South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is Calling for Artist and Farms Participation – Deadline is March 18, 2022 for Farms & April 29, 2022 for Artists

The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is currently seeking farms and artisans to participate in the nation’s largest free farm tour to take place from mid-May through June 2022. This free, self-guided tour is a great way for farms and artisans to showcase their operation and expand their exposure to locals and visitors alike.

Tour stops include family farms that cover a diverse spectrum of production including fruit and vegetable, livestock (protein, dairy, and/or fiber), on-farm distilleries/breweries, commodity crops, timber, and historical farming operations and farmers markets. Local artisans, including painters, weavers, bakers, potters, quilters, fiber and fabric artists, musicians, storytellers, and more, are on location at participating farm sites during the Tour weekends, showcasing (and selling) their work, creating a unique, blended visitor experience of both agriculture and art.

The June 2022 tour will include 10 South Carolina counties with different counties participating each weekend in June (see schedule below). The tour will run Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 1-5pm each weekend. Farms are encouraged to participate both days of their assigned weekend.

Weekend Participating Counties:
May 14 – 15 | Colleton County
May 21 – 22 | Lancaster County
June 4 – 5 | Charleston, Kershaw, York (East) Counties
June 11 – 12 | Lexington, Newberry, Richland, York (West) Counties
June 18 – 19 | Fairfield County
June 25 – 26 | Chester County

APPLICATION DEADLINES
• Interested farms can visit our farm recruitment website at (agandarttour.com/for-tour-sites) to learn more and apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 18, 2022.
• Interested artisans can visit the artisan recruitment website at (agandarttour.com/for-artisans) to learn more and apply. Booth fee: $20 per weekend. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 29, 2022.

The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is a partnership program led by a team from Clemson Extension. Each participating county has a planning committee consisting of representatives from organizations that are involved in agriculture, art, tourism, economic development, and beyond.

Ag + Art Tour of York County Contacts:
Melanie Cooper, Ag + Art Tour of York County, Chair by e-mail at (mcooper@yorkcountyarts.org).
Danielle Gerdes DeBow, Ag + Art Tour of York County, Farm Coordinator by e-mail at (agandartyorkcofarms@gmail.com).
Jesslyn Armstrong, Ag + Art Tour of York County, Artisan Coordinator by e-mail at (jarmstrong@yorkcountyarts.org).

Registration for the Columbia Open Studios 2022 is Now Open – Deadline January 9, 2022

Columbia Open Studios 2022, in Columbia, SC, is presented by 701 CCA and takes place on Saturday, April 2, 2022 10am-6pm and Sunday, April 3, 2022; noon-6pm.

701 CCA invites and encourages visual artists with designated studio spaces in the City of Columbia and Richland or Lexington Counties to register for Columbia Open Studios 2022 now.

Registration deadline is January 9, 2022 at 11:59pm.

Register at this link (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG2732B).

What is Columbia Open Studios?
Columbia Open Studios, now in its tenth iteration presented by 701 CCA is a self-guided, weekend-long, tour of artists’ studios in the City of Columbia, Richland and Lexington Counties. The event showcases and celebrates Columbia’s visual arts community. Artists keep 100% of their sales.

Questions? We have answers.

Visit our website for FAQs at (https://www.701cca.org/programs-and-events-2/columbia_open_studios/?mc_cid=65dfdbf403&mc_eid=36978928ed) or e-mail to (info@701cca.org) or call 803/319-9949.

Call For Artists To Participate in the 2021 Lakeside Artists Studio Tour – Deadline Aug. 15, 2021

The Lakeside Artists Studio Tour, near Lake Norman, NC, was cancelled during 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but most of us will be fully vaccinated this year and we’re ready to start planning the 2021 tour. Once again, we will be offering high quality original art directly from the artists. We hope you will be interested in joining us! We are looking for original art in every medium, in 2019 we featured not only painters in several media, but also potters with many different styles, wood turners, a furniture maker, a handbag maker, jewelers, a metal sculptor and a mosaic artist. The tour is held in private homes and studios along the Brawley Peninsula, with the studio owner along with guest artists exhibiting at every location. Please share this information with any artist friends who may like to join in.

This year’s dates are October 28, 2021 for set up and October 29-31 for the tour. The deadline for entries is August 15, 2021.

More information and a complete prospectus are available at (LKNstudiotour.com).

