ARTISPHERE ANNOUNCES 2019 ARTIST AWARDS
$18,000 Distributed to Winning Participants
[Greenville, SC] The 15th Anniversary Artisphere festival presented by TD Bank features 135 artists from across the country selected from 952 submissions from 28 states. 36 of the artists are new to the festival this year.
On Friday, May 10th artist exhibitors were judged by festival jurors Devyn Vasquez (Penland School of Crafts Core Fellow), Sybil Godwin (Owner and Director – Shain Gallery Charlotte, NC) and Ashley Jones (Local Artist, Photographer). 10 cash awards including; Best in Show ($5,000), 1st Place 2D Mixed Media ($2,500), 2nd Place 2D Mixed Media ($1,000), 1st Place 3D Mixed Media ($2,500), 2nd Place 3D Mixed Media ($1,000), four Awards of Excellence ($500 each). The Mayor’s Choice Award ($500), selected by Haynworth-Sinkler Boyd was also distributed.
This year’s Best in Show winner was Richard Wilson (Drawing) of Greenville, NC. 2D 1st place went to Kiah Bellows (Mixed Media 2D) of Greenville, SC, and 2nd place was awarded to Joey Bradley (Painting Oil/Acrylic, Mixed Media 2D) of Greenville, SC. The 3D 1st place award went to Amber Marshall (Glass) of Spruce Pine, NC, and 2nd place went to Nicario Jimenez (Mixed Media 3D) of Naples, FL. Four Awards of Excellence were also distributed to Tara Locklear (Jewelry Semi-Precious) of Raleigh, NC, Chris Jeffries (Glass) of Laguna Beach, CA, Bounkhonkg Signavong (Fiber) of Secaucus, NJ, and Gregg Rasmusson (Ceramics) of St. Louis, MO. Mayor Knox White presented the 2018 Mayor’s Choice Award to Glory Day Loflin (Painting Oil/Acrylic) of Greenville, SC.
In addition to awards distributed on Artist Row, Artisphere distributed an additional $3,000 in awards to winners of the Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition as well as the Culinary Arts Café.
Peter Kaniaris of Anderson University juried the Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition sponsored by Prisma Health, Greenville Journal, and funded in part by Metropolitan Arts Council in March. Artists of the Upstate is designated for local artists within a 35-mile radius of Greenville. Kaniaris returned to the festival to select the Best in Show ($1,000), 2nd place ($750), 3rd place ($500), and an Award of Excellence ($250) winners.
This year’s Artists of the Upstate Best in Show was Hamed Mahmoodi. 2nd place was awarded to Kent Ambler, 3rd place to Kelly King, and Award of Excellence to Elizabeth Kenney.
Out of town media guests were invited to judge the Culinary Arts Café on their trip to Greenville. They tested dishes personally selected by all five participating restaurants- Larkin’s on the River, Cantina 76, Duke Sandwich Company, Crepe Du Jour, and The Trappe Door. Duke Sandwich Company was chosen as the Best in Show and awarded $500.
“Congratulations to the talented local and national 2019 award winners,” said David Lominack, South Carolina Market President, TD Bank. “TD Bank is proud to support the arts community across the Upstate and beyond through Artisphere.”
