Day 17 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

The VIDEOS - Just as promised!

Hat Parade along Meeting Street side of Marion Square

Hat Parade along Calhoun Streed side of Marion Square

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST!

THE 2017 RED SOLO CUP RACE

Another photo of the Start

Credit: Jeremy Willits

So...it's over. Fini. Until next year.
What fun - what a great group of artists!

So - we'll end with a little music.

Violin Interpretation of Visual Art

Violinist Alex Agrest of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
interprets 2 of Artist Marissa Vogl's paintings.
Sunday, June 11, 2017

Day 16 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

OFFICIAL LAST DAY

(Tomorrow is UNOFFICIAL Last Day)

Original Fine Art

is GOING FAST!

(a/k/a how many artists does it take to wrap

a 36"x48" original?????)

2017 Prank

Artist Steven Jordan, a/k/a "The Art Prankster" had all the 2017 newbie artists really worried when they arrived to open their tents this morning - he had arrived extra early and wrapped their tents with yellow caution tape.  The official Art Exhibition line is that these tents were condemned for bedbugs...

In the midst of many art sales, the Race officially began around 3:00 P.M.

The Motley Crew

and, suddenly - it's finished...

The Winner of the 5th Annual Red Solo Cup Race!

Artist Cat Wondergem

a/k/a

"Red-headed Demon"

Congratulations, Cat!

Race Day was filled with much activity and Marion Square was alive with Race festivities!  There were some new additions this year, primarily the Red Solo Cup Race Hat Parade. The Parade was a great hit, enjoyed by all and will be a permanent addition. Now that the Race is 5 years old, it's "coming into its own".  We have not yet had an influx of Kentucky Derby people, but we expect that in the coming years because there are a lot of "Kentucky Derby Junkies" out there.  Now that the Hat Parade has made its debut, expect the crowds of Hat People next year.  

Just a preview of Hat People to come...

The Hat Parade was thrilling.

Hat Ballots

People voted for the Best Hat of the Hat Parade!

A group known as "The United Artists of The Park" (a/k/a those talented Radin children, together with all those participating in the Art Show) made the ballots. 

And the Winner is...

Artist Colleen Wiessmann being presented flowers

by Art Show Co-Coordinator Lesley Johnson

Congratulations, Colleen!

As usual, the Press was there and on the job with news you can trust, i.e., no "fake news".

Portrait of The Press

created by

The United Artists of the Park

Tomorrow we will be posting official videos of The Red Solo Cup Race and The Red Solo Cup Race Hat Parade for your viewing enjoyment - stay tuned!

Day 15 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Congratulations to

Monnie Johnson

for

"Brellas on King"

Winner of the Charleston.com

2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

FaceBook Contest

Monnie Johnson's oil painting, "Brellas on King" was voted by the public the favorite painting on Charleston.com's FaceBook Contest. Twenty artists from the show submitted a piece for the contest and Monnie's painting above won!

The 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition was honored to have Charleston.com partner with the show.  Stop by the Charleston.com display near the Calhoun/Meeting Street entrance to Marion Square. Charleston.com is THE place to go to find out the skinny on everything Charleston!

Here is Monnie being awarded the Award by Artist Alex Radin!

 Stunned at winning, Monnie collapsed into the Charleston.com chair!

Monnie Johnson with fans.

Tomorrow is the official LAST DAY of the art show.  Sunday is the unofficial LAST DAY of the art show.  The weather will be beautiful both days, so come out and see us!

In fact, tomorrow is the famed annual Red Solo Cup Race (our own special Kentucky Derby).  This is always exciting, folks.  People are horses, there is a grand prize winner.  I'm personally putting my (play) money on "Covfefe" (a/k/a Artist Daryl Knox). And just to get you in the "Race Mood", enjoy the following with the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition "Box Seat Babes":

Box Seat Babes discuss the Red Solo Cup Race!

Say 14 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Honorable Mention Award Winner

Congratulations to Laurie Meyer

for

"Boone Hall Creek"

Today was absolutely delightful - even chilly at first!  And I think the rain day was good for those who took it.  Even when it's a rain day, the show has "Artist Sentries".  Art sentries are always out on rain days and help patrol the show or "hold down the fort" during rain days. Below are our 2 most famous Art Sentries, both of whom are Fashionistas:

Art Rain Day Sentry

This is Elaine Berlin.

Elaine Berlin is a Fashionista even in blue jeans.

Notice how Elaine Berlin has coordinated pink hat, pink shirt with purple jacket.

You will see these colors in some of Elaine Berlin's abstract art at the art show.

Elaine Berlin comes by her clothes sense naturally. 

Yes, THAT Berlins - Berlins Clothing Stores, Charleston, SC

(Please disregard Sheila Thompson who is photobombing Elaine Berlin...)

Other Art Rain Day Sentry

This is Madison Latimer.

Madison Latimer is also a Fashionista.

Obviously.

Madison Latimer lives on a farm.

Madison Latimer paints what she knows.

Peacocks. Chickens. Martini Glasses.

Madison Latimer is always happy.

Even on rain days.

That's why she is an Art Rain Day Sentry.

I understand that sales were indeed made during the official Rain Day yesterday.  That is very heartening to the artists who sold.  Today the cooler temperatures and nice breezes brought out the buyers.  Which all the artists like!

Making Sales!

Day 13 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Honorable Mention Award Winner

Congratulations to Marissa Vogl

for

"Don't Wait for Me"

Today was a total washout - Rain Day of all Rain Days - Nobody was confused about whether it was a Rain Day.  It definitely was.

There is good news. Tomorrow will not be a rain day. Additionally, most artists finally did their laundry today and will have clean clothes to wear...

Day 12 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Honorable Mention Award Winner

Congratulations to Victoria Platt Ellis

for

"Swims With Fishes"

Today was a day of "Artist Angst" over the weather.  If the weather forecasts 70% chance of rain or higher, artists have the option to open.  If it's raining in the morning but clears up in the afternoon, most artists have their booths open. And, certainly, with the deluge we had this afternoon, the artist doing the demo is not expected to demo in hard rain like today (although we have had artists do their demos in their tents in the rain).  The major anxiety today was the new "app" many are trying to use - provided by the National Weather Service.  And it gives hourly rain percentage forecasts (tomorrow does not look good at all).  So...it was all very confusing today. Until the heavens opened around 2:15 p.m.  No one was confused any longer.

Day 11 - 2017 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Honorable Mention Award Winner!

Congratulations to Honor Marks

for

"Minnow 2"

We are grateful for no further thefts, but there are obviously lots of people who were not "raised right" or were "raised right" and are speedily "going wrong".  Or else they don't possess even the brain of Honor's Minnow above.  Obviously the artist tents don't bear any resemblance to the port-o-lets that are in Marion Square. But again, these P. PERPETRATORS are not the brightest bulbs in town.  It's called "DNA", your DNA that is not difficult for the forensics team to gather.  We just have to thank you for making identification so simple.

All of which brings me to the subject

of 

RAIN

So yes, we had some drizzle this morning - then the sun comes out and by later in the afternoon, the storm clouds arrived and it began raining.  3 of the 4 sides of tents got dropped immediately and people begin to huddle inside. Sometimes it blows over, sometimes not...