Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, Unveils New White Street Gallery Installation

The Arts Council of York County in Rock Hill, SC, hosted the White Street Art + Brews Crawl presented by Williams & Fudge and an anonymous donor in Old Town Rock Hill on April 26, 2019, from 6 – 10pm. This was a free, family friendly that celebrated the unveiling of the second Alleys as Gallerys public art installation.

The Arts Council of York County implemented the Alleys as Gallerys program with an exhibition in Cotton Alley on East Main St. in Rock Hill in 2018. This new project serves as the second Alleys as Gallerys installation located at White Street Gallery, 130 West White Street, Rock Hill. Alleys as Gallerys transforms York County, South Carolina’s well-traveled alleys into art galleries that feature works by local and regional artists.

Original work by Ashley Walsh

Original work by Paige Evans

Works by six York County high school students were selected for a public art installation on the fence between Dust OFF Brewing Company and the Lowenstein Building along the Williams & Fudge fence line that faces White Street.

FORT MILL SCHOOL DISTRICT

“Nature’s Flame” by Bruna Coelho
Fort Mill High School | Teacher: Jessica Calloway
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “York County High School Art Show”, December 2018

“Lily” by Luc Mercado
Nation Ford High School | Teacher: Alicia Cobler
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “York County High School Art Show”, December 2018

“Baby Honey” by Paige Evans
Nation Ford High School | Teacher: Erin Mountain
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “York County High School Art Show”, December 2018

ROCK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT THREE

“Butterflies in Her Tummy” by Heather Lenti
Rock Hill High School | Teacher: Tina Vincent
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2019

“Calorie Cry” by Ashley Walsh
Rock Hill High School | Teacher: Tina Vincent
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2019

“Still Gourds” by Hunter Sigmond
South Pointe High School | Teacher: Ashley Beard
Selected from Arts Council exhibit: “Teachers’ Choice Youth Art Exhibit”, February 2019

The ARTS are good for business. Many arts organizations and community members are working together to help brand York County as a Regional Arts Destination. With new public art in parks and murals on buildings in all of York County’s municipalities, there’s always something to seek out and to enjoy.

WILLIAMS & FUDGE IS COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY

Gary Williams of Williams & Fudge acknowledges the importance of artwork in the schools and exposing students to real life successes with public art installations. “Williams & Fudge is committed to ensuring the success of all students. An arts education serves all aspects of a student’s educational career, helping them to master core subjects with greater ease, improve social skills, and to motivate them to continue their education beyond graduation from high school. By better serving our students through encouraging the arts both in and out of school, we are building a stronger, more engaged community.”

More information about the Alleys as Gallerys program can be found online at (https://www.yorkcountyarts.org/alleygallerys).

The Arts Council is headquartered in downtown Rock Hill, a state-recognized cultural district. For more information on Arts Council events, contact the Arts Council of York County at 803/328-2787, by e-mail at (arts@yorkcountyarts.org), or visit (www.yorkcountyarts.org).

Public Art Commission seeks artist for project at Hickory Police Department in Hickory, NC – Deadline Apr. 15, 2019

The City of Hickory’s Public Art Commission (PAC) is seeking an artist to create a large-scale work of art inspired by the theme of “Police and Community Together.” The work will be a sculpture installed on the grounds of the Hickory Police Department and will be visible from public streets and pedestrian walkways, free of any admission fee. The committee is especially interested in work that highlights community, creativity, diversity, and craftsmanship.

The PAC invites applications from professional artists or designers, age 18 or older, who are eligible to work in the United States. Priority will be given to artists based in North Carolina.

Interested artists must submit an application, including a statement of interest, work samples, resumes, and references, by 5pm on Apr. 15, 2019. Applications may submitted electronically to (sgreene@hickorync.gov) or mailed to the following address:

City of Hickory Public Art Commission
c/o Sarah Greene
P.O. Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603

A review committee composed of members of the Public Art Commission and project stakeholders will evaluate applications and invite finalists to interview. The committee will then recommend an artist, or artist team, to the Public Art Commission for approval. The selected artist will be notified on May 10, 2019.

Additional details about the project and application process are available online at (http://www.hickorync.gov/content/public-art-commission).

The Public Art Commission, an advisory group to the Hickory City Council, works to enrich Hickory by integrating a wide range of art into public spaces that will create a visual sense of the community, improve quality of life, represent all facets of population, commemorate history, and inspire all citizens and visitors. Hickory’s Public Art Collection is comprised of over 100 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, murals, and benches.

