MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (March 9, 2017) – Mount Pleasant artist Virginia Jann Owens recently met with Mayor Linda Page to hang her Roseate Spoonbill over Rockville oil on canvas painting as part of the Culture, Arts & Pride Commission’s Mayor’s Office Art Program, which aims to promote awareness of local artists and cultivate community pride.
“I am delighted that I get to enjoy and share with my visitors Mrs. Owen’s beautiful roseate spoonbill in flight as it is a beautiful representation of spring’s arrival here in Mount Pleasant,” said Mayor Page. “This program has been such a meaningful way for my office and CAP to highlight the wonderfully talented artists in our community.”
Owens moved from downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant when dirt roads still ran through most of the town’s neighborhoods and she said she feels lucky to have grown up in this “neck of the woods” where every day was an adventure.
“I am a nature lover and have explored the woods around Mount Pleasant most of my life,” said Owens. “Our town has an array of artists that see the world in many ways. Those of us that enjoy sharing our work will preserve the beauty for years to come and inspire others to do the same.”
Owens is a wife, mother, grandmother, cancer survivor and retired psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who never slowed down enough to realize she could paint until around a decade ago when she studied under Martin Ahrens.
Elizabeth Bronson is her current mentor and art enthusiast, and she draws much inspiration from Joaquin Sorolla as well as her husband who inspires her creativity.
Roseate Spoonbill over Rockville makes is premier in Mayor Page’s office, having just been completed in the Fall of 2016.
About the Art in the Mayor’s Office Program
The Town of Mount Pleasant and the Culture, Arts & Pride Commission invites artists to submit photos of completed artwork for a two-month display in the mayor’s office. All entries are juried by Town staff and the Culture, Arts & Pride Commission. To learn more about the program and how to apply for 2018 exhibits, contact Special Events Manager Nicole Harvey at events@tompsc.com.
For more information about the Town of Mount Pleasant, visit us online at www.tompsc.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and download our app ConnectMP.