The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour Returns in 2021! – Deadline to Apply April 15, 2021

Starting the final weekend in May, and every weekend in June, explore the agriculture and artistic heritage of South Carolina through the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour. This experience is a free, self-guided tour of designated farms
in South Carolina, featuring local artisans and farmer’s markets.

2021 Tour Schedule
Saturdays, 10am – 4pm
Sundays, 1pm – 5pm
May 29 – 30
Colleton County

June 5 – 6
Charleston County
Kershaw County
Lancaster County
Lexington County
York County – East

June 12 – 13
Newberry County
Richland County
York County – West

June 19 – 20
Fairfield County
‌
June 26 – 27
Chester County
Chesterfield County

Apply Online Before April 15, 2021!

An Artisan for the purpose of this program is defined as an individual that makes hand crafted products without the use of kits, commercial models and whose primary components are not manufactured.

Artisans will be located at Tour Farm Sites and can sell their products.

Farmers Markets are tour sites but we do not place artisans at these locations as they have their own rules and regulations for participating.

Examples of artisans include but are not limited to painters, potters, weavers, quilters, acoustic musicians, artisan bakers, value-added producers, etc.

There is NO FEE to participate.

Visit (http://www.agandarttour.com) to Sign Up
and get more information!

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in Upstate, SC, is Back in Action With New Quilt Blocks

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail (UHQT) studios are slowly getting back into operation, if COVID-19 rates continue to fall and stay lower we can get back into full production. Pickens and Oconee County studios have a few volunteers painting on Tuesday and Thursdays, Anderson County hopes to be back on Fridays in September. Several new quilt panel requests have been received, so there is a lot to keep us busy.

Each studio is following CDC Safety Guidelines. Should you visit a studio, please know FACE MASKS are required while in the studio.

Quilt Block #258 Bear Paw, has been installed at 1035 Barkers Creek Road, Belton, SC

The Locke’s decided to have a quilt block made featuring one of Linda’s mother’s quilts. The oldest quilt they found was from the early 1940’s. Linda’s mother – Marjorie Clark Wilson – grew up in the Rocky River Church area. When Marjorie was nine, her mother passed away. She learned to sew at that age, often following in her mother’s footsteps of using whatever fabric was available for her quilts. Often, flour and feed sack material were used in sewing projects.

The quilt the Locke’s chose to create their quilt block is a Bear Paw pattern. It was made by Marjorie as a wedding gift for Linda’s older sister, Mildred Branyon, one of seven children. The Bear Paw quilt, created when Linda was 3 or 4 years old, was made during WWII. Marjorie’s oldest son was in the service, but thankfully, returned home safely. Eventually, the quilt was gifted to Linda and she has cherished it since then.

The 4 x 4’ block was mounted on point on the Shop barn that Wallace and his father built in 1977. It is located on the property purchased by Wallace’s parents, Howard and Ailene Locke in 1939. Wallace is especially excited to see the block against the dark brown on the Shop front. Coincidentally, the Locke’s live across from Belton-Honea Path High School. Their mascot is, of course, a bear! This was not part of the Locke’s plan when they chose the quilt, but it should please many members of the community. Linda has dedicated this block to her husband, Wallace, for his continuing support of her quilting hobby.

Quilt Block #263 Butterfly, is located at 120 Daniel Drive, Easley, SC

In the 1980s, Laura Cook Crumm gave her daughter-in-law, Ethel, 72 eight-inch blocks that Laura’s husband, W. Raymond Crumm, (1904-1996) had made when he was a young boy. Raymond was born in Antrim, PA, and later moved to Binghamton, NY, where he settled and raised his family.

All the blocks were appliqued butterflies made of remnants from his mother, Lottie’s, scrap bag. The blocks had previously been sewn together, possibly with the intention of making them into a bed quilt. Ethel could see needle marks in the fabric where the stitching had been removed. Ethel took the blocks and created 12-inch wall hangings with gorgeous hand-sewn embellishments that were completed in 2012 for each of her and her husband, Alan‘s, three children. She also made a long wall hanging with multiple butterflies for Alan, which now hangs in their home. Ethel hopes that someday she will make more of her beautiful squares for other members of their family.

This finished 4 x 4 quilt square, each stitch of Ethel’s and Raymond’s, lovingly hand-painted, is now proudly displayed on the Crumm home in Easley, SC.

For further info or to see the hundreds of quilt blocks which make up the trails visit (www.uhqt.org).

