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October Issue 2007
6th Greenville Open Studios in Greenville, SC, Takes Place Nov. 3 - 4, 2007 - Features 105 Artists
Scheduled for Nov. 3-4, 2007, the sixth annual Greenville Open Studios is a perfect way not only to learn more about artistic processes and sources of creative inspiration but also to begin or enhance an art collection. Sponsored by Wachovia Bank, N.A. for the fourth consecutive year and presented by the Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC), the weekend event consists of 105 local visual artists opening their studios to the public. Greenville Open Studios has evolved into the premier event for Greenville's best and most professional visual artists.
The event began as an idea cast about during a casual conversation between a few artists several years ago; they discussed doing something to raise awareness in the greater community of the tremendous creative energy in the area. The idea is now a full-fledged annual event. Studio locations vary throughout a 15-mile radius of downtown Greenville, and Easley, Greer, Travelers Rest and Fountain Inn are included.
In 2006, over 32,017 visits were recorded and $220,099 in art was sold during the weekend. These record-high results are proof positive of the quality of visual artists who call Greenville their home. This year, the 105 participating artists comprise the largest event in its six-year history. The support of Greenville Open Studios from the business and philanthropic communities has been phenomenal. The Graham Foundation, the County of Greenville, the City of Greenville, SEW Eurodrive, the Don and Zelma Waggoner Foundation, the Elbert W. Rogers Foundation, the Priester Foundation and WYFF are also major contributors to this event. Other sponsors and contributors at the time of this writing include Bi-Lo, Design Strategies, The Greenville News, The Greenville Journal, The Beat, and Saffron's Sidewalk Cafè. The level of corporate and foundation support for this weekend event has been outstanding, providing further evidence of how fortunate Greenville is to have so many business entities supporting the visual arts. Glenda Guion and Lynn Greer, Greenville Open Studios 2007 co-chairs, have done an outstanding job in ensuring the event's continued success while maintaining the highest level of artistry among the participants. Paul Flint and Alexia Timberlake are also to be commended for their leadership of the exhibition committee.
Greenville Open Studios provides free and convenient community access to the visual arts through creating opportunities for dialogue between artists and the general public. By opening artists' places of work and inviting the community-at-large to participate in the creative process, new marketing opportunities for artists are created. Greenville Open Studios will open up the world of visual artists to everyone - from the seasoned collector to the first-time art buyer to the curious onlooker.
The arts belong to everyone, and participation in this event is fundamental to its continued success. Greenville Open Studios not only demystifies many artistic processes but also gives you an excellent opportunity to learn and to be entertained. With unprecedented community support and the 105 artists hard at work in their studios, the Nov. 3-4 weekend is yours.
There are several ways to select the studios you would like to visit - for an official catalogue, please call MAC at 864/467-3132. One Size Fits All, an exhibit at the MAC Gallery, located at 16 Augusta Street, consisting of one 12" x 12" (x 12") work of art from each of the participating artists, provides you with a great overview of the event as well as a way to familiarize yourself with the fantastic talent in the Greenville area. The exhibit runs from Oct. 26 through Dec. 14, 2007.
Education should always be an essential component in any artistic process, and Greenville Open Studios provides a remarkable platform for students and young artists to experience first-hand the life of a professional artist. For the first time, MAC is offering a $1,000 award for art supplies to the Greenville County school that sends the most students to Greenville Open Studios. For more information, please contact the MAC office.
The arts have a significant role in the vitality of any community. For a city with approximately 60,000 people, Greenville is so fortunate to have an amazingly talented and diverse group of visual artists as well as museums, performing arts companies and venues that provide diverse programming and educational programs to best suit the needs for our ever-expanding population. The Metropolitan Arts Council is proud that Greenville Open Studios is a major force in Greenville's vibrant arts environment.
The 20th century French painter Jean Dubuffet once said, "What I expect from any work of art is that it surprises me, that it violates my customary valuations of things and offers me other, unexpected ones." Greenville Open Studios is the ideal vehicle for residents and tourists to enter into the respective worlds of 105 area artists to experience the visual arts with greater insight. The element of surprise is guaranteed.
For further information call MAC at 864/467-3132
or visit (www.greenvillearts.com).
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