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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>Eleven Lowcountry artists, including two from northern Beaufort County, have been juried into Spring Fusion: Renew and Reinvent, an upcoming exhibit by the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA).</p>
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<p>The exhibit includes the art of 27 members from across South Carolina and throughout the southeast. The 11 Lowcountry artists juried into the exhibit are Earline Allen, Rose Cofield, Shiela Grabarsky, and Bernice Tate from Bluffton; Penny Healy and Candace Whittemore from Hilton Head Island; Marianne Stillwagon from Hardeeville; Joan Eckhardt and Karen Gottschall from Okatie; Saundra Renee Smith from St. Helena Island; and Sandy Dimke from Seabrook.</p>
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<p>The exhibit will be held from March 31 to May 6 at the Aiken Center for the Arts (ACA), 122 Laurens Street, Aiken. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on from 6-8 p.m., March 31, at the ACA gallery.</p>
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<p>The exhibit theme is open to various interpretations, styles and media. Spring Fusion: Renew and Reinvent captures the energy of Spring, not only in the revival and rebirth in nature, but in the rejuvenation of artists. Like Mother Nature, artists are constantly recreating every time they pick up their creative tools.</p>
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<p>NAWA artists represent all areas of the visual arts. Fifty works will be on exhibit in a variety of mediums – from oil, acrylic, pastel, egg tempera, and mixed media to photography, print-making, sculpture and fiber art. National NAWA members from Calif., Fla., N.J., and Va., who are also S.C. Chapter members, will have artworks in this exhibit.</p>
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<p>The National Association of Women Artists, headquartered in New York City, was founded in 1889 when women lacked opportunities to exhibit at prestigious museums and galleries. Since then, NAWA continues to foster awareness of the monumental contribution women have made to American culture and art.</p>
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<p>Benefits of NAWA membership are many, including a substantial awards program, the opportunity to exhibit throughout the U.S., educational programs, and scholarships. Artists must be juried in to the national association to become a member of a state chapter. For more information and to apply for membership, visit: https://wwwthenawa.org.</p>
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