By Staff
BCAC event draws over 400 entries
By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles &Features Editor
More than 400 pieces are featured in the 44th annual Fine Arts Show, which opens today in the Washington Civic Center gallery.
The event, hosted by the Beaufort County Arts Council, is free to the public and runs through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The show is supported by the City of Washington and PCS Phosphate.
For the second year in a row, the Frances M. and William R. Roberson Jr. Best in Show Award goes to Greenville artist Daniel M. Cassity. His “The Chopping Block” earned that honor this year, while “The Wash Tub” brought him the 2007 award.
A complete list of this year’s winners will be featured in Friday’s edition of the Washington Daily News.
Toler said he expects over 1,000 people to view the exhibition over the next few days and he promises they won’t be disappointed.
Represented in the show are 146 different artists, with each contributing up to four pieces, Toler said. Sixty-four of those artists are from Beaufort County.
Of the 425 works on display this week, juror Tom Grubb of Fayetteville narrowed the number down to 52 award selections that will remain on display in the gallery until Dec. 19. Grubb will offer a critique of the show Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and the public is welcome.
Toler and his arts council staff were joined Sunday by 50 volunteers who welcomed artists and registered their work in preparation for the show.
Represented in the Fine Arts Show are oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphics/mixed media and 3-D pieces, according to Toler.
Up until this year, there was a photography category but the arts council opted to hold a separate show for that medium this summer.
Toler added that he hopes everyone will drop by and view the exhibition.
*For more information about the Fine Arts Show, call (252) 946-2504.