Sumter Artists' Guild Exhibition opens June 19
On June 19, the gallery opens our most popular exhibition of the year, the annual Sumter Artists' Guild Exhibition, and opening reception is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The winners will be announced at the opening reception. This year, the 2025 Governor's Award for Organization, the highest arts award in the state, will also be presented to Sumter County Gallery of Art. Executive Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission David Platts will present the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner statue.
Sumter is home to so many talented artists working in all mediums - paint, clay, fiber, metal, wood. Sumter Artists Guild was founded in 1966 by some of Sumter's most prominent artists. Its membership has always included amateur and professional artists. Its mission is "to promote, support and foster interest in art and to create an opportunity for our community of artists to engage in cooperative artistic enterprises and to encourage art appreciation in our community." The guild was instrumental in founding Sumter County Gallery of Art in 1969.
Sumter Artists' Guild is one of the most active and close-knit artists' guilds in the state. 2025 continues to be a year of great change for Sumter Artists' Guild, the Sumter gallery and the Sumter cultural community. The guild has monthly meetings upstairs at the gallery, September through May. The gallery also has an allocated space for Sumter Artists' Guild, Artist of the Month - so there is always local art displayed at the gallery. The guild is led by a dedicated executive board of talented artists, treasurer Vicki Hagner, Erin Duffie, Lisa Melton and Jennifer Franklin. This group has been together for several years and provides continuity and exciting new ideas for Sumter Artists' Guild. The guild has many new members, and we look forward to seeing their work - and all the work on the gallery walls.
We are excited to have as the 2025 judge Caitlin Bright.
Bright has worked extensively with artists and arts organizations in project management and institutional development for the past 20 years. She is the ArtFields program director of the Competition, Festival and Exhibitions in Lake City and was previously the executive director of 701 Center for Contemporary Art, executive director of Tapp's Arts Center, Columbia; executive director of Momenta Art, a nonprofit gallery based in the cultural heart of Brooklyn, New York; and operations director for the Moving Image Art Fair NYC/London/Istanbul. Bright received her Master of Arts in Visual Arts Administration from New York University and her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from University of South Carolina, Columbia. She was awarded the Peggy Guggenheim Internship in Venice, Italy.
Bright observes: "The visual arts have inspired me since my earliest memories. As I grew and found my place in the industry, I have always said I would leave as soon as the inspiration stops. Twenty-five years later, and I am still entrenched. Visual language clarifies the human condition in ways that verbal language cannot. It offers a mirror for introspection and social evaluation. Art is a powerful tool that clarifies empathy and strengthens the appreciation of the raw, but beautiful, reality of existence. It goes without saying that I am undoubtedly fortunate to steward a part of this industry and experience its power from a front-row seat."
Karen Watson, SCGA director, adds: "The Sumter Artists' Guild exhibition has historically been the gallery's most popular show of the year. We look forward to seeing visitors in our space socializing and enjoying a bite of food and a sip of wine at the opening reception generously sponsored by the Sumter Artists' Guild. Come and meet many of the exhibiting artists who will be in attendance and have conversations about their work. The Sumter Artists' Guild exhibition is also an excellent opportunity for collectors to add to their collection and support local artists by purchasing fine art at reasonable prices."
SCGA curator Eric Lachance notes: "It has been a genuine pleasure working with the Sumter Artists' Guild as curator over the past four years. Throughout this time, I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable growth and development within Sumter's community of artists. The popularity of the show has steadily increased, attracting a diverse and talented array of artists from both local and international backgrounds. As a result, the volume of work submitted each year has risen, reflecting a growing enthusiasm and dedication among members.
"Over the course of these four years, there has been a noticeable evolution in the quality, complexity and originality of the artwork submitted. Artists continue to push boundaries, experiment with new mediums and explore innovative concepts, which has elevated the overall standard of the exhibitions. This progression not only highlights the increasing skill level across our community, it underscores a vibrant spirit of creativity and resilience. It has been inspiring to observe how the show has become a platform for emerging talent to showcase their work and for artists to challenge themselves further. I look forward to seeing the talent continue to flourish and how the Sumter Artists' Guild will further cultivate its role as a hub for artistic excellence and innovation in the years to come."
The Sumter Artists' Guild Exhibition will be up through Aug. 22.
All of this would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Elizabeth McLeod Britton, Heart of Sumter Neighborhood Association, Synovus, Black River Electric Cooperative, Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory and the Sumter Artists' Guild. Flowers courtesy of Poinsett Garden Club & The Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter.