The Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, NC, was recently honored as a recipient of a Settlers Award for 2008 by the Charlotte CENTER CITY Partners. The award recognizes the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses that have been key contributors to the quality of life in the Center City. In business since 1981 in uptown Charlotte, Hodges Taylor is Charlotte's oldest gallery and has led in bringing creativity to the uptown spaces. Committed to supporting art and artists of the Southeast and to art in corporate spaces, the gallery consistently showcases an invigorating and challenging collection of artwork. Over the years, the gallery has moved to various locations - always uptown - demonstrating both the vision of its owners and their dedication to the development of uptown Charlotte as a vibrant city in which to live and work. Our thanks to Charlotte CENTER CITY Partners and we look forward the continuation of the "Urban Evolution". For further info contact the gallery at 704/334-3799 or visit (www.hodgestaylor.com).

Mia Katrin for JEWEL COUTURE LLC's "Hearts of Gold" Tahitian and South Sea pearl necklace with diamonds was recently featured on the cover of "Southern Jewelry News" with a beautiful full-color photo of the necklace. The piece was designed especially for the American Heart Association's 50th anniversary prestigious white-tie "Heart of Gold" Heart Ball in Charlotte, NC, and has received wide national publicity. The Collections of Mia Katrin for JEWEL COUTURE LLC are receiving major national publicity, recently featured by "Jewelers' Circular Keystone" ("must have jewelry") and "Rapaport Report" ("sumptuous designs favored by Hollywood celebrities"), among others. The award-winning Precious Briolette Collection, featuring one-of-a-kind and limited edition necklaces of precious gems in 18-24 karat gold and platinum, is featured in top stores and galleries nationwide. Worn by A-List Hollywood celebrities, the versatile Collection of exuberance, spirit and style features cutting-edge style, the finest materials and meticulous workmanship. Katrin's syndicated monthly Byline column "Jewelry By Design" reaches 100,000 monthly through various media outlets, including "Southern Jewelry News", "Mid-America Jewelry News", "Jewelry Crafts Magazine", "Adornment Magazine", and (www.bestofartists.com). It is also available on the blog (www.miakatrin.com), and (www.jeweljewel.com), (click on New Monthly Byline, top left). The new Best Sellers Catalog is now available and being distributed upon request to top stores and galleries nationwide. Request your copy at (info@jeweljewel.com), 877/539-3569, (www.jeweljewel.com), JEWEL COUTURE LLC, Box 217, Fleetwood, NC, 28626.

The Arts Council of Lincoln County in Lincolnton, NC, has selected a new logo for our organization from the many entries submitted to our Logo Competition Contest. The winner, Karen Carnes of Lincolnton will receive all the fame and fortune of having her logo utilized daily by the Arts Council of Lincoln County and receive recognition on the Arts Council's new website, (www.artslincolnnc.org). Carnes is a local artist who is the proprietor of Hoke Signs & Graphic Designs of Lincolnton. All entries were considered and the Arts Council of Lincoln County thanks all participants for their time and efforts. For further information call the Arts Council of Lincoln County at 704/732-9044 or visit (www.artslincolnnc.org).

The Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC, has received a grant from the Corning Incorporated Foundation to support Kids@CAM, a monthly educational program designed for children and families. Kids @CAM is a monthly series of programs that introduces children to an art museum. Children expand their imagination, creativity, and appreciation of the visual arts through treasure hunts, art activities, and gallery tours. This program provides children and young people with access to high quality art in all mediums, hands-on arts experience to encourage individual creativity - and an introduction to museums as important cultural resources in the community. Established in 1952 to administer to the charitable contributions of its sponsoring company, Corning Incorporated Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities where Corning Incorporated is an active corporate citizen. Donations from the Foundation to local organizations and to national and international institutions support programs and projects in the sectors of education, arts and culture, and health and human services. Recent studies show that children who participate in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair, are elected to class office within their schools three times more often, and are three times more likely to win an award for school attendance. For further information contact the Museum at 910/395-5999 or visit (www.cameronartmuseum.com).

Travelers Rest Arts Mission in Travelers Rest, SC, and Workhorse Creative of Greenville, SC, have put together a Self-Guided Studio Tour Brochure that offers people a chance to see what really goes on in an artist's studio. Six artists from Northern Greenville County participated in the project including: Greg and Joel Patton, Jo Ann Taylor, Bob Chance, David Young, Don Lewis and Darrell and Georgia Harrison. The brochure lists the artist's contact information and websites, and people are able to call the artists for an appointment to visit their studios. "The artists were happy to open their studios up to the public," says Nichole Livengood, who worked with Caroline Harrington of Workhorse Creative on the project. "It's a great opportunity to visit these artists year round, and purchase work for your home or for a special occasion." The brochures are available at shops and restaurants throughout Northern Greenville County. For more information, you may contact TRAM at (info@trartsmission.org).

Artist Steed Taylor creates series of road tattoos for the North Carolina Museum of Art Park Trail in Raleigh, NC. Taylor and community volunteers are creating "Invasive" - a series of road tattoos resembling invasive plant species painted on the paved surfaces of the Museum Park trails. The Museum Park's new work of art will cover more than 1,000 feet of Park trail, leading visitors from the Park entrance at the visitor parking lot, through the Park, and up to the Reedy Creek Pedestrian Bridge. The swirling painted patterns physically invade the trail, creeping in from the edges and flowing across the path. "Invasive" will be unveiled during the Museum's Earth Day Festival on Apr. 19, 2008. The outdoor event features music, tours, environmental workshops, and an unveiling of the new "Arts Ramble" trail. "Invasive" is the first project in an ongoing series of site-specific art projects, Art Has No Boundaries, commissioned by the Museum to encourage visitors of all ages and physical abilities to actively explore the Museum Park. This three-year series is part of the Active Community and Neighborhood grant program funded by the John Rex Endowment through the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch of the N.C. Division of Public Health. The North Carolina Museum of Art's permanent collection spans more than 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to the present, making the institution one of the premier visual arts museums in the Southeast. The Museum uses its collection to provide educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The Museum offers a series of changing national touring exhibitions, classes, lectures, family activities, films, and concerts. For further info call the Museum at 919/839-6262 or visit (www.ncartmuseum.org).

Eric Horan

South Carolina photographer Eric Horan will be featured on "Wild Photo Adventures TV", a new television series to air on PBS, SC-ETV and Time Warner Cable beginning in April 2008. Produced and hosted by Doug Gardner, "Wild Photo Adventures TV" is the first series of its kind devoted entirely to photographing wildlife in their natural habitat. Season I , in 13, 30-minutes episodes, viewers will travel across North America to learn from a select group of wildlife and nature photographers working on location in their favorite destinations. "We'll be showcasing the environment and the wildlife that inhabit it - while offering tips and some pretty ingenious tools these photographer's use to photograph in the wild," said Gardner. Horan will co-host Episode 6, titled "Lowcountry Wildlife". In Episode 6, viewers will travel with Horan and Gardner in search of prime nesting and feeding activities of the Brown Pelican, Oyster Catchers, dolphin and a variety of coastal wading birds. Horan will lead TV viewers on a photo expedition along the scenic shorelines, inter-coastal waterways and barrier islands surrounding Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and Charleston, SC. The first airing of Episode 6 is on SC-ETV, May 10, 2008, at 4:30pm. PBS and Time Warner stations will begin the series on a different airing schedule later spring. The series is also available online at the producer's website at (www.wildphotoadventures.com). Throughout Season I, viewers will travel coast to coast with different photographers each episode as they explore a range of eco-systems. These include burrowing owls at Cape Coral, exotic wading birds along Florida's Gulf coast, underwater photography of Manatee on Florida's Atlantic coast, White-tailed deer at Cades Cove, Tennessee, dramatic waterfalls in the Appalachian Mountains, Elephant Seals in southern California and right into one photographerís backyard for a songbird habitat created just for photography. Horan has been photographing the coastal southeast since 1981. He started his commercial photography business, Eric Horan Photography, Inc., in 1996. In 2000, he added the publishing arm, Southern Light Photographic for distributing his calendars, fine-art prints, note cards and books including his tabletop photography book, "Carolina Nature, A Photographer's View of the Natural History in the Carolinas". "A great thing is that people call me all the time to share a unique wildlife sighting," said Horan. "I've built a nice repertoire of locations to share with other photographers interested in learning more about photography and the lowcountry." Horan is a national member of the American Society of Media Photographers and founding member and former officer of the South Carolina chapter. He is also a member of the Carolina Nature Photography Association and the Beaufort Camera Club. A frequent contributor and presenter to local civic organizations, Horan has recently donated over 1000 of his 2008 calendars to South Carolina veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Horan has received numerous awards from juried art exhibitions to prestigious international competitions. Among the most notable are The Carnegie Museum Natural World Photographic Exhibition, Studio Magazine International Annual Design Competition, Timberpeg Annual Architectural Award for Photographic Excellence, Piccolo Spoleto Annual Juried Art Exhibition and the South Carolina Wildlife Magazine Annual Photography Exhibition. His images have been selected for editorial publications and include "Business Week", "Cruising World", "Fortune", "McCall's", the "New York Times Sunday Travel", "Outside, Sail", "Sandlapper", "Smithsonian", "Southern Living", "Tennis" and "Time". Books where his photography is featured include "South Carolina, A Compass American Guidebook" (published by Fodor's), "Outside Magazine's EXPOSURE" (deemed 100 of their finest photographs over 15 years), "Lowcountry A-Z" and National Geographic Books. For more information call Horan at 843/524-3037 or visit (www.horanphoto.com) or (www.southernlight.biz).

