Coastal Community Foundation is celebrating the 2024 Griffith-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year with a free reception on Wednesday, October 23 at 6 p.m. at City Gallery (34 Prioleau St. Charleston).
The Lowcountry Artist of the Year award was established at Coastal Community Foundation in 2003 by Mike Griffith and Donna Reyburn. The grant supports 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.
“We are fond of art in general, particularly Lowcountry art. It’s very special,” said award co-founder Mike Griffith. “There was really no mechanism for Lowcountry artists to be recognized and given awards and opportunities like there were in other fields.”
To date, the Griffith-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year award has granted more than $100,000 to local artists, supported the creation of dozens of new pieces of art, and given budding artists increased career opportunities.
Jennifer York is the 2024 Griffith-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year and creates art from Tyvek house wrap. She folds the sheets and cuts the imagery, unfolding it like a giant paper snowflake. She then builds intricate, layered scenes into vintage suitcases and mirrors. York says since she moved to Charleston in 2020, the Lowcountry has been her muse. She is inspired to create new pieces as she runs or bikes through the region and observes the local landscape and history.
“I reconfigure local landmarks, natural phenomena, and historical remnants with personal stories into new compositions. I play with multiple layers, repeat patterns, and cut-and-fold symmetry so the viewer can get a little lost as they meander through each piece,” York said. “Winning this award feels like major encouragement to keep up the good work, push my artistic vision and mastery even farther, to stay this creative course.”
York has a BFA in Sculpture from the Pratt Institute and an MFA in Fibers from Savannah College of Art and Design. For close to 20 years she produced artistic ladies apparel and accessories through her company Jennythreads Studio in Asheville, North Carolina. Her papercuts have been featured in solo exhibits at the Gibbes Museum of Art, Myrtle Beach Art Museum, Park Circle Gallery, and Museum of Art-Deland, Florida.
The community is invited to see Jennifer York’s newest piece of art unveiled during the reception on October 23. The event is free to attend, but RSVP is required here.
