Applications, as well as the Charleston Farmers Market Handbook, which includes the general rules and regulations that govern the Charleston Farmers Market, are available at the Office of Cultural Affairs located at 180 Meeting Street, Suite 200, in downtown Charleston; or you may request an application through email at: farmersmarket@charleston-sc.gov . Applications will be available online January 10, 2012, by 5 PM at www.charlestonarts.org. The deadline for the receipt of application for artisans and food vendors is January 20 by 1 PM and January 25 at 5 PM for farmers/growers. Late applications will not be accepted. There is a non-refundable $15 application fee for each submission.

All applications and proposals should be mailed, or delivered to: City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, ATTN: 2012 Charleston Farmers Market Application, 180 Meeting Street, Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29401.

The Charleston Farmers Market is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers and growers and offers a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans.

Categories are: Acrylic, Oil, Drawing/Pastel, Watercolor, Mixed Media

Deliver entries:

Fri., January 20 9:00am-7:00pm
Sat., January 21 9:00am-12:00pm
Address: North Charleston City Gallery located
in the common areas of the Charleston Area Convention
Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418,
off of International Blvd. Digital images also accepted. Email two jpegs of each piece, including a close up image and an image of the frame or gallery wrapped edge, along with the entry card information and any support material to
culturalarts@northcharleston.org.

The winning piece will be announced no later than January 24, 2012 and will become the official design of the arts festival (featured on promotional materials and merchandise, including advertisements, brochures, posters, apparel, online and more).

The winning artist also will be given an opportunity to exhibit other works at the North Charleston City Gallery during the festival.

Applications are online with a deadline of noon on Jan. 21. There is no entry fee to participate. For more information, call 843-740-5854.

Program:

Wednesday, November 2, 6-8 p.m. – “Women in Art” Lecture at the Gibbes Museum of Art

Friday, November 4, 5:30-8:30 p.m. – CFADA Gallery Receptions & Historic Downtown Charleston Art Stroll

Saturday morning, November 5, 9 a.m. – noon – “Painting in the Park” in Washington Park

Saturday evening, November 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – “Silent Auction & Patrons’ Reception”

The highlight of the fine art weekend is the Painting in the Park which will feature some of the most celebrated local and visiting artists, including Mickey Williams, West Fraser, Julyan Davis, Ted Ellis, Rhett Thurman, Trey Finney, Shannon Smith, Jennifer Smith Rogers, J. Christian Snedeker, Karen Larson Turner, Laurie Meyer, George Pate, Mark Bailey, Gary Gowans, Lese Corrigan, Mark Horton, Chris Groves, Nancy Hoerter, Shannon Runquist  and Larry Moore.

“Silent Auction & Patrons’ Reception” is a benefit created for art collectors and patrons interested in spending time with their favorite artists and supporting CFADA’s mission. The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. at Ella W. Richardson Fine Art. The works from the park will be up for bid. The silent auction ends at 8:00 p.m. and the event ends at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Silent Auction & Patrons’ Reception are $55 per person. Ella W. Richardson Fine Art is located at 58 Broad Street in downtown Charleston, SC. Purchase tickets at www.cfada.com.

The Charleston Fine Art Annual raises funds that keep art alive in local high schools. Since 2004, CFADA has donated over $180,000 to art programs at eleven local high schools.

September 7, 2011

Charleston Restaurant Week kicks off today! Take your wife out for a date night. This one is not going to break a bank! Most restaurants offer great deals, a fixed menus features 3 for $20, 3 for $30 or 3 for $40. These are special discounted menus are determined by the restaurant and is usually based on the price point of their regular menu.

The three items you have to choose from will vary by the restaurant. Some offer appetizer, entree, dessert … while others may offer a beverage as one course. You need to make reservations as soon as possible. The restaurant week ends on September 18.

September 8, 2011

You can’t buy love but you can pay heavily for it! That is if you buy a bachelor at the Charleston Rugby Charity Auction this Thursday at Charleston Aquarium. The event starts at 7pm. And yes, the event is a benefit for Pet Helpers.

September 9, 2011

Travel fever? Stop by Horton Hayes Fine Art on Friday from 6 to 8pm to view – and take home if you wish – paintings from the new exhibition by the participants in Chris Groves’ and Mark Kelvin Horton’s painting workshop in Italy, The Light and Life of Tuscany.

The workshop took place last May near Siena in the Tuscany region of Italy.  The students spent a week at San Fedele, a restored monastery dating from the 12^th century.  Instruction took place on the scenic grounds of the venue as well as in nearby hilltop villages and a local vineyard.  Jealous? You can join Mark and Chris next year!

September 10, 2011

Over 35 arts organizations, all wonderfully interesting – I know this for sure because I created  posts about all of them, most include a video – will be presented at the Memminger Auditorium on Saturday from noon till 5:30pm. The event is titled “OPEN” – it is an arts expo featuring interactive art booths, street performances, food trucks and much more! The Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts’ greater mission is breaking the barriers to participation in the joy of the arts! So go, learn and participate! The cultural life in Charleston is incredibly rich and diverse, be open to doing something new this year!

Vladia and Anthony Spencer at the 2010 Palette and Palate Stroll

Putting the final touches on the 2011 Palette and Palate Stroll. We added a new pairing last week: Helena Fox Fine Art & Anson! Exciting. And the Boathouse at Breach Inlet came on board to partner with the Wells Gallery.

I also received some menus and this year is going to be the best ever~ The sixth annual fine art and fine cuisine event presented by the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association will take place this Friday, July 15,  from 5:30 to 7:30pm. The event benefits local student art programs and scholarships.

Tickets are $45 per person and will sell out, click here to buy them today!

The 2011 Palette & Palate Stroll pairings are:

Charleston Renaissance Gallery & Circa 1886 (serving Wreckbass ceviche with avocado puree and raspberry hazelnut pave)

Corrigan Gallery & Cypress  (also featuring The Happy Camper Snoball truck)

Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art & Blu

Helena Fox Fine Art & Anson

Horton Hayes Fine Art & La Fourchette

John C. Doyle Art Gallery & Caviar & Bananas (serving Himalayan salt slab seared scallop over summer charred corn & lady pea succotash with guests choice of sauce:  ambrose farms beet jelly, candied carrot coulis or salsa verde)

Robert Lange Studios & Charleston Grill

Martin Gallery & Social

Smith-Killian Fine Art & McCrady’s

The Sylvan Gallery & Halls Chophouse

Wells Gallery & Boathouse at Breach Inlet

BLU presented some amazing tastings at Ella W. Richardson Fine Art last year

The 2011 event is sponsored by the American Art Collector Magazine and Charleston Magazine! We received ink in Southwest Art Magazine, Spirit Airlines’ magazine, Southern Living and AmericanStyle!

$10 includes refreshments in a dessert setting! The event will be at Creative Spark in Mt. Pleasant.

The guidelines:
Any company based in the South with a new product may enter one of the four categories—Food, Sporting, Fashion, and Home. A panel of judges will choose a winner and honorable mentions for each category. Winners will appear in our December/January issue, receive a $500 cash prize, and get a chance to be a part of the Made in the South Awards online boutique at taigan.com.

To get started, download the online application here. All entries are due by August 1, 2011.