The South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, SC, will observe 20 years of service to South Carolina and the world Oct. 29, 2008. However, the celebration of this milestone will take place throughout the year, and in a number of ways. Many residents of the Midlands will notice that the 2008 AT&T telephone book and its smaller companion yellow pages feature the State Museum on the cover. This continues a partnership begun two decades ago, when the Museum was first on the cover of the phone book issued by BellSouth, AT&T's predecessor. Those who have received mail from the Museum have seen a colorful, celebratory 20th anniversary logo sticker affixed to the envelope. These will continue to appear through 2008. Advertising and promotional materials also will carry this logo. "These are a great start to our celebration, but there's a lot more to come to make this a special year," said Executive Director Willie Calloway. On Apr. 25, 2008, the Museum will open its first exclusive juried art show, the "State Museum 20th Anniversary Juried Art Exhibition". On June 27, 2008, the Museum will open a special anniversary exhibit, "The South Carolina State Museum: 20 Years of Treasures". On Aug. 16, 2008, the Museum will open for a 20-hour marathon day of free programs and fun for the public, from 9am-5pm the following morning. Music, birthday cake, games, demonstrations, movies, stargazing and much, much more will highlight this pre-back-to-school extravaganza. A $120-per-ticket black tie gala will observe the date more formally on Oct. 30, 2008. Even "Images," the Museum's members' magazine is getting into the act: for the remainder of 2008, "Images" will be 20 pages long, up from its usual 16 pages, in order to provide members and other readers even more information about the State Museum and its activities. Plus, special 20th-anniversary editions of the Museum's signature events (including a second edition of the popular Museum Roadshow, coming in August) will punctuate the calendar from April to December. "This is a joyous occasion for the Museum," Calloway said. "To think that South Carolina went from being one of only seven states without a state museum in 1988 to opening - and maintaining - one of the finest in the land is really something to celebrate. "We began as 'South Carolina Under One Roof,' and that tradition of excellence in service to education, culture, tourism and recreation has continued to this day. It's a record all South Carolinians can be proud of, and we strive daily to keep that pride growing. "We can hardly wait to see what the next 20 years will bring!" For further information call the Museum at 803/898-4921 or visit (www.museum.state.sc.us).

Following artist Jason Craighead's recent participation in "Microcosm/Macrocosm," an exhibit of his new work along with that of artist Tricia McKellar, the City of Raleigh (NC) has purchased the largest piece he included in the show, "Travel Park 2," an 80-inch wide by 80-inch tall mixed media on panel painting. The exhibit was held in the Miriam Preston Block Art Gallery in the Avery Upchurch Municipal Building in downtown Raleigh from Feb. 1 to Mar. 13, 2008. The artist hasn't been told exactly where the city will display its new painting, "but I'm honored and delighted that the City of Raleigh now has a piece of my work in it's collection," he said. Craighead recently served as a member of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission's (RAC) 30th Anniversary Committee. He describes his current work as "ideas on construction, deconstruction, revitalization, and the energies produced in an urban environment. They're not depictions of reality, but responses to the visual treat that is everyday city life within the structure and chaos that surrounds us. There is beauty to be found in the grit if we choose to be observant." Craighead lives and works in downtown Raleigh. He is currently represented by Somerhill Gallery in Chapel Hill, NC, Broadhurst Gallery in Pinehurst, NC, Anne Irwin Fine Art in Atlanta, GA, and Bucks Gallery of Fine Art in Newtown, PA. For more information on the artist, go to (www.somerhill.com) or contact Kim Weiss at blueplate pr, at 919/272-8615.

Five paintings from the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico will be loaned to the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC, for 18 months beginning in May as part of an exchange between the two museums. The Ponce museum is recognized as one of the most important museums of European art in Latin America and, like the Columbia Museum of Art, was the recipient of a generous donation of Renaissance and Baroque works from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. The five paintings being loaned to Columbia will be integrated into the galleries to fill important gaps in the Museum's collection. Karen Brosius, executive director of the Columbia Museum of Art says, "The quality of these paintings is extraordinary and will complement our museum's collection in an important way - bringing to our visitors a greater understanding of 18th and 19th-century French painting." The paintings on loan include Charles Frederick Ulrich's famous "The Glass Blowers" (1883), which inspired the young Vincent van Gogh (who purchased an engraving of the painting) with its gritty depiction of modern urban life. The Columbia Museum of Art's French collection will be augmented by the loan with a painting by 19th century French academic artist William Bouguereauand with a mountain landscape by Gustave Courbet, long regarded as the father of the Realist movement in 19th-century art. A portrait of the Comtesse de Chatenois demonstrates the considerable talents of Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun, the most successful and famous woman painter of the 18th century. One of only a few women admitted into the male-dominated French Academy of Painting and Sculpture, she became the official court painter to Marie Antoinette and subsequently fled France at the onset of the French Revolution. From November through February 2009 the Columbia Museum of Art's "The Seine at Giverny" by Claude Monet, Julien Dupré's "Home from the Pasture", and "Ferry Boat" by Jean Baptiste Armand Guillaumin will be loaned to the Museo de Arte de Ponce as part of the exhibition "The Path to Impressionism", which investigates 400 years of French landscape painting culminating in Monet and the Impressionists. The Columbia Museum of Art is South Carolina's premier international art museum and houses an extraordinary collection of European and American art. Founded in 1950, the Museum opened its new building on Main Street in 1998 with 25 galleries. The collections include masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo from the Samuel H. Kress Collection, works by significant furniture and silver makers, and modern and contemporary art. In recent years the Museum's collection of Asian art and Antiquities has grown through generous gifts to the collection. Of particular interest are Sandro Botticelli's "Nativity", Claude Monet's "The Seine at Giverny", Canaletto's "View of the Molo", and art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Museum offers changing exhibitions from renowned museums and educational programs that include lectures, films and concerts, and it is the recipient of a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education and an Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina. Generous support to the Museum is provided by the City of Columbia and Richland County. For further info call the Museum at 803/799-2810 or visit (www.columbiamuseum.org).

The North Carolina Museums Council has granted its 2008 Creative Award for Exhibition Catalogues to "Between Taste and Travesty: Costume Design by William Ivey Long", which accompanied the special, one-time exhibition of the five-time Tony Award Winner at the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC. The Council's criteria to choose "the Best of the Best" in multi-media categories include artistic quality, innovation of design and usability. "Between Taste and Travesty" contains articles by Michael Finegold, Howard Kissel, Don Quaintance, Alexandra Sargent, John Simon and Alex Witchel.  Designed by Don Quaintance (Public Address Design, Houston, TX), the catalogue features full-color photographs from the productions for which William Ivey Long designed the costumes, including "Hairspray", "Chicago" and "The Producers". It was published by the Cameron Art Museum in 2007 and with 72 pages with 104 color plates and 10 halftones. (ISBN978-0-9793359-0-7, $24.95). Catalogues may be purchased in the museum shop. The Cameron Art Museum presents ongoing, changing exhibitions in three areas of its museum facility designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associations (New York City). For further information call the Museum at 910/395-5999.

The Scrolls have found a very good home in Special Collections at the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston, Charleston, SC. Mary Walker said the following about the Scrolls Project, "as the custodian of The Scrolls it has been very important for me to find an appropriate place for them. They still need to be catalogued. This may happen by summer. After they are catalogued they will be available on the internet by Google. The College can choose to exhibit all or a part of them and the public can request to view them." Special Collections evaluates, acquires, organizes, preserves, and makes available printed and archival materials including the College archives, rare books and pamphlets, publications related to the history of South Carolina, manuscript collections, and library materials that are rare, valuable, or fragile. This project was funded in part by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Program through their joint administration of the Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant Program and the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC. For further info visit (www.cofc.edu/~speccoll/Main.html) or (www.thescrollproject.org).

The work of North Carolina ceramic sculptor Rose Tripoli Mueller is featured in the March-April issue of "Clay Times Magazine'. The illustrated work, titled "The Sage and The Boy", won First Place at Spartanburg County Museum of Art's Sidewalk Art Festival. Mueller graduated from the State University of New York Art School at New Paltz and is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. She is represented in Blowing Rock, NC, at the Guild's Parkway Craft Center in the Moses Cone Manor. In addition, her work is currently in the "Go Figure" exhibit at Hand in Hand
Gallery in Flat Rock through Apr. 27, 2008. She will also be included in the "Shine On Brightly" exhibit of
memorial art, opening Apr. 11, 2008, at Merrimon Galleries in Asheville, NC. For more information, contact Rose Tripoli Mueller at 828/248-1566 or e-mail at (rosetripolimueller@yahoo.com). Or look for her booth at the Guild Fair in Asheville from Oct. 16-19, 2008.

