McClellanville Arts Center Youth Art Exhibition 2009

It was an evening to celebrate the talents of young people in McClellanville, SC at the McClellanville Arts Center on Pinckney St. tonight. Susan Williams past president, McClellanville Arts Council was on hand to greet guests including Bud Hill, director of The Village Museum to the reception and awards ceremony for "Coming of Age: McClellanville Youth Art Exhibit in Memory of Alice Wyndham".

Visual arts, creative writing and musical performance were featured from the area schools of Archibald Rutledge Academy, Lincoln High School, McClellanville Middle School and St. James -Santee Elem. School.
The evenings activities included performances by guitarist Vincent White, vocalist Anna Dupre, and poetry readings by local youths including Amber Dewitt (pictured).






The Awards Ceremony began with a tribute by Bernadette Humphries, McClellanville Art Center Director to Alice Wyndham (pictured in portrait) who proposed a Young Peoples Exhibition prior to her death. The 2009 McClellanville Youth Art Exhibition is dedicated to her service and devotion to the Arts.

Guests had been given ballots and asked to vote for their favorite artwork from each school. The winners of the Peoples Choice Awards are: Gerald Welch- Archibald Rutledge Academy, Ronald Walker-Lincoln High School, Mia Mitchell - McClellanville Middle School, and Olivia McBride -St. James Santee Elem. School. Jeanne Edwards Awards for Excellence in the Arts were presented to Travis Blake, Summer Cumbee,and Vincent White. Lauren Oree was awarded a special "Award of Merit" for her poem "Alone".
The evening concluded with well deserved recognition for the efforts of teachers and representatives from the schools in supporting the creative talents of their students. Pictured are: Lynn Vickery -Archibald Rutledge Academy, Annie Purvis - Lincoln High School, Ramona LaRoche - St. James Santee Elem., Humphries, and J.B. Ritchie - McClellanville Middle School.