revealing themselves in surprising ways.”

Russell grew up just a few miles away from the lake in Mount Gilead, NC, and considers the area her “home turf.” She has seen her beloved Lake Tillery change over the years. It’s no longer the quiet, sparsely developed river of her youth, when most houses along its shores were simple weekend river cabins. Gone are the days when weekday boating could mean a long paddle to the shore if you ran out of gas.

Through her imagery, Russell hopes to convey – and, perhaps, to recapture – the quiet harmony and mystery of Lake Tillery, to remind busy Sunday afternoon boaters of the majesty of “our river.”

“For those with a life-long appreciation of this stretch of the Pee Dee River, I want to confirm that your river is still beautiful,” she says. “For everyone, I hope there can be a renewed or continued desire to preserve that which is close to us, so precious and delicate, and so critical to our way of life.”

Russell has worked at Bullock Professional, a pro lab in Albemarle, for the last 12 years. In that time she has complemented her artistic instincts with refined editing and post-processing skills that help her turn ordinary photographs into art.

“The masters canvas product is great for my landscapes because the Kodak metallic paper is ‘right out there,’ behind no framing glass, allowing the room light to play with all the vibrant color, contrast and depth in the paper,” she says. “In one of my graphic bridge shots, the morning sun hitting the glistening water is so much more enhanced by the reflective properties of the metallic paper. It brings additional life and pop to the sunlight as the viewer moves to examine at different angles. I know I smiled when I first saw that one in the lab.”

All photographs in the exhibit are available for sale by contacting Anita Ammerman of the Stanly Arts Guild by calling 704/982-0924. More of Russell’s art, including her book, are on display at Falling Rivers Gallery, a cooperative of local artists, in downtown Albemarle.
The Stanly Arts Guild and their Falling Rivers Gallery is sponsored in part by the Albemarle Improvement LLC, the Stanly County Arts Council, and the Grassroots Arts Program of the NC Arts Council, a state Agency.

For further information call the 704/983-4278 or visit (www.fallingriversgallery.com).

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We brought you news about the new Ben Owen Pottery Gallery, which opened in The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte (NC) hotel featuring works  from renowned Seagrove, NC, artist Ben Owen III, but almost before we published that news item we received another bit of news concerning another Carolina artist.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte has added to its acclaimed modern art collection with the installation of two front-drive sculptures created by renowned British artist Shaun Cassidy.

Installed on Dec. 29, 2010, the two wall-mounted sculptures feature an eight-foot “frame” within which a stainless steel jasmine plant is blossoming, creating a visual tension between organic and architectural. The sculptures are located in the front drive area of the hotel, the stainless steel material reflecting light and shades of pink from the hotel building, with both pieces pointing symbolically toward the hotel entrance.

Cassidy was commissioned to create 90 drawings for the hotel prior to its 2009 opening, including noteworthy pieces in the 2,900-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite. The new entrance sculptures took three months to complete and present a visual tie between pieces in that luxury suite and the exterior of the hotel.

Originally from London, England, Cassidy received his BA from the Norwich School of Art and later completed a Master of Visual Arts at the University of Alberta in Canada. He now resides in Rock Hill, SC, where he is an Associate Professor at Winthrop University. A prolific artist, Cassidy works in a wide range of mediums, creating works on paper, installations, concrete sculptures, and welded steel sculpture. He is also a recent resident artist at The Sanskriti Foundation in New Delhi.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is located at 201 East Trade Street in the heart of the city’s most popular business, sports, dining and sightseeing district. For details and reservations, please visit (www.ritzcarlton.com/charlotte), call 1-800/241-333 or contact a travel professional. The only AAA Five Diamond hotel in Charlotte, NC, The Ritz-Carlton is located at the intersection of College and Trade Streets and may be contacted directly at 704/547-2244.

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The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte (NC) will unveil its exclusive new Ben Owen Pottery Gallery on Jan. 12, 2011, presenting custom pottery pieces from renowned North Carolina artist Ben Owen. The new retail setting will be open to the public daily and has been created to feature the work of an acclaimed contemporary potter whose pieces already highlight the hotel’s extensive contemporary art collection.

Seventy of Ben Owen’s original pieces are currently on display throughout The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, and the opening of his first gallery in the city will open up new access to hotel guests and local residents wishing to purchase his work.

The Ben Owen Pottery Gallery at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte will offer 75-100 one-of-a-kind pieces of Ben Owen pottery art, with prices beginning at $45. Works will range from pots, vases, jars, bowls and platters to major showpieces and spectacular larger works of art. All items are hand-created by Ben Owen, who also will make special appearances at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte for 2011 art weekends and art demonstrations.

