An abundance of art happenings illuminated 2024
When Jess Abbott interviewed for chief executive roles at arts organizations nationwide, “Greenville really spoke to me because of how special it is. The importance that this community brings to the arts is one of the biggest positives that it’s got,” says Abbott, who became the Greenville Center for Creative Arts chief executive officer in 2022.
This year, proof of that importance was prevalent: Greenville’s artists and arts organizations offered audiences a range of new exhibitions, theater shows, and musical performances. There were art markets and art installations. Construction started on the Peace Center’s $36 million renovation project to add two new music venues; and the South Carolina Children’s Theatre announced a partnership with the national nonprofit Wolf Trap to bring arts integration to the area’s early-childhood classrooms.
Among the different dates that filled art lovers’ calendars and the exciting announcements that came across their social media feeds, five illuminated this year:
New Galleries
Art collectors got new galleries to explore, including Devinci House (@devincihouse). The nomadic art gallery, which held pop-ups at an Augusta Street location and the Grand Bohemian Gallery, was founded by Talon Hawthorne on the premise that “beauty can save the world.”
Spoonbill Gallery (@spoonbillgallery) opened in April at 1292 Pendleton Street, a newly constructed building that also houses artist Joseph Bradley’s new studio. “We are so proud of our building, and to have this here in the Village of West Greenville is thrilling,” says gallery director Kristina White. The gallery represents 25 regional and local artists and is open Tues.–Fri., 10a.m.–5p.m., Sat., 10a.m.–4p.m., and during MAC’s First Fridays.
Thornback Gallery (@thornbackgallery) opened in April in the Lofts at Greenville, 201 Symthe Street, as “a forum for artists to show work under-represented in the Upstate,” says Robin Aiken, who opened the gallery as a personal project (she is Artisphere’s Visual Arts Programs Manager). “I want to show work that’s a little more challenging and makes you think. And maybe makes you a little uncomfortable.” The gallery is open Wed.–Sat., noon–6p.m., during MAC’s First Fridays, and for other special events.
Big Birthdays
Both Artisphere (@artisphere) and Indie Craft Parade (@makersco_) marked milestones in 2024. Makers Collective’s Indie Craft Parade celebrated its 15th anniversary Aug. 16 and 17 in a new location at Judson Mill. The 110 juried artists and makers set up booths across the former textile mill’s campus, giving crowds plenty to see and purchase. Artisphere held its 20th festival May 10–12, drawing 90,000 people to downtown Greenville to celebrate visual, culinary, and performing arts. To mark the anniversary, the festival dedicated its fifth commissioned sculpture to the City of Greenville: Gillie and Marc’s Tandem Lovers, installed at the northeast corner of the Main Street bridge.
A New Conductor in Town
The Greenville Symphony Orchestra (@greenvillesymphony) appointed Lee Mills as its music director in May following a wide-ranging three-year search. Mills, who has conducted prestigious orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, became only the sixth person to hold the title in GSO’s 76-year history. The symphony held a live outdoor broadcast of its opening weekend concert of Beethoven’s majestic Symphony No. 9. The free broadcast on Oct. 6 was meant to bring the uplifting power of music to the community, especially those dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s landfall on Sept. 27.
A Record Number and a New Endowment
On Nov. 9 and 10, a record number of artists—157—opened their studio doors during the Metropolitan Arts Council’s Greenville Open Studios (@macartscouncil). “It’s such a great opportunity for artists to promote themselves and to sell their work. The sales generally hover around $500,000, and when the studios are only open about 14 hours, that’s a lot of money,” says MAC’s executive director, Alan Ethridge. This year, the nonprofit also started a new endowment for its SmartARTS program: The Carrie and Skip Gordon Endowment for SmartARTS. “It will ensure the program’s longevity,” Ethridge says of the partnership between MAC and Greenville County schools to integrate the arts into the core curriculum.
A Unique Exhibition
The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (@artcentergvl) received a South Arts Presentation Grant to help fund its Main Gallery exhibition, “Impermanence and Abject Space,” by multidisciplinary artist Brittany Watkins. The high-concept exhibition, which opened Oct. 10, featured abstract paintings alongside mixed-media “remnant works.” Known for her installations, Watkins received the South Carolina Arts Commission State Fellowship this year and the South Arts Fellowship in 2022. “Not only does Brittany’s work wow you the second you walk in because it’s such a large-scale installation, but it also pairs with the idea that as we look into the next five years for GCCA, one of our big strategies in terms of bringing in artists is to recognize these younger but contemporary folks who are making waves in the arts scene,” Jess Abbott says.
