A Second Year of Success: Arts Affair returns to Tifton
Published 9:44 pm Monday, November 4, 2024
TIFTON — Bright, sunny skies created a near perfect ambience for artists and attendees alike to enjoy the second showing of Tifton’s new arts advocacy festival.
The return of the Arts Affair this past weekend saw just as big a turnout and just as positive of a reception as its flagship year, inviting community members once again to explore a wide array of creative expression from local artists, courtesy of the Tifton Council for the Arts.
Among the artistic crafts taking part in the festival, guests could browse a selection of ceramic cookware and decorations, find the perfect rug or painting to accentuate their living space, sample a masterfully made treat or two, take a peek at the first few pages of a new story, and plenty more.
Many of the participating art vendors had also contributed works to the art show displayed inside the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, which patrons were free to enjoy throughout the event.
These works had the chance of earning the rank of first, second third, or honorable mention through a team of judges, who presented awards to the best 2D and 3D art in the exhibit.
Guests also had the option to buy the pieces in the exhibit, with Arts Affair organizers reporting that by the end of the day more than ten of the works had been purchased.
Demonstrations from skilled artisans took place across the festival grounds, including plein air painters capturing the memory of the day in pastel form and a glassblower turning molten glass into vases, cups, and in-season pumpkin sculptures.
The parking lot across from the Syd was once again the sight of main stage, playing host to several musical artists, including Andean cultural music group Apu Inka, across the morning and afternoon and making for a perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat from the food truck court just beside it.
Bruce Green, executive director for the arts council, was particularly satisfied with the turnout for the Kids Art Circus, a row of fun and engaging activities for the younger attendees of the festival tucked into the alleyway between the Syd and the library.
He reported that the attraction had seen near constant activity from the moment the festival opened that morning until the day wrapped up later in the afternoon, local youths eagerly taking part in activities from puppetry and bookmark making to facepainting and the “bad art” booth, in which kids were encouraged to just let their imagination run wild.
Organizers for the Arts Affair were indeed very impressed by the festival overall, receiving praise and positive feedback from guests and vendors alike.
Green stated that while many of the plans for next year’s Arts Affair were currently up in the air, the arts council hoped to expand the event to include a larger crafts section, hoping to welcome artisans across a broader spectrum of expression to join in on the fun.