To learn more about the Public Art Commission, visit (http://www.hickorync.gov/content/public-art-commission). For questions about this project, please contact PAC liaison, Sarah Greene, at 828/261-2275, or via e-mail at (sgreene@hickorync.gov).

Carolina Bronze Sculpture Park Installs Second Sculpture in Downtown Seagrove, NC

Carolina Bronze Sculpture Park, NC’s newest sculpture garden recently installed a steel sculpture by the Winston-Salem artist, Don Green. The piece titled “Metaphor #1” is located along the sidewalk on East Main Street in downtown Seagrove, NC. This sculpture is the second sculpture to be installed in downtown Seagrove as an extension of the sculpture garden.

Don Green is a NC artist located in Winston-Salem. Green received his BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University and his MFA from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He started his career as an art director doing illustration and design. Green has taught art at Methodist College, and the University of Wisconsin. His work has been shown across the region for over 50 years.

About Carolina Bronze Sculpture Garden and Foundry: NC’s newest sculpture garden is adjacent to the fine art foundry. The sculpture garden features over 23 sculptures around a beautiful pond. A walking trail loops around the pond with benches and a picnic area. The garden is free and open to the public and provides a contemplative place for walking and exercise. It is a Certified NC Native Plant Habitat and includes information about the sculpture and native NC plants on the free audio tour available in the garden.

Visit the Sculpture Garden webpage at (www.cbsculpturegarden.com).

Giant Mexican Mermaid Mural Coming to South End in Charlotte, NC

Local Artist Sharon Dowell is currently painting a 10′ x 90′ long mural on the brick exterior of The Design Center of the Carolinas, located at 1999 Hawkins Street in Charlotte, NC. Commissioned by Asana Developers, who own and are revitalizing the building, Dowell’s mural will feature a mermaid of Mexican heritage with tattoos that represent historical and current businesses in the South End district. The model for the mermaid is Karla Sosa, an artist who resided in Charlotte for several years and now is back in her hometown of Merida, Mexico. Attached are in progress photos.

Dowell is a painter with a focus on works on canvas, murals and public art. She received a Masters in Arts Administration from Winthrop University in 2017 and earned a BFA from UNC Charlotte in 2002. Post UNCC graduation, she lived in NYC and her work was greatly influenced by the city. She returned to Charlotte and has served in various roles with local galleries, most notably as as an Adjunct Professor and Rowe Galleries Coordinator at UNC Charlotte and as Director for Center of the Earth Gallery.

Dowell will begin a large scale public art project in Boulder, CO, in 2019. Her recent commissions include three CATS Transit projects for Charlotte; the I-277 and 11th St. underpass murals, signal house art, and art for the 25th Street light rail station, as well as murals for UNC Charlotte, the cities of Rock Hill and Concord, and bus shelter art for Durham. Her residencies include The McColl Center for Visual Art, Can Serrat in Barcelona, Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland, NES in Iceland, United Buddy Bear Studios in Berlin, and the Julia and David White Colony in Costa Rica. Sharon received multiple Arts and Science Council Regional Artist Project Grants and was voted Best Artist by “Charlotte Magazine”. Her work is in the permanent collections of The Federal Reserve Bank, SPX, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Fidelity Investments, and Duke Energy, among others.

Heavily involved in the arts community in Charlotte, she has served on the McColl Center for Visual Art Exhibition Committee, teaches community art workshops and donates her time for various charities and social or political causes.

Dowell offers the following artist’s statement, “Intertwining themes course through my paintings and installations; the energy of place, renewal, regeneration, and redemption, part of human nature and thus, part of the fabric of the identity of our place and culture. I am interested in the underpinnings, the stimulating happenings and the stories of the inhabitants that bring places into fruition. Largely illustrative and vibrant acrylic works on canvas, I experiment with various layers, texture and transparency, breaking down the imagery into fractured architecture, organic imagery and at times, interwoven portraiture.”

“I believe that creative place making communicates distinctiveness and generates connections across communities,” adds Dowell. “Thus, my other focus, murals and public art, has the ability to remove the intimidation factor of art that so many people in our society experience. Art in public spaces becomes embedded in one’s sub-conscious, a part of daily life that one embraces without contemplation. It is important for my work to serve as a vehicle to give back and shape communities for the better.”