“We are honored to be working with an artist of Ben Owen’s stature,” said David Rothwell, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. “Many of our guests have commented on his work in our hotel public areas, and we are delighted to now make it available on a retail basis. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Owen to special art events at the hotel as well.”

Born and raised in the legendary Seagrove, NC pottery tradition, Ben Owen III learned his art from his grandfather, Ben Owen, Sr., the long-time master potter at North Carolina’s Jugtown Pottery. Like his grandfather and other Seagrove potters, young Ben Owen has made a special study of Asian ceramics, finding that the Seagrove tradition has a special affinity for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean forms and glazing techniques. Owen incorporates these influences into vibrant glazed pieces which offer simplicity, strikingly smooth shapes and brilliant colors yielding to earth tones. Owen’s works are owned by some of the world’s most high-profile collectors, with his large installations also seen in Ritz-Carlton hotels and select private residences worldwide.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is home to several hundred pieces of fine art presented in striking locations throughout the hotel, from the first-floor Lobby and second-floor meeting spaces to guest rooms, corridors and the penthouse Spa & Wellness Center. The hotel’s commitment to supporting local art and artists is visible as pieces and artists from the Carolinas are given special prominence in this curated collection.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is located at 201 East Trade Street, in Uptown Charlotte, NC. The Ben Owen Pottery Gallery will be open daily from 9am to 6pm.

For further information call the hotel at (704/547-2244) or visit (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Charlotte/Default.htm).

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Here’s some news for families looking for more artistic activities for their children next year. If you want to find this news later – just remember you can now search this blog. Just type in the word Families.

New programs and amenities geared towards younger visitors are making the Mint Museums in Charlotte, NC, a welcoming destination for children and families this winter.

The Lewis Family Gallery at the Mint Museum Uptown provides a creative outlet for children to play, explore, and learn about the Museum’s collections. Featuring actual works of art, the Family Gallery offers five activity zones and a soft-play Tot Spot area for crawlers and new walkers. Visitors can pose for pictures behind a wall of ornate gold frames in the Hall of Portraits or step into a Romare Bearden-inspired collage in the interactive Memories of Mecklenburg play house. Two art-making stations, Draw the Line and Imagination Station, allow children to experiment with mark-making and create artwork to take home, while the Inspired By station offers puzzle challenges for young minds. Geared towards children up to age 12, the Lewis Family Gallery is open during regular museum hours and is free with admission.

Beginning in January, families will be able to borrow an Art Pack at the “Mint for Families” station just outside the Lewis Family Gallery for an in-depth investigation of artwork in the permanent collection galleries. Art Packs are backpacks stocked with sketching, writing, and touchable activities and games geared toward school-aged children. Also available at the family station are ARTventure scavenger hunt postcards, which encourage children and their parents to explore a new theme in the Mint Museum Uptown each month. Both of these projects are supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Mint will also launch two new education series for families in 2011: Art Studio Saturdays and Sunday Fun Days. In Art Studio Saturdays, children and adults can create art projects as a family using materials and themes provided by the Museum. This drop-in series will be held monthly on second Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, at the Mint Museum Randolph and is free with museum admission. The Art Studio Saturdays winter/spring schedule is:

Jan. 8, 2011 – Painting Party!: Experiment with a variety of paints and materials to create a work of art, and see a masterpiece by Impressionist Mary Cassatt in the galleries.

Feb. 12 – Dragon Puppets: Use crayon resist, markers, and embellishments to construct a dramatic dragon puppet to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Mar. 12 – Native American Pottery: Explore ancient and contemporary pottery of the Americas and use hand-building techniques to construct a clay animal or vessel to take home.

Apr. 9 – Springtime Collage Cards: Celebrate the season by cutting, tearing, and layering hand-made papers to create lovely collaged notecards, and visit the galleries to see how artists have depicted seasons throughout the ages.

May 14 – Mexican Tin Art: Draw inspiration from the bold, contemporary Maya textiles on display, and design and emboss a colorful, metal folk art plate.

Debuting in January at the Mint Museum Uptown are Sunday Fun Days. This monthly, drop-in series features family-friendly activities, including performances, artist demonstrations, craft projects, family tours, and more. Sunday Fun Days will be held monthly on third Sundays from 1 to 4pm, at the Mint Museum Uptown and are free with museum admission. The Sunday Fun Days winter/spring schedule is:

Jan. 16 – Glass Magic: Go on a family tour to view glass sculptures, make a sparkling sun catcher, and explore color and light at the Colorama Booth with Discovery Place ScienceReach specialists.

