Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the seventeenth annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, which opens in conjunction with the 2023 North Charleston Arts Fest. Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $19,750. A $1250 honorarium is given to all artists accepted into the show to assist with transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. Once all pieces are installed, the juror will award Best in Show ($1000), Outstanding Merit ($500), and up to three Honorable Mentions ($250 each). The application is strictly available online and may be accessed directly at https://northcharlestonculturalartsdepartment.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/70548. An application fee of $35 allows artists to submit up to four entries for consideration. Deadline for submissions is Saturday, February 25, 2023. Artists in need of assistance with any part of 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 11-month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures throughout the picturesque North Charleston Riverfront Park. Set on the banks of the Cooper River, Riverfront Park features ten acres of walking paths, a boardwalk and fountain, an expansive lawn with performance pavilion, children’s play areas, and picnic sites. An estimated 50,000 people visit this public park annually to enjoy the amenities located in the heart of the city’s arts community.
The juror for the 2023/2024 competition and exhibition is Vivianne Lee Carey, sculptor and Instructor of Art at Converse University in Spartanburg, SC. Carey was born in Millville, NJ, in 1959. Carl Sandburg wrote, ”Down in southern New Jersey they make glass. By day and by night, the fires burn on in Millville.” As a sculptor that forms metal and glass by fire, the poetic lines are an affirmation of the materials she utilizes in her work. She received her BFA from Converse in 1981, and an MFA from Winthrop University in 2016. She has been honored to have received several grants for regional public sculptures and her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions throughout the Southeast.
The 17th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition will be on display May 3, 2023, through March 17, 2024, at North Charleston Riverfront Park, located at 1001 Everglades Avenue in North Charleston. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 6:00-8:00pm. For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, the National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854, email [email protected], or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.