Craven Arts Council in New Bern, NC, Calls for Artworks Inspired by Poetry – Deadline May 3, 2018

The Craven Arts Council & Gallery is pleased to announce their call for artists for the 2018 “Fusion Poetry: Art” Exhibition at Bank of the Arts in New Bern, NC, held from May 4 – June 29, 2018. The Arts Council is seeking artwork inspired by poetry.

During the fall and winter of 2017 Craven Arts Council asked local poets to submit their poetry to be used as inspiration for visual art. Over two hundred poems were submitted, including both adult and youth categories. Craven Arts Council has complied the poems and posted them online so that artists can search through them and find inspiration for an original piece of art.

Artist are asked to visit (www.CravenArts.org) and look under the “Exhibits” tab for “Poetry: Art.” There they will find the full terms and conditions for the exhibition and a link to all submitted poetry. Each artist may submit one original artwork. Work will be dropped off and juried May 2nd and 3rd, 2018. Some work may be rejected due to space considerations. Artist receptions for the event will be held during the downtown New Bern Artwalks, May 11th and June 8th, from 5pm-8pm. Non cash prizes will be awarded for poetry, art, and the best fusion of the two. Craven Arts will also feature a youth division for the contest in the Director’s Gallery.

Please visit (www.cravenarts.org) for more information.

City of North Charleston (SC) Cultural Arts Department is Calling for Entries for 13th Annual “National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition” – Deadline is Feb. 25, 2018

Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the thirteenth annual “National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition”, which opens in conjunction with the 2018 North Charleston Arts Fest. Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $19,750. A $1250 honorarium is given to all artists accepted into the show to assist with transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. Once all pieces are installed, the juror will award Best in Show ($1000), Outstanding Merit ($500), and up to three Honorable Mentions ($250 each).

“Lightning Over the Mississippi” by Ed Walker (2017/18 Best of Show).

The application is only available online and may be accessed via the link at (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply). An application fee of $35 allows artists to submit up to four entries. Deadline for submissions is Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018. Artists in need of assistance with any part of the application process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person.

Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this 11 month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures throughout the picturesque North Charleston Riverfront Park. Set on the banks of the Cooper River, Riverfront Park features ten acres of walking paths, a boardwalk and fountain, an expansive lawn with performance pavilion, children’s play areas, and picnic sites. An estimated 50,000 people visit this public park annually to enjoy the amenities located in the heart of the city’s arts community.

The juror for this year’s exhibition is Lilly Wei, a New York-based independent curator, writer, journalist, lecturer, and critic. Wei has written for dozens of publications here and abroad and is a longtime contributor to Art in America and a contributing editor at “ARTnews”. She is the author of numerous artists’ catalogues and monographs and has curated exhibitions in the US, Europe, and Asia. Wei lectures frequently on critical and curatorial practices and sits on the board of several non-profit art institutions and organizations including AICA/USA, Bowery Arts & Sciences, and Art Omi International. She was a former board member of Art in General, and is a fellow of the CUE Foundation. Wei was born in Chengdu, China and has an MA in art history from Columbia University, New York.

The 13th Annual “National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition” will be on display May 1, 2018, through March 24, 2019, at North Charleston Riverfront Park, located at 1001 Everglades Avenue in North Charleston, SC. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, from 6-8pm.

For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, the “National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition”, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843/740-5854, e-mail (culturalarts@northcharleston.org), or visit (NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com).

Caldwell Arts Council Offers New Sculptures in Downtown Lenoir, NC

Have you noticed the new sculptures in the planters in downtown Lenoir?

New sculptures have been installed by Ray Giddens of Simpsonville, SC, Jim Weitzel of Forest City, NC, and Sam Steffey of Hudson, NC – with more new sculptures expected soon from Gwendolyn “Gwendy” Kerney of Lenoir City, TN, and from Desmond Lewis of Memphis, TN.

Work by Gwendolyn “Gwendy” Kerney of Lenoir City, TN

This outdoor sculpture gallery, called Tucker’s Gallery, was started by two local sculptors: Keith Willis and Suzette Bradshaw. The concept was to have an outdoor gallery for sculpture along the streets of Lenoir. They partnered with the City of Lenoir who installed planters in downtown Lenoir. Several of those planters have bases in them that allow for the rotation of sculpture.

