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January Issue 2005

The Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC, Announce the Young Artist of the Year Award

Julie Townsley, of Folly Beach, SC, was awarded the first Young Artist of the Year Award in a special event hosted by the Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art on Nov. 4, 2004. The Contemporaries' Young Artist of the Year Soiree and Silent Auction was an event to honor 31 up and coming artists from across South Carolina and allow attendees to bid on 62 works of art by these artists. The artists were selected for inclusion through a competition and were judged by a group of jurors that included Mana Hewitt, gallery director of McMaster Gallery, Toni Elkins, artist and president-elect of the SC Watercolor Society, John Daso Gregory, artist, Beth Inman, decorative arts curator at the Columbia Museum of Art, and Booth Chilcutt, cultural director of the City of Sumter.

"I really want to make people happy and feel loved in this world and, bop, here I am, really doing it. It is not my intention to be shocking, political or decorative. I just want to do great art that will touch people's lives and hearts in a good way," says award winner Julie Townsley. Her submitted piece, Supernatural, a hand-sewn and painted soft sculpture had that affect on the attendees. Beth Inman, a juror for the award, says, "Julie's work has elements of a serious and whimsical nature and her use of color in relation to the form is striking."

The event also gave reception guests a chance to be involved in the award selection, as they voted for the Contemporaries' Choice Award. This award went to Steven Whetson of West Columbia, SC, who works in oil painting. His piece, October Field, received the most votes and the admiration of the guests.

The Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art is a membership affiliate group that hosts social and cultural events geared towards the young professional with an interest in the arts. Events are a fun, relaxed way to meet new people, reestablish old connections and support the Columbia Museum of Art. A portion of the proceeds from Contemporaries' events is used to purchase contemporary art to add to the collection at the Columbia Museum of Art. Contemporaries memberships start at $50 and include membership to the museum.

To find out more, or to become a member, visit (www.columbiamuseum.org) or call Elizabeth Oswalt at 803/343-0480.


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