The Griffith-Reyburn Lowcounty Artist of the Year Award will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a free community reception on Friday, November 17.
The award was established at Coastal Community Foundation in 2003 by Mike Griffith and Donna Reyburn to support the creation of new artwork representing the look and feel of the South Carolina Lowcountry’s lifestyle, culture, or environment. The $6,000 grant is intended to cover the artist’s living expenses during the creation of the piece. Thanks to this award more than $100,000 has been granted to 20 local artists.
“The Griffth-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year award has been responsible for the creation of dozens of new pieces of local artwork,” said CCF President and CEO Darrin Goss. “In addition to the financial support, this award gives a platform to rising talent in our community, creating future opportunities and propelling forward the artists’ careers.”
“It gave me mental and emotional space to dedicate quality time to the studio,” said 2019 Lowcountry Artist of the Year Julia Deckman. “It boosted my confidence in a way I hadn’t known I needed. Receiving the Griffith-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year award empowered me to continue to pursue my career as a contemporary artist.”
Coastal Community Foundation will celebrate the award’s 20th anniversary during a reception on Friday, November 17 from 6-8 p.m. at City Gallery in downtown Charleston. During the reception, the 2023 Lowcountry Artist of the Year Katy Mixon will unveil her newest piece of art. Created thanks to the award, the new quilted painting features a large number of hand-embroidered details telling the story of Charleston’s geologic history over hundreds of millions of years.
The event is free to attend and open to the public, but RSVP is required. Those interested in attending can contact rsvp@coastalcommunityfoundation.org.
