Three UMC faith leaders recognized through ArtFields

LAKE CITY—Three United Methodist faith leaders were recognized during ArtFields 2023 as vital to the Lake City community and participants in the growth and celebration of ArtFields.

 ArtFields started in 2013 with a simple goal: to honor the artists of the Southeast with a week’s worth of celebration and competition in the heart of a traditional Southern small town.

The competition and exhibition offer more than $145,000 in cash prizes.

The winners of two People’s Choice Awards are determined by the votes of people visiting ArtFields.

A panel of art professionals selects all the other awards, including the contest’s $50,000 Grand prize and the $25,000 second place award.

Up to 400 works of art were on display in locally owned venues, from renovated 1920s warehouses and professional art spaces such as Jones-Carter Gallery and TRAX Visual Art Center to the library, the history museum, the Ronald E. McNair Life History Center, restaurants, boutiques and other shops.

During ArtFields, what was once one of South Carolina’s most prosperous agricultural communities becomes a living art gallery as citizens recognize, celebrate and share the artistic talent of the Southeast.

This year, three United Methodist clergy were honored to be part of the ArtFields magic in the portrait contest.

The theme for models this year was “community religious leaders.”

Featured in the portraits were the Rev. William McCown of Lake City United Methodist Church, the Rev. Amiri B. Hooker of Wesley Chapel UMC and the Rev. Ingrid Germaine Graham, a local pastor from St. John UMC.

The ArtFields 2023 Portrait Contest first place win went to Lyudmila Tomova, who painted Hooker.

A third-place win went to Joshua Knight, who also created a portrait of Hooker.