Artspace, Raleigh, NC's premier downtown visual art organization, received a $2,500 grant from the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in support of its artist residency programs. Since launching the residency programs in 2000, Artspace has fostered the careers of 18 promising young artists and supported the livelihood of 8 nationally accomplished artists. "Artspace is thrilled to receive this support from the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation," said Executive Director Mary Poole. "Through the support of the Foundation Artspace is able to provide artists with a collaborative, dynamic environment in which to work and the community the unique experience of watching the creative process unfold before their very eyes." Artspace provides three artist residencies each year. Two 6-month residencies are awarded to North Carolina emerging artists through the Regional Emerging Artist Residency Program and 1-month residency is presented to an established artist each summer through the Summer Artist Residency Program. Each resident artist participates in Artspace's educational programs including classes, workshops, and tours. At the conclusion of each residency, the artist's work is presented to the public in a fully supported exhibition and gallery talk. Artspace's current Regional Emerging Artist-in-Residence is Casey Porn. Porn has been in residence at Artspace since January and will continue working in the building through June 2008. Born in Boulder, CO, and raised in Raleigh, Porn attended NCSU College of Design, earning a Bachelors of Art and Design. Her work depicts a variety of small animals and draws inspiration from current events and pop culture. In summer 2008 Artspace will introduce this year's Summer Artist-in-Residence Eileen Doktorski to the Triangle community. Doktorski received her MFA from the Yale School of Art and her BFA from Parsons School of Design in NYC. She was a Fulbright Scholar at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland, and has received awards for her work from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey State Council for the Arts, and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. During her residency Doktorski will be completing Deluge, a mixed media installation exploring the emotions surrounding an unplanned relocation. For more information about the Regional Emerging Artist Residency Program or the Summer Artist Residency Program, please visit (www.artspacenc.org) or call 919/821-2787.

Beginning Spring 2008, The Downtown Marriott in Columbia, SC, will provide a unique service to Hotel guests and visitors which will allow eager patrons of the arts to purchase tickets for the hottest local arts and entertainment happenings from one central downtown location in Columbia. Coleman, Columbia's very own Cultural Concierge will be the face of this unique and unifying endeavor, that brings some of Columbia's top cultural attractions together for the first time. Anyone that is visiting or staying at the Downtown Marriott will be able to purchase tickets directly from the convenient downtown outlet: Right There! Right Then! Anyone that is interested will also have the opportunity to pick up literature and information regarding local cultural events and happenings from the same spot. "We are looking forward to begin offering this gold-key service to our guests to further enrich their experience while staying in Columbia" said Peter Austin, General Manager of the Downtown Marriott. Participating organizations will include: The Colonial Center, Workshop Theater, Nickelodeon Theater, South Carolina Philharmonic, Columbia Classical Ballet, Trustus Theater, The Columbia Art Museum, and additional local galleries, museums and attractions. "This is a great new opportunity to help publicize the arts in Columbia, we are excited to be a part of it" said Rhonda Hunsinger, Executive Director of SC Philharmonic. Coleman Knows! aims to publicize and support all of the great arts and cultural gifts Columbia has to offer, and to create a new outlet for public access to local events with convenient purchasing of tickets from one individual 'box office'. The Columbia Marriott is at the heart of the warm city. The completely nonsmoking, 300-room hotel offers 27,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, a business center, several dining options, a concierge lounge, an indoor pool and easy access to the South Carolina State House. For further info contact Shayna Katzman, Account Director, Un-Limited Marketing Solutions at 803/556-8251.

The City of Spartanburg (SC) has announced details of Spartanburg Creative Energy, an exciting new initiative that promises to focus the community on a spectrum of creative endeavors while improving economic vitality and the quality of life throughout Spartanburg. From helping to connect people from all walks of life to existing cultural and creative opportunities in Spartanburg though communication and marketing efforts to helping germinate new creative endeavors, the launching of Spartanburg Creative Energy marks a turning point in the city's ongoing cultural renaissance. Spartanburg Creative Energy will seek to build on and increase the momentum gained by the opening of Hub-Bub's Showroom in 2005 and the Chapman Cultural Center last year. The goals of Spartanburg Creative Energy are to promote the city to its citizens and visitors by capitalizing on the creative energy it produces and promotes; promote all that is creative through a public awareness communication system; and engage creative energy in all. One of the first tangible results of Spartanburg Creative Energy is a new web site, (www.spartanburgcreativeenergy.com), that undoubtedly will become a clearinghouse for information on local cultural events and entertainment options while connecting residents to a variety of opportunities within the community. Jennifer Evins will chair the Spartanburg Creative Energy Steering Committee, a diverse group of 23 people from across the community. For further info contact Susan Schneider at 864/596-3068 or e-mail at (sschneider@cityofspartanburg.com).

The Arts Council of Lincoln County in Lincolnton, NC, has selected a new logo for our organization from the many entries submitted to our Logo Competition Contest. The winner, Karen Carnes of Lincolnton will receive all the fame and fortune of having her logo utilized daily by the Arts Council of Lincoln County and receive recognition on the Arts Council's new website (www.artslincolnnc.org). Carnes is a local artist who is the proprietor of Hoke Signs & Graphic Designs of Lincolnton. All entries were considered and the Arts Council of Lincoln County thanks all participant for their time and efforts. For further information please call the Arts Council of Lincoln County at 704/732-9044 or visit (www.artslincolnnc.org).

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, announced the Short List of Finalists for the 2008 Factor Prize. This is the first year of the Factor Prize which acknowledges an artist whose work demonstrates the highest level of artistic achievement in any media while contributing to a new understanding of art in the South. Artists who work in or who are from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia were nominated for the Prize online at (www.factorprize.org) through Feb. 10, 2008. Six panelists reviewed the hundreds of applicants and narrowed the list to seven artists on Mar. 10, 2008. The six panelists for the 2008 Factor Prize were philanthropists Elizabeth and Mallory Factor who established the prize; Rebecca Demling Cochran, freelance art critic and Curator of the Wieland Collection; Walter Edgar, The Claude Henry Neuffer Professor of Southern Studies, the George Washington Distinguished Professor of History and the Louise Fry Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of South Carolina; Angela Mack, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs for the Gibbes Museum of Art; and Trevor Schoonmaker, Curator of Contemporary Art at The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. The seven artists selected for the 2008 Factor Prize Short List are Jose Alvarez, Radcliffe Bailey, William Christenberry, Henri Schindler, Philip Simmons, Stacy-Lynn Waddell and Jeff Whetstone. "We're delighted with the scope of artists chosen for the inaugural year of the Prize. Their work presents a wide array of styles, subjects and approaches. I applaud the panelists for putting forth a first-rate group of artists. The Gibbes has always supported working artists and the introduction of the Factor Prize into our programming only solidifies our engagement with art of our time. We look forward to announcing the winner in May," said Todd Smith, Executive Director of the Gibbes. The winner of the 2008 Factor Prize will be announced in May at a ceremony at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston. Nominations for the 2009 award have already started on the (www.factorpize.org) Web site. The Factor Prize Web site not only serves as a nomination point for artists but it is also an archive of information about Southern artists that can be used by curators, collectors, academicians and the public. The nominees include: Jose Alvarez - Born in 1968 in New York, Alvarez currently resides in both New York City and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He studied at the School of Visual Arts from 1992 to 1995, and in 2002 was included in the prestigious Biennial Exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. A painter, performance artist, and video artist, Alvarez incorporates unique media into his work including feathers, porcupine quills, and crystals. Radcliffe Bailey - A native of Bridgeton, NJ, Bailey lives in Atlanta, GA, where he received his BFA from Atlanta College of Art in 1991. Greatly inspired by jazz music, he is best known for his mixed media works and site-specific installations that explore his personal background and the history of African Americans. Bailey's work is included in the collections of many prestigious organizations including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the High Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. William Christenberry - For over forty years, Christenberry has used his drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography as a means to document his home state of Alabama. A resident of Washington, DC, he has taught at the Corcoran College of Art and Design since 1968 and has been included in numerous one-person and group exhibitions and the collections of art museums across the country. Most recently, Christenberry was honored with a major one-person exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Henri Schindler - A native of New Orleans, LA, Schindler is an acknowledged authority on Mardi Gras history and has served as artistic director for numerous New Orleans Carnival organizations, known as krewes. In this role, he is responsible for selecting themes, developing artistic concepts and designs, and overseeing float construction with the traditional materials of muslin, paint, and papier mache. Recognized for restoring Carnival celebrations to the classical traditions of the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Schindler has received numerous awards and his work has been included in exhibitions on the history of Mardi Gras. Philip Simmons - A lifelong resident of Charleston, SC, Simmons is a celebrated metalworker who learned the art from local blacksmith Peter Simmons. Beginning in 1938, Philip Simmons focused his efforts on ornamental ironwork and has since created hundreds of gates, fences, balconies, and window grills throughout the city of Charleston. Among his many lifetime achievement awards, Simmons received The Order of the Palmetto in 1998, the highest honor bestowed by the state of South Carolina. His work is included in the collections of the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM, and the Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, GA. Stacy-Lynn Waddell - In 2007 Waddell received her MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned the Outstanding MFA Student Award from the Department of Art and Art History. Waddell's work draws up on her experience as an African American woman as she explores the formation and maintenance of identity. She uses fire and heat to burn, brand, and singe her large-scale works of art. Jeff Whetstone - Born in 1968 in Chattanooga, TN, Whetstone has received degrees from Duke and Yale Universities. His photography has been featured in exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Amsterdam. He currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC, where he is an Assistant Professor in the University of North Carolina's Art Department. Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located in Charleston's historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection and presents a series of special exhibitions annually. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives. As the aesthetic heart of the Lowcountry, the Gibbes serves the community by stimulating creative expression, increasing economic vitality through tourism, and improving the region's superb quality of life. For further information call the Gibbes at 843/722-2706 or visit (www.gibbesmuesum.org).