The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in Upstate, SC, is Always Expanding

260 Churn Dash
Sponsor: UHQT
Quilter: Bessie May Conger Stribling (1868-1941)
Painters: Ravenel Elementary Students

This quilt block is based on a-top that is part of the Lake Hartwell Country’s (what used to be named Pendleton District Commission) artifact collection. Bessie May Conger Stribling (1868-1941) of Oconee County created it. She was the wife of J.P. Stribling and the father of David W. Stribling. This “wrench” or “churn dasher” quilt-top was assembled in the late 1930s but was never finished due to her declining health. She lived at the Stribling family farm, Walnut Hill, in the Richland community from 1891 until her death in 1951. The quilt was donated to the Lake Hartwell Country by Bessie Stribling’s granddaughter, Davy-Jo Stribling Ridge in 1994.

The hand painted panel was completed by students during the 2019 Artists on the Green Event (AOTG). Volunteers from the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail were on hand to share information about quilting and assist over 120 students with the painting. This event has been held annually at Ravenel Elementary since 1992 to celebrate the fine arts. AOTG was established by the art teacher at the time, Beverly Robinson. Each year, dozens of artists from the community come and demonstrate their talents to the students at Ravenel. Dancers, jewelry makers, choral groups, puppeteers, potters, quilt makers, painters, and actors are a few of the groups that perform each year. Some artists have demonstrated their talents to the school from the event’s inception!

The art teachers that have continued the tradition at Ravenel are Teena Hunt, Christy Garrett, and now Vince Gaulin.

261 Historic Crazy Quilt
Sponsors: Judy Goosen & UHQT
Site: Judge Mauldin’s office at the Hagood-Mauldin House
104 North Lewis Street, Pickens, SC 29671

When Judy Goosen purchased this crazy quilt years ago from Sandy Henderson, a friend with a really good “eye,” in Atlanta, GA, little did she think it would someday be reproduced as a barn quilt in Pickens, SC. Judy moved to the Cliffs subdivision in northern Pickens County a few years ago and when she discovered the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail, she thought it would be a great way to memorialize her quilt, which was showing signs of age. The Pickens studio crew started looking for an appropriate site for the project. Ken Nabors and Wayne Kelly of the Pickens Historical Society identified the perfect location on the Judge’s Quarters of the Hagood-Mauldin House overlooking Legacy Square in downtown Pickens. An 8 x 8 size was suggested, and the UHQT funded half the project to supplement Judy’s contribution.

When Pickens District was divided into Oconee and Pickens Counties in 1868, the Hagood-Mauldin House was disassembled, each board and beam carefully numbered, and it was loaded onto wagons, moved from the original county seat of Pickens Court House and reconstructed at its present site in the “new” town of Pickens. Later, Judge Thomas J. Mauldin made additions to the house and added, just to the south of the house, a smaller Classical Revival style building, (now known as the Judge’s Quarters), that he used as a law office. This was built in 1904, near the time our unknown quilter was diligently embroidering her many quilt pieces together!

According to quilt historian, Laurel Horton, while this quilt of unknown origin, is most likely from late 19th or early 20th century, it includes, in addition to a variety of embroidery stitches and symbolic silhouettes, velour flowers, painted transfers, silk, velvet and taffeta fabrics. Sandy Henderson, a friend from whom Judy bought the quilt , says, “I bought it in a coal mining town in Madisonville, KY, from my friend Gigi Kesterson. Her business, Kesterson’s Antiques is in a building that was her parents’ neighborhood grocery store for many years. Lots of children bought candy there, remember those little grocery stores?”

Judy’s historic crazy quilt is the second block to grace the Hagood-Mauldin site, see also the Carpenter’s Wheel, #140 on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail website. Explore the Pickens County Historical website to learn more about Judge Mauldin and his wife, “Miss Queen” Hagood, who inherited the house from her father, James Earle.

For further information visit (http://www.uhqt.org/).

Ag + Art Tour in SC, Calls for Artist Participation – Deadline March 30, 2020

The Ag + Art Tour is the nation’s largest free farm tour featuring local artisans at every stop! The tour was founded in York County in 2012 and now includes 10 South Carolina counties participating on different weekends in May and June. The goal of the tour is to provide a venue to strengthen the connection between producers and consumers to stimulate local economic and community development.

All artisans must apply online at this link (https://agandarttour.com/artisans/). The deadline to apply is Monday, March 30, 2020.

