Artisphere, presented by TD Bank, is where artists come to know and be known, to see and be seen. And whether culinary, visual or performing arts, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy.
The three-day festival held along Main Street in downtown Greenville turns 19 this year, and it’s become an institution that, according to organizers, breaks its own attendance records every year. This year’s festival is May 12-14.
As always, Artisphere will include live performances and family-friendly hands-on demonstrations in addition to 143 artists along artist row.
But this year, “stARTup”, a student-centric area, will anchor the south end of the Main Street-based event. Within that footprint will be “Artists on the Rise” featuring the work of Greenville County Schools Fine Arts Center students and teachers.
Whether charcoal, photography, acrylic on canvas, stoneware or Tyvek, the artwork is selected by teachers from each visual arts genre, according to Ryan Roth of the Fine Arts Center. Selections are typically made based on the look of the piece, the craftsmanship of its creation and, in the case of an outdoor festival like Artisphere, how well the work would hold up to the elements.
This year, Roth says, much of the work is from underclassmen, as seniors are hard at work putting together their senior exhibitions.
That means many of the artists whose work will be on display were not even born yet when the festival began 19 years ago.
That these students produce the sort of work worthy of Artisphere makes sense: the Fine Arts Center is where Greenville’s artistic cream rises to the top. According to the center, being a student requires three things — talent, interest and commitment.
“We have the honor of being South Carolina’s first public arts high school, established to provide students with a pre-professional experience through rigorous instruction from teaching artists,” says Vee Popat, the center’s director. “An arts-enriched educational experience provides students with an emotional outlet, gives students the opportunity to maximize their creativity, requires a high level of focus and teaches students how to give and take feedback.”
But these students are not just planning to bring a feast for the eyes. Artists on the Rise includes a stage for student ensembles, from the Greenville High School Raider Players to the South Carolina Governor’s School’s String Quartet, Violin Ensemble and Wind Ensemble.
And then there’s the food: Donaldson Career Center culinary arts students will be offering pimento cheese sandwiches, boiled (including cajun-boiled) peanuts, strawberry cobbler and that quintessential Southern staple, sweet tea.
“The partnership that we have with Artisphere is truly invaluable,” Popat says. “It allows the work of our students and faculty to reach a huge audience.”
And as a result, Popat says, art and culture remain at the forefront of society.
“Greenville is such a vibrant arts community, and the Fine Arts Center has been serving the community for over 48 years,” Popat says. “I think we can all agree that our community is better when the arts are valued, and that is exactly what Artisphere does for Greenville.”
Artisphere fast facts
When: May 12-14, 2023
Where: Main Street (from Wardlaw to Court streets), Greenville
What: 143 juried artists working in 17 different mediums, live demonstrations, crafts for kids, street chalk, live music and food.