Charleston, SC's Museum Mile initiative kicks off Mar. 2008. The Mile offers visitors the most comprehensive array of historical and cultural attractions in downtown Charleston. It is situated along Meeting Street and runs from the Charleston Visitor Center to the Nathaniel Russell House. Charleston's Museum Mile on-going initiative helps visitors understand how easy it is to navigate this cultural corridor. Along the Mile visitors can discover six museums, five nationally important historic houses, four scenic parks, a Revolutionary War powder magazine, ten historic houses of worship and five historic public buildings including the Market and City Hall. Founding organizations with visitable sites include the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, The Charleston Museum, Gibbes Museum of Art, Historic Charleston Foundation, South Carolina Historical Society, Colonial Dames (The Powder Magazine) and the Washington Light Infantry. Representatives from all have shared their input and contributed greatly to the planning for this exciting joint endeavor. Also included as featured sites are the Confederate Museum, the Edmondston-Alston House and the City-operated Old Slave Mart Museum and Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. Getting about the Mile is simple - it is easily navigable by foot and public transportation. Pedestrian traffic and use of  DASH trolleys and CARTA buses is encouraged to traverse the downtown area, travel to sites in and outside of the Mile and link with tourist buses at the Charleston Visitor Center. This concentration of historic and cultural sites is also enhanced by a host of visitor-service amenities including ample public parking, numerous hotels, inns, restaurants and abundant shopping opportunities. The Mile is also close to other points of visitor interest, including Aquarium Wharf and Liberty Square, and provides a helpful central reference for exploring all that downtown Charleston has to offer. Startup marketing costs for Charleston's Museum Mile were made possible by an accommodations tax grant from the County of Charleston. The startup marketing program will include billboards, banners, brochures, a website (www.charlestonsmuseummile.org) and other promotional vehicles. Business sponsors include the Mills House, Sticky Fingers Ribhouse, and The Bank of South Carolina. For more information call 843/722-2996 ext. 235 or visit (www.charlestonsmuseummile.org).

The eighth annual Art With Heart art auction, held Feb. 2, 2008, in Charlotte, NC, at CenterStage@NoDa, grossed $138,000 for United Family Services' domestic violence programs and topped all previous records for proceeds and attendance. WCNC 6News anchors Colleen Odegaard and Bobby Sisk co-hosted the evening which was sold out in advance, attended by more than 725 people and featured over 275 pieces of art from top regional artists. Claudia Belk, a longtime supporter of United Family Services, served as Honorary Chair. Auctioneer Mark Pierman, moonlighting from his day job as president and CEO of United Family Services, presided over the live auction. The artwork donated by the Featured Artists Sharon Dowell, Scott Upton and Charles Walker collectively sold for $10,850 in the live auction. All three artists are represented by Center of the Earth Gallery in Charlotte. The Auction's artwork included but was not limited to paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and photographs. While bidding remained intense throughout the evening, especially in the live auction, the most hotly contested items included five untitled abstract oil on canvases by Jerry Brem and an oil on canvas entitled "Kiawah Marsh" by Jane C. Hall. There was also much competition over Penny Palmer Adkins's oil on canvas "Through The Trees," which closed at $2,300 and "Reflective Nude," a black and white watercolor by Heidi Kirschner. Artwork by Nancy B. Westfall, Hat Thompson and Nathan Rose also proved to be crowd favorites. This year's Emerging Artist winner, Diana Arvanites, garnered much attention with her mixed media on wood panel "The Equalizing of Space" and Emerging Artist runner-up Bryan Wood wowed the crowd with his gigantic digital collages. Renowned artist Andy Braitman continued his longtime support of Art With Heart by donating two pieces to the auction, one which was included in a raffle. Braitman's involvement with the auction has included serving as the Featured Artist in 2006, the Honorary Chair in 2007 and taking on the ongoing role of guiding and mentoring the auction's planners to help foster goodwill with the region's artistic community. Media and corporate sponsors for the 2008 Art With Heart include WCNC, Skirt! Magazine, Red F, Falfurrias Capital, KPMG, Englishman's Fine Furnishings, Center of the Earth Gallery, Delectables by Holly, winestore, ATCOM, Jerald Melberg Gallery, Grubb Properties, Morrison Arts Initiative, Morrison, Bank of America, Mayer Brown, Elizabeth Bruns, Inc., Afton Capital Management, The Bainbridge Crew, MECA Real Estate Services, Elements Design Company, Interact, Iwatsu America, The Breathing Room, Lighting and Bulbs Unlimited, Providence Gallery, Mitel Corporation, Nesting, 809 Design, ART Aspects, Schimmerhorn's Delivery, Fast Frame ­ East Blvd., Frame Gallery ­ Ballantyne, Harris Holt Gallery, The Great Frame Up ­ Huntersville, Art Source & Design and Atlantic Coast Art & Frame and St. Thomas Espresso Company. The event was catered by Delectables by Holly and the crowd was entertained by The Lovell Bradford Quintet. Plans for the ninth annual Art With Heart are under way. For more information on donating, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, contact Dosty Quarrier, the 2009 Art With Heart Chair, at 704/576-3999. Started in 2000, Art With Heart is an annual auction that started when a group of local women decided to combine their extensive resources to plan a fun and educational benefit to help United Family Services launch programs for victims of domestic violence. Over 55 strong, the 2008 Art With Heart volunteer committee was led by Chair Liza Smith and Co-Chair Laura Monk. For more information, visit (www.artwithheartauction.com). United Family Services, a nonprofit United Way member, is a multi-faceted family service agency offering mortgage foreclosure and consumer credit counseling; employee assistance programs, individual, couple and family counseling; crisis intervention and victim assistance (rape); and domestic violence programs. Art With Heart benefits the agency's domestic violence programs including The Shelter for Battered Women and Victim Assistance Court Services. These programs provide safety planning and shelter, counseling and support groups, children's services, substance abuse services, court and legal advocacy, services for incarcerated women, on-site emergency room response to patients, training to medical professionals and dating violence prevention education. For more information, visit (www.unitedfamilyservices.org).

Robert E. "Bob" Jewell, Brookgreen Gardens' (Murrells Inlet, SC) President and CEO, was appointed to a three year term on the Board of Directors of the National Sculpture Society (NSS) at its February board meeting in New York City.
" We are delighted to have Bob join the Board of Directors for the NSS, in part because of his outstanding business and leadership skills but also because his participation on the Society's Board of Directors continues a long friendship between two organizations which support the goal of excellence in sculpture." said Gwen Pier, Executive Director of the NSS. " I am honored to have been elected to the Board of such a distinguished national organization," said Bob Jewell, "Brookgreen Gardens and the National Sculpture Society have had a relationship for as long as both organizations have existed. Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, who founded Brookgreen Gardens, were active members of the Society and its mission in many ways is similar to the mission of the Gardens." Founded in 1893, National Sculpture Society is headquartered in the Park Avenue Atrium building in New York City and is the oldest and most prestigious association of professional sculptors in the United States. Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on US 17 between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, SC, and is open to the public daily. For more information, consult our web site at (www.brookgreen.org) or call 800/849-1931.

On Feb. 7, 2008, Teri Ostrom, owner of Artwerx Framing & Galleria in Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Susan Hauser of Susan Hauser Designs hosted an Art and Jewelry show to benefit the Cate Oxford Heart Fund. The show included local art, unique gifts and accessories and featured the hand-made jewelry collection created by Hauser. Ostrom noted, "that the holiday season is filled with a sense of giving, sharing and doing for others. It's easy to let that feeling slip after the holiday rush. This is our way of extending that Holiday spirit for ourselves and others." Hauser has contributed personally to the Cate Oxford Heart Fund previously and said, "celebrating Valentines Day has always been about what's in your heart and I feel that our Art & Jewelry Show could have a big impact for others." The evening was filled with good food, good wine, good friends, great art and jewelry. A raffle was held for Gift Certificates from Susan Hauser Designs, Illusions Hair Studio, Artwerx Framing, The Boathouse, Wine Awhile, and others. There was over $200 donated to the Cate Oxford Heart Fund @ MUSC. Cate Oxford is a four-year old girl who has survived four open-heart surgeries as an infant. Cate's late grandfather created the fund in 2002 to support research for heart defects in children. Ostrom opened the framing gallery with over 15 years experience and has been in the Park West location since Nov. 2004. Artwerx provides custom framing for all types of items, from your treasured artwork and photographs, to keepsakes like jerseys, collectibles and memorabilia. The Galleria is a unique, one-of-a-kind collection of original artwork, prints, giclees, hand painted gifts, custom mirrors, hand blown glass lamps, candles, and hand made jewelry. Charleston Jewelry artist and designer Susan Hauser creates delicate and intricate pieces inspired by her interest in neo-classic and European design with an updated twist. Taking time to search for the highest quality precious and semi-precious gemstones and pearls allows Susan to create stunning and unique pieces in both 14kg and sterling silver. For further information call 843/971-4643 or visit (www.artwerxframing.com).

