The third annual “Art Charleston” festival is getting ready to make a return to The Gibbes Museum of Art for a five-day festival of visual arts starting April 24-28. The festival will include several events to showcase the visual arts’ impact on Charleston’s cultural scenery. The President and CEO of The Gibbes Museum of Art, Angela Mack, stated: “We look forward to welcoming guests to this year’s festival, which celebrates the transformative power of art within our community. Art, as a universal language, enriches our lives, fosters compassion and encourages connection with the world around us.”
The festival will start with the long-awaited “Art of Design” on April 24, which will feature a styled luncheon and lecture in the museum’s classical European-style Garden. The event will be organized by the Gibbes Women’s Council and will host Hannah Cecil Gurney, Director of de Gournay, who will take attendees behind the scenes of beautiful interior designs. Tickets for this event will be available for purchase starting on Feb. 28.
Art fanatics can dig into timely discussions during the “For Which It Stands Panel: Art and Public Planning.” On the same day, they can then explore the role of art in city planning. The event will be free, but will require advanced registration.
The festival’s special exhibition titled, “Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature,” highlights the lively career of McEwen. Further providing depth into the relationship between botanical art and scientific models, Jennifer Brown, curator of Harvard’s Blaschka Glass Flower Collection, will share her expertise during the “Exhibition Spotlight: Harvard Glass Flowers” on April 25.
Guests will get the chance to experience a delicious meal planned for April 26, at the “Freshly Foraged Dinner” in the Lenhardt Garden. Chef Kevin Mitchell will be cooking up a flavorful experience along with a discussion about sustainability and community. Tickets for this event will be priced at $600.
Artistic Pioneers will take center stage on April 27, with a special screening and discussion featuring Paul Tschinkel, an art documentary pioneer. The event will explore how new media has changed the expectations of artists.
The festival wraps up on April 28, with the “Artisan Fair,” which will allow guests to shop from a selection of artists and vendors. The fair will be free in support of local artisans.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for anyone looking to help support the exhibition.
The Gibbes Museum of Art hopes to continue to allow visitors the chance to explore and learn. For details about the festival and museum, visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.
