The 2022 North Charleston Arts Fest is just one month away, taking place May 4-8. The event offers some excellent exhibition opportunities for fine artists and photographers ages 16 and up, including the annual Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions & Exhibitions. Entries for these judged competitions are eligible for ribbons and cash prizes and will be on display throughout the festival in Exhibit Hall A at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Complete details and entry instructions for all exhibition opportunities are available for download at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply. There is no pre-jury process or application to complete.
Judged Fine Art Competition & Exhibition
Fine artists age 18 and up are invited to enter original work into the annual North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Fine Art Competition & Exhibition and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $6,550. There are eight accepted media categories: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, watercolor, printmaking, printed new media, and 2-D mixed media. Awards will be at the sole discretion of the judge, Bryan Granger, Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art in Charleston. Bryan has helped to organize exhibitions on artists such as Boehler & Orendt, Jennifer Wen Ma, Katrina Andry, Peter Eudenbach, Sara Angelucci, Tom Stanley, Marc Trujillo, Aurora Robson, Chris Jordan, and Colin Quashie. He has helped produce and write for catalogues on artists Marc Trujillo and Fahamu Pecou. He also served as Knight Curatorial Fellow at the Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach, where he helped to organize exhibitions on artists such as Piotr Uklański, El Anatsui, Eve Sussman + Rufus Corporation, among others. He also has curatorial experience with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, where he assisted with the organization of Form, Balance, Joy: Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art, for which he also contributed to the catalogue. He also has experience with the organizations Independent Curators International, the Artist’s Institute, and Minus Space, all in NYC. His writings have appeared in DAILY SERVING and Art Practical.
Judged Photography Competition & Exhibition
Professional and amateur photographers age 16 and up are invited to enter original prints into the annual North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Photography Competition & Exhibition and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $1,450. Submissions will be accepted in the Professional/Advanced division or Amateur division under the categories of Color and Monochrome. This year, awards will be at the sole discretion of the judge, Kevin Foltz. J. Kevin Foltz is a wanderer. He has worked for thirty years as a traveling photographer with a large variety of clients ranging from airline magazines, resorts, inns, and restaurants to Western Union and the Sony Corporation. Recently relocated to Charleston from Miami, Kevin continues to work on travel and culinary projects for the custom publishing industry throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Although still involved in photography works, he now devotes much of his time to making art in many new mediums. Kevin considers himself to be a folk artist, encountering his muse when roaming. In his work he allows imagery recorded on the film plane to become a platform from which he dives into subjective interpretations of moments in time. Foltz says, “As long as the art is made with the intention of honest and unique self-expression it is worthy of reflection.”
Fine art and photography entries will be accepted at the Charleston Area Convention Center at 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, on Monday and Tuesday, May 2 and 3, from noon to 7:00pm. Entries should be delivered to the Exhibit Hall loading dock at the rear of the Convention Center, which can be accessed from Amsterdam Street via West Montague Avenue. A map and directions are included in the prospectus. Artists may enter any combination of categories with a maximum of four entries total. A non-refundable fee of $10 per fine art entry and $5 per photography entry is due at drop-off.
The Judged Fine Art and Photography Exhibitions are free and open to the public throughout the entirety of the North Charleston Arts Fest. Viewing times are Wednesday, May 4, 6:00-8:00pm, Thursday through Saturday, May 5-7, 10:00am–6:00pm, and Sunday, May 8, Noon-5:00pm. Award winners will be acknowledged at Arts Fest Opening Celebration in the Exhibit Hall on Wednesday, May 4, 6:00-8:00pm. The free public celebration features food, music, a free raffle, live painting demonstration, and more, set among the hundreds of pieces of artwork on display. The Exhibition Encore will be held on Sunday, May 8, from 2-5pm. This free event serves as a closing reception and celebration of these exhibitions, 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, a live art demonstration, and complimentary “bubbles and bites.”
The 2022 North Charleston Arts Fest, set for May 4-8, will mark the events 39th year. The festival schedule offers something for all to enjoy, including concerts, comedy, dance performances, exhibitions, children’s programs, and more. All festival events and activities are FREE. For more information about the Arts Fest, to download the prospectus for the Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions & Exhibitions, or for details on vending opportunities, visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. For more information about other exhibition opportunities offered by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit the Arts & Culture section of the City’s website, northcharleston.org, or call 843-740-5854.