In its continuing effort of "bringing arts to the people and people to the arts", the board of directors of the Blue Ridge Arts Council in Seneca, SC, recently named Bess Ciupak it's first executive director. Assuming the president's position vacated by Ciupak, is Seneca artist and businessman, Warren Carpenter. This change will allow Ciupak more time to devote to fund-raising and grant writing for the organization. "We have continued to grow and add more exhibits and art events each year. I am excited to be able to devote my time to developing funding sources and seeing even more exhibits come to Seneca," Ciupak explains. Blue Ridge Arts Center is an icon in Oconee County, founded in 1966 and housed in Seneca's oldest church building. With 400 members, much of the work of this organization is left to volunteers. The functions and facilities of the Blue Ridge Arts Council are financed by funds from memberships, donations, grants, fundraisers, class tuitions and art sales. BRAC is supported in part by the Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Oconee County Arts & Historical Commission, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact us at 864/882-2722 or visit (www.blueridgeartscenter.com).

The McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, NC, announces a partnership with current Artist-in-Residence, Sara Hughes and modern design company, Design Within Reach, located at 4310 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC. Creating a site-specific installation at the Charlotte location of Design Within Reach, Hughes will be designing art that will interact with the viewer. Since the space is not the traditional gallery setting where people expect to view art, this opportunity will give the artist a new way to connect with the community. Hughes says, "I chose to work in the windows of Design Within Reach as I see this as an intermediary space."  By doing so, the work can be considered public because the viewer does not have to enter the shop to see the art, however, the work is not displayed outside so it can be removed from the typical constraints and material restrictions of permanent public art. From Auckland, New Zealand, Sara Hughes examines the relationship between painting and the location and the architecture in which it is placed. Investigating how paintings operate within a physical space and how the placement of a work of art will affect the viewer. She is the recipient of the Frances Hodgkin's Fellowship at Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand and received both her BA and MFA from Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland. Call Devlin McNeil at 704/332-5535 or visit our website at (www.mccollcenter.org) for more information.

Asheville, NC's River Arts District is as exciting as the artists who line its streets and this spring one of its most treasured institutions is getting a celebrity makeover. Between 1994 and 2002, Brian and Gail McCarthy, co-founders of Highwater Clays and Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, operated both businesses along Clingman Avenue. About five years ago, they relocated Highwater Clays to a new, larger location on Riverside Drive, leaving Odyssey to expand within the Clingman Avenue warehouse. Odyssey will get a facelift (including a ceramic mosaic mural) in February with an exciting new entrance that will enhance the center's artistic identity, eliminate guesswork as to which door is the entry, and provide even more space for programming. "The River Arts District has changed since we moved to Clingman Avenue and we feel that it is time to renovate a portion of Odyssey's exterior to reflect the creative energy of the neighborhood," Brian McCarthy said, adding that a ceramic mural will offer an eye into the thriving clay community honing their skills at Odyssey. Studio artists, students and Odyssey residents are thrilled with the proposed changes. "It will be a great advantage to have a new workshop area and for the kids classes to have a space of their own," said Odyssey studio artist Susan Musialowski. The McCarthys worked with Terry Meek, AIA, in the design phase of the project, and are working with Carolina Cornerstone on the construction of the distinctive new entrance. Work will begin in February and will wrap up by May 2008, when children's summer classes begin. For more information about Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Highwater Clays, or this project, contact Odyssey at 828/285-0210, e-mail to (odyssey@highwaterclays.com) or visit (www.highwaterclays.com/odyssey.html).

The Art League of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, SC, is proud to present its newly elected Board of Directors for the year 2008. The four officers, Terry Brennan, President, Marajeane Zodtner, Vice President, Barbara Snow, Secretary, and Michael Keskin, Treasurer, remain unchanged and are all serving another year. Chris Clayton represents the Pineland Station Gallery on the Board, Cheryl Eppolito became the new Membership Chair, Gabriele Hoffmann took over as Publicity & Advertising Chair, Juliana Kim heads up the Education Committee and Anita Stephens chairs the Art Advisory Council. The Council's five members, besides Anita, are N. Jack Huddle, Ted Jordan, Clayton Kittinger, and Arla Wible. The Art League's Members At Large - Kaye Black, Michael Cofield, Betsy Doughtie, Branch Elam, Jane Joseph, Kent Lee, and Nancy Watts - contribute valuable professional expertise, such as legal, computer, and business acumen to the League and nicely complement the abundant creativity from the artist members on the Board. "We are happy to have attracted such a diverse group of artists and professionals for our Board and are looking forward to an exciting array of events this year," says Terry Brennan. The Art League of Hilton Head is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the visual arts through education, exhibitions and partnerships for the cultural enrichment of the community and its visitors. It operates a Gallery staffed by volunteers for the display and sale of artwork by its members. For additional information contact the gallery at 843/681-5060 or check the website at (www.artleague.org).

Anderson University in Anderson, SC, unveiled a sculpture from noted sculptor Marc Mellon during Founders' Day ceremonies on Feb. 13, 2008. The sculpture, nearly two years in the making, depicts various university students engaged in learning related activities. It is being installed in the midst of the fountain in front of the Thrift Library on campus. The elements cast in bronze will interact with jets of water in the fountain, creating one of the most inspiring outdoor art features in the Upstate of South Carolina. The sculpture was commissioned by the members of the Rainey family of Anderson and the Stringer-Rainey Foundation. It marks the first major outdoor art installation on the Anderson campus. School officials call the new artwork a significant contribution in Anderson's bid to provide more outdoor artwork for area citizens to enjoy. Marc Mellon is one of America's premier figurative sculptors in bronze. His palette includes a mastery of anatomy, a unique ability to portray balance, gesture, and movement, and sensitivity as to how anatomy and gesture unveil the inner life of the subject. Mellon's commissioned projects include bronze busts of former President George Bush (in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution), Pope John Paul II (in the Papal Apartments, The Vatican), President Lee Teng-Hui of Taiwan, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, and Academy-Award winning actress Patricia Neal. His monumental statues of Kate Smith (Philadelphia) and Dr. Alton Ochsner (New Orleans) have become local landmarks. Mellon's sports bronzes have honored a who's-who in the sport world, including Michael Jordan, Chris Evert, Joe Namath, Mickey Mantle, and Arthur Ashe. In 2006, Mellon was selected, after a national search, to create the NCAA Centennial Sculpture for the Michael Graves designed NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN. Founders' Day was established to honor the Anderson area leaders who saw the need for a place of higher learning in the city nearly a century ago and created what has become Anderson University. Anderson University is a comprehensive university affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention offering bachelors and masters degrees. Anderson is ranked in the Top Tier (top 34) of colleges and universities in the South by "US News & World Report". It is also among the top 11 Southern universities whose graduates accumulate the least amount of educational debt and one of "Americas 100 Best College Buys". Located in The Upstate region of South Carolina near the foothills of the Appalachians, Anderson University features a rigorous education in a supportive Christian environment. For further info contact Dale Ducworth at 864/622-6022 or visit (www.AndersonUniversity.edu).

The fundraising organization for the Greenville County Museum of Art in Greenville, SC, has endorsed a campaign to pay for an important new collection of nineteenth-century p1aintings, including a painting of the Reedy River Falls, the historic birthplace of Greenville. On Feb. 5, 2008, The Museum Association, Inc., unanimously approved a three-year commitment to dedicate funds from the annual Museum Antiques Show to the acquisition of a series of Southern landscapes by Joshua Shaw (1776-1860), a British-born painter whose work is owned by only a few American museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Greenville County Museum Commission has already approved the acquisition. Shaw achieved critical acclaim and some popular success in England, painting landscapes in the "picturesque" style, characterized by an idealized approach to composition. His first foray in the New World came as a favor to American expatriate Benjamin West, who asked Shaw to oversee the installation of one of his paintings in Philadelphia. Shaw decided to remain in America, in part to secure a patent for his invention of a percussion cap for firearms. He took up residence in Philadelphia, PA, and began producing a series of American landscapes in collaboration with John Hill, who was a master of the aquatint technique of printmaking. Shaw traveled through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, then headed south through the Carolinas to Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA. He painted iconic scenes in oil on prepared paper and canvas, returning them to Hill in Philadelphia to be reproduced as hand-colored engravings. Journeying north through Augusta, GA, and the western portions of South Carolina, Shaw was on his way to Table Rock when he discovered Greenville. "The picturesque was unlooked for," the artist admitted in a journal that recorded his trip. He found "the situation pleasant and the air cool and extremely salubrious." He made several sketches in the area, focusing special attention on the Reedy River Falls. Shaw's painting depicts the falls from above, looking downstream: it records in exacting detail the rock formations that frame the upper falls today. The artist took some artistic license with his landscape, however, placing the distant shadow of the Appalachians downriver from the falls. While the "Reedy River Falls" painting offers a special attraction for Greenville, the Museum has also acquired such scenes as "Jefferson Rock" and "Natural Bridge in Virginia", as well as a lush and captivating landscape along the Catawba River in South Carolina. Accompanying engravings include one depicting the 1820 burning of Savannah and one of Washington's tomb. "These works tell the story of Shaw's pioneering effort to illustrate and promote the beauty and grandeur of the southern American frontier," said Museum Executive Director Thomas W. Styron. "It is a particular point of pride that this first proper depiction of Greenville's birthplace links to sites that are icons of American topography, woven by the artist's commentary into the fabric of a young nation." The Museum Association has committed to raise $1.2 million over three years to complete the acquisition of the Shaw paintings. Businesses and individuals support the Museum by making contributions through the Museum's Antiques Show. The 2008 show, which takes place Oct. 17-19, will also fund acquisition of Jasper Johns' "The Seasons (Fall)", 1987, a key addition to the Museum's survey of the world's greatest living artist. The Museum has announced a three-week preview of the Shaw paintings, from Feb. 13 to Mar. 2, 2008. The exhibition "Joshua Shaw: A Paradise of Riches" opens Apr. 2 and continues through Sept. 28, 2008. A gallery talk is set for Apr. 6, at 2pm. For further information call the Museum at 864/271-7570 or visit (www.greenvillemuseum.org).

