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19th Annual Artista Vista to Usher in the Spring

Submitted by: Dana Fisher on Jan 28, 2010 at 6:34 pm Tagged with: Arts, Columbia, crawl, galleries, Vista Source: Congaree Vista Guild

CONTACT: Katie Alice Walker
803.227.0914
kwalker@rileycommunications.com

19th Annual Artista Vista to Usher in the Spring

COLUMBIA (December 30, 2009) – The Congaree Vista is gearing up for its 19th annual Artista Vista. The Midlands’ largest gallery crawl returns from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, April 22 and lasts through Saturday, April 24. Local artists and galleries will open their doors for this signature annual event that draws visitors from all over South Carolina and beyond.

This year’s Artista Vista will feature regionally and nationally recognized artists, as well as up-and-coming artists from the region. These artists and more will be on-hand to chat with visitors, giving gallery-goers unique insight into their work.

“These world-class galleries are the lifeblood of the Vista,” said Clark Ellefson, head of the Vista Gallery Group and owner of Lewis+Clark Lamps at 1231 Lincoln Street. “This will be a great weekend for locals to experience the fantastic art that’s happening in this state.”

For three days, galleries will host visitors and offer complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres as a part of Artista Vista, and some will also present live entertainment to make this a truly enjoyable and well-rounded event. Free parking will be available in the Vista’s parking decks located on Lincoln Street near Lady, Park Street near Pendleton and Lady Street near Wayne Street.

The Vista, Columbia’s premier art district, has never slackened its efforts to keep the art scene in the Midlands alive and thriving through thick and thin, as the past three decades attest. The Vista was synonymous with art by the early 1980s, when artists began to move their studios to the area’s affordable abandoned warehouse space. Today’s restaurants, shopping and nightlife in historic buildings along the Gervais Street corridor are still driven by the Vista’s creative energy. Artista Vista is completely organized by galleries in the Vista – as it has been since its birth 19 years ago.

For a complete list of participating galleries and a map, visit www.ArtistaVista.com or contact Katie Alice Walker at Riley Communications at 803.227.0914 or kwalker@rileycommunications.com.