1st-The-Engagement-by-Colleen-Critcher

    The Engagement
    Colleen Critcher
    Florence
    acrylic & oil on panel

    2nd-Sirens-I-by-Jim-Boden

    Sirens I
    Jim Boden
    Hartsville
    oil on canvas

    3rd-The-Genesis-of-Jihad-by-Cat-Taylor

    The Genesis of Jihad
    Cat Taylor
    Longs
    acrylic on canvas

    HM-December-by-Yvette-Cummings

    December
    Yvette Cummings
    Conway
    acrylic collage on canvas

    PC-Freely-Bound-by-Amy-Smit

    Freely Bound
    Amy Smit
    Florence
    oil

    On January 15, the Florence County Museum hosted the opening reception for the 2015 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition at the museum’s newly opened adjunct gallery, The Waters Gallery located at 135 South Dargan Street in historic downtown Florence.

    First place in this year’s competition was awarded to Colleen Critcher of Florence for her painting The Engagement. The other award winners include second-place oil painting by Hartsville resident Jim Boden titled Sirens I and third place, The Genesis of Jihad, by Longs artist, Cat Taylor. The honorable mention was awarded to an acrylic collage on canvas titled, December by Yvette Cummings of Conway. Each year attendees at the exhibit’s opening reception vote for the People’s Choice Award. This year’s award was won by Freely Bound, an oil painting by Amy Smit.

    The exhibit this year is composed of 38 works of art selected from 170 submissions by 77 artists representing northeastern South Carolina. This year’s exhibit is comprised from a balanced variety of paintings, mixed media, drawings, photography and three dimensional works.

    The presentation of awards was made by Mr.Blake Pate of competition sponsor, Chick-fil-A. “Chick-fil-A has partnered with the Florence Museum since 2000 to underwrite this art competition,” said Andrew Stout, the museum’s director, “and have also been exhibit sponsors for several solo art exhibitions here. They have shown real a commitment and support of our arts, history and culture in the Pee Dee.”

    This year’s Pee Dee Regional Art Competition will remain on display until March 29. The exhibit can be viewed at the Florence County Museum Waters Gallery, 135 South Dargan Street, Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00am – 5:00pm.