“Arts and culture are what make a city fall in love with itself,” Pier Giorgio DiCicco said at a conference in Toronto in 2005. According to Arts on the Ridge Chairperson, Phyllis Nichols Gutierrez, “this is what our town and the Arts on the Ridge committee want people to feel when they visit each year. This year the love and excitement were everywhere. We were blessed with a glorious spring day, fantastic art, arts and crafts, authors and kicking it all off - the voices of our community, the Geiger Tiger Tunes singers and Ridgeway native Doug Ruff’s reading of a poem called “My Town,” written by J. P. Dunn.
The ceremonies were opened with a welcome by newly elected Ridgeway Mayor, Heath Cookendorfer.
“Arts on the Ridge, 2018, mission accomplished,” said past FCAC President Linda McLaughlin LaRose, referring to the past weekend’s 12th Annual event. “Every piece of art, every poem, every person looking had a story to tell.”
Authors Lisa Anne Cullen and Wanda Craig were flagged as the dream team for chairing the very successful literary festival that included 12 published authors on hand for meet and greets. Each had a Porch Talk where they shared a bit of themselves with the audience.
Children enjoyed the visit from the costumed Gator, a character out of children’s writer Lisa Anne Cullen’s new book, “Little Orange Honey Hood”. They also spent time doing what they do best, getting yucky, as they enjoyed painting their hand prints with artist, Sasha Instone’s help, on the outside mural wall at Ridgeway’s Bella & Blue boutique on Dogwood St.
Dr Gillian Barklay-Smith, of The Barclay School, was on hand for the silent auction of the first signed print of the 2018 poster, “ Ridgeway South Carolina, Opening Doors to the Arts & Beauty of Small Town Life” created by Ridgeway resident, artist and author, Lisa Anne Cullen. The funds raised will go to programs at The Barclay School here in Ridgeway.
Judges for the art competitions of the show were nationally and internationally known artist Anne Hightower-Patterson White and photographer Russell Jeffcoat. The 2018 Arts on the Ridge Final Show winners are: General Show-Best in Show: Ellen Fishburne for By and By, General Show- 2nd Place: Brian Fox for Crooked Creek Fox, General Show- 3rd Place: Lynda LeGette- for West Coast, Juried Plein Air - Best in Show: Lucinda Howe for St Francis on the Ridge,
Juried Plein Air 2nd Place: Ron Weathers for Home Place, Juried Plein Air 3rd Place : Mark Conrardy for Ridgeway Morning, Juried Photography Best in Show: Janice Haynes for Hay There!,, Juried Photography 2nd Place: Linda LaRose for Princess,
Juried Photography 3rd Place: Erdal Cabas for Connecting Lives with a Peaceful Journey. People's Choice Best in Show winner is Tommie Toner for Harbor Island Marsh.
Prizes were awarded by Winnsboro resident and newly elected President of the FCAC, Barbara Yongue, at the closing reception sponsored by Tina Johnson, owner of Over The Top boutique, and Charlene Herring, co-owner with husband Roger Herring of The Ivy Veranda. The event was hosted by the Arts on the Ridge Committee in the Poetry Garden at The Ivy Veranda. Refreshments were provided by Laura's Tea Room and the Olde Town Hall Restaurant.
Also at the reception, the award for the 2018 Friend of the Arts was presented by FCAC’s Phyllis Gutierrez and Linda LaRose, to Brenda Lord-McGrew for her work in promoting the arts in our community and forming the St Stephens Art & Fiber Guild.
“Our theme, the beauty of small town life, was represented in every facet of the day. My heart is so full and I am so thankful for all who volunteered, sponsored, participated and attended,” said Chairperson Gutierrez.
Posted on May 7th, 2018.
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