Lake City Throws an Art Party!

I don't need to ask if anyone else made the trip to ArtFields in tiny historic Lake City, SC, this past week. This town was HOPPING with people touring the displays, all part of this 10-day festival/art contest billed as featuring live music, dancing, Southern food, and prizes to winning artists totaling $100,000 bucks. What a brilliant idea! Had you heard of it? Definitely visit their website... it's charming.

Lake City is the hometown, by the way, of Darla Moore. Under her guidance, the town renovated the buildings, encouraged business owners, and dreamed up this festival with cash prizes (I'd say that was enough to get people's attention.) Fellow Grit blogger Stephanie Hunt just did a feature on Moore in Charleston magazine, where this "epic Southern artfest" is highlighted—read it here.

The entire town seems in on the plan with art displays hanging in restaurants, shops, and barbershops. Locals asked if I wanted to take pictures of them (I did!) and posed for me. The hostess in the buffet restaurant shared her amazement with art valued at $50,000 hanging on her wall. Visitors were invited to vote on their favorites, which meant every single one of us was welcome to traipse through each business. I loved the idea and hope it is successful. I will spread the word and be back next year.