Through March 15th: FRAA Accepting Arts Awards Nominations

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting nominations for its 2014 Arts Awards.  For 2014, four awards will be presented.  More information about the awards can be found below.

The deadline for 2014 Arts Awards nominations is March 15, 2014.
Award nominations should be submitted by email to peedeearts@gmail.com.
An acceptable nomination will include the following:

Name of Nominee
Name of Nominator
Nominator's Contact Info
Reason for Nomination (approximately one paragraph)

You can now make your nominations online.  Click here to view the nomination form.

Below is information about each award.

John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award

The John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual from Florence County who has significantly impacted the quality of life in our community through his/her activities, contributions, and/or accomplishments in the arts.  Any individual may be nominated with the exception of current members of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance Board of Directors or Staff.

The 2013 Baker Award recipient was Jane Madden.

Business & Arts Partnership Award

The Business and Arts Partnership Award recognizes a Florence County business for its vital commitment to the arts as evidence by operational and/or project support provided on a substantial and ongoing basis.

The 2013 Business & Arts Partnership Award winner was Honda of SC.

Outstanding Arts Organization Award

This award is presented annually to the Florence County arts organization that has a tremendous impact on the community.  This may be through programming, projects, resource development, advocacy or other innovation.  No organization may win this award twice in a four year period.

The 2013 Outstanding Arts Organization Award went to Florence Little Theatre.

The Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award (new in 2014)

This award will be presented annually to an educator who either resides or works in Florence County.  Public and private schools educators are eligible for this award, as well as individuals in higher education and those who teach through registered 501(c)(3) arts organizations. 

For more information about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's Awards Program, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.  

Click below to watch the video announcement of the 2013 FRAA Arts Awards:

February 7th: You're Invited to the Opening of Adrian Rhodes' Exhibit in Lake City

From February 7th to March 14th, the Greater Lake City Artists' Guild and the Florence Regional Arts Alliance will bring you Passages, an exhibit of artwork by Adrian Rhodes, at the ArtFields Gallery in downtown Lake City. Passages will open with a reception on February 7th from 5:30 - 7:30pm. There is no admission fee and everyone is invited to attend. You won’t want to miss this dynamic mixed-media exhibit.

This exhibit is the third exhibit brought to the ArtFields Gallery through a partnership between the Greater Lake City Artists Guild and the Florence Regional Arts Alliance.  Last year, Patz & Dogs (featuring artists Patz Fowle and Heidi Bond) and The Great Harvest (photography by Benton Henry) were shown in the gallery.

Rhodes, who studied at the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University, has shown in various galleries throughout the Pee Dee and the Midlands, as well as at Spartanburg’s Carolina Gallery and Charlotte’s Rice Gallery (to name a few).  When asked about the type of work she'll be showing, Rhodes responded that visitors will see mixed media painting and collage rooted in printmaking.

Below is an excerpt from Rhodes’ artist statement:

‘I am interested in the act of making. Rather than expressing a preconceived idea or conveying a specific message, I find that meaning and purpose within the work comes from employing art making as a way to question. Through process the content is revealed to be dependent on the internal logic of the piece. The resulting composition bears many traces of how it was made. While you can see the effects of underlying colors and patterns showing through the topmost skin of paint, there are also the traces evident in the many layers, abrasions and seams within the composition. These tactile remnants of the piece’s foundation lie beneath the surface layer and bear witness to the history of the painting’s creation.’

Rhodes hails from Hartsville, SC, where she lives with her husband, Michael, and adorable daughter, Sophie.

The exhibit will remain on display through March 14th. The ArtFields Gallery's normal operating hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Thursday and 9am to noon on Fridays. The gallery is located at 110 East Main Street in downtown Lake City.

For more information about the exhibit or the Greater Lake City Artists' Guild, contact Sandy Cook at greaterlakecityartistsguild@gmail.com. For more information about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.

Established in 1984, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance is a community-based non-profit organization that is committed to preserving, supporting, and promoting the Arts in Florence County. Additionally, FRAA strives to promote and strengthen the arts in the region through its online arts marketing initiative, Pee Dee Arts.