Best In Show Better Off

Charlotte, NC: Unexpected things can sometimes change a life – just ask recent Winthrop University graduate, Jon Wald, who was awarded the top prize in the 2009 inaugural Carolina’s Got Art! competition.

When asked about winning the $2,500 Best-in-Show award and subsequently selling his artwork during the show, Wald said: “First, I paid off my debts, which is a huge relief in itself. Then, I bought new supplies. One item was an Arduino (an easy-to-use microprocessor). I used the prize money to justify leaving work early every day to teach myself how to program the chip. Ultimately, I think it has helped lead me toward an entirely new method for making art.”

Wald was one of seven other artists from North and South Carolina who walked away with a portion of over $9,000 in prizes awarded by Carolina’s Got Art! that premiered in October, 2009.  The initial success of the exhibition has motivated Carolina’s Got Art! founder and owner of Elder Art Gallery, Larry Elder, to launch the second annual competition, slated to open October 1^st with an awards presentation to this year’s winners.  The exhibition will continue through October 30^th at Atherton Mill in Charlotte’s Historic SouthEnd District.

“We had no idea that Carolina’s Got Art! would generate such excitement for the local visual arts community,” says Elder.  “We accepted over 1100 entries and our juror selected 135 original pieces to comprise the exhibition.”  During the month of October, 2009, the exhibition attracted over 2000 visitors.

Columbia-based Edens & Avant, owners of Atherton Mill, is once again demonstrating its commitment to the visual arts in the two Carolinas by offering their historic property for the host location. Artists are encouraged to visit www.carolinasgotart.com for complete details. Carolina’s Got Art! is accepting online entries for the 2010 exhibition through August 30^th.

Larry Elder
Carolina’s Got Art!
1427 South Boulevard
Charlotte, NC  28203
704-370-6337
www.carolinasgotart.com

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