Works from more than 100 artists will be on display and available for purchase at Sunset Vision’s annual art show, “Anything Goghs.” The sale is Aug. 22-24, from 5:30-7:30 pm on Friday and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday.
The event kicks off with a fundraising reception Thursday night, 5-8 pm, with heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets to the Thursday reception are $50, and are available at the door; entrance to the sale on Friday and Saturday is free. There will be a cash bar through the event.
This is the first year the event will be hosted at the Sea Trail Convention Center, and organizers are glad to have the larger space.
“For us, this is the largest venue we’ve had, so we’re excited,” said Gordon Bokleman, president of Sunset Vision. The not-for-profit group is made up of volunteer citizens who support the conservation, enhancement, and enjoyment of Sunset Beach for residents and visitors.
Participating artists are from all over North and South Carolina, but a large number are from Brunswick County. As of press time, there were 103 artists signed up for the sale. Each artist can display up to three pieces.
“Last year we had 225 works on display and this year we’ll have more than that. There’s been a lot of excitement for the new venue. It’s a spectacular space,” Bokleman said.
Besides the entry fee, a portion of art sales revenue will go to Sunset Vision. The group raises money for projects in the Sunset Beach community, such as beach wheelchairs, bike racks and benches.
“We’re a little over 10 years old as an organization,” Bokleman said.
One major project the group provided was the sustainable garden at the gazebo on Sunset Beach, at the public access. The garden is a memorial gift, and Bokleman said people are using it to memorialize their own loved ones by placing painted rocks.
“Every time I go to do a little maintenance, I find new ones. Some will say ‘in memory of grandma’ or something. It’s touched us to know that it’s come to mean that much to people,” he said.
Sunset Vision has also installed a rain garden at Town Hall, demonstrating how to capture water to nourish the plantings.
Sunset Beach plans to start work on a new park, on the island, next year and Sunset Vision will contribute things to that space like it has for the Twin Lakes park, Bokleman said.
For more information about the art show and sale, or about Sunset Vision, visit https://www.sunsetvision.org/.
