June 6, 2019
SavArtScene: South Carolina’s ArtFields provides opportunity and experience for local and regional artists
Savannah will never be an arts mecca like New York or Los Angeles, but the more regional connections and support that can be generated, the better for everyone.
ArtFields, as an example, is an art competition and festival held each year in Lake City, South Carolina, that provides those connections.
A number of Savannah artists have participated in ArtFields since its inception and this year was no exception. Lisa D. Watson, Dan Kaufman, Isaac McCaslin, Jordan Massengale and Mia Merlin were among this year’s participants.
Started in 2013 to “honor the artists of the Southeast with a week’s worth of celebration and competition in the heart of a traditional Southern small town,” ArtFields is definitely off the beaten path, but they offer over $140,000 in cash prizes to participating artists, including a grand prize of $50,000.
Hundreds of artworks are displayed in various venues around town, including local businesses, providing a widely accessible platform for regional artists.