Brookgreen Gardens is pleased to be the exclusive venue for the National Sculpture Society (NSS) 82nd Annual Awards Exhibition. Opening on Saturday, August 8, the juried show features the figurative works of 58 sculptors. The show will be on view through November 1 and is free with garden admission.
The Annual Awards Exhibition is National Sculpture Society’s most popular show. Hundreds of artists apply to the juried competition which offers thousands of dollars in cash prizes. The sculpture on display ranges from classical to contemporary, and is composed of portrait busts, bas-reliefs and figures ranging in all sizes and dimensions. Highlights of the show include a mysterious breed of antlered sentries; a scrappy baseball team; a dancing bull; and an oversized ginkgo leaf. Whether animal, human, or nature based, there is work included in the show to delight everyone. The variety of subject matter and media exhibited represents the diverse styles, backgrounds and disciplines of NSS members. Fellows (FNSS), Elected Members (NSS), and Associates make up the levels of sculptor membership of the organization, which is international in scope and appeal. National Sculpture Society and its members are dedicated to promoting excellence in art that is inspired by nature.
A separate Jury of Awards will convene after the show is installed to select the prize winners. Additionally, visitors to the exhibition vote for their favorites to win the Brookgreen People’s Choice Award, announced at the end of the exhibition. Robin Salmon, Brookgreen’s Vice President and Curator of Sculpture said, “Our People’s Choice Award allows visitors to serve as a special awards jury, giving them the opportunity to participate in the exhibit. Every year since we initiated this award, each sculpture in the exhibition has received a vote, showing the wide appeal of this show.”
National Sculpture Society was founded in New York City in 1893 by a group of America’s most prominent sculptors. Its members have created much of this country’s public sculpture, coins, and medals since the late 1800s. It is the oldest organization of professional sculptors in the United States, and has been hosting exhibitions for over a century.
Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and is open to the public daily. For more information, visit www.brookgreen.org or call 843-235-6000.