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Festival of Discovery Art That Makes You Oink!
July 3, 2011
By JOE SITARZ
Index-Journal
Greenwood, SC - The South Carolina Festival of Discovery already has its annual barbecue cook-off and Greenwood Blues Cruise. Now, this year, there will be a little more to do and see as the Festival of Discovery debuts its Arts and Crafts Fair.
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“Art That Makes You Oink!” is what the arts and crafts portion is called and will feature artists and craftsmen from the Southeast, according to Arts and Crafts Fair chairwoman Joyce Turner, who has been working with Uptown Greenwood manager Angie Jones to incorporate the event into this year’s festival.
The Festival of Discovery is Thursday through Saturday in Uptown Greenwood and features the Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned cook-off and Blues Cruise.
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“We saw that we had music, and we had barbecue,” Turner said. “Art kind of goes hand in hand with the festival.”
Among the art associated activities are a community mural, art crawl, make-and-take projects and arts and crafts sales. The Arts and Crafts Fair is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday in the Countybank Plaza on Main Street in Uptown.
The arts and crafts fair started out as a small part of the festival, but that changed quickly.
“When it started out, it was just going to be something small,” Turner said. “We actually kind of broadened our scope. This time they wanted to designed an area. People will be able to see the artists and craftsmen.
“We are hoping that this event will grow and become an important part of the festivities. We want to showcase our local artists as well as showcase artists from the Southeast,” Turner said. “With artists from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, we are proud to welcome a diverse group of artists to Greenwood.”
Turner, a member of Greenwood Artists Guild, knows how important the arts are to a community.
“The arts are an integral part of our community and this will give us an opportunity to expand the scope of the festival,” Turner said. “This year will boast something for everyone with handcrafted works of art at affordable prices including musical instruments, birdhouses, textiles, jewelry, and more as well as caricature artist and a professional facepainter.”
One project Turner is excited about is the community mural. Turner will sketch out a scene on a 4 foot by 8 foot panel. The scene will have a musical theme to it.
“Anybody can come up and help paint the mural. We’re going that it will be a finished piece that can be on display,” Turner said. “We’d like to make this a tradition so each year we have a different mural that will be part of the festivities.”
The possibilities are endless, according to Turner.
“We’re hoping that it will grow,” Turner said. “Next year, maybe we’ll take the whole side of Main Street. We’re excited about it.”
Among the artists participating is legendary Greenwood artist Skip Shelton, whose was the 2011 Greenwood Music Festival artist. Shelton created the print for the musical series.
While everyone knows Shelton, Turner said there are area artists participating she’s not familiar with.
“That’s exciting because that means they’re coming out and participating in this type of event.
Turner said many of the artists and crafters were found via the South Carolina Arts Commission artists roster.
“I think we’ve got things that are not typical,” Turner said, noting one crafter makes airplanes out of recycled soda cans.
She added there’s also a crafter who makes interesting birdhouses, a crafter who makes bamboo instruments and an artist who makes cigar box guitars.
“He makes cigar guitars, which I think should be interesting,” Turner said.
The art crawl will showcase the art galleries and studios in Uptown Greenwood. There will be maps available and art crawls sites will have a sign indicating it as a stop.
“That was another way to include local artists,” Turner said, noting there are five venues participating.
For information, email festivalofdiscovery.arts@gmail.com, call 942-8448 or visiting www.festivalofdiscovery.com.
Here’s a look at the artists and craftsmen who are participating in the Festival of Discovery Arts and Crafts Fair:
Mary Taylor (M Jeter Designs), Roebuck, ladies’ and children’s dresses; Cynthia Ebner, Greer, recycled paper beaded necklaces; Levi Bright, Lexington, pottery and demonstrations; Billie Jo Williams, Raiford, Fla., laser portraits and novelties on wood; Shannon Crocker, Greenwood, handmade rings, earrings and necklaces; Debbie Thomas, Greer, dresses, hair bows, tutus and jewelry; Bridgett Crocker, Fountain Inn, wine bottle holders from wood; Charli R. Fralix, North Augusta,, sewn crafts, hats and crocheted items; Cesor Rojas, Charlotte, musical instruments from bamboo, leather bracelets and dreamcatchers; Elizabeth Eldering, Honea Path, children’s book author; Debra Hampton and Andrea Shane, Goose Creek, Redneck wine glasses and jewelry; Jennifer Toelle (Carolina Bows), Hanahan, handmade burpcloths, baby blankets, bows, etc.; Mark and Ashley Krueger/Cute As A Button, Simpsonville, buttons, bows and embroidery; Dickie Bouye, Spartanburg, homemade honey roasted nuts, pecans and cashews; Stathia and Rick Hammond, Augusta, Ga., handpainted scenes on recycled glass windows; Kevin Stinehart, Greenville, mixed media; Jeanie Mitchell, Greenwood, knitted /crocheted hats, baby blankets, etc.; Sally Connor, Columbia, homemade dips; Steve Turnmeyer, Moore,, necklaces and keychains; Dawn Scopino, Conway, caricature artist; Lori Douglas, Greenville, facepainting; Skip Shelton, Greenwood, watercolorist; Ellise Wisener, Elberton, mixed media demonstrations; Cathy Scott, Elgin, children’s novelties; Tara Stone, Honea Path, and Brandy Gore, Abbeville, fiber artists; Holly Ferguson, Greenville, jewelry artist; Vanessa Hunter, Irmo, handmade purses, potato bags, etc.; Lee Willis, Franklin, N.C., homemade fudges and recycled soda can airplanes; Salli Cupstid, North Augusta, monogrammed gifts, mirrors, etc.; Cissy and Bob Berner, Jefferson County, Fla., Uunique birdhouses Wes Yates, Simpsonville, cigar box guitars; and Jacob Turner, Greenwood, magician.
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