'Arts Alive' event focuses on summer creativity
Aug. 21—Pottery, balloon modeling, face-painting and entry-level Spanish skills were part of Saturday's Arts Alive program at Aiken Center for the Arts — an open house to celebrate creations and creators from the facility's summer arts programs.
Hundreds of visitors made their way through, and some took the opportunity to exercise creativity of their own. Lessons were available in such areas as chemistry, fiber arts and ceramics.
"It went great," in the assessment of John Gordon, who offered a pottery demonstration, producing bowls and other creations and explaining the process. "Had a great crowd, a lot of people show a lot of interest. I had people about climbing in my lap there, watching me throw pots," he said.
"I had a lot of good questions, especially from some kids. I think some of the kids had been in the summer art camps there and had gotten a chance to make a few things on the pottery wheel, and so they had a little bit of experience."
One of the more unusual parts of the open house's soundtrack came from a relatively small keyboard. Aiken High School sophomore Adam Fundak, 14, put his accordion skills into action. Piano and guitar performances were also part of the mix, along with some Spanish-language material brought to life largely through puppetry and bright costumes.
The event was a team effort — literally — for several participants, as most of USC Aiken's softball players were on hand as volunteers, helping staff tables and keep the creativity going.
USCA junior Skylar Morley, an outfielder from Gambrills, Maryland, was part of the face-painting crew, helping put ladybugs, rainbows and other decorations onto cheeks and the occasional forehead. "We're happy to do it. It was a lot of fun," she said, estimating that she decorated about 25 kids during the course of the three-hour event.
"There were some screamers in here, but they sat pretty well," she said, with a laugh.
Offering a hands-on demonstration of weaving was Makenzye Barfield, a fiber artist. She confirmed upbeat reviews from her young visitors Saturday.
"They love it," she said. "They come over. They love the colors. They want to touch it. I ask them if they want to try. Usually, they're a little timid, but I show them one time and they've got their hands in there and they're doing it themselves."
Barfield also summarized the goal of Saturday's gathering. "It's exposure. It's education. It's reaching out to the community. It's showing what artists are capable of, what we're here to provide and how they can be part of that."
Wendy Hirsch, representing Aiken Symphony Orchestra, was also part of the gathering and expressed thanks for "the fact that we have this fantastic place downtown."
She added, "I love the idea of a celebration of the arts in Aiken.Today was a great day to celebrate all of the arts organizations, because based on the size town that we are, we are overflowing with arts opportunities, and to feature so many of them in one place in one day is a huge win for the Center for the Arts and for the city."
Among the event's sponsors were such organizations as Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Dominion Energy, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Bridgestone, Amentum and Bank of America.
