For the first time in 30 years, the annual Fine Arts Show will find a new home: the Turnage Theatre.

The decision to change the venue is a natural outgrowth of the move made by Arts of the Pamlico, formerly Beaufort County Arts Council, from its city-provided space in the Washington Civic Center to the newly purchased Turnage Theatre at the start of 2014, according to AOP Executive Director Joey Toler. But the show won’t come without its share of challenges.

Toler said approximately 300 works by over 200 artists will now be spread throughout the Turnage Theatre, in its gallery, halls and theater space, over Oct. 15-17, as opposed to the open space the civic center previously provided.

“Yes, it will be a challenge,” Toler said. “But it was a challenge last year to present the exhibit as an off-site event. After much consultation with staff, we decided we

can make it work, and we can make it work to our advantage.”

Because the Civic Center has been the location for the Fine Arts Show for so many years, moving the show to the Turnage is a significant change of venue.

“This exhibit is older than the arts council, dating back to the days of the Pamlico Arts Group in the late 1960s. Back then the show was held outside by Haven’s Wharf. I can only imagine what it meant to manage an outdoor art exhibit,” Toler said.

All entries will be on exhibit for the public during the weekend of Washington’s annual barbecue festival, Smoke on the Water; afterward, the winning entries will be displayed until Dec. 11. Right now, staff is preparing to accept entries to a fine arts show that has become a draw for artists throughout the southeast. On Oct. 11, artists can bring to the theater as many as four works in four categories: watercolors, oils and acrylics, graphics/open mixed and three-dimensional.

Winning works will be selected by juror Fritzi Huber, a Wilmington resident who’s been an artist for 30 years. Huber’s work has been exhibited nationally as well as internationally, at venues including Switzerland’s Musee du Pays et Val de Charney, Brazil’s Bienale International de Artes and the Ray Johnson Space at Artpool in Budapest, Hungary, and is part of many prominent collections, Toler said.

In 2011, The Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, organized the show “Fritzi Huber: A Circus Life” which focused on the influences of Huber’s past circus experiences, and the resulting work relating to that background.

“She is a from a family that was in the circus, doing trapeze and all that kind of stuff. People say they run off and join the circus, she was literally born into the circus,” Toler said. “She actually left the circus.”

As part her role as juror, on Oct. 16, Huber will lead the public through a Juror’s Critique in which she will elaborate on the reasoning behind the choice of winners.

For those interested in submitted work to the 51^st annual Fine Arts Show, a show prospectus with guidelines is available by calling or emailing AOP (252-946-2504, info@artsofthepamlico.org) and is also available at www.artsofthepamlico.org at the bottom of the home page. The entry fee is $20 for one or two entries and $7.50 each up to four entries.

 

 

 

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Fine Arts Show Calendar of Events

Sunday, Oct. 11

Entries accepted 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Turnage Theatre, 150 W. Main St., Washington

 

Monday, Oct. 12

Judging of Fine Arts Show

 

Tuesday, Oct. 13

Juried artists are notified by phone or email regarding award selections

 

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Guaranteed Sales Program for pre-registered patrons, 6-7PM

 

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Preview party for BCAC members, artists, and guests hosted by PotashCorp,

7-9:30 p.m.

 

Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 15-17

Fine Arts Show open free to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Friday, Oct. 16

Juror’s Critique, open to the public, 7 p.m.

 

Saturday, Oct. 18

Artist checkout for non-juried work and purchaser pick-up for non-juried sales, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

 

Oct. 20-Dec. 12

51st Annual Fine Arts Show Award selections on exhibit in the AOP Gallery