We are so excited that we have been voted #1 Gallery for 2022 Best of the Beach Annual competition hosted by the Sun News of Myrtle Beach.  Thank you to all who have supported us through the years-we are so honored to be chosen! 

Happy to announce that two of our gallery artists had paintings juried in to the SCWS 45th Annual National Exhibition!  Congratulations to Maura Kenny, "Paul Steaming Oysters" and Kelly Atkinson, "Dance of the Dragonfly" for their winning entries--both can be seen at the SC State Museum as a part of the SCWS Show and will be a part of the Traveling Show throughout SC in 2023.  You can view the SCWS show in it's entirety here.     You can also learn more about the show through the South Carolina State Museum where the show is currently on display.

​How sweet is it was to be able to join together in person this year for our annual spring show.   Thanks to all who
showed up to celebrate the event and to all who participated. We are so grateful for the input of our three judges as well--allowing this to be an opportunity for all artists to learn and grow as artists. 

Vida Miller Award

​I found myself wanting to go emotionally into Carol Russell's painting, "Washed in Morning Light". The painting itself contains the elements of a well thought out abstract – 5 primary shapes, but with a very well-integrated 6th shape of the circle. It is a very strong shape painting with an interesting application of texture and color.  The use of complimentary colors in the foreground and background keeps you in the painting and invites you to enjoy all of the elements in between.   The hard edges are very nicely positioned and draw the viewer into the painting.  It reminded me of my view out of my window with the moon setting over my garage. The strong light takes you beyond the building shape to wonderment behind.  The large circular shape is a relief to the hard edges and welcomes the viewer to ponder on a day well spent or a new day to enjoy. The implied foliage in the background is a nice contrast to the dark hard foreground of concrete – or whatever you may see. This non-objective painting can be viewed from many perspectives and is ever evolving.  Congratulations Carol!

​Maura Kenny Award

One painting in particular ‘swept me off my feet’, “Separation Panes” by Meredith Boos held me captive immediately. The concept hit me emotionally, in that it related to the limitations of personal physical
contact that we have all endured during the past few years of this pandemic. So many of us reverting to visiting through a window pane with friends and loved ones. But how she employed the elements of art and her own personal voice and style to execute the emotion was breathtaking and dynamic.
Congratulations Meredith, for receiving this award and for sharing your art with us all.

Calk-Havens Award

After much deliberation, our choice for the Calk/Havens  Award for the “Outside My Window” Spring Show is “A Glimpse Into the Past”, encaustic by Kathleen LaCasse.  We are drawn to this piece for the artist’s out-of-the-box approach—-very avant garde.  The composition created through the artist’s process is so unique and evokes much emotion. She not only interpreted the theme literally but also figuratively. Congratulations Kathleen!

Betsy Havens and Jim Calk

Now that May is here, the countdown is on for our Annual Spring Show! Hoping you are all thinking
​ "Outside my Window" and have something underway!  We will be giving three awards this year--all named for the incredible artists who will be judging the show,   These artists have made promoting the arts in our community a part of their daily life on top of creating their award winning art.  We are excited and honored to have them be a part of our show this year. 

The Calk/Havens Award--representative of Jim Calk and Betsy Havens. This incredible artist duo's art career spans 
decades. Jim is known for his large colorful abstracted oil landscapes and Betsy is known for her interpretative oil paintings that are created through her keen observation of people and the human form. To learn more about this dynamic couple click here.

The Maura Kenny Award--Maura is an award winning watercolorist recently retired from a 33 year art career teaching at Coastal Carolina University.  She now has had time to devote to her own art and her work can be seen at Island Art Gallery.  To learn more about Maura Kenny click here.

The Vida Miller Award--Vida is the owner of The Grayman Gallery in Pawleys Island as well as the founder of the Waccamaw Neck Arts Alliance.  Through her gallery, she has enhanced so many artist's works with her framing for years, all along continuing to create her own beautiful watercolors and pastels. To learn more about Vida click here.

Just a reminder, submission are due May 16th.  Please see prior post for original "Call to Artist".

​We are thrilled to be featured in the Charleston Style and Design Magazine's Winter 2022 issue!  Click here to view their digital edition and see the article. The below featured painting was done by artist Paula Robertson, watercolor on yupo paper, "Tears for my Brothers and Sisters".


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