SC State Bird by Matt Wilson (Best of Show)

2014 SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition Winners Announced

Fine craft artists and artisans from across South Carolina were invited to participate in the 13th Annual SouthCarolina 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 2-10 as a component of the 2014 North Charleston Arts Festival. 

Following an extensive pre-jury process, 50 applicants were asked to participate and 97 entries were submitted in the categories of clay, fiber, metal, wood, and 3D mixed media.  Cash awards totaling $6,500 were made at the sole discretion of the juror, Alfred D. Ward NDD, ATD, Emeritus Professor in the Fine Art Department at Winthrop University.After making his selections, Mr. Ward stated, “It is so gratifying to observe the expansion and growth of contemporary craft in this exhibition, based as it is, on the strong traditions of fine art crafts in South Carolina. I congratulate the participants on an exceptionally strong body of work submitted for the 2014 show.” He continued, “Due to the excellent level of works submitted, I found it most challenging to decide on the prizes, awards, and pieces for the Traveling Exhibition. As ever, I carefully considered and evaluated each piece on the basis of creativity, innovation, material qualities, and craftsmanship. In addition, it's always encouraging to observe risk taking and evidence of creative thinking in new materials.”

After awarding ribbons, Mr. Ward 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 2014/2015 Traveling Exhibitions Program.  “My intention for the traveling show was to provide an exhibition that evenly divided into a good representation of all major media and also provide the public with some indication of the diversity of South Carolina crafts.” Ward said. 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. share

Congratulations to the winners of the 2014 SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition:

Best of Show
SC State Bird (Metal) by Matt Wilson (North Charleston, SC)

Outstanding Merit
Ice Trees in Repose (Mixed Media) by Dina Barron (Summerville, SC)
Large Stained Glass XLIII
(Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC)

Honorable Mention
Sea Sign (Clay) by John Davis (North Charleston, SC)
Gambian Dancers (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
Nest and Eggs (Mixed Media) by Miyako Fujiwara (Charleston, SC)
Frankie's Got the Blues (Mixed Media) by Georgette Willis Sanders (McClellanville, SC)
Vortex (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Lady’s Island, SC)
Low on the Hog & Chitlin Cleaning Funnel (Metal) by Logan Woodall (Conway, SC)
Summer Wind (Metal) by Bob Doster (Lancaster, SC)
Hidden (Metal) by Michael DuBois (Ladson, SC)
Vessel No. 357 (Mixed Media) by Lee Sipe (Columbia, SC)
Rusted Rodent (Metal) by Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle (Hartsville, SC)
Can of Corn (Mixed Media) by Dennis Vernon (Okatie, SC)

City of North Charleston Purchase Awards
Peaceful Peacock (Glass) by Kris Manning (Charleston, SC)
Koi Pond (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Lady’s Island, SC)
Open Segment Bowl (Wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston, SC)
Gingko Vase (Clay) by Janet Webster Rogers (Summerville, SC)

SC Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selections
Gambian Dancers (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
Volume Nine - Hobbies & Irrigation (Mixed Media) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC)
Carolina Crow (Mixed Media) by Margaret Bass (Eastover, SC)
Garden Journal (Mixed Media) by Cynthia Colbert (Lexington, SC)
Open Space Vase (Mixed Media) by Kim Keats (Okatie, SC)
Frankie's Got the Blues (Mixed Media) by Georgette Willis Sanders (McClellanville, SC)
01050 (Metal) by Katie Poterela (Greenville, SC)
Open Segment Bowl (Wood) by Kenny Teague (Charleston, SC)
Piece by Piece (Fiber) by Mary Jefferson (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
Ice Trees in Repose (Mixed Media) by Dina Barron (Summerville, SC)
Vessel No. 357
(Mixed Media) by Lee Sipe (Columbia, SC)
Can of Corn (Mixed Media) by Dennis Vernon (Okatie, SC)
Emptiness I (Fiber) by Kris Westerson (Charleston, SC)
Tool Box (Wood) by Logan Woodall (Conway, SC)
Nest and Eggs (Mixed Media) by Miyako Fujiwara (Charleston, SC)
Birds of a Feather (Glass) by Keller Lee (North Charleston, SC)
Modern Dancer (Metal) by Bob Doster (Lancaster, SC)
Rusted Rodent (Metal) by Patz Fowle & Mike Fowle (Hartsville, SC)
SC State Bird (Metal) by Matt Wilson (North Charleston, SC)
Pole Vaulter (Metal) by Matt Wilson (North Charleston, SC)
House: Reclaimed by Nature Circa 86AD (Clay) by Holly Benton (Charleston, SC)
Sea Sign (Clay) by John Davis (North Charleston, SC)
Tundra (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Lady’s Island, SC)
Vortex (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Lady’s Island, 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.