Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Sidewalk Arts Festival 2010 – Savannah, Georgia

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The annual Sidewalk Arts Festival takes place on April 24, 2010 from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.  This popular festival draws thousands of visitors to Forsyth Park to view  a chalk drawing competition on the sidewalks in the park. The talented students and alumni from SCAD, the college of Art and Design, come out to compete and you can spend a day in the park watching art being created right in front of you.

Sidewalk Arts Festival SCAD Savannah, GeorgiaFree Films in Forsyth
The Sidewalk Arts Festival activities kicked off with Films in Forsyth, a series of outdoor cinema screenings in the park. “Back to the Future” will be screened on Thursday, April 22, at 8 p.m., and “Up” will be shown on Friday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Both screenings are free.

This is definitely a great day to plan for a trip to Savannah.  The festival also includes food, and children’s and youth areas for young artists as well as live music throughout the day.

Sidewalks in Cyberspace
New for 2010 is the online Cyberwalk Arts Contest for SCAD students and alumni worldwide to compete online with a virtual concrete canvas. Those not able to make it to the festival can experience the digital chalk work of talented SCAD artists competing in the contest. The entries will be available for view April 12-24 at http://www.scad.edu/experience/events/sidewalkarts/. The online winners will be announced at the festival, with SCAD‘s eLearning department awarding three current students and the alumni department awarding three alumni works.
The Sidewalk Arts Festival has been a cornerstone of SCAD Savannah’s spring activities for more than 20 years. Its participants represent SCAD’s many areas of study, from animation to architecture. First, second- and third-place monetary prizes are awarded in three categories: students, alumni and prospective students. This year marks the return of a perennial award sponsor, Gray’s Reef, whose competition theme for student-specific awards is “Best Underwater Environment.” Two new partners are also involved: American Greetings will sponsor a flora and fauna competition theme, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s award theme is “Where the Spirit Meets the Art.” Prospective student award categories range from “Best Copy of a Famous Work” to “Most Whimsical.”

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information call 912.525.5865 for more information or visit www.scad.edu


Sand Arts Festival 2010 – Tybee Island, GA

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The annual Sand Arts Festival is going to be held on Tybee Island’s north beach near Tybee Lighthouse, 30 Meddin Drive, on Friday, April 30, 10 a.m.- 4.pm. (rain date May 14).

The Sand Arts Festival organized by SCAD is a competition in sand castle design, sand sculpture, sand relief and wind sculpture. Lots of talented SCAD students and alumni compete and this is a great spectator event.

Artwork competing in the sand castle, sand sculpture and sand relief competitions are judged for creativity, design, craft and detail.

The Sand Arts Festival is free and open to the public.
Sand Art Festival, SCAD, Savannah Georgia

The Savannah Urban Arts Festival 2010

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The Savannah Urban Arts Festival celebrates the diverse range of art and artists who live and work in Savannah and build connections with artists from across the Southeast.

The 2010 festival will feature eight days of events (April 18 – 24, 2010) including live music, film screenings, artist workshops and more. Nearly all of the festival’s events will be free, to encourage people to come out and participate. SUAF will be a “pass the hat” festival where attendees are asked to donate a few dollars if they enjoyed the event and the performers.

Last year’s festival included performances from Savannah natives and internationally known musicians Anthony David and Brittany Bosco, along with film screenings, dance performances, dance parties, The SUAF King of the Beat producer battle, live music from regional artists, and presentations from award-winning hip hop historian/author Jeff Chang and Community Arts Activist Bill Strickland.

The feature for this year is the the southeast regions largest touring arts exhibition, Art, Beats and Lyrics. The exhibition has been featured Atlantas High Museum of Art and cities throughtout the southeast to include Charolotte, NC and Birmingham, AL. AB+L has consistently drawn hundreds of art enthusiast from around the country to experience this unique urban art exhibition. AB+L’s appearance is supported by grant funding from the Georgia Council for the Arts and the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs and Cricket Wireless. Local supporter include Paragon Design Group, WSAV, and Comcast of Savannah.

Schedule of Events:

Sunday (4/18)
7-9pm: Festival Introduction and Therapy Session Open Mic Night hosted by All Walks of Life Inc. – The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. All Ages.

Monday (4/19)
6-9pm: Graffiti Night* – Includes a mural painting workshop and a screening of “Style Wars,” the 1983 documentary about the emerging graffiti culture. Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Rd. All Ages
*(The festival does not support illegal graffiti practices, and will distribute literature to participants regarding applicable city and state laws, as well as the punishments associated with them).

Tuesday (4/20)
6-9pm: Artist Development workshops – There will be two sessions: First, “MC Bootcamp” where rappers will learn about different styles and flows, then be put through a series of challenges to test their lyrical abilities. Second, “What Artists Need to Know,” a session lead by industry professionals including performers, radio, media, and public relations professionals discussing what aspiring artists need to understand about professionalism and the music industry. Meddin Studios Conference Room. 2333 Louisville Rd. All Ages (Sincere interest, work ethic and experience as an artist strongly recommended.)

