The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce welcomes local and visiting exhibitors to the Artist Showcase 2012 on May 25-26 at Sea Island Best Western in historic downtown Beaufort. The 10th annual showcase is free and open to the public Friday, May 25 from Noon until 8 p.m., and Saturday, May 26 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Here’s a look at some of the featured artists:

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Hank D. Herring creates his unique graphics from found or rescued materials such as driftwood, discarded metals or fabrics.  He learned whittling from his two grandfathers and quilting from his family, crediting his family with artistic stimulation. He creates original wood stamps used for batiking, and then the stamps themselves become pieces of art. He teaches at the Children’s Educational Village in Atlanta as the village printmaker and continually shows his passion for the community and the arts through public events and forums. His work and that of many additional artists is exhibited in his gallery the Green Herring Gallery in historic downtown Beaufort.
Claudette Humphrey was a first grade teacher in New Rochelle, N.Y., when she joined scores of other arts-minded teachers in year-long workshops at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan and Julliard School.  She immersed herself in the burgeoning New York arts culture inviting all the arts daily into her classroom and into her life. Her paintings smile through bright, elemental colors reflecting themes and vistas from her years living in California, Hawaii, New York, and now Beaufort.
Patricia Wells is a Beaufort native who offers peace, love and harmony through her acrylics and oils which she describes as “divinely guided.”
Marquita Willis is an artist from California, holding the BFA from California State University, and recently

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relocated to establish Island Girl Art in South Carolina. Her paintings reflect the vibrant Gullah culture. She has exhibited in several galleries throughout the Carolinas and Virginia and has illustrated the children’s book “I Saw It Coming.” Rose Willis, also of Island Girl Art, will be exhibiting her custom silver and exotic bead jewelry creations.
Marie D. Lewis, of Beaufort, began her painting in oils and acrylics five years ago. She has an A.A. Degree in apparel design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, a B.S. Degree in marketing and distributive education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development from Webster University. She has conducted seminars and workshops in fashion, color, line and design, interior design, and management development for 25 years.
Mary Anderson, a Winnsboro, S.C., artist, creates art from gourds and handmade paper.
Gwen Williams is a Beaufort artist who creates jewelry and paintings in oils and acrylics.
Bridget Murray is a contemporary fabric artist based in Walterboro. She works with traditional quilting techniques and paints and embellishes fabrics to create her original designs.
Liz and Charlie Mitchell, who are authors, marketing consultants and event managers for international clients and cultural organizations, will be showing their mobile travel apps: Hilton Head Essentials and Myrtle Beach’s Best.
For more information, follow and connect at http://www.bcbcc.org, on Twitter at BeaufortBlack and the Facebook page Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce.

Free Entertainment by Mahoganee at Artist Showcase Public Reception: Live entertainment is a new feature of the Artist Showcase at the public reception Friday, May 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Recording artist Mahoganee will perform and the almost two dozen local and regional artists will be introduced. Mahoganee is a singer and songwriter with extensive performance and collaboration history who is described by the sound of Lauren Hill with a twist of Minnie Ripperton and a cup of Janis Joplin. Her name means rich in strength which she strives for as an artist using her music to provide positive outlets for women and girls to achieve dreams.