<h3>By Jock Joyce</h3>
The Beaufort Arts Council along with Adams Outdoor Advertising and the ArtPop founder, Wendy Hickey, held a reception for the ArtPop (Art and Public Outdoor Project) competition winners on the March 15th at Tabby Place downtown. The mission of ArtPop is to promote local artwork through the use of billboards placed around the area, and local artists are invited to submit entries.

[caption id="attachment_27901" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="Jackson Elrich’s depiction of the Woods Memorial Bridge." rel="attachment wp-att-27901"><img class="size-medium wp-image-27901" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/ART-e1459123879967-300x146.jpg" alt="Jackson Elrich’s depiction of the Woods Memorial Bridge." width="300" height="146" /></a> Jackson Elrich’s depiction of the Woods Memorial Bridge.[/caption]

Beaufort was one of the sixteen cities selected to participate in the competition. Featured on the walls of Tabby House were the winning pictures, many of iconic images that are now on billboards around the Lowcountry. The 10 Beaufort winners will have their artwork rotating amongst five billboards throughout the greater Beaufort area for approximately one year. One entry that was easily recognizable was Jackson Ehrlich’s depiction of the Woods Memorial Bridge done in watercolor. The evening was enjoyed by over 60 attendees, and, from my perspective, was an undeniable success.

Jury-selected program artists (with artistic mediums in parenthesis) are: Suzanne Aulds, Hilton Head (“Moss Creek Marina” Oil on Canvas); Kathy Crowther, St. Helena Island (“Wings” Gouache &amp; Ink); Jackson Ehrlich, Beaufort (“Swingbridge at Beaufort” Watercolor); Cheryl Eppolito, Beaufort (“Morning Glow” Oil painting on Linen); Kelley Luikey, Port Royal (“Cloudscape” Photography); Colin Noonan, Hilton Head (“Lowtide Lullaby” Pastel); Kathy Oda, Lady’s Island (“Koi” Kiln Formed Glass); Murray Sease, Bluffton (“Three Moos” Oil on Board); Mary Segars, Beaufort (“Shadows on Sand” Oil on Canvas); and Jennifer Wharton, Beaufort (“Prime Real Estate” Watercolor).

To see the location of all the billboards go to www.beaufortartscouncil.org.

<em>Jock Joyce is a Senior at Beaufort Academy.</em>