What a great way to spend a Saturday morning...

With this feature, we seek to capture a glimpse of what you and your neighbors have to say about a variety of topics, issues, events; and just plain fun questions. You might see us anywhere around town with notepad and camera, randomly seeking out folks who are willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond.

At the Palm Trees & Pistons Car

Show at Sea Turtle Marketplace, we asked: “what was your favorite car of your past?”

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CULTURAL ARTS from page 1A

ies. We live in the most beautiful area on the East Coast but then I’m biased,” she said. “We live in vacationland and sketchers from all over the world come here.”

Local artist Doug Corkern, a local retired architect who is as well known for his sketches of Bluffton’s people and places as he is for the buildings he has designed – such as the Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church – said what is important to him “is all these icons in Bluffton that we can sketch.

“We have some beautiful historic architecture, beautiful animals, beautiful people and interesting characters in Bluffton,” he said. “I see that as a great place to live, not just an invitation to other people.”

Steese said the public art policy was developed through conversations with the local artists and residents who were involved with cultural events such as symposiums, special exhibits, performances and creative activities.

“The cultural district would be important because that would be where we look for art, but we have some other places such as the New Riverside Barn park, Buckwalter Park, the police department and our other parks and facilities throughout town where we might want to put art,” he said.

The document details the criteria for art selection, information about the development of a public art master plan, and the process for identifying and selecting art and artists.

When it comes to what kinds of artistic endeavors will be considered, one might say the sky is the limit. The goal is to involve local, regional and national artists of diverse backgrounds to create and provide: sculptures of all kinds in any approved material; paintings in all media, portable or permanently affixed to its location; graphic arts; mosaics; crafts both functional and ornamental; photography; mixed media; earth works and environmental installations; light-based or luminal art; sound art; video and animation; and portable art that may be displayed at various locations.

Numerous variations are possible within each of the categories. That fits into Bluffton’s unique artistic style and fortunes.

Since art can cost a fortune, funding will come from various sources. Each fiscal year, the town will designate funds to be maintained in the Capital Improvements Fund account for public art. Funds can be allocated from the General Fund, State Accommodations Tax Fund, Local Accommodations Tax Fund, Hospitality Tax Fund or other accounts.

There is also an opportunity for private funding through donations, Steese said. Knowing there would be a public art policy, the town established a 501(c)3 nonprofit within the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry called the Town of Bluffton Parks and Public Art Fund.

“We have people who wanted to donate a bench in somebody’s honor. It’s the same thing – if we have somebody who wants to donate a piece of art, or donate money for art, they have a way to do that through the foundation,” said Steese. “Private funds that are donated for public art will be put directly into the Public Art Account or held by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry per our partnership.”

Bluffton’s artistic and cultural community is woven into its character.

“It has been an economic force for Bluffton for a long time. Babbie Guscio set the tone for the town back in the day with her store,” said Gardner. “You never know what you’ll find in her store from one time to another. She changes all the time, promotes a different artist, a different product. It’s always fluid.”

The announcement for the Public Art Committee went out in April, and since then Steese and others have interviewed a diversity of individuals who are connected in one way or another with the art community as well as representatives of the Bluffton Cultural District Advisory Committee. The seven-member committee will be introduced at the Aug. 8 town council meeting.

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