Lucas: Beaufort Art Association’s annual spring show and sale opens Friday

One of the area’s largest membership-based arts organizations will hold its annual spring show this week.

The Beaufort Art Association’s “55th Annual Spring Show” will open this Friday in downtown Beaufort.

The four-day show and sale will feature more than 200 entries and a wide-variety of work by local artists including oils, acrylics, photography, pottery, stained glass, woodturning and mixed media.

“And you will see the work of people who don’t have work hanging in the gallery,” said the show’s chairman Tom Van Steenbergh.

Founded in 1957, the association has members who elect to show their work in the organization’s Bay Street gallery,

So the show, open to both association members and non-members, is a great way for visitors and those interested in buying local art to see a good cross-section of work from the area, Van Steenbergh said.

“I think (visitors to the show) can see something about what the town is about,” he said. “There is always a lot of Lowcountry art.”

And the juried show continues to offer innovative and interesting new forms of artistry as well. Fine art jewelry, for example, has been added to this year’s lineup.

Judging for the show will take place earlier in the week so that by the time doors open on Friday, visitors will be able to see which pieces won various special and “memorial” awards and who won “Best in Show.”

Award-winning watercolorist Linda Daly Baker, of Charleston, will judge the show which also includes a separate student category.

And for those participating, Van Steenbergh said the show is a great way just to get your work exposure.

“I have things in the gallery ... and if I happen to be in the gallery and I see someone linger in front of one of my pictures, or they say ‘I really love the way that works...’ then I feel happy,” he said.

And while residents and visitors will have their pick of work up for grabs this weekend, for many working artists is all about being part of the show.

“Most of it is for the joy of doing and showing our work,” Van Steenbergh said.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Lucas: Beaufort Art Association’s annual spring show and sale opens Friday."