Demanding art at Muse Fest 2011
Posted By Admin on October 28, 2011
This years festival will include the all-new Vendor Craft Market, located in the Gettys Center Courtroom, where 21 different artists will display their for-sale art in 18 vendor booths. From jewelry to paintings to homemade soap, LaValla hopes the sheer variety will attract those outside of the admittedly younger college demographic that have gravitated to Muse Fest in the past. Refreshments come in the form of food trucks manned by Johnson and Wales culinary arts graduates, as well as an array of high-end beers.
The festivals opening reception was Thursday, and will kick off from 10 am to 11 pm Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the festival concludes with the Vendor Awards, honoring the top art on display.
A former Winthrop instructor who helped start the universitys illustration program for students, LaValla credits her teaching tenure as a bridge-building experience that helped her connect to Rock Hills arts culture. Now, in addition to employing several Winthrop art students at GalleryUp, LaValla and Maddox view their festival as a dialogue between fellow artists that emphasizes the tangible practice of creating art by hand.
A practice, LaValla says, that has become a forgotten art of sorts in modern culture.
I work on computers all day to run this business, but I know how to use my hands to create, and theres a beauty to that which all artists share, LaValla said. With our society going digital and everybody wanting to get things accomplished as quickly as possible, the idea of taking the time to hone a craft and create something beautiful lies at the heart of Muse Fest. From sculpting clay to painting by hand, its a practice we must preserve.
Though still in its infancy, LaValla hopes that Muse Fest will only continue to thrive in Rock Hill, which she describes as a more traditionalist small town. As she looks ahead, LaValla believes the potential for a strong artistic community in the local area is undoubtedly there.
As traditional as many think this town is, Rock Hill has a lot more support for its artists than one might think, LaValla said. Theres a huge opportunity to make a difference and celebrate diversity here, and we want to work alongside like-minded people to grow this movement, this energy.
For a complete rundown of Muse Fests events, including times and artists profiles, visit galleryup.com/Muse Fest/.
Video interview:
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