Artista Vista will light up with lantern parade this year

In the 701 Center for Contemporary Art gallery, at the end of a bamboo shoot the length of a fishing pole, hanging by a string, is one of Janke Klompmaker’s paper lanterns.

A small battery-powered light makes it a lantern, but it looks more like a birdhouse, or an object for an oversized mobile. The delicate little dwelling – her favorite – has triangle and rectangle cutouts that reveal red tissue paper underneath.

The cherry glow it emits when lit up is wonderful, the 701 CCA artist-in-residence said.

Others in Klompmaker’s collection are all white and minimalistic; some are embellished with feathers, colored tissue paper or glow-in-the-dark stars.

The lanterns will be part of “LiberaMe: A Lantern Parade and Group Performance” at Artista Vista on Thursday, April 21. Artista Vista goes through Saturday, April 23.

Now in its 25th year, the event includes a gallery crawl, installation art, live music and a public sculpture dedication. Several galleries are also planning special talks and lectures by artists on Friday and Saturday.

The lantern parade is new this year. The parade will gather at the Vista Greenway tunnel at 8 p.m. and walk through the Vista after sunset. There will be extra lanterns available for those wishing to participate in the parade.

Klompmaker is a slight woman with white hair, black-rimmed glasses and a Dutch accent. She calls the lanterns mini “dream homes.”

She first came to South Carolina in the fall for an artist-in-residency at Furman University. The idea for the lantern parade was inspired in part by the European holiday St. Martin’s Day, she said. In her home country of the Netherlands, children go door to door with lanterns and receive candy, sort of like Halloween.

But the idea of a lantern being a house – a house you can carry around with you – was influenced by the Syrian refugee crisis in Europe, as well as the ongoing immigration debate in the United States.

“There is a conflict in welcoming people,” Klompmaker said.

Refugees and immigrants leave one house, carry what they can and dream of a finding a new home, but are not always successful.

In Greenville, where Klompmaker also did a lantern parade, the procession was more solemn than festive. But in a different city, it might have a different feel, she said, adding “I think it’s more colorful here” in Columbia.

As for her own dream home, Klompmaker has one stipulation.

“I like traveling around, so I’d like a house I could move,” she said.

OTHER ARTISTA VISTA EVENTS

Gallery crawl

From 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, the following galleries will be open for Art Night:

Carol Saunders Gallery

City Art

Ellen Taylor Interiors + Design

if ART Gallery

Lewis + Clark

One Eared Cow Glass

Studio Cellar

The Gallery at Nonnah’s

Vista Studios/Gallery 80808

Related: Vista Studios: Where the art spirit lives

Installation art

The Vista Guild has commissioned artist Michaela Pilar Brown to curate “Consider the Revolution,” several installation and temporary performance pieces by artists that will be in place for Artista Vista. The exhibit features South Carolina artists looking at change mediated through mark making, objects, performance and movement.

Participating installation artists include: Susan Lenz, Shannon Lindsey, Kenneth Eric Adams, Sara Schneckloth Roni Nicole Henderson, The Nia Company, Jason Kendall and Kara Gunter. A map of installation locations and curator’s notes is available at ArtistaVista.com.

Public art sculpture dedication

As in recent years, the Vista Guild will install a permanent sculpture during Artista Vista. This year’s work is by artist Mike Williams and will be installed near 707 Gervais St. between Newk’s Eatery and the Twisted Spur. The short dedication will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21.

Guided tours

Free, guided walking tours of the installation art and sculpture will be offered by volunteer guides and One Columbia on Saturday, April 23 at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tours will meet and depart from the corner of Lady and Lincoln Streets.

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This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Artista Vista will light up with lantern parade this year."