April 2011

20th Artista Vista Takes Place in Columbia, SC - April 28 - 30, 2011

The Congaree Vista is gearing up for its 20th annual Artista Vista. The Midlands’ largest gallery crawl returns from 5-9pm, Thursday, Apr. 28 and lasts through Saturday, Apr. 30, 2011. Local artists and galleries will open their doors for this signature annual event that draws visitors from all over South Carolina and beyond to Columbia, SC’s vista area.

This year’s Artista Vista will feature regionally and nationally recognized artists, as well as up-and-coming artists from the Midlands. These artists and more will be on-hand to chat with visitors, giving gallery-goers unique insight into their work.

“These world-class galleries are the lifeblood of the Vista,” said Clark Ellefson, head of the Vista Gallery Group and owner of Lewis+Clark Lamps Studio at 1231 Lincoln Street. “This will be a great weekend for locals to experience the fantastic art that’s happening in this state. And we’re very excited to celebrate our 20th anniversary.”

For three days, galleries will host visitors and offer complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres as a part of Artista Vista, and some will also present live entertainment to make this a truly enjoyable and well-rounded event.

Free parking will be available in the Vista’s parking decks located on Lincoln Street near Lady, Park Street near Pendleton and Lady Street near Wayne Street.

In addition, fabric artist Susan Lenz will unveil her art quilt called “Find a Mate,” a community art project to educate the public about art quilts. “Looking For a Mate” is made of socks donated by Vista Lights attendees last fall.

The Vista, Columbia’s premier art district, has never slackened its efforts to keep the art scene in the Midlands alive and thriving through thick and thin, as the past three decades attest. The Vista was synonymous with art by the early 1980s, when artists began to move their studios to the area’s affordable abandoned warehouse space. Today’s restaurants, shopping and nightlife in historic buildings along the Gervais Street corridor are still driven by the Vista’s creative energy. Artista Vista is completely organized by galleries in the Vista – as it has been since its birth 20 years ago.

For more information contact Katie Alice Walker at Riley Communications at 803/227-0914 or e-mail to (kwalker@rileycommunications.com).

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