Tucker’s Gallery gets its name from Lenoir’s history books – the Tucker family settled in the area around 1797 and their barn was likely located on what is now Norwood Street, not far from the Caldwell Arts Council. Tucker’s Barn was a voting precinct, a muster ground, a store and a place for “frolics” and celebrations. At least one large Fourth of July celebration included a drum corps, a march of Revolutionary veterans and speeches by General William Lenoir. Tucker’s Barn became a large meeting place for many gatherings and was so popular a fiddle tune was composed and written titled “Tucker’s Barn.” Doc Watson eventually recorded this tune in 1964 on an album titled, “The Watson Family Tradition.”

Work by Sam Steffey of Hudson, NC

Artwork in Tucker’s Gallery is on display for at least one year and is available for purchase. The gallery is now managed by the Caldwell Arts Council; 828/754-2486; (www.caldwellarts.com).

Stakeholders Announce Plans for “Southern Lights,” a Signature Art Installation for Columbia, SC

Southern Lights, a signature, long-term art installation by artist Chris Robinson, will span the Congaree River between the Blossom Street and Gervais Street bridges in Columbia, SC. Scheduled to light up every evening in Cayce, West Columbia and Columbia for the next decade, this installation is coming to fruition through supporters including, What’s Next Midlands, the Congaree Vista Guild, the South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture, the City of Columbia and One Columbia for Arts and History. The laser installation will launch on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, as part of the Total Solar Eclipse Weekend celebrations.

With the support of the cities of Columbia, West Columbia and Cayce and Richland County, the installation’s design is meant to connect our cities and the Midlands community. The project offers an innovative approach to public art and celebrates and highlights public infrastructure uniquely. Southern Lights will be the only installation of its kind in the United States, and celebrates the work of Charles Townes, a native South Carolinian whose theories led to the development of laser technology.

“Southern Lights is a product of What’s Next Midlands and an example of our community coming together to move our region forward,” said Meghan Hickman, executive director of EngenuitySC. “This will be a signature piece for our community and a must-see for tourists, and we’re proud to be formally introducing Southern Lights as part of the Total Solar Eclipse Weekend.”

Along with leadership and support from the communities who touch the bridges, leaders in the Midlands business community, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, are sponsoring the project, which will cost an estimated total of $120,000, a value for a signature art piece that will be part of the fabric of our region for a decade.

Chris Robinson, a professor in the School of Visual Art and Design at the University of South Carolina, concentrates on contemporary science and technology and its role in decision-making through installations and digital drawings. He holds a BFA from Florida State and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts and is the recipient of many awards including the Leonardo da Vinci Space Art Award and the Palmetto Pillar Award, along with many competitive art awards. He has lectured, written and exhibited extensively throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Robinson has completed dozens of large-scale installations in his career, most notably installations on the National Mall in Washington, DC, (in conjunction with Rockne Krebs), and in Columbia his light installation at the celebration of the opening of the South Carolina State Museum in 1989 and for the Governor’s Carol Lighting at the South Carolina State House in 1992.

“My installations create a sculptural structure, draw attention to interesting aspects of the surrounding environment and illuminate the distinctive quality of laser light,” said Robinson. “The Congaree River is special and unusual in that it is relatively dark in the middle of an urban environment and the beams can go both under and over the bridges and the viewers.”

Southern Lights is representative of Robinson’s body of work and marks the end of Robinson’s academic career in the School of Visual Art & Design at the University of South Carolina (May 31, 2017). Robinson will become chair of the Department of Art at USC Beaufort this fall.

Robinson will have Southern Lights completely installed by August 2017 but will test the lasers along the way. Two lasers are installed at points on the banks of the Congaree River. One laser is at the City pump station below Founders Park, the USC baseball stadium, and the other is at EdVenture. Additionally, a series of mirrors that will reflect the lasers will be placed on existing structures, including on the rooftop of Bridgepointe Condominiums in West Columbia. The lasers are blue and green in color and mirrors along the river and on the bridges will reflect the lasers. Viewers who take in the installation can expect Southern Lights to look different from different vantage points.

Southern Lights will formally kick off at an event on Saturday, August 19 in the evening in celebration of the Total Solar Eclipse Weekend. The tie-in with the eclipse means that our region’s new signature art piece will be celebrated by locals and tourists alike. Stay tuned to (SouthernLightsSC.com) for event details.

This installation is slated to light up the night for three hours every evening for the next 10 years, (times will change depending on what time the sun sets) or as long as the equipment holds up. The City of Columbia is committed to the ongoing maintenance and management of Southern Lights, as is the South Carolina State Museum. Those who cross the Gervais and Blossom Street bridges or visit the riverfront regularly will be able to take in Southern Lights, and with signage and wayfinding surrounding Southern Lights to come, visitors to the region will discover this major attraction for years to come.

For more information on Southern Lights, visit (SouthernLightsSC.com) and on social media via #SouthernLightsSC.

Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in Upstate, SC, Adds Three New Quilt Blocks

# 196 “The Together Tree” and #197 “Star of Leadership”

The first two quilts displayed on Pickens County schools can be found at West End Elementary School on Pelzer Highway, just south of Route 123 as you enter Easley, SC, from the west. They are funded by the school and are the brainchildren of the principal, Angie Rodgers. Resident art teacher, Christina Covington’s 4th grade art students participated in the painting of both “Star of Leadership” and “The Together Tree.” The students also submitted names for the two squares, which were then selected by vote. Covington also was involved in painting, taking time off from her Christmas holiday to come to the Walhalla, SC, studio to paint the geometric details of the background in the “Star of Leadership” quilt square.

“The Together Tree” is based originally on an art project designed by a former art teacher, Erin Murphy, at the school. This framed painting hangs in the front entrance of the school and is decorated with the fingerprints of students and teachers at West End. “The fingerprints symbolize that we are all part of something bigger and how we all work together in our own unique and special ways,” states Covington.

The original quilts were also the inspiration of West End’s current principal, Angie Rodgers, who asked a group of quilters, mostly made up of retired West End teachers, to design and sew two hanging quilt squares for the school to display on the walls. Members of this quilting circle meet weekly to sew and also take sewing trips together. The group started approximately eight years ago and includes; Gail King, Janet Hadaway, Kathy Peot, Beth Holcombe and Paula Grant. King and Hadaway were former 4th grade teachers and Holcombe taught 5th grade. Peot is a retired nurse, but is also the mom of former West End students! Grant, a retired 5th grade Science teacher and the youngest of the quilters has recently retired from West End and can now participate fully in the fun.

“The Together Tree”, designed by Janet Hadaway, depicts a tree, surrounded by an appliqued window frame and decorated with actual buttons on a raindrop printed background. This quilt celebrates the diversity of West End as well as the many students who have come and gone through the school.

The “Star of Leadership”, also created as a quilted wall hanging was designed by Beth Holcombe. This block is a variation of the traditional “Star of the Alamo” block pattern. It was inspired by the bright, primary colored blocks in the tiled floors of the hallways of the school, especially where the halls meet at an intersection. This pattern was chosen for its likeness to a compass, directing students to move forward to reach their goals.

The two quilt squares are mounted in front of the school, on a brick marquee, formerly used for school signage and the fabric quilts will be displayed in the school building.

Quilt block #198 has been added to the array of quilts in Anderson, SC

Reagan Smith of 26 Oleander Drive selected a “LeMoyne Star” for placement on her backyard fence. Lystra Seymour from Anderson, SC, made the fabric quilt Smith told us:

“Mrs. Seymour husband is a physician that I call on and he proudly displays his wife’s quilts in his office waiting room as well as his patient rooms….this particular quilt happened to be in his back patient room several years ago when it truly caught my eye… knew that with its simplistic design and bold colors that this was the quilt block design I wanted!”

“This eight point star has many names ‘LeMoyne Star’, ‘Puritan Star’ and ‘Lemon Star’ to name a few. There are several theories on who created this pattern. One theory is that the LeMoyne brothers Pierre and Jean Baptist who founded New Orleans had this particular star pattern prominent in Jean Baptiste’s coat of arms. The earliest published date of the ‘LeMoyne Star’ is in a collection of patterns attributed to Joseph Doyle in 1911, according to Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of ‘Pieced Quilt Patterns’. The configuration falls into the category of ‘Eight-pointed/45 degree Diamond Stars’. Doyle called this pattern ‘Puritan Star’ as the design traveled throughout the country the name became corrupted into ‘Lemon Star’.”

For further info about the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail visit (www.uhqt.org).

