Hilton Head Island, SC (August 6, 2014) - The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is announcing an art contest to create a wall-hanging piece of art to honor and commemorate the significance of The Freedmen's Town of Mitchelville. The winning painting will be unveiled on Friday, October 10, 2014 and will be displayed in The Westin's Mitchelville Gazebo Room, a private event space overlooking the resort's oceanfront courtyard.
The Westin also currently hosts the "Dawn of Freedom" exhibit, currently on loan from the McKissick Museum at USC, at the resort's second-floor gallery. The exhibit brings the historic story of Mitchelville to life through original photos, compelling narrative, and unique artifacts. The exhibit is free and open to the public for viewing, with donations benefitting Mitchelville Freedom Park, which marks America's first post-Civil War settlement for freed slaves. The exhibit along with a new history exhibit about the Westin property will be on display into 2015 on the Mezzanine level of the resort.
According to The Westin's Director of Sales & Marketing, Gail Wargo, "Because of the Resort's proximity to the Mitchelville Freedom Park, it is appropriate for us to honor the importance of this historic site. During our recent $30 million renovation, we re-named our beautiful gazebo room after Mitchelville. Holding an art contest to find a commemorative painting to be the centerpiece of this unique venue is a perfect way to honor Mitchelville's significance, as well as create an additional fundraising opportunity for the Mitchelville Preservation Project."
The winning contest entry will receive a $1,000 cash prize, 2nd prize will be a $100 gift certificate to the Heavenly Spa and 3rd prize will be dinner for two at the Westin. All of the other contest paintings will be on display and available for sale in the Westin lobby area until October 31, 2014, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Mitchelville Preservation Project.
The wall-hanging artwork should be approximately 48" high x 60" wide and should be suitable for hanging. All entries should be submitted to The Westin by Monday, October 1, 2014. Interested artists can find contest applications and entry guidelines online athttp://www.westinhiltonheadisland.com/art.
About the Mitchelville Exhibit:
More than 150 years ago, hundreds of slaves throughout the Lowcountry escaped bondage and began a new life on Hilton Head Island, a life of freedom. In 1862, the town of Mitchelville became the first government-sanctioned freedmen's colony in the United States. Little remains of this revolutionary moment in history, but the members of the Mitchelville Preservation Project (MPP) have been working diligently to replicate, preserve and sustain this historically significant site and its story. Their mission is to educate the public about the sacrifice, resilience and perseverance of the pioneers of Mitchelville, and to share the story of how these brave men and women planted strong and enduring familial roots for generations of future African-Americans.
The most recent efforts of the board members have created an opportunity for the public to experience the Mitchelville story in an engaging setting. "Dawn of Freedom: The Freedmen's Town of Mitchelville" is a historical exhibit that explores the rich history of the original citizens of the town. On loan from the McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, the exhibit will be on display through October 1, 2014 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.
The exhibit features a variety of photos, letters, documents and artifacts from the time leading up to the town's creation, during the development of the community and through the settlement's early days. Dr. Edward Puchner, curator of the McKissick Museum, traveled to Hilton Head to oversee the installation of the exhibit. "The story of Mitchelville is part of the history of Hilton Head Island," explained Dr. Puchner. "The town was organized in the aftermath of the Battle of Port Royal for freed slaves that came from as far away as Florida and Georgia. It gave them a place to reconnect with their families and begin to earn a living. Dawn of Freedom proclaims the early achievements of these African Americans to organize into a community and each become self-supporting, successful citizens - all within a temporary, experimental and very fragile setting."
For more information on the exhibit and the Mitchelville Preservation Project, visit www.mitchelvillepreservationproject.com.
About The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Fresh off a $30 million renovation, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa showcases a stylish coastal design along a pristine stretch of Atlantic Ocean beachfront. With 416 guest rooms and over 37,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, the Resort is the perfect venue for business conferences & leisure visits, as well as beautiful destination weddings. The Westin offers six unique dining venues, outdoor swimming pools, The Heavenly Spa by Westin with full service salon, WestinWORKOUT®, running and walking trails, beach and water sports. Guests also have access to the adjacent Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, featuring three spectacular 18-hole golf courses and 14 tennis Har-Tru clay and Nova hard courts. www.westinHHI.com
No comments:
Post a Comment