Urges community to take more active role in art movement

Dear Editor:

As Kathleen Kennedy Townsend introduced the annual Kennedy Center Honors television program, she reminded the audience of President Kennedy's conviction that the arts provide the hub around which any nation rotates. I was reminded of Clemson University's presentation to our community leaders last fall of their proposals for Gaffney's 10-year plan in which the speakers made essentially the same comments about the importance of the arts to any community.

The speakers praised Gaffney for the progress we have already made in developing such supportive structures as CAVA, the Cherokee County Alliance for Visual Arts, the Downtown Merchants Association, CHAPS and the History Museum, The Veterans Museum, the Gaffney Little Theatre, Limestone College's outstanding program of music, theatre, and art, and our overall growing interest in arts of all kinds.

Now as we begin to develop strategies for ongoing progress in these areas we need to look closely at what you, the community, can do to strengthen the arts. One of the first phases of development that the City of Gaffney will undertake is signage that leads tourists off I-85 from the 105 and the Highway 11 entrances and directs them into downtown Gaffney.

As visitors come into town to shop, to visit Limestone College, to enjoy the beautiful sights of Gaffney's Historic District, or to conduct business here, what will they see that sets Gaffney apart from other towns and cities? Will they see a flourishing arts community or will they see bare walls?

The City of Gaffney has taken bold steps to provide a venue for CAVA's fine display of art of every medium. The city's information center and CAVA's art gallery have moved into the former American Red Cross Building at the corner of Limestone and Meadow streets. The displays cover a wide range from paintings, water color, pastel, acrylic to pottery, jewelry, macrame and crafts, much of which may be purchased.

What a wonderful time for banks, businesses, industries, schools and individuals to purchase local art and display it for all their constituents to admire. This is what the 10- year study envisioned. I recently toured one of the newest large-scale buildings in Cherokee County. The structure was gorgeous but the walls were bare. What a missed opportunity for this institution to welcome itself into Gaffney by showing their visitors what Gaffney and Cherokee County are all about.

Won't you make a New Year's resolution to tour our downtown area - the Michael Gaffney Cabin, our new administration building, the beautiful newly restored city park and the CAVA gallery? While you're there, take time to engage the city's representatives in conversation about our plans for the future.

Spend some time browsing our art exhibits, and work out a plan for your business or industry to purchase a piece or two to display in your own venue.

Visit our merchants who are beautifying their shops, carrying full lines of merchandise and displaying community art for your enjoyment. Consider opening a shop of your own or financially supporting someone else who is interested in going into business. This way we all win by supporting each other. Spend time eating in one of our downtown diners or restaurants. Sit and talk with your friends about how Gaffney is marching proudly toward the future filled with promise and excitement.

This is your part to play in the new year. Won't you do it?

Sincerely, Tedi Hoke Gibbons

Gaffney, SC