Where the Trail Will Lead: The 200th Quilt Square on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail

by Victoria Hurst

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail, in Upstate, SC, is celebrating its 200th quilt square at the Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce on April 7, 2017, at 12:30pm. For eight years, the Quilt Trail has grown, block by block, into a meaningful part of Upstate South Carolina’s landscape for locals who want to preserve the history and traditions of the area. While the Quilt Trail is built, perpetuated, and maintained by locals with a passion for their history, it is also a unique experience for visitors to the area. The Trail appeals to those who enjoy art, nature, history, crafting, story-telling, and even just taking a car ride through the countryside
.
As the UHQT has grown over the years, it has forged a path through the lives of so many in its surrounding communities. The members of the Trail are comprised of people who have had the tradition of quilting passed down to them, those whose created the tradition for themselves, and those who are not quilters but still help make the trail possible in various ways. There are now two teams of over 20 volunteers in Anderson and Oconee Counties. This art form has woven its way into the hearts of this community.

Martha File is the one of the founding members of the trail and continues to work with the UHQT from her current home in Athens, OH. Martha was living in Seneca, SC, when she began working with the Quilt Trail and usually comes back to her home in Seneca for a week or two every month. Her favorite square is mounted there, which is based on a quilt made by her aunt. Martha is passionate about organizations that promote community service and fellowship, and “the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail would not be where it is today without all the community support it has received. This is truly a collaborative effort by many organizations, businesses and individuals in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties. Some of our quilts have been painted by students in the schools, community groups, families, as well as by our volunteers.” Martha has been on this journey since 2009 and has watched as quilt squares have been added to homes, historic buildings, destination venues, and businesses in the Upstate.

Nancy Warmath, who lives outside of Seneca, had both a grandmother and mother who quilted, and she has a quilt that her mother made at the age of 12. She also has a quilt square above her mailbox, #139 “Dogwood Quilt,” based on one of her grandmother’s. Nancy is in the process of making a quilt herself for the first time in 30-something years. After getting involved through Gil Huggins on the Walhalla production team, she has worked on painting several of the quilt squares, beginning with #80, “Wedding Ring” in Central. She also did work on the 200th Quilt, which will be unveiled April 7th. She loves the stories behind the quilts and hopes to see wider promotion of the trail, as it brings more visitors to our area and inspires residents to learn more about their heritage.

One resident of Seneca, Lyn Geibens, has a quilt square on her home (quilted by Gil Huggins) and got involved in the quilt trail through her friend, Jane Bolling. Lyn and Jane worked with the students at Keowee Elementary School to paint their quilt square, #10 “Compass Rose”, and recalls how proud the students were to write their names on the back of what they helped create. Lyn also finds it gratifying to work with a group of “strong willed woman…there is very little criticism and loads of encouragement.”

Oconee County Production Team Leader Chris Troy is an artist based in Bountyland, between Seneca and Walhalla. She also has a quilt square on her house, which represents the first and only quilt that she actually created herself. While Chris’s medium of choice is ceramics rather than textiles, she really values being involved in the UHQT and says “the hands on, face to face interaction of people of diverse backgrounds coming together for the purpose of creating public art has always been a positive endeavor.”

Jim and Barbara Schoonover of Wynward Point in Salem are a husband/wife duo that have been involved with the UHQT since 2009. Barbara is a quilter, and she is on the production team for painting the quilt patterns. Jim cuts the board, paints the primer, and draws the patterns. At this time, he holds the title of only man on the team. He and Barbara both enjoy working with an organization that they see as a great asset to the community and a great “way to connect with locals who have grown up here and those who have moved to this area for the beauty of the Upstate.”

Abby Heid is another resident of Seneca, SC, who finds a strong sense of identity and community from being involved in UHQT: “The people who participate in the UHQT have a strong camaraderie…[they] bring together their individual skill sets with each new quilt project. The talents of artists, quilters, crafters, and those who want to learn come together to turn someone’s hand or machine-sewn quilt into a fantastic work of art. The teamwork is amazing. It is the people, who come weekly to the studio and contribute their talents, laughter, and chatter that make you feel welcomed and come back to learn more.”

The members of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail put in over 7,000 volunteer hours per year, giving presentations, painting quilt squares with members of the community, and finding ways to improve and promote this priceless resource. As these proud members reveal their 200th milestone along a winding, scenic, and sometimes uphill road, they also have announcements about how this project will continue to grow and reach even more people across the region and beyond. Join the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail at the Pickens Chamber of Commerce at 222 W. Main St. in Pickens, SC on April 7th at 12:30pm to see where the trail will lead!

Victoria Hurst is a writer, traveler and Clemson native who is now based in Charleston, SC.

For further information visit (www.uhqt.org).