Honored to Be Accepted into the 2025 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition

I’m excited to announce that my painting, The Gift of Sound, has been selected for the 2025 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition at City Gallery in Charleston! This is such an honor, and it’s incredibly rewarding to have my work featured in one of Charleston’s most prestigious exhibitions. Being part of Piccolo Spoleto is a significant milestone, and it feels like the perfect next step in my artistic journey.

Why Piccolo Spoleto is a Big Deal

Piccolo Spoleto, presented by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, is an iconic event celebrating the best of local and regional arts across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The 2025 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition, on view from May 23 to June 8, showcases the recent work of artists featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Artworks receiving prizes are presented alongside a limited selection of pieces identified by the juror as meriting display. This year’s juror is Zinnia Willits, Executive Director of the Southeastern Museums Conference and former Director of Collections and Operations at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston.

Being selected for this exhibition is a tremendous honor. With only 100 artists chosen from a pool of talented creators across three states, it’s a testament to the quality and relevance of the work. For me, having The Gift of Sound featured at Piccolo Spoleto is an incredible recognition of the growth and direction my art has taken. It’s more than just a local showcase—it’s an opportunity to connect with a wider community of artists and art lovers and to display my work alongside other talented creators. Being part of Piccolo Spoleto is truly humbling, and it’s an exciting moment in my artistic journey to share my passion with an even broader audience.

The Story Behind The Gift of Sound

The Gift of Sound celebrates the powerful impact of cochlear implants, marking the moment when someone who is deaf or hard of hearing gets to experience the gift of sound. The painting features a woman in peaceful contemplation, surrounded by vibrant flowers and musical notes, symbolizing the joy and empowerment that comes with hearing.

This piece honors the technology that lets people connect with the world of sound, bringing a sense of belonging, hope, and possibility. I wanted to capture not just the technology itself, but the emotional transformation that comes with it—the way it allows people to fully engage with the world and feel empowered to communicate, connect, and experience life.

As a deaf awareness piece, The Gift of Sound celebrates the importance of inclusivity and the many different ways people experience the world around them. It’s a tribute to those who embrace both the challenges and the joys of hearing, in whatever form that takes.

What’s Next

I am so grateful for this opportunity to showcase The Gift of Sound at City Gallery as part of the 2025 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition. The exhibition will run from May 23 to June 8, 2025, and I can’t wait for you all to experience the piece in person.

This has been such an exciting and humbling experience, and as always, I’m reminded that God's plans are greater than ours. He has surprised me again in the most beautiful way and I’m excited to follow the breadcrumb He’s placed in front of me. Every step I take, I’m honored and humbled to be part of something greater than myself.

Thank you for your continued support as I take this exciting step in my artistic career. This opportunity is a testament to the incredible power of art to connect us and I look forward to seeing you all at Spoleto!

Keep creating,

Danielle Jones