Visitors view this year’s Best in Show, Fellowship by Tom Boozer

SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition Winners Announced

Fine craft artists and artisans from across South Carolina were invited to participate in the 15th Annual SouthCarolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, the state’s only juried fine craft competition and exhibition.  Organized annually by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the show was presented April 29-May 6 as a component of the 2016 North Charleston Arts Fest. 

Following an extensive pre-jury process, 36 applicants were asked to participate and 82 entries were submitted in the categories of clay, fiber, metal, wood, and 3D mixed media.  Cash awards totaling $5,000 were made at the sole discretion of the juror, internationally exhibiting contemporary silversmith Kaminer Haislip. After making her selections, Mrs. Haislip stated, “The wide range of media, quality of craftsmanship, and originality of concept was so impressive that I found it very challenging to judge. After considering all aspects of each entry very carefully, I arrived at the awards I felt each piece deserved. For the SC State Museum Traveling Exhibition, the award winning artworks were immediately chosen. The remaining selections were made in order to create a cohesive and balanced show with a variety of media. I feel this traveling exhibition will represent the exceptional, contemporary, craft happening in South Carolina today.”

After awarding ribbons, Mrs. Haislip also selected pieces from the show to assemble a South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Traveling Exhibition, which will tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2016/2017 Traveling Exhibitions Program. The Traveling Exhibitions Program gives galleries, museums, and art centers across South Carolina the opportunity to request the exhibit to tour their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists.

In addition to awards given by the juror, two pieces were selected for City of North Charleston Purchase Awards. These pieces will be added to the City of North Charleston’s Permanent Public Art Collection, which is on display within North Charleston City Hall throughout most of the year.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition:

Best of Show
Fellowship (Mixed Media) by Tom Boozer (Yonges Island, SC)

Outstanding Merit
Boot Scoot (Mixed Media) by Patz Fowle (Hartsville, SC)
Continuum (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC)

City of North Charleston Purchase Awards
Rice Plantation at Brookgreen (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
Gosu Basket Form (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC)

Honorable Mention
Rosewood Box (Wood) by Duane Dunning (Charleston, SC)
Green Covered Jar with Balls (Clay) by Mark Vail (Charleston, SC)
Blueberry Tart Cake (Clay) by Margaret Weinberg (Charleston, SC)
Koi (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Ladys Island, SC)
Queen Bee Totem (Mixed Media) by Kim Keats (Okatie, SC)
Five Points Pavement IX (Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC)
Vessel No. 373 (Metal) by Lee Sipe (Columbia, SC)
Sam Doyle (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)

SC Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selections
Wrench Wench (Mixed Media) by Selma Andrews (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
Fellowship (Mixed Media) by Tom Boozer (Yonges Island, SC)
Gameboard (Glass) by Tanya Craig (Charleston, SC)
Natural Edge Maple Bowl (Wood) by Duane Dunning (Charleston, SC)
Triangular Rosewood Box (Wood) by Duane Dunning (Charleston, SC)
Boot Scoot (Mixed Media) by Patz Fowle (Hartsville, SC)
Continuum Totem
(Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC)
Haida #6 Totem (Clay) by Gary Huntoon (Travelers Rest, SC)
Sam Doyle (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
Wormloe Plantation (Fiber) by Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC)
Handle With Care (Mixed Media) by Annie Rhodes Lee (Folly Beach, SC)
Five Points Pavement IX (Fiber) by Susan Lenz (Columbia, SC)
Butterfly Bowl (Clay) by Mary Nicholson (Johns Island, SC)
Koi (Glass) by Kathy Oda (Ladys Island, SC)
Raku Bowl with Dots (Clay) by John Turner (Reidville, SC)
Green Covered Jar with Balls (Clay) by Mark Vail (Charleston, SC)
Salty (Mixed Media) by Matt Wilson (North Charleston, SC)

For more information about the South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition and other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. Organizations interested in hosting the traveling exhibition should contact the South Carolina State Museum Traveling Exhibits Program at 803-737-4159 or tep@scmuseum.org.