COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — You may never have thought of Columbia as an art city, but that may soon change.
A new initiative called Columbia Streams Art aims to bring color to the city through urban canvases.
Art has long been an integral part of the city of Columbia.
“I think it has grown. We’ve had ups and downs,” said Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “We used to be the new music center.”
In addition to musicians, other creative people also call Soda City their home.
A local artist has come up with a way to bring urban canvases to Columbia.
“You stand at a traffic light and just look ahead,” said local artist Stephen Chesley. “The idea is that you look up and see something different. You see a piece of art here, but in two weeks it’s gone and then another piece of art comes here.”
As part of the Columbia Streams Art initiative, the city unveiled a 15-by-10-foot tapestry featuring works by local artists downtown at 620 Huger Street.
“I can’t put into words how wonderful it is to be involved in a project that will be seen by many eyes,” said featured artist Kristine Hartvigsen. “I am proud and grateful to be one of the talented artists here.”
The new initiative aims to add more color to other parts of the city and strengthen Columbia’s art scene as a whole.
“We have a lot of murals now, which are very important,” the mayor said. “How do we get different kinds of art? How do we bring the culinary arts and the music scene together?”
Local artists have found ways to showcase their talent through events in their own neighborhoods.
“You see these walking tours we do in Cottontown and Melrose Heights,” the mayor said. “These artists live next door and across the street. I think that’s invigorating.”
Soda City residents will be pleased to hear that a beloved work of art is returning to town.
“The broken plug is now in storage, but it will be back at some point,” Rickenmann said. “It will probably be somewhere by the river so it can enjoy some free water.”
