FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Greenville, S.C.–February 16, 2016
The 12th annual Artisphere presented by TD Bank is shaping up to be the largest ever. Greenville’s signature visual, performing, and culinary arts celebration will be held May 13-15 and will showcase 135 exhibitors, selected by five jurors, from a record high applicant pool of 1,090.
This year 17 local artists received high scores, earning a coveted spot on Artists Row, three of whom are festival first timers. The lineup includes Kent Ambler (Printmaking), Hallie Bertling (Watercolor), Joseph Bradley (Oil/Acrylic Painting and 2D Mixed Media), Evangelos Courpas, (Emerging Festival Artist: Furniture), Janina Ellis (Oil/Acrylic Painting), Kate Furman (Emerging Festival Artist: Jewelry), Darin Gehrke (Ceramics), Lynn Greer (Watercolor), Marie Gruber (Photography), Jennifer Janeiro, New Artist (Drawing), Jerry Maxey (Fiber), Danielle Miller-Gilliam (Precious Jewelry), Ray Mosteller (Photography), Jacki Newell (Oil/Acrylic), Katie Poterala (Jewelry/Semi-Precious), llyn strong (Precious Jewelry), and Judy Verhoeven (2D Mixed Media).
“The caliber of artists who are attracted to the Artisphere Festival keeps getting better and better,” said Tod Tappert, Artisphere Visual Arts Committee Member and 2016 Visual Arts Juror. “From nearly 1,100 applicants, we selected the very best of the best for the 2016 festival. It’s going to be a great weekend for arts lovers.”
In addition to local artists, the line-up for 2016 features a number of nationally acclaimed artists. New artists, include Gayle and Glen Wans (Photography, Leawood, KS), who create minimalist still life images of natural and found objects. The pair has received some of the highest awards in the country including the Award of Excellence at the 2015 Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and Best of Show/2D at the 2014 St. Louis Queeny Park Fall Festival of Art. Artist Z.L. Feng (Watercolor, Radford, VA) was born and raised in Shanghai, China where he first discovered his love of art at the age of seven. His award-winning work has been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, American Artist Magazine, and Omni Magazine among others.
Artisphere rookie, Ellie Ali (Drawing), who will be traveling to Greenville from her home in Lisbon, Portugal, gathers inspiration for her figures from the jazz scene of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as her travels around the world. Artist Krey Yingst (Printmaking, Pensacoloa, FL) employs the contrast of light and shadow, black and white to create strong graphic contrast inspired by the German Expressionists and Mexican Socialists. Most recently, his work was recognized at the Cinco Banderas Exhibition at the Artel Gallery in Florida. Newcomer, Hilary Hachey, (Jewelry, Baltimore MD), creates designs that are inspired by 20th Century Bauhaus movement in Germany. She describes her work as elegant, structural forms that have individualistic flair. Hachey has won numerous awards and her jewelry is also sold at fine retailers in 10 states.
Fifty-five of this year’s 135 exhibiting artists have never before exhibited at the Artisphere festival. A complete list of the 2015 visual artists is available on www.artisphere.org, Artisphere’s mobile friendly website. Also, Artisphere will announce its performing artists line-up in the coming weeks.
“Every year, Artisphere brings an impressive variety of arts and artists to Greenville and this year is no exception,” Artisphere Board of Directors President, Marion Crawford said. “With support from the community and festival patrons, Artisphere continues to grow in recognition and earn top rankings year after year.”
Festival organizers also announced Artisphere ranked #9 out of 600 best art festivals in the country by Greg Lawler’s Art Fair Sourcebook, 2015-2012.
Key Sponsors:
Artisphere is presented by TD Bank
Artists Row sponsor: GE Artists Demonstration Row sponsor: Michelin STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts & Mathematics) Exhibit sponsor: Clemson University Art in Action Stage sponsors: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/C. Dan Joyner Realtors and Wells Fargo Art Lab sponsor: Furman University Greenville County High School Juried Exhibition sponsor: Current Tools Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition sponsor: Greenville Health System and The Greenville Journal The Main Stage and Artisphere After Hours sponsor: WYFF-4 Local Performing Arts Showcase sponsor: The Fred Collins Foundation Culinary Arts Café Stage sponsor: Real Op Investments Wine and Craft Beer Experience sponsor: SunTrust Bank Social Media Listening Center sponsor: Windstream VIP Hospitality sponsor: McKinney Dodge Artist Hospitality sponsor: Aloft Greenville Hotel Kidsphere sponsor: ScanSource Opening Night Gala sponsor: Coldwell Banker Caine and Synnex Mayor’s Choice Award sponsor: Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. People’s Choice Award sponsor: Cherry Bekaert Sneak Peek Poster Unveiling Reception sponsor: TALK Magazine
Aficionado Sponsors: The Capital Corporation, Engenius, iHEARTMedia, The Greenville Journal & TOWN Magazine, The Greenville News & TALK Magazine, Indexx, Metromont, The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Triangle Construction, VisitGreenvilleSC, WYFF-4, and ZWO. Connoisseur Sponsors: Bank of America, Blue Ridge Electrical Cooperative, Crawford Strategy, Daniel Realty Corporation, Elliott Davis Decosimo, Gallivan White & Boyd P.A., Garfield Signs & Graphics, Professional Party Rentals, Sealevel Systems Inc., World Acceptance Corporation, and Yeargin Potter Shackelford. Collector Sponsors: Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, BMW Manufacturing Co, Canal Insurance, Eastern Trading, Entegra, Fete, First Citizens Bank, Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management, Henry & Jamie Horowitz, Larkin’s on the River, Pacolet Miliken, Roylco, Southern First Bank, Table 301, PM, The Hughes Agency, LLC, United Community Bank and Young Office Supply. Artisphere is funded by grants from The City of Greenville, Greenville County, Fred Collins Foundation, Daniel-Mickel Foundation, Graham Foundation, Jolley Foundation, Mary Alice Ingram Charitable Lead Unitrust, Metropolitan Arts Council, South Carolina Arts Commission, Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation, Roe Foundation, South Carolina Parks Recreation Tourism, and The Community Foundation of Greenville.
