Spartanburg Art Museum
200 East St. John St., Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864.582.7616
www.spartanburgartmuseum.org
Spartanburg Art Museum
200 East St. John St., Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864.582.7616
www.spartanburgartmuseum.org
The Spartanburg Art Museum (SAM) initiated an online poll in July, publicized through social media, print advertising, the Museum's website and app and by word-of-mouth that allowed fans of their recent large-scale public art project, Lighten Up Spartanburg, to vote on their favorite artworks included in it. The ten voting categories varied widely - from "The Bulb that Best Represents Spartanburg" to "The Bulb I'd Most Like Have in my Front Yard." Winners in an additional two categories - "Most Selfied" and "Most Listened-to Audiogudie" - were determined through analysis of data collected from the 39,239 pageviews of the Museum's tour app (artbulbs.oncell.com) and hundreds of public posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In almost every category voting was incredibly contentious - in some, the winner was even decided by a single vote.
The results of the poll were revealed on October 26th at a red carpet event at Chapman Cultural Center. Over 200 artists, sponsors, and fans of the project were in attendance. In addition to the dramatic reveal of the contest winners, the evening also featured a lavish open bar and menu of hors d'oeuvres, a comedy performance by Sparkle City Improv, a suprise musical guest, a red carpet photobooth from local photographer Jimmy Gibson and a stage show hosted by local celebrity and WSPA-TV host Jamarcus Gaston. Despite the fanfare, Museum officials maintained an equanimous attitude. In the words of SAM's Curator of Collections Mat Duncan:
"I hope that you will see the Artbulbs Choice Awards as we do - not as a celebration only of the 10 bulbs you voted into first place - but as a celebration of the fun and collective excitement the entire project has brought to our city, and of the resilient and expansive diversity that the full group of 28 symbolize. In the end, each of us is the real winner of the Artbulbs Choice Awards, in that we live in a city that is home to so many talented, creative individuals." - Mat Duncan, Curator of Collections of Spartanburg Art Museum
The 28 giant light bulbs painted, sculpted, and otherwise altered by local artists which compose Lighten Up Spartanburg will continue to occupy public spaces around downtown Spartanburg through mid-March, at which point they will be auctioned off at a public event. You can view the full list of Artbulbs Choice Awards winners by clicking here.
Winners 1. Bulb I'd Like to Have in My Front Yard - Vivienne Lee Carey's "All Creatures Great and Small" sponsored by Kathy Zimmerli Wofford and Mark Zimmerli
2. Most Listened-to Audioguide - Alexander Lay's "Every Person I've Ever Met" sponsored by The Barnet Foundation
3. Most Selfied Bulb - Page Davis' "Social Relevance" sponsored by Santo Lubes
4. Bulb that Best Represents Spartanburg - "People and Places" by Beth Pullman Regula
5. All Around Favorite - Kathy Zimmerli Wofford's "Barrel of Fun" sponsored by Caroline's Cakes
6. Most Creative Bulb - Sharon Passmore's "Geo Bulb" sponsored by First Citizens Bank
7. Most Thought-Provoking Bulb - Beth Regula's "People and Places" sponsored by Spartanburg Day School
8. Best Color Scheme - Denise Torrance's "I Breathe" sponsored by Bank of America
9. Most Transformed Bulb - Beth Regula's "People and Places" sponsored by Spartanburg Day School
10. Best Portrait Bulb - Annette Giaco's "Mawu Sun-Light" sponsored by Isabelle and John Barber
11. Best Creature Bulb - Aldo Muzzarelli's "Freedom" sponsored by Marsha & Jimmy Gibbs and Spartanburg Marriott
12. Best Abstract Bulb - Creative Development's "Reflections of Sparkle City" sponsored by Spartanburg Herald-Journal
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The Spartanburg Art Museum was founded in 1907 by artists Margaret Law and Josephine Sibley Couper, with the view that "art should not just be the luxury of a few, but the luxury of all." Today, it is one of only a handful of Contemporary Art Museums operating in the Southeastern United States, supporting the creative capacities of the region through an international exhibitions program, youth outreach programs, an art school, a large permanent collection, and an extensive public art program and calendar of community events.
The Spartanburg Art Museum is a regional museum promoting contemporary visual arts by inspiring and engaging people of all ages through exhibitions and education.
Please feel free to contact our Community Development Coordinator and Curator of Collections, Mat Duncan, for more information.
Name: Mat Duncan
Phone: 864.582.7616 ext. 211
Email: mduncan@spartanarts.org
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