Wearable Art Designers and African American Art Quilters Sought for Annual Exhibitions in North Charleston

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is seeking entries from textile artists from across the nation for two exhibitions presented as a component of the 2014 North Charleston Arts Festival, taking place May 2-10. African American art quilt artists in the United States, Mexico, and Canada age 18 and up are invited to participate in the 8th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition, titled JOY. Wearable art artists and fashion designers in the United States age 18 and up are welcome to submit entries for the 2nd Annual Wearable Art Competition and Exhibition. Both exhibitions will be on display at North Charleston City Hall from April 30-June 20, 2014. A $30 entry fee applies to each exhibition opportunity and allows artists to submit up to four entries. Applications for these exhibitions are only available online and may be accessed via the links at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply. Deadline for entries is Monday, March 3, 2014.

8th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition: JOY

Quilt from 2013 (7th Annual) African American Fiber Art Exhibition
Anansi & the Pot of Wisdom by Carolyn Brackat

 

 

Curated by award winning and nationally exhibiting textile artist, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, this unique exhibition offers African American art quilters a showcase to display their original and innovative designs. This year’s installment calls for art quilts inspired by the emotion of joy. Joy can be seen in the eyes of a child or felt while dancing; it can be heard in an exuberant holler when we hear fantastic news or in a squeal of delight when receiving a surprise gift. We can express joy in many ways. The challenge for this year’s exhibition is for artists to show the world their joy through an art quilt. Entries may be hand or machine quilted and embellishment is encouraged.

Following the close of the show, up to thirty works will be selected to tour the state through the South Carolina State Museum’s 2014/2015 Traveling Exhibitions Program. Sites across South Carolina may request the exhibit to tour in their facilities, thus providing additional exposure for the selected artists. Additionally, organizers are proud to extend a special opportunity to young quilt artists who do not meet age eligibility requirements to enter the annual exhibition. Emerging quilt artists under the age of 18 may submit quilts for Our Next Generation, a parallel exhibition that will be on display at the Unity Church of Charleston.

 




2nd Annual Wearable Art Competition & Exhibition

Best in Show from 2013 Wearable Art Competition & Exhibition

Elegant Bits N’ Pieces by Kathy Knapp

Juried by Torreah “Cookie” Washington, with assistance from the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this opportunity offers emerging and established designers a showcase to exhibit their inspiring fashion designs, wearable art garments and accessories of all styles. The goal is to present innovative and wearable work of the highest quality and to provide a forum to share the growing enthusiasm for an exploration of techniques and materials. Wearable art garments in all styles are welcome, including garments, hats, handbags and accessories. Garments for both men and women are encouraged.

The 8th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition and the 2nd Annual Wearable Art Competition and Exhibition will be on display 8:00am-8:00pm daily from April 30-June 20, 2014, on the 1st and 2nd floors of North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane in North Charleston. Admission is free. A public reception in honor of both exhibitions and announcement of winners for Wearable Art will be held at City Hall on Thursday, May 8, 2014, from 6:00-8:00pm. For more information about the North Charleston Arts Festival, these exhibitions, 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.

North Charleston City Hall Turns Art Gallery with Works by International & National Artists

Pursuing New Lands by Reynier Llanes

The halls of North Charleston City Hall have been transformed into viewing spaces for three special visual art exhibitions presented as components of the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival. Contemporary works by an assortment of artists from Cuba, art quilts by African American fiber artists from across the nation, and abstract fiber pieces by the City’s Artists-in-Residence are currently on display and will remain on view through June 20. A reception in honor of the exhibitions will be held at North Charleston City Hall on Thursday, May 9, from 6:00-8:00pm. The exhibitions and reception are free and open to the public.

