Opening Reception for Solo Exhibition Award Winner

IN ABSENTIA, A NEW EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY FAYETTEVILLE ARTIST AUSTIN SHEPPARD, OPENS AT THE FCM WATERS GALLERY TUESDAY NIGHT

Sheppard’s exhibition is presented by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance in collaboration with the Florence County Museum, as the third annual ArtFields Solo Exhibition Award.

His life-size figurative sculpture Indigo was exhibited at ArtFields 2017, where it caught the attention of Sandra Cook, Executive Director of of FRAA and Stephen Motte, Curator of the Florence County Museum. Sheppard was selected from 20 other prospective artists under consideration by FRAA and FCM to receive the Solo Exhibition Award.

“Installation art has made an appearance in past exhibitions here, but In Absentia is the first exhibit at the Waters Gallery to exclusively feature contemporary sculpture,” said Motte.

Sheppard received his MFA in Sculpture from Eastern Carolina University in 2010, and is a studio technician with the Art Department at UNC Pembroke.

“Austin’s art explores personal and cultural issues of identity, using multiple media and methods to produce works which reside on the line between whimsical humor and the grotesquely bizarre,” Motte describes. “There is a definite theme, but an underlying mystery. Several works make me double-take every time.”

An opening reception will be held at the Waters Gallery, Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 pm. The public is invited.

The exhibition is open at the FCM Waters Gallery, April 23 – July 13. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10 am – 5 pm.

In Absentia

IN ABSENTIA, A NEW EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY FAYETTEVILLE ARTIST AUSTIN SHEPPARD, OPENS AT THE FCM WATERS GALLERY TUESDAY NIGHT

Sheppard’s exhibition is presented by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance in collaboration with the Florence County Museum, as the third annual ArtFields Solo Exhibition Award.

“Installation art has made an appearance in past exhibitions here, but In Absentia is the first exhibit at the Waters Gallery to exclusively feature contemporary sculpture,” said Motte.

Sheppard received his MFA in Sculpture from Eastern Carolina University in 2010, and is a studio technician with the Art Department at UNC Pembroke.

An opening reception will be held at the Waters Gallery, Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 pm. The public is invited.

The exhibition is open at the FCM Waters Gallery, April 23 – July 13. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10 am – 5 pm.

Florence County Museum Children’s Imagination Ball

Let your creativity flow at the 3rd Annual Florence County Museum Imagination Ball, a costumed event for the whole family. Enjoy an evening of creative hands-on activities, music, face painting, delicious food, family costume contest, music and more.

Tickets are $10 per child or $40 per family. Accompanying adults attend free.

Tickets can be purchased at the Florence County Museum or through our website.

The Imagination Ball is sponsored by Chick-fil-A Magnolia Mall Drive-Thru. All proceeds support educational programming at the Florence County Museum.

For tickets and more information visit flocomuseum.org/imagination-ball

FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM – Mornings at the Museum

The Education Department of the Florence County Museum announces the Mornings at the Museum for 2017 – 2018.

Mornings at the Museum is an interactive program for children ages 3-5 and their accompanying adult. This program is offered during the school year on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. The 1st Wednesday of each month will be history related topics. The 3rd Wednesday of each month will be Visual Arts related topics. Each program will include a gallery visit, story time, and hands-on studio activity.

Free, Registration Required

FAMILY DAY AT THE FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM

The Education Department of the Florence County Museum announces Family Day at the Florence County Museum.

From toddlers to grandparents, Family Days at the Florence County Museum are sure to offer something for everyone. Join the museum the second Saturday of each month for an interactive visual art activity from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm for Family Day at the FCM.

No registration required. Free of charge. All Ages.

FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM – Mornings at the Museum

The Education Department of the Florence County Museum announces the Mornings at the Museum for 2017 – 2018.

Free, Registration Required

FCM Spring Studio

Florence County Museum

Spring Studio 2018

Looking for engaging activities for your child during spring break? Spring Studio is an

exciting program for children ages 5-10 at the Florence County Museum. This four-day

hands-on workshop will focus on spring-themed art projects and activities. The

workshop will end with an exhibit of student work and reception for family and friends.

To register for the 2018 Spring Studio, please visit our website at

www.flocomuseum.org/spring-studio. Space is limited to 15 students so sign up today!

Monday, April 2, 2018 – Thursday, April 5, 2018

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Registration Fee: $100

Limited to 15 students

Ages 5-10

FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM – Mornings at the Museum

The Education Department of the Florence County Museum announces the Mornings at the Museum for 2017 – 2018.

Free, Registration Required

FAMILY DAY AT THE FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM

The Education Department of the Florence County Museum announces Family Day at the Florence County Museum.

No registration required. Free of charge. All Ages.

FCM – Lunch and Learn with Artist Kevin Spaulding

ARTIST LECTURE AT THE FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM WATERS GALLERY

Kevin Spaulding, winner of the 2018 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition, will be presenting an afternoon lecture at the Florence County Museum Waters Gallery Friday, March 9, from 12 – 1.

Spaulding took home the $1000 First Place cash prize at the opening reception and awards ceremony for this year’s competition with his exceptional and evocative oil painting, Hearth.

Spaulding is a newcomer to the Pee Dee, and the Pee Dee Regional Art Competition, but is no stranger to the art world. He has been an accomplished artist for over 20 years. He received a degree in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University before living and working in New York.

Around five years ago, Spaulding came to Florence County from New York, where he had worked as an artist’s assistant. Before that, Spaulding studied at the Art Students League.

“There I was able to sharpen my skills working in a variety of mediums (drawing, painting, and sculpture) under the tutelage of such renowned instructors as Barney Hodes and Michael Grimaldi. Major influences on my work are Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, and Andrew Wyeth. Early painters would include Ribera, Velasquez, and Jan Van Eyck.”

Spaulding has two paintings on exhibit in this year’s competition at the Waters Gallery. The works are from his recent Black Paintings Series which the artist will discuss in his Friday lecture.

“Spaulding’s entries are rich, darkly-toned, and technically proficient,” said museum curator Stephen W. Motte. “His subject matter is rendered within a natural environment, but avoids being landscape painting, it appears isolated in place and time, like classical still life. The two works in the competition are photo-realistic in detail, yet minimal in composition. The result is something both traditional and contemporary. I look forward to seeing more from this artist in the future.”

Friday’s presentation is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The 2018 Pee Dee Regional Art Competition remain on exhibit through March 30, 2018 at the FCM Waters Gallery, 135 South Dargan St.

For more information about the Pee Dee Regional Art Competition and other upcoming exhibits and events, please contact the Florence County Museum at 843.676.1200 or visit the website at flocomuseum.org.