ARTISTS RECEIVE PREMIER AND DISTINGUISHED
MERIT AWARDS FOR CAROLINAFEST 2010

On Tuesday, February 2, The Arts Alliance opened CarolinaFest 2010, a Juried Art Competition showcasing the quality and diversity of visual arts and fine crafts being produced by artists in North and South Carolina.  From a field of 97 two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, Juror Kevin Grogan, Director of The Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia, selected a show of 40 works that were the featured exhibit in The Arts Alliance Gallery at 412 South Dargan Street.  The work selected remained on display through Thursday, February 25.

During the Opening Reception for CarolinaFest 2010, Juror Kevin Grogan presented Premier Merit Awards of $500 each to N. B. Baroody for "Majesty," to Ernie English for "Buffalo Rock," and to Kim Ramey for "An Affair To Remember."  In addition, he presented Distinguished Merit Awards of $250 each to Susan Lenz for "In Box LIX," to Kathleen Pompe for "Santa Fe Church," and to Jim Stratton for "Sam's Knoll."  

Juror Grogan commended all artists who submitted work to be considered for CarolinaFest 2010.  He noted, "There is no one braver than an artist.  Any artist.  Every artist.  I admire them hugely and have for a long time.  No one else in life submits themselves to public scrutiny in quite the same way, or invites ciritical reaction to very personal forms of expression."  He indicated that the submissions for CarolinaFest 2010 were "a diverse, interesting, multi-dimensional, multi-media body of work," and he further commented that it was "gratifying and enjoyable to have the opportunity to review it."  With respect to works selected for CarolinaFest 2010, Grogan observed, "In short, this is good stuff.  Interesting work, often deftly handled in a technical sense, supported by interesting points of view.  Everyone who found a place in the show earned it, and they are to be complimented on that achievement."

CarolinaFest is an annual juried competition.  Submissions are accepted in all mediums.  Like all exhbitions in The Arts Alliance Gallery, CarolinaFest 2010 was open to the public without admission charge.  The Arts Alliance Gallery is open Monday  through Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.  Artists, whether amateur or professional, are invited to submit their information for inclusion on the database of visual arts artists in North and South Carolina by calling 843-665-2787 or my emailing fraa@florencescarts.org.