Aiken art event will have family activities

In honor of the end of summer, the Aiken Center for the Arts will host its fourth annual Aiken Arts Alive celebration.

The celebration will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with live entertainment all day, children's activities, crafts and refreshments. The day is free of charge and is open to the entire community.

The festivities are centered around the theme of a "Sea Cruise," which coordinates with the 2009 summer camp's international theme. The young artists' creations are currently on display and the event serves as the reception for the show. Artists will be permitted to take their work home with them.

Laura Tomlin, a member of the Augusta Symphony, will lead the first group called Fiddle Faddle at 11 a.m. in the main floor galleries. This group is comprised of children and adult participants in the Augusta State Conservatory, Carolina Strings Academy and Aiken Youth Orchestra.

At 11:30 a.m., the Pan Jive Steel Drum Band of North Carolina will play a friendly island sound for all to enjoy. The group formed in 1998 under the direction of Rick Cline, performs at schools and festivals throughout Western North Carolina and are members of the North Carolina Arts Council. Cline teaches applied percussion at Lenoir Rhyne College where he conducts the percussion and steel drum ensembles, the jazz band and the pep bands.

The Aiken Singers, under the leadership of Diane Haslam, will perform at noon. The Aiken Singers have been a part of the ACA's programming for the last three years. The group's mission is to sing popular songs, share its talents with the area senior centers and have a great time together.

South Boundary is a group of 16 male singers devoted to entertaining regional audiences. They sing in the a cappella style, which is a performance of polyphonic (multipart) musical work by unaccompanied voices. The South Boundary musical repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the contemporary and from sacred to secular.

Balloon Creations with Big Cheese & Sandi the Balloon Lady will take place on the second floor. During children's crafts, participants will have the opportunity to create a high seas mural, silly cruising photography, face¬ painting, artist demonstrations and caricatures.

Aiken Public Safety will be partnering in this year's event. The fire truck and support staff will be parked in the front of the ACA for everyone to enjoy and learn.

Aiken Arts Alive will also serve as the reception for the Brenda Douglas Exhibition, the South Carolina Watermedia Traveling Exhibition and Aiken Center for the Arts' Summer Camps, "Van-go into Art." Complimentary light refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 641-9094 or visit www.aikencenterforthearts.org.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.

Aiken Arts Alive Sea Cruise - Performance Schedule

11 to 11:30 a.m. - Fiddle Faddle

11:30 a.m. to noon - Pan Jive Steel Drum Band

Noon to 12:30 p.m. - Aiken Singers

12:30 to 1 p.m. - Abatsu, African Dancers and Drums

1 to 1:30 p.m. - Pan Jive Steel Drum Band

1:30 to 2 p.m. - South Boundary

Want to Go?

What? Aiken Arts Alive 2009 - Sea Cruise

When? Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where? Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens St. S.W.

Cost? Free