See contemporary art from more than 25 South Carolina artists come alive at the South Carolina State Museum’s fourth annual Congaree Art Festival Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
The festival will feature a broad range of work from artists such as Clay Burnette, pine needle basketry; Marvin Bailey, pottery; Jeri Burdick, mosaic compositions; Karen Dickey, jewelry; J. Ashley Kirby, paintings; Ron Ferg, grits art; Ed and Barbara Streeter, blown glass vessels; and many more. Displayed art will be available for purchase at a variety of prices.
A number of the artists also will demonstrate their art, giving guests insight into the creative process.
“The Congaree Art Festival provides the perfect opportunity for guests not only to see artists' demonstrations and their wares on display, but also to speak with each artist and learn more about his or her craft," says Ashley Lowrimore, public programs manager.
Art demonstrations and displays are only one highlight of the festival. Docent-let tours of the exhibit Edmund Yaghjian: A Retrospective will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Groups will see about 100 paintings and sketches from the Armenian artist who not only influenced art in South Carolina, but became the first chair of the Department of Art at the University of South Carolina.
The Congaree Art Festival is a part of the Columbia Festival of the Arts, a festival celebrating theatre, dance, music and visual arts in the Midlands.
Artists will display their work on the museum’s front lawn, but will be moved into the museum in case of rain.
Events held on the front lawn are free. The Congaree Art Festival is included with museum admission or membership.
"In addition, the State Museum will be open during Artista Vista Thursday, April 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.," says Curator of Art Paul Matheny. "The museum will open a mini-exhibit of photographs inspired by Edmund Yaghjian, showing locations around Columbia that are represented in Yaghjian's paintings."
For more information about the Congaree Art Festival, call (803) 898-4921 or visit southcarolinastatemuseum.org. For more information about the Columbia Festival of the Arts, visit columbiafestivalofthearts.com.
A wide variety of art will be created, displayed, discussed by the artists and made available for purchase at the South Carolina State Museum April 28 as more than 25 artists participate in the annual Congaree Art Festival.
Photo by C. Aluka Berry/courtesy S.C. State Museum.
Guests can get up close and personal as art from paintings to pottery, grits art to pine needle basketry will be featured as more than 25 artists display, sell, discuss and demonstrate their art April 28 at the South Carolina State Museum's annual Congaree Art Festival.
Photo by C. Aluka Berry/courtesy S.C. State Museum.