August Issue 2010
Commentary
by Tom Starland

What Can I Say?

Hopefully, this the last issue of the Summer dog days during these challenging economic times. Things are getting better - it's just hard to see it. Better days are coming!

In that spirit I want to give our Carolina visual artists a heads up on the looming deadline for entries for the 2010 Carolina's Got Art!, taking place again at Atherton Mill in Charlotte, NC's Historic SouthEnd District. The competition is organized by Larry Elder of Elder Gallery in Charlotte. This year's juror will be Mario Naves, an artist, writer and teacher who lives and works in New York City.

Last year's event attracted over 1100 electronic entries by artists from throughout the Carolinas vying for $9,000 in awards. The juror selected 135 works for the exhibit.

This year's exhibit takes place from Oct. 1 - 30, but the deadline for entries is Aug. 15, 2010. Visit (www.carolinasgotart.com) for complete details.

Last year's top winner was Jon Wald, a Winthrop University graduate. So what are you waiting for?

This was also a great show for collectors in the Carolinas offering a wide selection of works from the 1100 entries.

Of course you can find info about such juried shows and other opportunities for artists, under the heading of ART NEWS, on our website at (www.carolinaarts.com) and I sometimes mention them on my blog - Carolina Arts Unleashed.

There is always so much more to find each month in our electronic versions of the paper. All you need to do is look.

If you're looking for a cool spot this summer, don't forget about the cool conditions you'll find in our art galleries and art museums in the Carolinas. Stop in, cool off, and give your eyes and mind a bit of stimulation.

If you're looking for something hot - check out my blog at Carolina Arts Unleashed. Apparently I ruffled some feathers with a few of my latest postings about the SC Arts Commission's and non-profit groups looking for that public pot of gold at the end of their rainbow dreams.

One special reader was compelled to e-mail me asking what my problem was? I thought I was being pretty clear. My problem is those who use public funding in the arts for their own personal gratification, with little public benefit offered in return.

Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2010 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2010 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.