Feb. 20 – Art, Supersized: Add your touch to a supersized mural, search the galleries for large paintings, and play “giant games” with your family members.

Mar. 20 – Crafting Critters: Watch artist David Edgar morph recycled plastic into incredible sea creatures, take a guided “safari” in the galleries, and craft a critter to take home.

Apr. 17 – Earth Day Art: See a special “green” performance by the North Carolina Dance Theatre, watch a pottery demonstration by artist Greg Scott, craft a recycled creation, and go on an Earth Day family tour.

May 15 – Wonders of Wood: Watch the wood shavings fly as artist Charles Farrar demonstrates the art of woodturning on a lathe, then go on a wood-themed scavenger hunt in the galleries and do a simple wood project.

All 2010-2011 education programs for children, youth, and teachers are supported in part by a generous grant from The Hearst Foundation, Inc.

For further information call the Museum at 704/337-2000 or visit (www.mintmuseum.org).

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Here’s what I gathered from their website:

Clayworks, located at 301 East 9th Street, Suite 150, in Charlotte, NC, will present its Annual Holiday Sale & Open House on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, 6-9pm and Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, 10am-3pm.

Free parking adjacent to the building during event hours.

Work by Adrienne Dellinger

The Clayworks Gallery will be featuring original handmade sculpture and functional pottery by Clayworks faculty including: Adrienne Dellinger, Shelley Sloan, Barbara Chadwick, Lisa Connell, Cary Pickard, Amy Sanders, Gregory A. Scott, Tomoo Kitamura, Julie Wiggins, and studio artists.

Work by Amy Sanders

Clayworks is dedicated to the promotion and development of ceramic arts, through: Adult and Children’s Classes; Workshops; Community Outreach; Gallery Sales, and Studio Space. Programs are designed to facilitate an environment of artistic exchange between students, instructors, and working artists.

Work by Julie Wiggins

For further info call 704-344-0795 or visit (http://clayworksinc.org/).

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Here’s the scoop:

The Mint Museum welcomed a record-breaking 17,000 visitors to its new facility in uptown Charlotte, NC, during its grand opening weekend on Oct. 1-3, 2010. The debut of the Mint Museum Uptown was accompanied by a 24-Hour Grand Opening celebration, featuring free admission, live entertainment, and art activities for all ages.

“The enthusiastic support and overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from members and guests made our opening weekend a tremendously rewarding experience to me and to the entire staff, who worked tirelessly to make this event such a success,” said Executive Director Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson. “Even more satisfying was observing the galleries full of diverse audiences experiencing the Mint’s collections in new ways, and seeing a subsequent spike in memberships over the weekend.”

Photo by Ron Tencati

The 24-Hour Grand Opening celebration kicked off on Oct. 1, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5pm, followed by a variety of activities for all ages during the next 24 hours. Friday evening events included an inaugural First Friday celebration and a Takeover Friday party, featuring music and dancing into the wee hours. Saturday activities included a Pecha Kucha Night Charlotte, museum tours, films, artist demonstrations, a poetry slam, and art-making activities for children and families in the Lewis Family Gallery. Special partnerships with Komen Charlotte Race for the Cure and the Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance allowed hundreds of people to walk, run, and bike to the Museum during opening weekend.

Photo by Ron Tencati

“After years of planning and fine-tuning the educational components of the new Mint, we were thrilled to see children and families diving into the interactive art stations in the Lewis Family Gallery,” said Director of Education Cheryl Palmer. “The excitement exhibited by our young patrons reinforces our belief that arts education is a critical need in the community.”

During the week preceding the grand opening, the Mint Museum Uptown held several “soft openings” for approximately 1,500 supporters, members, and community partners. Net sales from the Museum Shop during opening weekend totaled more than $10,000.

Designed by noted architectural firm Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the Mint Museum Uptown was the final attraction to open in the Levine Center for the Arts, located in the heart of Charlotte’s business district. Housing the internationally-renowned Mint Museum of Craft + Design, as well as American and contemporary art and select works from the European art collection, the 145,000-square-foot facility includes two full floors of galleries, each featuring 12,000 square feet of permanent collection space and 6,000 square feet of changing exhibition space. A dramatic multi-story atrium, named for the late Robert Haywood Morrison in honor of his foundation’s generous gift to the Museum, serves as a central hub of activity and features a 60- by 60-foot glass curtain wall offering spectacular views of the urban landscape. The building also includes a café, the Lewis Family Gallery, painting and ceramics studios, classrooms, a 240-seat auditorium, a Special Events Pavilion with outdoor terrace, and an expanded street-level Museum Shop featuring crafts of the Carolinas and showcasing merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Photo by Ron Tencati

Following the opening of the Mint Museum Uptown, the Mint Museum Randolph, located in the historic Eastover neighborhood, will reinstall its galleries dedicated to the art of the ancient Americas, decorative arts, and historic costume, among others.

