ArtFields roots sprouting in Lake City

A five-member panel of judges couldn’t break a run-off tie among several ArtFields 2014 submissions and chose to extend the number of entries beyond the specified 400.

At currently just a few more than 420 pieces, Karen Fowler, executive director of the art fest, said the final number of entries may drop as the event’s April 25 opening day approaches.

“We’ve already had one artist recall her submission after selling the piece,” said Fowler.

Through a good many artists are from South Carolina, there is greater participation from other states this year and 780 artists – at all levels of their careers - submitted an entry.

“We had more participation from the other states this year, and we see that as a positive,” said Fowler. “You want to have a good representation from the entire Southeast.”

The complete list of accepted artists was released March 3 online at ArtFieldsSC.org and represents each of the 12 eligible states. Those accepted include: 12 artists from Alabama, five from Arkansas, 13 from Florida, 34 from Georgia, four from Kentucky, four from Louisiana, four from Mississippi, 50 from North Carolina, 280 from South Carolina, nine from Tennessee, seven from Virginia, and two from West Virginia.

The online gallery of artworks is expected to be published April 1.

This year the $100,000-contest offers four prizes instead of three. The top prize remains $50,000, and the Juried Panel is still $25,000. The People’s Choice award, however, has been split into two $12,500 categories: People’s Choice 2-D and People’s Choice 3-D.

Fowler explained the decision to split the People’s Choice was made to encourage more three-dimensional entries and said it seems to have been successful.

“That was very evident in the art we received,” she said. “We had more three-D entries and that’s exciting.”

The pieces selected for the competition have at least 150 three-dimensional artworks – including about 40 site-specific installations.

The number of venues set to host artworks also increased with more than 50 businesses and organizations coordinating hosting arrangements with artists and more outdoor venues are expected to display large-scale works in ArtFields 2014.

Responding to feedback received from artists, venues and visitors who participated in the inaugural ArtFields, the team responsible for putting the event together has made several changes to this year’s competition.

First signage was addressed to help ensure visitors find their way around the art fest more easily. Temporary wayfinding signage – those ubiquitous green signs pointing the way to towns along every interstate in the country – will be installed pointing the way to Lake City and more permanent signage will be installed within the city limits. Voting will also be simplified and more centrally located with a dedicated voting center at 108 E. Main St.

The team also has reduced the number of after-hours events and will host just five ticketed programs during the 10-day festival: Color Me ArtFields 5K "Be the Canvas," two Plein Air Workshops, the Fields to Fork Dinner, and ArtFields After-Dark ‘Arty.

Tickets for each event are limited and vary in price. Tickets for these events, and more information about all the activities planned for April 25 through May 4, are available at ArtFieldsSC.org.

This article was written by Donna Tracy and originally appeared on SCNow.com.