FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Eastern Shore Art Center will host its 38th Annual Outdoor Art Show, Friday through Sunday, March 19-21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily near in Fairhope. Nearly 200 exhibitors are included in this year’s show, including last year’s “Best of Show” award winner, Fleetwood Covington from Wilmington, N.C.; the “Lib Belt” award-winner, considered the “Second Place Best of Show,” Charles Smith of Mobile; and First Place winner, Athlone Clarke of Douglasville, Ga.

Covington’s smooth Southern style of original oil paintings has caught the eye of private collectors, celebrities and companies like House of Blues. His art captures the culture, history and glory of America's greatest Blues artists on canvas and metal.

Smith is a well-known and well-liked potter who began his career in the early 1970s.

“I began studying art after a tour of duty in Vietnam, the trauma surrounding the war made me want to pursue the arts,” he said.

Smith matured his interest in the arts by earning a bachelor of science degree in art education with a minor in pottery from Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss.

There he served as a teacher assistant to the late professor Marcus Douyon. Smith credits Douyon with providing a solid foundation of artistic discipline, skill and vision that would help him grow into the artist he is today.

In 1977, he was hired by the city of Mobile as a resident artist, during which time he painted murals and taught art in city parks and recreation centers.

Since that time, Smith has won some 25 first place or best of show awards for his work. It was also included in the traveling exhibit, “Uncommon Beauty in Common Objects: The Legacy of African American Craft Art.”

He has exhibited all over the country, including the National Museum of American Art in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, and the American Craft Museum in New York City.

His most recent work uses bold colors such as black and tan.

Clarke was born in Jamaica in 1956. He immigrated to the United States in 1985, and has since been involved in the local art movement on various levels. During the mid ‘80s he made his living as a published freelance writer.

He also painted during this period and took part in several Southeastern shows.

In the years that followed, his writing established a relationship with his visual work and eventually gave birth to a colorful, mixed media offspring.

His work is commonly described as conversational, documental, interactive and even confrontational. The latter description comes from the fact that he has never backed away from the interpreting lightning rod issues such as race, gender, civil rights, politics and even religion.

Nonetheless, he strives to make his work truthful, relevant, inclusive, educational and uplifting.

The Outdoor Art Show will include works of art in a variety of media including painting, sculpture, jewelry, wood, fiber, digital, ceramics/pottery, graphics/drawing, photography, mixed media, crafts, glass and graphic design.

Judging this year will be Wanda Sullivan, an assistant professor of fine arts at Spring Hill College, who teaches painting, drawing, printmaking and two-dimensional design; and Pieter Favier, also a Spring Hill assistant professor of fine arts, who teaches ceramics and sculpture.

A total of $10,000 in prizes will be awarded during the show.

Admission is free.