'Yarn bombing' public art installations planned to kick-off Downtown Cultural District grand opening

Some of the most revered Southern works of art hang near those created by a deep well of talented local artists. Live music from one or more of two dozen outdoor and indoor stages can be heard nearly every night of the week. A ballet company, a philharmonic, and a theatre company provide big-city productions year-round. Another organization's artist-in-residence program brings artists live and make art for months at a time.Murals and sculptures dot the streets and make postcard-ready backdrops. Downtown Spartanburg is a vibrant, dynamic home for the arts, boasting the $45 million Chapman Cultural Center, some of the best art galleries in the South, and an independent press and bookshop respected throughout the literary community. Indeed, surprises are seemingly around every corner, including every step of the 2-mile Hub City Music Trail that chronicles Spartanburg's significant musical heritage. That's why basically all of Downtown Spartanburg —every street and every block — has been designated a cultural district by the South Carolina Arts Commission. Today on the podcast, we're talking about a great public art installation that will help us kick off the official opening of Spartanburg's newly designated Downtown Cultural District, taking place November 17, 4:30–8 p.m. on Morgan Square. Artist Ashleigh Shuler has planned a series of "yarn bombs" for locations around downtown, and also a community build for those who'd like to get involved, scheduled for Sunday, November 13, 1–4 p.m. at the Chapman Cultural Center.