The Mint Museum is a unique gathering place for people to experience art through significant and varied collections, engaging exhibitions and innovative educational programs. Established in 1936 as the first art museum in North Carolina, the Mint Museum Randolph is housed in what was the first branch of the United States Mint and exhibits collections of art of the ancient Americas, decorative arts, and historic costume, among others. The Mint Museum is funded, in part, with operating support from the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.; the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources; the City of Charlotte; and its members.

For further information contact Elizabeth Isenhour, Marketing & Public Relations Manager by calling 704/337-2009 or visit (www.mintmuseum.org).

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Here’s the press release we received:

Vessel No. 320 by Lee Sipe of Columbia SC

Approximately 1400 visitors attended opening festivities that surrounded the second annual Carolina’s Got Art! exhibition at Atherton Mill in Charlotte, NC, on Oct. 1, 2010. Visitors were treated to music by the Renaissance Singers of Charlotte, as well as the Allan Greenburg trio. The exhibition continues through Oct. 30, 2010.

The exhibition was selected by New York art critic, Mario Naves, who reviewed 1800 total entries. Naves commented that “I was very impressed with the progressive nature of the work that was submitted and must admit that it was a grueling experience to narrow the entries to 136 pieces.”

4 Quarters by Gregory Siler of Elk Park, NC

Carolina’s Got Art! founder, Larry Elder, was exuberant with the response from the local artists as well as the general public who attended the opening events. “I feel that the show represents a great cross-section of the incredible work being created across both states” says Elder. “The staggering attendance numbers far exceeded our expectations, as have the art sales.”

The following artists were presented awards during the public opening on Oct. 1st:
The $2,500 Best in Show award was presented to Lee Sipe from Columbia, SC; $2,000 First Place award to Ashlynn Browning of Raleigh, NC; $1,500 Second Place was presented to Lindsay Brown of Pendleton, SC; and $1,000 Third Place award went to Greg Siler of Raleigh, NC.

Twitter Stack by Douglas Gray of Florence, SC

Six $500 Honorable Mention gift certificates were presented to the following: Doug Gray of Florence, SC; Daniel Allegrucci of Charlotte, NC; Justin Webb of Elk Park, NC; Sondra Dorn of Asheville, NC; Betty Recoulley of High Point, NC; and Lois deMontegre of Huntersville, NC.

Throughout 2011 a subset of Carolina’s Got Art! will travel to several locations across North and South Carolina. Hosting sites will be announced early in November, 2010.

Carolina’s Got Art! is sponsored by Elder Gallery in Charlotte with Edens & Avant of Columbia (SC), owners of the Historic Atherton Mill, and Temple Media of Charlotte.

The show is open to the public, Mon., Thur., & Fri., 11am-4pm and Sat., 11am-3pm.

Explosion 8 by Daniel Allegrucci of Charlotte, NC

During the first two weeks of September, our 2010 Juror, Mario Naves, worked diligently to select 135 pieces from among 1800 entries for the Carolina’s Got Art! show. There was such tremendous work submitted that we added a second show, the Carolina’s Got Art! Salon Exhibition, which will be on view at Elder Gallery, just blocks from the Atherton Mill location, from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30, 2010. Included in the show are 44 pieces from artists across both Carolinas representing a variety of mediums.

An online catalogue is posted on FaceBook (http://www.facebook.com/carolinasgotart), as well as the event’s website at (http://www.carolinasgotart.com/).

To see a list of artists and works selected for Carolina’s Got Art!, the Carolina’s Got Art! Traveling Exhibit, and the Carolina’s Got Art! Salon Exhibition, visit this link (http://www.carolinasgotart.com/home/selected-work/).

For further info call 704/370-6337 or visit (http://www.elderart.com/).

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RedSky Gallery in Charlotte, NC, is proud to present a collaborative ceramics exhibition from a select group of North Carolina ceramic artists. The exhibition continues through Aug. 31, 2010.

This show features a combination of sculptural and studio ceramics from Donna Craven, Kim Ellington, Carol Gentithes, Fred Johnston, Matt Kelleher and Emily Reason.