Contemporary Artists of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba - International Group Exhibition
The third floor of City Hall features the international group exhibition, Contemporary Artists of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, is an area steeped in rich culture and history that has been the birthplace and home of many of the country’s most outstanding writers, musicians, and visual artists. In this group exhibition curated by Reynier Llanes, nine professional contemporary artists from this westernmost province of Cuba present a collection of post Cuban Revolution art in a variety of mediums and styles that capture their unique culture and heritage as is relates to the land, life, and the essence of community. Featured artists include Javier Ampudia, Arquimides (Nelo) Lores, Juan Suarez Blanco, Livan Ricardo Hernandez, Reynier Llanes (curator), Yaciel Martinez, Juan Carlos Morales Lemus, Danys Milo Ozuna, and Juan Miguel Suarez. These artists are not tied to the historical 1940’s early modern traditions of pre-revolution artistic expressions, or the 1960’s revolution presentations of ideological social realism, or the politically sanctioned and government supervised expressions of art of the 1970’s and 80’s. Rather, these artists are products of the 1990’s, creating work based on the ideas of freedom of expression and experimentation in both mediums and styles. Featured works include representational landscapes, figurative expressions, magic surrealism, and abstract expressionism styles of contemporary art in Cuba today that are a clear testament to the artists’ creativity and imagination, advanced education, rich cultural bonding, sense of humor, and vitality. Llanes will give a brief lecture during the reception at 6:30pm. For additional information on the artists featured in the exhibition, visit ReynierLlanes.com.

Once Upon a Quilt: Welcome to My Quilted Story Book – 7th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition
City Hall’s first and second floors feature the 7th annual African American fiber art exhibition, Once Upon a Quilt: Welcome to My Quilted Story Book. Curated by award-winning and nationally exhibiting textile artist, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, this annual exhibit showcases African American fiber artists from across the nation creating works through a variety of traditional and non-traditional fiber techniques. The 7th installment features pieces inspired by the artists’ favorite story; written or oral, fiction or non-fiction. Through this exhibition, these quilts are able to tell their own stories with messages that encourage, inspire, comfort, and enchant. Featured artists include Cathy Alvarez (Marietta, GA), Yvonne Anderson (Laurelton, NY), Pauline Barrett (Killeen, TX), Carolyn Brackat (Conway, SC), Lenora Brown (North Charleston, SC), Angela Ferguson (Austel, GA), Cookie Keeling Patterson (Decatur, GA), Arianne King Comer (North Charleston, SC), Catherine Lamkin (Charleston, SC), Aisha Lumumba (Atlanta, GA), Bridgett Murray (Walterboro, SC), Laquita Tummings (Vallejo, CA), and Torreah “Cookie” Washington (SC). Washington will give a brief lecture during the reception at 7:30pm.

Wash Over You – Works by Kristy Bishop
On City Hall’s second floor, opposite the art quilts, viewers will find fiber works of another kind. In her exhibition of abstract textile pieces, titled Wash Over You, Kristy Bishop presents intricate pieces composed of hand-dyed silk that is cut, gathered, and sewn. Thousands of tiny pieces of fabric are manipulated to create color transitions and gradients that translate human emotions. The featured pieces are left untitled so that the emotions the artist experienced while making each piece do not necessarily influence the interpretation of the viewer. Ultimately, the artist hopes that individuals viewing this series allow themselves to feel whatever emotion it is that the colors elicit. Bishop currently offers residencies to North Charleston schools and community groups as the City’s Artist-in-Residence. Her work has been featured in the pages of Charleston Magazine and presented in a number of group exhibitions, both locally and nationally. She will give a brief lecture during the reception at 7:00pm.

North Charleston City Hall is located at 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406. Exhibition viewing times are 8:00am-8:00pm, daily through June 20. Inquiries regarding the artists or purchase information may be directed to the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854. For full details about the North Charleston Arts Festival visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. For information on additional exhibits, programs, and events organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts.

North Charleston goes pink for breast cancer awareness

From buildings to employees, the City of North Charleston is going pink this week to raise breast cancer awareness; October 22-29, 2012.

Throughout the week, city facilities will be decorated pink, city employees will wear pink attire, and the City’s pink Fire Truck can be seen around town. Even City Hall has gone pink. At night, the exterior of City Hall is lit in bright pink, along with our fire stations, the Power House on the former Navy Base, and the Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial at Riverfront Park.

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey said, “This is an effort put forth by our employees to show our support for women, men, and families that are battling the ill effects of breast cancer. It’s encouraging to see the enthusiasm of so many North Charleston employees in raising awareness.”

All residents and businesses are encouraged to participate.

City of North Charleston leases former city hall

The City of North Charleston is pleased to announce that the former city hall has been leased to CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing LLC, part of the Amazon group of companies.

