ArtFields started with a bang in 2013. Then it picked up more steam, quickly becoming one of the Southeast’s premier annual art events. During ArtFields, some 400 artists exhibit in Lake City for nine days in April. They come from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Also from those states and elsewhere, tens of thousands of art lovers visit for a taste of some of the region’s best art. They stroll through restaurants, stores and businesses with art on display and through professional gallery spaces at TRAX Visual Art Center and Jones-Carter Gallery. The ROB, a humongous former charcoal briquette warehouse, has the largest number of artworks during ArtFields.
In yet more venues, ArtFields Jr. adds another 200-plus works of art, all from South Carolina primary, middle and high school students.
Aside from a city-wide exhibition, ArtFields is a competition with a Grand Prize of $50,000 and a Second Place prize of $25,000, awarded by an independent jury. The public votes for two $12,500 People’s Choice awards, one for 2-D and one for 3-D work. Smaller merit and categoryawards complete a total prize package of more than $120,000. Surrounding all the art is a nine-day festival with parties, a food court, live music, a Makers Market, workshops, a portrait competition, a colorful 5K, street entertainment, events at Moore Farms Botanical Garden and more.
For a full schedule of events, please visit artfieldssc.org