11pm-2am: Hip Hop Night hosted by Dope Sandwich – live music, MC battles and break dancing. The Jinx, 127 E. Congress St. 21+

Wednesday (4/21)
6-9pm: SUAFilm – Screenings of work by independent filmmakers from across the Southeast, including scripted and documentary films. Indigo Arts Center. 703D Louisville Rd. All Ages.

11pm-2am: Rare Grooves hosted by DJ Valis – Cool selections of funk, soul, breaks and hip hop. Bacchus, 309 W. Congress St. 21+

Thursday (4/22)
7-9pm: Keep it Cool – Live performance from Atlanta Futuristic-Soul Singer Dezaray Dawn, spoken word poetry performances, and a photo exhibition titled “The Face Project” by Sheldon Frazier: Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, 42 MLK Jr. Blvd.

9pm-12am: The Jam Session – An eclectic set of performances from musicians, dancers, poets and others. Visual arts exhibit TBA. The American Legion Post 135, 1810 Bull Street. 21+

Friday (4/23)
6-9pm: On the Grind Skateboarding – An evening skating session and skateboard demos. Woody’s Skate Park, 218 Windsor Road. All Ages

9pm-1am: Shut Up and Fight – A video game tournament, the SUAF King of the Beats producer battle, and the “Last Man Standing” regional breakdancing tournament, as well as the opening reception for an exhibition of selected visual artists. Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Road. 16+

Saturday (4/24)
12pm-6pm: The Big Party – A full day of live music, food, vendors, activities and more for the whole family. The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, 460 MLK Jr. Blvd. All Ages
Continues
7pm-11pm: Art Beats + Lyrics – A traveling Urban Arts Exhibition from Atlanta that includes live music, DJ performances, visual arts and more. The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Righst Museum, 460 MLK Jr. Blvd. All Ages

Sunday (4/25)
1pm-2:30pm-SUAF Artist Networking Brunch-Come hangout on the last day of SUAF and enjoy a light brunch and network with other artist from around the region. Hit the road feeling SUAFY. The Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Rd. All Ages
5pm-10pm: Vinyl Appreciation – A group of local DJs and record collectors gathering to play some of their favorite rare and undiscovered music selections. The Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Rd. 16+

Sheep to Shawl Demonstration at S.P.A.C.E Gallery, Savannah, GA

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Members of the Fiber Guild of the Savannahs will present works by their members, including spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, basketry quilting, dyeing and jewelry in their annual exhibition at Gallery S.P.A.C.E., Apr. 5 – Apr. 30. An artist reception and ‘sheep to shawl’ demonstration will be held Apr. 9 from 4-7 p.m.

Nel Adams at Gallery S.P.A.C.E in Savannah, GA
Nel Adams, Feather & Fan Cowl, Hand spun wool/handknit at Gallery S.P.A.C.E

Wool recently shorn from the sheep at Oatland Island Wildlife Center will be used by Guild members during a modified ‘Sheep to Shawl’ demonstration at the opening reception. The handspun yarn will be used in weaving, knitting and crocheting demonstrations. Reception attendees will have the opportunity to test the spinning wheels, floor looms and drop spindles.

Guild members will also be conducting lunch time demonstrations on Wednesdays throughout the month of April from 11am to 1pm. On April 14th spinners will demonstrate how to create handspun yarn using spinning wheels and drop spindles. On April 21st weavers will demonstrate weaving on a floor loom and more affordable frame and cardboard looms. On April 28th guild members will be demonstrate the fiber crafts of knitting, crocheting, and beading.

The exhibition, reception and lunch demonstrations are free and open to the public. S.P.A.C.E. is located at 9 W. Henry St. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free off-street parking is available. For information, contact 912-651-6783 or visit www.savannahga.gov/arts.

Tybee Wine Festival 2010 – Tybee Island, Georgia

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Now you can support Tybee Post Theater by coming to the 2010 Tybee Wine Festival. The 2009 Wine Festival was very successful and earned over $10,000 for the restoration.The event is scheduled for April 17, 2010, from 3 pm – 7 pm on the grounds of the Tybee Lighthouse and it’s a great opportunity to do good and have fun at the same time.

The wine festival will feature over 100 international wines plus delicious  tapas from some of Tybee Islands best restaurants.  But for those of who don’t appreciate good wine, the organizers have arranged something special for this year. This year the festival will also  offer a selection of craft beers, so you have no excuse for staying home. There will even be  a raffle, silent auction and live music by some of the island’s finest musicians.

Attendees receive a free gift package which includes a souvenir wine glass and wine tote. Participating restaurants are Hunter House, Papa’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood, The Breakfast Club, Fannies on the Beach, Marline Monroe’s, Doc’s Bar, Huca Poos, Sundae Cafe and Sting Rays.

All festival net proceeds go to the restoration of the Tybee Post Theater.

Tickets are  available online at  tybeewinefestival.com.