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey stated, “Leasing the former city hall for the expansion of CreateSpace is certainly terrific news for the City of North Charleston with the added benefits of jobs and an investment that will resound throughout the region.  We look forward to a long lasting relationship with CreateSpace and remain committed to being a business-friendly community.”

Mayor Summey's State of the City address

Mayor R. Keith Summey presented the 2012 State of the City address for the City of North Charleston on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers at the North Charleston City Hall.

Reader's Digest "We Hear You America" campaign visits City Hall

The Reader's Digest "We Hear You America" Tour Bus made a stop by the North Charleston City Hall on January 26 and presented Mayor Keith Summey with a "stimulus" check.

The campaign is a grassroots effort to travel to 100 cities across the United States to celebrate the Best of America and offer financial support to communities.

North Charleston was chosen as a tour stop and check recipient because of its Sustainable Urban Revitalization project, citing the renaissance of the Greater Park Circle Area as a great example of “green entrepreneurship.” 

The check was donated to The Sustainability Institute. As a partner in the project, The Sustainability Institute is instrumental in the City’s revitalization efforts and continues to empower South Carolinians to reduce their environmental footprint where they live and work.

Forest Hills Nursery donates statues honoring police officers and firefighters

Michael and Joy Segars of Forest Hills Nursery & Palm Trees donated The Fireman’s Prayer statue and The Policeman’s Prayer statue to the City of North Charleston for display in the City Hall traffic circle. Each statue pays tribute to our public safety servicemen and women for their ongoing daily work, as well as the family members who provide support at home.

North Charleston dedicates its new home

Hundreds of citizens came out to be a part of history as Mayor Summey and City Council dedicated North Charleston’s third City Hall on Sunday, September 20, 2009.

The Open House allowed the citizens of North Charleston an opportunity to explore their City Hall. As Mayor Summey expressed, “City Hall belongs to the citizens that this government serves, which is very important to remember.” He continued, “We wanted an occasion for the public to visit their government’s new home, so they could appreciate it as much as we do.”

United States Congressman Henry Brown was among the dignitaries in attendance. Congressman Brown presented a proclamation to commemorate North Charleston’s new City Hall, and promised to deliver a flag being flown over the United States Capital Building during the opening ceremony.

City Hall is a very functional, state of the art facility that allows for more accommodating service for the people and businesses of the City of North Charleston. Every department except Public Works is now housed under one roof.

The North Charleston City Hall is officially dedicated to the citizens of North Charleston.

Jump to Flickr to view the photo set

North Charleston's New City Hall

The City of North Charleston has a new home at 2500 City Hall Lane. At the new location, services are streamlined and conveniently located under one roof with the goal of providing enhanced support to our citizens, businesses, and visitors.

The building itself has been constructed in anticipation of becoming LEED Certified. Energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts were all kept in mind during the construction process. A few of the green features include a wealth of natural lighting, waterless urinals, and carpets made from recycled materials.


City Hall will remain the Emergency Operations Center during times of disasters. The building’s steel was strengthened to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes with all exterior glass being impact resistant.



Fire Administration, Cultural Arts, Recreation, Code Enforcement, Purchasing, and Legal personnel were all scattered throughout the City. All departments, excluding Public Works, are now housed at a single location. This not only cuts fuel and time consumption, but enhances City management.



The permitting process has been simplified. The new City Hall features a ‘One-Stop Shop’ for permitting. Planning, Building, Zoning, and Finance all share one lobby with accessible walkup customer windows. Instead of traveling from one floor to the next, as in the previous City Hall, one only has to walk a few feet to the next window. To further convenience the public, kiosks will be available in the near future to apply for permits in the lobby.

When the previous City Hall was opened in 1978, the City was a fraction of its current size. Fast forward 31 years, and the facility became cramped and outdated. Looking to the future, the City has planned for inevitable growth with accommodations for a 25% employee expansion.

Apart from City employees, the Charleston County Legislative Delegation, Crimestoppers, and Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy are calling the new City Hall home.

IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION:

Public services are available at the New City Hall.

A Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting event is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Tours and presentations will be conducted.

Most direct employee phone numbers remain the same, however call (843) 554-5700 if you are unable to reach a specific individual.

All mail should continue to go to P.O. Box 190016, North Charleston, SC 29419. The physical address of the new City Hall is 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406.


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