Art for all

What an incredible year it has been for the Women’s Art Initiative (WAI). Because of the support we have received from our members over the past years, we have been able to complete numerous projects and activities that have supported public art in our community. And this year is no exception!

We had a wonderful turnout for the WAI reception that was held at The Warehouse on June 29. Many thanks to Ashley and Gray Owens for allowing us to hold the event in their beautiful home. It was such fun seeing everyone and hearing about what WAI has accomplished over the past three years:

• Completion and installation of “Corner Oasis: Reflect and Renew” sculpture, located on the corner of White Street and Caldwell Street;
• Completion and installation of “Communication: Endless Possibilities Past, Present, Future” sculpture, located on 117 Elk Avenue;
• Collaboration with the Culture & Heritage Museums on two wall displays highlighting the life and career of renowned American illustrator, Vernon Grant, in the lobby of the Lowenstein Building;
• Collaboration with the City of Rock Hill on the Shepard Fairey mural. This is part of the City’s “Mural Mile”, which is an initiative to install a series of murals throughout the Knowledge Park area;
• The continuation of the Haiku Sidewalk Poetry project. The WAI partnered with the Rock Hill School District and the Poet Laureate Committee to select Haiku poems submitted by area junior and senior high school students and stenciled them on Main Street sidewalks from Fountain Park to Dave Lyle Boulevard. The third phase of this project was completed in April 2022 and a reception for the students and their families was held at the Arts Council of York County;
• Completed a brochure that includes the 2022 Haiku poems and a map of the location of each poem;
• Worked with the Rock Hill Poet Laureate on the Pizza & Poetry Project which delivered approximately 2,000 poetry flyers to five area restaurants to place the selected Haiku poems on pizza boxes during April 2020 and April 2021 to recognize National Poetry Month;
• Provided funding for the City of Rock Hill’s 2021, 2022, and 2023 Poetry Festival. This is a 3-day event that was held in downtown Rock Hill and was centered on literacy, community engagement, live performances, public art, and activities to highlight youth voices.
  

If you have not done so already, we hope that you will consider joining our efforts to bring more public art to our community. With a minimum donation of $100, you can become a member of the Women’s Art Initiative. Your gift in addition to the minimum amount allows even more opportunities for projects to be funded. For those of you who donated at the June unveiling or since then, thank you so much for your support. For those of you who have not rejoined, please consider doing so now by clicking “Donate Now”. 

Your membership is important to us and to all those who enjoy public art.

Also, if you are interested in serving on one of our volunteer committees, contact

Michelle DiEduardo, President.
WOMEN’S ART INTITIATIVE

PO Box 4926

Rock Hill, SC 29732