Art in the Park wants to bring culture to downtown Hinesville.
Liberty’s local artists will gather at Bradwell Park this Saturday for the first semi-annual Art in the Park.
Art in the Park is an art appreciation event, giving area residents the opportunity to meet local artists of different backgrounds and techniques. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be paintings, mixed media, sculptures, woodwork, music, mimes and more.
Paul Spence, owner of Paul’s Art Studio and Judi Mills, owner of Southern Sweets Café and Bakery, both located downtown, came up with the idea to showcase local artists.
“It’s an activity for artists and appreciation for what we have in Liberty County, and it’s exposure for the artists,” Spence said. “We want people to know we have artists in Hinesville and Liberty County.
We’re setting this up so they can see some of their work.”
Mills said the event has taken off among the local art community.
“When we first started this it was just a handful of artists that became friends and started talking to each other and with the revitalization of downtown, we wanted to do an art in the park anyway, but then it really started to blow up,” Mills said. “The artists are coming out of the woodwork.”
Spence said he has been amazed at how many artists there are in Liberty.
Mills was surprised at the number of people who do art in different media yet go unrecognized as artists.
“I work with food coloring. I’m in the bakery, I need to paint, so I use food coloring,” Mills said. “There’s all kinds of art. It’s not just painting. We’re going to have a harp player, a trio band from Fort Stewart, we’ll have mimes, and one mime will be dressed as Harley Quinn.”
There will be 30 to 40 different artists at the event.
“We’re bringing culture to downtown Hinesville,” Spence said.
Artist Samm Sebera said people should come to Art in the Park because Hinesville does not have a voice for the local artists yet. Sebera is a photographer, painter and musician.
“We’re trying to show the town that we’re serious about this and we’re not just a group of artists running around,” Sebera said. “We’re family. We’re trying to push each other to go further. It’s everyone from age 24, to 48, to ancient, and it’s beautiful. It’s an open call to all other weirdos, ‘We’re here for you.’ We love the art and this is what we’re here for.”
Sebera encouraged people come out to give feedback on the event so Art in the Park in the fall can be better.
Art in the Park is sponsored by Commerce Street Holdings.
Spence and Mills hold Coffee and Conversations at Southern Sweets Café and Bakery on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., where artists can meet, talk and share ideas about art.