The Navy Yard and the Arts

A key to the success of the Navy Yard community lies in promotion of the arts, performance centers and a lively appreciation for history.  These elements add richness and fun to the “Yard” experience, and they attract people with the kind of values and perspective needed to sharpen the project’s creative edge.

The Navy Yard is a place that is alive with creativity and attracts all levels of artists.  Just ask any of the 85+ businesses already here.  Clusters of artists, eco-businesses, building/planning types, nonprofits, and digital design firms enjoy a culture built around creativity, diversity and accessibility.

Art can be found everywhere at the Yard.  The architecture art is what usually grabs everyone’s attention first.  Although sustainability is a guiding standard for construction quality, innovation is the standard for design.  Beyond preservation of historic structures, there are few constraints to architecture.  The Yard is becoming the Lowcountry’s portal to 21st century designs, bringing a world of fresh ideas to residential, commercial, and civic building.  Modern structures are making great neighbors with renovated historic naval buildings all designed to enhance and inspire the lives of those that call them home.

When at the Navy Yard, you experience art in every building and landscape you encounter.  Galleries, art festivals, artists’ studios, performance centers, historic memorials to name a few art examples have integrated the Yard to make it a normal part of your everyday experience.  A stroll around Riverfront Park alone, provides ample exposure to the arts through outdoor art competitions, multiple large-scale festivals, Naval Base memorials, and flurishing restaurants.  The park regularly attracts those looking to paint, draw, photograph or simply relax and enjoy the views.  Driving through the Navy Yard, outdoor art is located in street mediums, on building walls, and adjacent to many buildings having their own unique public display of art. Walking through the various buildings which employ over 2,000+ people, you will see works of art on display from some of the most talented local artists, which takes on many forms and provides much inspiration.

The Yard is proud to host annual events such as Kulture Klash, parts of the North Charleston Arts Festival, a wide variety of concerts,and numerous other art related events that attract thousands of attendees each year.  The Yard is also very proud to be a part of the larger 3,000 acre Noisette Community which boasts many more arts related accomplishments that have been carefully woven into the fabric of all that live, work, or play here.

Sample of Current Art at the Base as of the date this post was written (May 2011) includes:

Flavor Cutz – Works by Conrad Guevara

View colorful, innovative paintings and sculptural objects achieved through experimentation with nontraditional materials.  Found objects, card stock, yarn, and other disposable products are cut and reconfigured to take on the quality of moving paint.

Free Admission/ Free Parking

10 Storehouse Row, 2120 Noisette Boulevard, North Charleston

On view: April 29 – May 6, Mon.-Fri. 9:00am-6:00pm

2011 North Charleston Arts Festival:

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department proudly presents the 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival. This annual nine-day event highlights national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of dance, theater, music, film media, and visual & literary arts, and draws over 30,000 visitors annually.   The Main Event, held Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances on four themed stages; Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, Bands, and General Audience.  Other Main Event activities include judged art and photography shows, the SC Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Exhibit, a gem & mineral show, an antique show, children’s activities, arts & Crafts vendors, and more.  Other inspiring events take place at various locations in North Charleston throughout the Festival Week. An array of free and ticketed events include street dances, concerts, theater presentations, film screenings, an Art Walk, children’s activities, workshops and demonstrations, a National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, and much more. The festival concludes with the Grand Finale at North Charleston Riverfront Park featuring performances, children’s activities, and fireworks over the Cooper River.  Visit the City’s website at www.northcharleston.org for a listing of events and programs planned for the Arts Festival.

Free & ticketed events

Various locations throughout North Charleston

April 29 – May 7, 2011

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