Most Southerners will be quick to tell you, we’re just a little more creative than your average folk. Maybe it’s because our resourceful forebears had to make do with very little, or maybe it’s because the heat & humidity force us to do things more inventively, but life tends to be a little more imaginative here in the South. After all, a great many world-renowned artists, writers, actors and other respected thespians hail from this region. Downtown Greenville is no exception…we love our art and we love our artists! This month spotlights the love we share for the artistic side of our fair city with two really cool art events.
The first event is a newcomer to the Greenville Arts Scene. Inspired by a similar event that takes place each summer in New Orleans, White Linen Night Greenville strives to showcase Downtown Greenville’s thriving Arts Community and to introduce art conneseiuers & art “newbies” alike to the many wonderful local galleries tucked away just off Main Street in a way that is fun, friendly, and …best of all… FREE! Part art gallery tour, part pub crawl & shopping excursion, this laid-back event is a farewell to summer celebration throughout Main Street from The Hyatt to the West End. Visitors will find art openings at a dozen galleries on and near Main Street, with contemporary works by local, regional and nationally known artists. Also, many of the galleries will feature live entertainment, refreshments and artists’ discussions & demonstrations. Plus, those taking part in the “crawl” can register for a chance to win prizes such as gift certificates and other “goodies” from some of the coolest Downtown restaurants & retail establishments.
Taking place September 1st, attendees are encouraged to wear white during this Labor Day Weekend event – traditionally the last time one was supposed to wear white. Festivities begin at the Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville (200 North Main Street) with registration from 5PM until 6PM. Galleries will be open for the Art Crawl until 10PM. Not to be left out of the fun, many Downtown restaurants and retail establishments are offering White Linen Specials on food, drinks and other products during the event. Art lovers of all ages are encouraged to come out for this wonderful chance to see (and purchase) some incredible local art and learn about Greenville’s vibrant art scene from the artists and gallery owners themselves. For more information on White Linen Night Greenville, visit their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/WhiteLinenNightGreenville or follow on Twitter @WhiteLinenGVL.
The second event sharing the September arts spotlight is one that is making its long-awaited return to the Downtown events calendar. Art in the Park draws renowned artists from all over the Southeast region as well as thousands of on-lookers for a weekend of exhibits, demonstrations, and a gallery showcasing over 200 original works of art. Established in 1991 as a festival for local artists, Art in the Park grew to include the best artists of the upstate and beyond, until 2008. By popular demand, Art in the Park is back for its 18th season, bringing back the best of what the festival brought to the community and its artists. The weekend of September 22nd & 23rd, South Main Street from Broad to Camperdown and at the end of the Liberty Bridge at Wyche Parking Lot will become a sea of artwork available not only for your viewing pleasure, but will also be for sale. The event will take place 10AM – 6PM on Saturday, the 22nd and 11AM – 5PM on Sunday, the 23rd. For those wishing to broaden their artistic experience to include the culinary arts, Larkin’s on the River will be hosting an “Art After Dark” event on Saturday, the 23rd, from 7:30-11:30PM. For more information on Art in the Park & Art After Dark, visit: http://www.artintheparkgreenville.com.
So, venture Downtown and take in some of our city’s finest art & culture. These events are a great way to introduce families to fine art and can also make an excellent Date Night or Girl’s Night Out event (especially White Linen Night and Art After Dark). Then you can top off your day or evening with a tour of Downtown’s “Art in Public Places”, hunt for the many “Mice on Main” with the kids, or treat yourself to dinner, drinks and dancing or live music at one of the many excellent Downtown venues! Sounds to me like time well-spent in our beautiful Downtown…which is itself a divine work of art!
For More Information:
White Linen Night Greenville: A fun, friendly and free art crawl of several Main Street galleries – but with a twist! Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WhiteLinenNightGreenville or follow on Twitter at @WhiteLinenGVL.
Art in the Park: Making its much anticipated return after a 4 year hiatus, this most favorite of Up[state art festivals features work from many local & regionally known artists. For more info, visit www.artintheparkgreenville.com
Art After Dark: An evening of good food, good spirits, good music and great art at Larkin’s on the River.
Art in Public Places: Take a walking or scenic driving tour through the City of Greenville and discover a diverse collection of unique artwork that has complemented the city’s continued growth. Each tour provides scenic maps of the city, photographs of all the city’s artwork and detailed descriptions and historical information. For more information, visit: http://www.greenvillesc.gov/Culture/ArtinPublicPlaces
Mice on Main: Inspired by the book, “Good Night Moon”, these 10 wonderful little mice can be found peeking out from under foliage and landmarks throughout Downtown. Because of ongoing construction, some of the mice may have moved to a new location. For more information & hints to help with your own Mouse Hunt, visit: http://miceonmain.com
downtowngreenvillegirl 