The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is seeking entries from African American textile artists from across the nation for a special exhibition presented as a component of the 2017 North Charleston Arts Fest, taking place May 3-7 in North Charleston, SC. African American artists, ages 18 and up, living in the United States and working in the medium of fiber are invited to participate in the 11th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition, titled Move On Up and Reach the Higher Ground. The exhibition will be on display at North Charleston City Hall from May 1-June 23, 2017. A $30 entry fee applies and allows artists to submit up to four entries. The application is available online at www.NorthCharlestonCulturalArtsDepartment.SlideRoom.com. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Curated by award winning and nationally exhibiting textile artist, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, this unique exhibition offers African American fiber artists a showcase to display their original and innovative designs. This year’s exhibition calls for fiber art inspired by the aspirational music of the 1970's that sought to unify and lift the spirit of our nation, specifically songs such as Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground and Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield. As we find ourselves, once again, in a time of great division and unrest, the challenge for this special exhibit is for artists to create a fiber work, such as an art quilt, doll, wearable art piece, etc., that explores the ideas of creating a better world, journeying toward self-awareness, and ascending to a position of loving acceptance of all citizens.

Following the close of the show, up to twenty works will be selected to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2017/2018 Traveling Exhibitions Program.  Sites across South Carolina may request the exhibit to tour in their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists.

The 11th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition: Move On Up and Reach the Higher Ground will be on display 8:00am-8:00pm daily from May 1-June 23, 2017, on the 1st and 2nd floors of North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane in North Charleston. Admission is free. A free public reception in honor of the artists will be held at City Hall on Friday, May 5, 2017, from 6:00-8:00pm. For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, the exhibition, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843)740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.