* Artisans can participate in any county on any weekend.
* Artisans can participate in more than one county – they just need to submit a separate application for each county.

Arts Council of Henderson County in Hendersonville, NC, Offers Downtown Art and Architecture Walking Tours

The schedule for the popular Downtown Art and Architecture Walking Tours from the Arts Council of Henderson County has been set for 2020. New this year are walking tours of the Historic West Side.

The 90-minute tours depart on Saturdays at 9am from in front of the Center for Art & Inspiration at 125 South Main Street in Hendersonville, NC. All tours are free of charge and no pre-registration is required. The first tour of 2020 will be on March 21.

In addition to the popular Downtown tours, this year the Arts Council has added walks of the Historic West Side. These monthly tours will begin at the Henderson County Library at 301 Washington Street and depart on Wednesdays at 6pm. The first West Side Tour will be on May 20; all the Art and Architecture Walking Tour dates through October can be found at the Arts Council of Henderson County website (acofhc.org) or (walkthetown.com).

Tours are led by Arts Council board member Doug Gelbert who has created over 400 architectural tours in towns across the United States and Canada. He is co-author of “How About Them Apples? Be in the Know in Hendersonville” and teaches the architectural course, “What House Style Is That?” at Blue Ridge Community College.

Does your group want a private Tour? Contact the Arts Council to make arrangements. Can’t make the Tour but still want to know everything there is to know about art and architecture in Hendersonville? Pick up the book “Hiding in Plain Sight in Hendersonville” at the Center for Art & Inspiration.

As always, dogs are welcome to accompany their well-behaved owners on the Art and Architectural Walking Tours.

What does the Arts Council of Henderson County do? The Arts Council of Henderson County is a community organization that promotes, advocates for, and nurtures the arts in Henderson County and western North Carolina. This September the Arts Council will celebrate its seventh decade of presenting Art on Main, recognized as one of the 200 Best Shows in America for Fine Art & Design.

For additional information about the Arts Council and its Art and Architecture Walking Tours contact the Council by phone at 828/693-8504 or by e-mail at (info@acofhc.org).

South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is Accepting Applications for Farm Tour Sites for 2020 June Tours – Deadline February 10, 2020

The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is currently seeking farms to participate in the nation’s largest free farm tour to take place in May and June 2020. This free, self-guided tour is a great way for farms to showcase their operation and expand their exposure to locals and visitors alike.

Tour stops include family farms that cover a diverse spectrum of production including fruit and vegetable, livestock (protein, dairy, and/or fiber), on-farm distilleries/breweries, commodity crops, timber, and historical farming operations and farmers markets.

A special feature of this tour is an art component, as local artisans will be on location at participating farm sites during the tour weekends. These artisans will be showcasing (and selling) their work, creating a unique blended visitor experience of both agriculture and art!

The June 2020 tour will include 11 South Carolina counties with different counties participating each weekend (see schedule below). The tour will run Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 1-5pm each weekend. Farms are encouraged to participate both days of their assigned weekend.

Weekend
Participating Counties
May 30 – 31
Colleton
June 6 – 7
Kershaw, Newberry, Richland, York (East)
June 13 – 14
Chester, Chesterfield, Lexington
June 20 – 21
Fairfield, Lancaster
June 27 – 28
Union

Interested farms can visit our farm recruitment website at (www.agandarttour.com/farms) to learn more and apply.

The deadline to apply is Monday, February 10, 2020.

The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is a partnership program led by a team from Clemson Extension. Each participating county has a planning committee consisting of representatives from organizations that are involved in agriculture, art, tourism, economic development, and beyond.

701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC, Calls for Participation in the Columbia Open Studios 2020 – Deadline Jan. 6, 2020

Columbia Open Studios is a self-guided, weekend-long, free tour of artists’ studios in the Greater Columbia, South Carolina area, including all of Richland and Lexington Counties. Visitors will explore the work + workspaces of local artists to learn about their materials, techniques and inspiration behind their pieces.

Registration Deadline: Monday, January 6, 2020, 11:59 pm

Event: Saturday, April 4, 10am-6pm & Sunday, April 5, noon-6pm

Preview Party with Pop-Up Exhibition: Thursday, April 2, 7-9pm

Fees: $50 for 701 CCA members or $100 for non-members, plus $25 deposit

For complete details visit (columbiaopenstudios.org/register).