Upstate Visual Arts, Inc. (UVA) in Greenville, SC, announces today that Laura Linz is joining the organization as the new Director of Administration. Linz has a strong background in the visual arts and is welcomed by the board of directors and membership of Upstate Visual Arts. Linz is a graduate of Furman University and previous board member of First Fridays. Linz most recently worked as Assistant Director & Art Consultant at The West End Gallery. Tiffany Olson, the Director since early 2006, resigned and is moving out of the country to pursue her other professional and personal interests. "I am very confident the Mrs. Linz will be able to carry on the role as Director of Upstate Visual Arts and know she will be well received in the community." Upstate Visual Arts exists to enhance the quality of life within the community by elevating the stature of visual art and educating the public to its significance. For more information about Upstate Visual Arts and its activities, contact the UVA office at 864/232-4433 or visit (www.upstatevisualarts.org).

"Sculpturama-2008" is a juried art show at Gallery I, at the Tryon Fine Arts Center in Tryon, NC, opening Mar. 9 and continuing through Apr. 4, 2008. Sponsored by Tryon Painters and Sculptors, this unique show invites sculpture in traditional and modern media. The three categories of juried competition are in wall, tabletop, and floor sculpture. Alice Bentivegna, Chair of the committee planning "Sculpturama", stated, "Tryon Painters and Sculptors appreciate the overwhelming generosity of local sponsors. Plus, we've had terrific response from some outstanding area artists." At the time of this writing, "Sculpturama" has 17 business and individual sponsors including: Asheville, NC: Highwater Clays; Landrum, SC: Raymond James and Associates and H. & R. Block; Tryon: Nature's Storehouse, Mimosa Carpet, McKinsey Printing, Frog & Swan, Stotts Ford, Simply Irresistible, and Sutphin Accounting & Tax; Saluda, NC: Moonflower Gallery & Gifts, Purple Onion, and Random Arts; Spartanburg, SC: Kreismer Clinic of Chiropractic, and Clay King.com; and Individuals: Michael McCue, Tryon, and Mrs. Jan Whiting, Columbus. Cynthia Boyle Senior Vice-President, Raymond James and Associates in Landrum, donated $500 which will go to the first place winner in floor sculpture. Cynthia and John Boyle, Vice-President, explained that Raymond James has one of the largest art collections in North America. Raymond James has a long history of supporting art and the Boyles are delighted to support Tryon Painters & Sculptors' "Sculpturama" exhibition. The North Carolina Arts Council also assisted "Sculpturama-2008". The Council responded to a proposal prepared by TP&S officer Claire Carey and TP&S received a grant of $600. The TP&S fund for Sculptors also aids "Sculpturama". TP&S members have made timely contributions to boost that fund also used for scholarships. Artists have been made aware of "Sculpturama-2008" through galleries, schools, art associations, state arts councils, and internet resources. Sculptors are responding from the region bounded by Asheville, Charlotte, Spartanburg, and Greenville. For further info contact Gene Apple at 828/859-5998 or e-mail to (mgapple@alltel.net).

The Art Institute of Charlotte in Charlotte, NC, is proud to announce it will offer a Bachelor of Arts in Photography, focusing on digital photography, when the Spring Academic Quarter opens on Mar. 31, 2008. Today, more than ever, students must meet the demands of a rapidly shifting marketplace, especially with technology's ever-changing impact on commercial photography, said Brad L. Janis, President of The Art Institute of Charlotte. "This Bachelor's degree program builds a strong technical and creative foundation by increasing the student's skill level in areas such as digital color management, digital asset management, lighting, composition, and image manipulation," said Doug Heaps, Dean of Academic Affairs. "Students supplement this foundation by developing their expertise in a range of related skills in HTML, web, and video. Courses in business fundamentals, operations, marketing and electives on special topics round out the program and enhance a student's marketability." Opportunities for graduates include such entry-level positions as newspaper photojournalist, studio manager, commercial photographer (including medical and scientific), editorial photographer, or photographic editor with advertising agencies, publishing houses, magazines and production companies. Many commercial photographers open their own studios or work independently by taking freelance assignments. To find out more about this new and exciting program, contact the Admissions office at 800/872-4417 or 704/357-8020 or visit (www.artinstitutes.edu/charlotte).

International artist, Michelle Courier will make a personal appearance at The Blue Diamond Gallery in Greensboro, NC, on Feb. 1, 2008, from 5-9pm to encourage individual responsibility with our most precious natural resource. Courier was thrilled to partner with the US Environmental Protection Service to raise water conservation awareness to the public as well as the housing industry. "My strongest memories growing up were living in a beautiful home that was surrounded by trees and overlooking a pond," says Courier. "We are honored to work with Michelle, and more individuals like her who remain interested in this global issue," says John Allen, President of USEPS. US Environmental Protection Service, LLC is a privately held company in Greensboro. "We strive to keep our natural water supplies safe, and encourage developers to practice low impact construction," Allen said. Low Impact Construction (LIC) method is an innovative sustainable development technique that was created to coordinate construction sequencing with erosion control practices. Courier's exhibit will show from Feb. 1 - 29, at Blue Diamond Gallery and feature her large canvas landscape paintings. "I consider myself a realist and impressionistic painter, I love to create visible brush strokes and textures that allow two different ways to enjoy the painting,"said Courier."Art has always been a vital part of my life, but you simply cannot live without water." If you would like more information on this topic or to schedule an interview with Michelle Courier or John Allen, contact Danielle Hatfield at 336/392-2074 or e-mail to (danielle@thebluediamondgallery.com).

The Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation has generously awarded a $5000 grant to support the Cameron Art Museum's newly-established Minnie Evans Study Center in Wilmington, NC. The Center will act as the primary repository of information relating to the art and life of this North Carolina self-taught artist. The Center's immediate objective, enabled by this grant, will be to begin conducting oral history interviews with those who knew the artist, thereby creating an archival resource of first-hand accounts. The Center's ultimate goal is to deepen understanding and appreciation of Evans' unique contribution to American art and culture by making the Center's resources available to scholars and students researching the artist and her art. The Cameron Art Museum collection includes thirty original works of art by Minnie Evans, as well as early, archival documents relating to the artist's work. Twelve of the museum's works by Evans may be seen in the current exhibition, "Measure of All Things: the Human Scale," on view through Apr. 13, 2008. Minnie Evans (1892-1987) was an African-American self-taught artist whose work has been exhibited at and collected by the American Museum of Folk Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and other museums throughout the country. For more information, visit (www.cameronartmuseum.com) or call 910/395-5999.

Carolina Foothills Artisan Center in Chesnee, SC, has been granted $1,228 by the South Carolina Arts Commission for 2007-2008. The support will allow the organization to hold board development & leadership training for current and new board members. This training will increase knowledge of current laws and guidelines governing non-profit organizations and offer current and newly elected board members to develop working relationships as they set goals for CFAC as well as a plan of action to achieve those goals successfully. "We are very excited to receive a grant from the Arts Commission," said Carolina Foothills Artisan Center Executive Director Angelique Ruff. "This support will help us to provide a professional consultant who is very knowledgeable about updated laws and best practices for governance in a non-profit organization." Several area corporations and individuals are helping Carolina Foothills Artisan Center meet its obligation of matching the Arts Commission grant with local dollars. Those who are supporting the grant project are: Hampton Inn, The VSP Foundation, and Larry Jenkins. Residents in Chesnee can get a first-hand look at how the Arts Commission grant and local funds are benefiting Carolina Foothills Artisan Center by visiting the Artisan Center, located at 124 West Cherokee Street, Chesnee, SC, 29323. West Cherokee Street is part of National Scenic By-Way SC 11. Carolina Foothills Artisan Center provides artists and artisans from South and North Carolina a permanent gallery space in which to sell their work to the world. We also offer opportunities to the community for increasing cultural experiences and education. The South Carolina Arts Commission provides grants, technical services and leadership to arts organizations, schools and individual artists to preserve and promote the arts across the spectrum of South Carolina's cultures and forms of expression. The agency strives to make the arts accessible to all South Carolinians, enhancing quality of life and contributing significantly to the state's economic well-being. Headquartered in Columbia, SC, the Arts Commission draws on the resources of state dollars appropriated by the South Carolina General Assembly and the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit (www.southcarolinaarts.com) or call 803/734-8696. For info about the Artisan Center contact Angelique Ruff, Executive Director at 864/461-3050 or e-mail (director@cfac.us).

