Murphy – The Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games & SilverArts held the Art Awards Ceremony Friday at the Cherokee County Arts Council.
In a standing-room-only crowd, the artists gathered after perusing the various displays curated both at the Arts Council building and the Murphy Arts Center downtown.
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With more than 30 categories and 200 entries total from 74 artists, one quarter of who were first-time entrants, the categories included visual, heritage and literary arts. Awards included first-, second- and third-place winners, with each winner in the category collecting either a bronze, silver or gold medal.
Coordinator Terence Faries emceed the ceremony. Beth Chaney, executive director of John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, handed out the awards.
Local artists ages 50 and older are encouraged to submit their works in categories as diverse as pyrography, which is the burning of wood to create images, basket weaving and diamond art, which is created with beads to more traditional arts, such as sculpture and oil and acrylic painting.
The winners in each category are eligible to also have their works entered in the statewide competition in Raleigh come September.
Details: Visit cherokeecountyseniorgames.org, cherokeeartscouncil.org and valleyriverarts.com.