Savanna Bowyer, a student at Polk County Early College, has been snapping photos and sharing them with friends since she was a little girl. Photography supplies are not inexpensive, and the creative young woman soon discovered that many students really could use some support to get their art projects and class costs under way. To fill that need, Bowyer started Art-iculture.

On Nov. 20, beginning, emerging, and mature artists will sell their work at Art-iculture from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Polk County Early College campus on Highway 108 in Columbus, and a percentage will go to finance the PCEC Art Fund. Art of all types will be featured, including metal work, clay, fussed glass jewelry, photography, painting and sketching.

“The Art-iculture show got its name from the idea that, as a farming community, Polk County is deeply rooted in the arts and nurturing. Helping new artists grow will be a great harvest for all to benefit,” Bowyer said.

Bowyer took a class at Isothermal Community College, as many PCEC students do, and she found that the expenses of materials outstripped many students’ resources.

“While we are fortunate to have our course cost covered, students are responsible for purchasing any consumables a course requires,” she said.

“This includes, but is not limited to, art supplies. Cosmetology courses require their students to purchase scissor kits and uniforms, and welding courses require their gear and protective clothing. I had to purchase pencils, paper, film, contact sheets, plastic sheets, film camera and binder, and it quickly becomes a great expense. I fear some students may shy away from these courses because of the additional cost. This fund defrays the additional consumables cost of the art courses,” she added.

Art-iculture will offer prizes to the artists and door prizes for guests. Sponsors have donated money, food, and prizes. Sponsors include Food Lion, Uptown Girl, Huckleberry’s, The Flower Cottage, Studio Z, Calvert’s Kitchen, Larkin’s Grill, Foothills Gun Gallery, Stott’s Ford, Four Winds Florist, and O’Duggan’s Irish Family Ice Cream Shop and Coffee Pub.

The show will feature PCEC students including Savanna Bowyer, Arieana Alt, Micheala Nelon, and Hannah Ruff, as well as local artists who have established a strong following, including June Ellen Bradley, Carol Thomas, Marie King, Grace Lertora, Mary and Don Dill, and Bowyer’s mentor, Tracie Easler.

–Submitted by Savanna Bowyer