Mia Katrin

An exquisite one-of-a-kind "Hearts of Gold" necklace of large, beautiful South Sea and Tahitian pearls in natural shades of gold, white and silver, designed by Mia Katrin for Jewel Couture LLC especially for the American Heart Association's "Heart of Gold" 50th Anniversary Heart Ball in Charlotte, NC, Feb. 9, 2008, will be live-auctioned at the event. All proceeds will benefit the AHA. The necklace features a 14 karat-gold heart-shaped clasp with diamonds which can also be worn facing front as a pendant, along with white gold and diamond dividers (approximately .4 carats total weight diamonds), hand-knotted on silk in a cutting-edge yet classic style. Pre-bids will be accepted before Feb, 9, 2008, by contacting Susan Fisher by e-mail at (Susan.fisher@heart.org). Mia Katrin's award-winning designs are featured in top galleries and stores throughout the country, where Katrin regularly travels, hosting Trunk Shows. In Feb. 2007, her original "Ruby Heart Necklace" of natural heart-shaped ruby briolettes in 18-22 karat gold was live-auctioned at the AHA's Gala Event in Conover, NC, by the Emmy award­winning news anchor Paul Cameron for thousands of dollars, and was widely publicized in print, radio and television throughout the state. Jewel Couture LLC is currently attracting major national publicity, being featured in top industry publications and television. Katrin also writes a syndicated Byline column, Jewelry By Design, reaching 100,000 readers monthly through multiple media outlets. The monthly Byline column is also available on the weblog (www.miakatrin.com). Katrin for Jewel Couture LLC features limited edition necklaces of exuberance, spirit and style with cutting-edge design, the finest materials and meticulous workmanship. The Collections with precious gems in 18-24 karat gold and platinum have been worn by A-list Hollywood celebrities. Jewel Couture LLC,  based in Fleetwood, NC, is a member of the American Gem Trade Association. For more information, contact Jewel Couture LLC at 877/539-3569, e-mail at (info@jeweljewel.com), or visit (www.jeweljewel.com).

The Holidays are a good time to share stories of people helping others in their time of need. The Ronald McDonald House in Charleston, SC, is fortunate to have Danita Cole as one of those people. Earlier this year Cole and her son Dolton stopped by the Ronald McDonald House to share their story with us. The knew about the Ronald McDonald House and what they do for families because they found themselves in a situation where they needed the Ronald McDonald House. Here is their story: "We sailed into Charleston Harbor the summer of 2004 aboard a boat that was to take us around the world. After embarking on our most excellent adventure, we got as far as the Bahamas before we broke the boat and I was blessed with a baby. We came back to the states to attend to both things. Some time after arriving in Charleston, I was involved in an accident where the impact resulted in a perforated placenta. Three weeks later, while on a visit to Vero Beach, FL, I went into labor and gave birth to my son Dolton at only 23 weeks. I didn't think he would survive. You can only imagine the turmoil of emotions and fear that goes through a person after you have been through something like that. I was 500 miles from my family and home and scared to death for this little child that was fighting for his life. Like most of us, I had no access to the resources I would need to be near my child while he fought for this life. I was near panic when a nurse came into my room and told me about the Ronald McDonald House. For 157 days, my son fought for his life through many surgeries, infections and complications. He won his life; it cost him his eyesight, but he doesn't seem to know it. He "sees" things; he just "sees" them differently. I honestly feel that he would not have survived had he not had his family there with him everyday, singing to him, holding him and just being there for him day and night. I could not have done that were it not for the Ronald McDonald House. I owe them my son's life. That is why when I heard that the new wing of the Charleston Ronald McDonald House did not have artwork on the walls of the guest rooms, I resolved to change that. By trade I am a Sea Captain with a 100 Tonne Commercial License issued through the Coast Guard. I have been driving boats since I was a little girl, but Dolton had many medical issues that made him temporarily too delicate to enter regular day care or school. I went to plan "b" which for me is painting. I have painted with colored bees wax for fifteen years as a hobby. The technique is called encaustics and is actually, the oldest medium still being used by artists today. It died out when tempura was invented because it is difficult to work with and can never really be mastered. Today, Dolton is doing really well. He is a regular three year old with all the tantrums and giggles of any child his age and hopefully this spring his doctors will clear him to be able to enter school. We owe it all to the Ronald McDonald House and his doctors and nurses of course, but as far as Dolton's spirits and will to fight, that came from him having his family near him and that was made possible by the Ronald McDonald House. I could never repay what they have done for my family, but this is my way of saying thanks!" Danita Cole will provide a special piece of art for each of the 25 guest rooms at the Charleston Ronald McDonald House. "We are very excited about this donation," said Barbara Bond, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities. "It is heartwarming to see someone who benefited from a Ronald McDonald House giving back to help our families. That kind of caring is what our House is all about." For further information contact Karla Taylor by calling 843/723-7957 ext. 340.

Wil Bosbyshell

Wil Bosbyshell, a Graphic Design instructor, has been named The Art Institute of Charlotte's (Charlotte, NC) Summer/Fall 2007 Outstanding Faculty Member. Bosbyshell, a noted local artist, has taught at The Art Institute for seven years. Bosbyshell was honored at The Art Institute of Charlotte's graduation ceremony Dec. 14, 2007. An Outstanding Faculty Member is selected twice each year by his/her fellow instructors based on the person's teaching skills, relationship with students, collaboration with other instructors and overall knowledge and abilities. "I am called a teacher, but my aim is to inspire," said Bosbyshell. "It is a great and wondrous thing to see the proverbial light go on over a student's head as they make a sudden leap forward.  It is just as wonderful to see the slow steady growth of a student achieving his or her artistic goal. So I try not to teach through lecture, but to encourage, lead, and inspire."  He added, "In artistic endeavors, most learning occurs with solitary time and practice.  However, I believe teachers can and should share techniques and short cuts or long cuts with students to speed up the learning process." Bosbyshell took several detours before settling into painting and teaching as a career. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia, then served in the army as a Field Artillery captain. Returning from military service, he earned an MBA and spent several years in the insurance brokerage industry. Finally, while living in Chicago, his creative drive caught up with him, and Bosbyshell has been painting ever since. He joined The Art Institute of Charlotte as a Graphic Design Instructor in 2000. Among the courses he teaches are  Drawing & Perspective, Life Drawing, Fundamentals of Design, Illustration and Color Theory. "I believe I won the award because I helped get some basic academic items accomplished this year," said Bosbyshell. Among them were:  Selection of a valedictorian to speak at graduation, "Myndspace" - funding for instructor's individual artistic projects, student scholarships for winners of the school's juried Manifesto Film Festival and Mental Ink Graphic Design exhibit, and the chartering of Alpha Beta Kappa honor society at The Art Institute of Charlotte. Bosbyshell is a member of the Charlotte Art Guild where he has his studio. He has had numerous individual and group exhibits locally, regionally and internationally. Bosbyshell's paintings have been featured nationally in "Watercolor Magazine". A series of his paintings was adopted as a series of cross-stitching patterns. Some of Bosbyshell's best-known local works have included sunset silhouettes of Charlotte's Historic South End and the Charlotte Trolley, and his illustrations were selected as posters for the 2007 and 2006 Center City Partners' "Art & Soul Festival." Critic Jane Grau wrote in "The Charlotte Observer", "Wil has the uncanny ability to infuse life into totally inanimate objects. One hears baroque music in the curves and curlicues of the rococo cupids on a Paris bridge and deep resonance in a dinner bell high above the Smokies" The Art Institute of Charlotte offers bachelor's degrees in Culinary Management, Fashion Marketing & Management, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Web Design & Interactive Media; associate degrees in Culinary Arts, Interior Design, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design and Web Design & Interactive Media, and certificates in The Art of Cooking, Residential Design, Digital Design and Web Design. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina. The Art Institute of Charlotte is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 35 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For further info call Susan Jetton, Director of Public Relations at 704.357.5963 or visit (www.artinstitutes.edu/charlotte).

The Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC, welcomes Diana Corbett to its Development team. She will assume a new position as Development Officer for Major Gifts, leading the museum's efforts in growing individual and major gifts in all fund-raising efforts. She joins a Development department comprised of Mebane Boyd (Endowment Coordinator); Ashley Hammons (Development Associate); and Heather Wilson (Grants and Sponsorships). Corbett comes with a wealth of community experience stemming from previous positions as Director of Education Programs at the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and Director of Property Management at Intracoastal Realty. Corbett is currently the President of the Wilmington Civitan Club and is also involved with the NC Coastal Land Trust as Secretary. "I'm thrilled to join the Cameron Art Museum at this exciting time and look forward to helping it continue its recent positive momentum," Corbett said. After a highly successful tenure as Deputy Director in charge of Operations, Mebane Boyd will continue to shepherd the Endowment Campaign on a part-time basis as she pursues a graduate degree. When approached by museum director Deborah Velders to assume a leadership position focused on the museum's endowment campaign, Boyd had agreed to defer her graduate studies for a period of one year in order to assist the museum with Phase I of its Endowment Campaign. "I'm delighted that the campaign is building new momentum," Boyd said. The Endowment Campaign continues to grow through the generosity of the community with recent gifts from the Kenan Foundation, onewilmington, and annual gifts from several individuals. Cameron Art Museum currently receives no ongoing government support, but is entirely dependent upon community and foundation contributions. For more information visit us online at (www.cameronartmuseum.com) or call 910/395-5999.

McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, NC, is pleased to announce that winter Artist-in-Residence Lee Renninger will work with students from The Art Institute of Charlotte's Fashion Marketing and Management class in constructing couture pieces created from clay and fiber. The work will be inspired by the designer, Vionnet, because of her beautiful use of intricate decoration and detail and the way she uses sheer fabric to create negative space.  Renninger will work with the students during her tenure at the Center with the project culminating with a display of the pieces, and reception for the artist, at Neiman Marcus on Mar. 13, 2008 from 6 - 8pm. Conceptually, the students and artist will address the idea of gravity. By nature clay is a heavy, solid and dense material. The students will form clay and fiber to create works that are the antithesis of these qualities. Renninger states, "It's all an illusion, of course ­ but that's the beauty of it." All the final pieces may appear light, ethereal and wearable, yet will not be ­ they will merely mimic reality. Renninger approaches ceramic sculpture with the intent to blend pop culture with fine art. Her interest in the dichotomy of fashion as art has led her to create detailed installations of fashion in life experience. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Political Science from the University of Florida. Renninger has exhibited extensively in the United States, and has work in the permanent collection at the Shepparton Art Gallery in Australia. McColl Center for Visual Art is advancing creativity through artist residencies, exhibitions and other educational programs about contemporary art. The Center provides transforming experiences for visual artists, individuals who visit the Center and our broader community.  McColl Center for Visual Art is supported, in part, by a Basic Operating grant from the Arts & Science Council; as well as the North Carolina Arts Council with funding from the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art; and the generosity of corporate and individual donors. For further info call Devlin McNeil at 704/332-5535 or visit (www.mccollcenter.org).

Omar Olihant ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eliani Camarena

Richland Northeast High School (Columbia, SC) senior Eliani Camarena and junior Omar Oliphant won Gold Key awards at the 2008 South Carolina Visual Arts Scholastic Competition, the highest honors presented. A painting by junior Lyla Shlon won a Silver Key. Digital imagery by junior Alan Youngblood received Honorable Mention, as did a drawing by Camarena. All are students in RNE's Palmetto Center for the Arts magnet. In addition, Camarena is in the school ESOL program. A collection of eight works based on a central theme, Camareno's portfolio won the highest honor given to a graduating senior. It will be entered in the national competition this spring, where awards include scholarships to the nation's top art schools. Camarena and Shlon are students of Mary Catherine Newman. Oliphant and Youngblood are students of Nancy Underwood. The Scholastic exhibition features the most talented students from the state's high schools and middle schools. The 2008 awards reception will take place on Jan. 26 2008, at Lander University's Monsanto Gallery, where the exhibition will run until Feb. 8, 2008. The winners and their works are: Eliani Camarena - Portfolio, Gold Key; Eliani Camarena - Drawing: "Time of the Clocks" Honorable Mention; Lyla Shlon - Painting: "Ugly Birds" Silver Key; Omar Oliphant - Computer Art: "Armageddon"; and Alan Youngblood - Digital Imagery: "Corrosion" Honorable Mention. For further info call Susan Silverstein, Public relations, Richland Northeast High School at 803/699 2800 ext. 2782.

To keep in stride with the artistic explosion in Spartanburg, SC, means some may be left behind. COLORS a creative outreach program created through SAM (Spartanburg Art Museum) was an idea designed after a program in Harlem fourteen years ago to make sure that no one is left behind. COLORS is an open art studio with hours from 3-6 Mon.-Thur. The class targets children from low income families and provides professional materials and instruction for no charge. Recently, an Afterschool Arts Initiative grant was awarded to COLORS from The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC). The amount of the grant is $10,000 dollars per year over the next 3 years. With the money that COLORS receives, the program will be able to recruit more at-risk teens. The program will help students to increase their knowledge of art history as well as encourage their artistic freedom in style and improve their creativity and social skills. The grant funds will also be used for field trips, city murals, and student exhibitions. COLORS will continue to develop relationships with other community groups like the Boys and Girls Club, The City of Spartanburg Parks and Recreation and Hub-Bub Artists-in-Residents, so that they may be exposed to social settings and local artists. We are also pleased to announce that The United Way of the Piedmont's Community Impact Committee has awarded the COLORS program a 2007 Capacity Building Grant for $6,640. This grant will be used to fund the new Graphic Arts branch of the COLORS program. Three Mac laptops and professional grade graphic design software will be purchased in order to offer the graphic design component to teens in the COLORS Program at The Chapman Cultural Center, the Hangar, Carver Junior High School and Whitlock Junior High School. Laura Pinkley, founder of COLORS said, "We are really excited to add graphic design to our program. We believe it will appeal to more students, especially adolescents who are interested in possibly pursuing it as a career." This also works nicely with the fact that Ron Zimmerman, our new COLORS Director, has experience as a professional graphic design artist. The SCAC was created in 1967 from a state legislature act. The agency itself is made up of a nine person board of Commissioners. The goal of the SCAC is to provide an environment where art is flourishing for everyone in the state. For further information e-mail Margaret Edmunds at (marketing@spartanburgartmuseum.org).

Mary Whyte

In 2008, the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Carolina Art Association and the beginning of what is now the Gibbes' permanent collection. In recognition of the upcoming anniversary, Dr. and Mrs. Anton Vreede have gifted the museum with "Artist," a watercolor painting from Charleston artist Mary Whyte. In 2004, the Vreedes gave the museum 27 James McNeill Whistler prints and in 2001, they contributed funds toward the purchase of "Bombardment of Fort Sumter" by William Aiken Walker.  "On the eve of the anniversary, we are pleased to receive this wonderful addition to our collection and wish to acknowledge Dr. and Mrs. Vreede for their ongoing support of the museum.  95% of our collection comes from gifts and all of Charleston benefits from the generosity of donors like the Vreedes," says Gibbes Executive Director Todd Smith. Dr. Vreede, a retired physician who has resided in the Charleston area for 13 years, serves on the Board of Directors for the Gibbes.  "We saw the painting at a recent CFADA (Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association) event and we were struck by it.  My wife and I wanted to give it to the Gibbes so that many others could also enjoy Ms. Whyte's work.  We are fortunate to live in a community with such a vibrant arts community," explains Dr. Vreede. According to Whyte, "Artist' is a simple statement about graffiti and its arguable relevance as art.  In this painting I have posed Lilly, one of my favorite young models, standing in front of a wall that has been tagged by several "artists."  The graffiti makes an abstract, menacing foil around the innocent figure dressed in white, and creates a lively contrast to her diminutive crayon drawing." The painting is now on view on the second floor of the Gibbes as part of the ongoing exhibition "The Charleston Story". Angela Mack, Gibbes Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, notes "Artist' demonstrates an interesting shift toward abstraction that is not evident in prior works by Mary. The tension is palpable."  The museum's collection also includes a portrait of Charleston treasure Philip Simmons painted by Mary Whyte in 2000. An Ohio native, Whyte graduated from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. She has been active as a teacher, artist and writer for over twenty-five years, exhibiting and conducting workshops across the country. While Whyte paints a variety of subjects from languid Lowcountry scenes to still-lifes, it is her distinctive portraits for which she is best known. Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858 (celebrating 150 years in 2008), the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located in Charleston's historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American works with a Charleston or Southern connection and presents special exhibitions annually. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives. For further information visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

Internationally renowned Tromp L'Oeil (fool the eye) muralist, Blue Sky (b. 1938 as Warren Edward Johnson) has been commissioned by the city of Union, SC, to create a major work of art for their downtown revitalization project. Giving him full freedom of concept and design go the artist excited about the project. Approximately 30 ft. x 50 ft. or 1500 sq. ft., the mural is located near the courthouse and city hall at the corner of Main Street and Hwy. 18 in Union. Depicting a train coming out of a tunnel - a theme for which Sky is renowned when he originally created this ides in both "Tunnelvision" in 1974 and "Night Train" in 1995, it also incorporates at the city's request, the historical Union Cotton Mill in the distance. Union has been wonderful and generous in their support of Blue Sky and his creative ideas, which will be paid back in kind when he completes the heroic scale fine art painting. Scheduled to be completed by Dec. 2007, Sky hopes to have the opportunity to create more large scale fine art works soon, as it is something that not only does he absolutely love, it is something that arguably not many in the world can do. After Blue Sky and his mural "Tunnelvision" appeared in "People Magazine" in 1975, and on the Associated Press (AP) wire, an explosion of murals began cropping up around the world. Travel the world, far and wide, and you will not find a mural as dynamic and powerful and masterfully painted by any living artist. He is arguably the world's finest mural painter, who has not only influenced the direction of art in paintings more than anyone in the southeast; he has influenced the direction of murals around the world. Sky's work is represented in the Smithsonian and numerous other museums and collections, and he is included in "Who's Who in the World". For further information call Blue Sky Gallery in Columbia, SC, at 803/779-4242 or visit (www.blueskyart.com).

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