Emily Reason                        Kim Ellington

RedSky Gallery features original works on paper and canvas, sculpture, ceramic, glass, studio furniture, art-to-wear, jewelry, and more. Over 500 regional and national artists are represented at two gallery locations in Dilworth and the EpiCentre in Uptown.

For further call the gallery at 704/377-6400 or visit (www.redskygallery.com).

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But, first – here’s a press release we received at Carolina Arts about last year’s event you need to read.

Unexpected things can sometimes change a life – just ask recent Winthrop University graduate, Jon Wald, who was awarded the top prize in the 2009 inaugural Carolina’s Got Art! competition.

When asked about winning the $2,500 Best-in-Show award and subsequently selling his artwork during the show, Wald said, “First, I paid off my debts, which is a huge relief in itself. Then, I bought new supplies. One item was an Arduino (an easy-to-use microprocessor). I used the prize money to justify leaving work early every day to teach myself how to program the chip. Ultimately, I think it has helped lead me toward an entirely new method for making art.”

Wald was one of seven other artists from North and South Carolina who walked away with a portion of over $9,000 in prizes awarded by Carolina’s Got Art! that premiered in October, 2009. The initial success of the exhibition has motivated Carolina’s Got Art! founder and owner of Elder Art Gallery, Larry Elder, to launch the second annual competition, slated to open October 1, 2010, with an awards presentation to this year’s winners. The exhibition will continue through October 30, 2010, at Atherton Mill in Charlotte, NC’s Historic SouthEnd District.

“We had no idea that Carolina’s Got Art! would generate such excitement for the local visual arts community,” says Elder. “We accepted over 1100 entries and our juror selected 135 original pieces to comprise the exhibition.” During the month of October, 2009, the exhibition attracted over 2000 visitors.

Columbia, SC-based Edens & Avant, owners of Atherton Mill, is once again demonstrating its commitment to the visual arts in the two Carolinas by offering their historic property for the host location. Artists are encouraged to visit (www.carolinasgotart.com) for complete details. Carolina’s Got Art! is accepting online entries for the 2010 exhibition until August 15, 2010.

This year’s juror will be Mario Naves, an artist, writer and teacher who lives and works in New York City. He is renowned for his torn and cut abstract collages, works of art that have been described by The New York Times as being “delicate and gorgeous” and by Art in America as “joyous, sophisticated, charming, and goofy”.

The Elizabeth Harris Gallery in Chelsea represents Naves’ art. His collages are included in private and corporate collections across the world. Naves has been the recipient of awards from The National Endowment for The Arts, The George Sugarman Foundation, the E.D. Foundation and The National Academy Museum. He was recently named a Distinguished Alumni by the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah.

A critic as well as practicing artist, Naves has written on the visual arts for over twenty years. He has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, The New Criterion, Smithsonian, New Art Examiner, Slate and, from 1999-2009, The New York Observer, where his sometimes prickly opinions earned him the reputation of being a “maverick dissenter”. He is currently a gallery critic for City Arts, a bi-weekly journal devoted to culture in New York.

Naves has taught and lectured at The Cooper Union, The New York Studio School, Montclair State University, Rutgers University, The National Academy and The Ringling College of Art and Design. He currently teaches at Pratt Institute and Brooklyn College.

For further information contact Elder Art Gallery (www.elderart.com) by calling 704/370-6337 or visit (www.carolinasgotart.com) or (www.facebook.com/carolinasgotart).

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Here’s the press release:

Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, NC, Features Works by Area Architects

Work by Murray Whisnant

The Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, NC, will present the exhibit, Art by Architects, co-sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, on view from June 4 through July 31, 2010.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Hodges Taylor Gallery are co-sponsoring an exhibition of art by architects, providing an opportunity for Charlotte area architects to showcase their other creative talents – painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photography.

Thirty architects submitted a variety of works that reflected their artistic interests and activities beyond their architectural careers. The works were then curated by members and staff of AIA Charlotte and Hodges Taylor Gallery with the selected works comprising the exhibition.

In business since 1981, Hodges Taylor is uptown Charlotte’s oldest gallery, committed to supporting art and artists of the Southeast, including painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors. The gallery offers a public venue uptown for viewing artwork and, having established itself as a knowledgeable and experienced resource for contemporary art, serves as art consultants for collectors and businesses.

The gallery is located at 401 North Tryon and is open Tue. – Sat., from 11am to 3pm or by appointment. For further information call Christie Taylor at 704/334-3799, e-mail to (ctaylor@hodgestaylor.com) or visit (www.hodgestaylor.com).

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