COLUMBIA SC.- Joshua Drews from Columbia, SC was awarded the sixth annual Contemporaries’ Artist of the Year award during a soirée and silent auction hosted by the Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art on Thursday, May 13.

Drews’ watercolor, titled Eye on Sparrow, was selected as the winner based on the following criteria: originality of concept, technical execution, consistency, professionalism and the degree to which the work was aesthetically interesting. Jurors were Brownell McIntosh Graphic Design owner Laurie McIntosh, HoFP Gallery owner Alice Perritt, Palmetto y Luna director Alejandro Garcia, Columbia Museum of Art outreach manager Darion McCloud and Contemporaries’ board member Rhett Brewer.

Drews received a $500 cash prize, an automatic entry as featured artist for Cultural Council’s Color the Arts event in Spring 2011, promotion in Undefined magazine and a Museum membership. Undefined magazine’s Artist of the Year winner was selected by the editorial staff and presented to Yisha Wang of Columbia, SC. Wang will be showcased in an editorial feature in Undefined magazine. The People’s Choice Award was presented to Billy Love of Columbia, SC. Love received a $100 cash prize and promotion in Undefined magazine. All winners received a Contemporaries’ membership valued at $50.

The Contemporaries’ Artist of the Year event, established in 2004, recognizes emerging artists in South Carolina and allows them the opportunity to gain exposure to promote their art. The juried committee selected over 55 artists who displayed over 125 pieces of artwork at the auction. Artists were Abraham Mong, Adrienne Alicia Jorgensen, Adrienne M. Martino, Alicia Leeke, Amanda Ladymon, Andrew M. Corley, Anne Cimballa, Becky Hyatt Rickenbaker, Billy Love, Bob Bramhall, Carey M. Clark, Catherine S. Baker, Cynthia Farnell, DRE Lopez, PIENSA: Art Company, Dylan Fouste, Elizabeth Nkuo, Eric Plaag, Grace Linton Rockafellow, Howard Hunt, Huy Chu, James Lalumondier, Jamie Caplinger, Jim Bradshaw, Jordan Morris, Joshua Drews, Katherine Fornal, Kendal Stopak, Kirill Simin, Larry Thacker, Laura Lindsay, Lee A. Monts, Liz Vaughan, Maria Maier, Matthew John, Meagan Warren, Meg McLean, Michael Krajewski, Mila Drutel, Milton Hall, Miranda Mims Sawyer, Peggy Nunn, Rachel Parker, Richard M. Glover, Rob Shaw, Roger Hutchison, Ryan E. Pressley, Stacy Morgan, Susan Gregory, Susan Haynsworth, Susan Lenz, Suzannah McEntire, Timothy Heubel, Timothy Pakron, Tina Hirsig, Whitney LeJeune and Yisha Wang.