One-of-a-kind artistic creations by over a dozen artists will be offered for sale to the public during a one-day open house exhibition and fundraiser hosted by The Arts Port Royal on November 16th from noon to 5 pm.

Initially, the Tapestry of Life project was created to provide artists with a fun and creative way to express themselves artistically, with only one rule—panels had to be in a 7 x 9-inch vertical format. Breaking borders was encouraged, and the artist could use any medium, so some panels were three-dimensional, some were painted, drawn, or woven, and others combined found items, recycled materials, and quilted objects. 

Some, but not all, of the artists are professionals, and that didn’t matter to curator Sheree Richnow, who said, “Expressing yourself through art is a fundamental gift. We are all creators, and the only thing that matters is whether or not we enjoyed the process. We need to leave judgment behind and wrap our eyes around the energy that went into making a panel. Every time I receive another panel for the exhibit, it brings me joy. They are truly beautiful – and meaningful.”

Without hesitation, Sheree and her six-woman Advisory Committee decided that 100% of the funds raised through the sale of the panels would go directly to support the HELP of Beaufort. “Under-funded charities such as the HELP of Beaufort continue to compete for funding provided by larger companies and corporations that typically go to better-known organizations. In Beaufort, we believe in taking care of ‘family first,‘” remarked Susan Stone and Anne McCall Wilson, co-owners of The Arts Port Royal, who generously offered to sponsor our area’s first Tapestry of Life project. 

With over a hundred panels to select from, visitors will surely find one that speaks to them and either keep it for themselves or gift it to a friend for the holidays. 

The community is invited to experience the Open House Exhibition & Art Sale on Saturday, November 16th, from noon to 5 pm at The Arts Port Royal, 1404 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. If you would like more information, you can contact shereerichnow@gmail.com.