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September Issue 2006
Accessibility 2006 Takes Place in Sumter, SC, Oct. 2 - 19, 2006
Accessibility-Sumter takes a new direction for 2006. The 2006 version is a Sculpture Symposium featuring seven internationally recognized sculptors who will work in wood and stone to produce monumental sculptures on the grounds of the Sumter County Cultural Center, in Sumter, SC. The Symposium starts on Oct. 2 and ends with a celebration on Oct. 19, 2006. The seven international sculptors will be working in a public forum in the Sumter community for the duration of the Symposium providing many unique opportunities for the public to gain insight into the "process" of sculpture and for social interaction with the visiting artists.
Participating artists
include: Toomas Altnurme (Tallinn, Estonia), Paty Sonville (Bruxelles,
Belgium), Emil Adamec (Sedliste, Czech Republic), Milen Ivantchev
Vassilev (Vratsa, Bulgaria), Cesar Persi Narvaez (Lima, Peru),
Matthew Terry (France/Belmont MA), and Nora Valdez (Argentina)
who is also the Symposium Curator. David Sanders of Sumter, SC,
is acting as the Symposium Director.
Peruvian artist, Cesar Persi Narvaez Machicao has been officially
designated as a special Cultural Ambassador from Peru for the
Symposium and will be the featured artist in an exhibition of
his work at the Sumter County Cultural Center gallery for the
duration of the Symposium.
The concept of a "Symposium" is a gathering of like-minded
individuals to discuss particular topics. Sculpture Symposia
have been held in countries all over the world for many decades,
yet few are held in the USA. The exciting aspect of a Sculpture
Symposium is that art is not only discussed art is actually
created. During the Sumter International Sculpture Symposium,
twenty-four tons of Illinois limestone and large trunks of native
Cypress and Cedar are sculpted on the grounds of the Sumter County
Cultural Center for 17 days. Eight professional sculptors from
Europe, South America and Sumter, will chip, cut and carve monumental
sculptures from stone and wood. At the conclusion of the Symposium
the sculptures will remain permanently on the grounds of the Sumter
County Cultural Center and become part of Sumter's public art
collection.
Sumter's annual Accessibility events have historically featured a comprehensive education component that included: an in-school artist residency, lectures, films, demonstrations and panel discussions. Accessibility 2006: The Sumter International Sculpture Symposium features a twenty day in-school residency in Sumter-area schools by two of the visiting international artists, an "Artists' Apprentice" program, which provides opportunities for area college and university art students to actually assist the Symposium artists in creating their sculptures, and a Columbia, SC-based lecture/film series sponsored by the Columbia Museum of Art. The students involved with the Symposium's in-school residency will also collaborate to produce several artworks which will be displayed in the public "sculpture garden", located at the Sumter County Cultural Center. The Accessibility education component provides opportunities for area students to learn and perform traditional dance and music from the countries of the participating artists. The Symposium also provides a unique setting in which to learn, develop and apply foreign language skills.
Symposium educators and directors are providing the opportunity for SC university and college level art students to assist the visiting international sculptors during their participation in the Sumter International Sculpture Symposium. Art students from USC Sumter, USC Columbia, Winthrop University, Francis Marion University, Columbia College, Coker College and College of Charleston have been invited to participate through a unique "Artist Apprentice" program that provides the opportunity for SC art students to live and work with the visiting international artists.
Generally, Public Art
is done privately in artists' studios, and then installed for
public viewing when completed. During the Sumter International
Sculpture Symposium, all the work will be done in full view
at the Cultural Center, which gives the general public an idea
of how large stone and wood sculptures are actually made. The
public, and particularly students, are encouraged to visit the
work site to watch the sculptures emerge from the raw, natural
stone and wood. Accessibility organizers hope that at the end
of the Symposium the general public will better appreciate and
understand the process of creating a sculptural work of art. It
is also hoped that the completed sculptures significantly add
another intriguing element to Sumter's "public spaces"
and already beautiful environment.
For further info contact Martha Greenway, Executive Director,
Sumter International Sculpture Symposium at 803/436-2260 or e-mail
at (patriot_hall@sumtercountysc.org) or Booth Chilcutt, Accessibility
2006 Education Coordinator at 803/436-2616 or e-mail at (bchilcutt@sumter-sc.com).
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