Enlightenment via the resident artist - Day 29

In a quick stop in the downtown this weekend, it became clear to me - Florence's downtown will be flourishing within the next few years. We all know about the big keystones to rebuilding the area - the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundatdion Library, Florence Little Theatre, FMU Performing Arts Center, and the upcoming Florence Museum.  Here are some of the smaller clues that we are well on our way:

• Hapi Balance started from a pop-up shop and has become a permanent storefront, offering yoga and other invigorating soul-seeking activities.
• Railroad Junction, also starting from a pop-up shop, has developed into a strong artist co-op which offers  the newest in arts / craft classes, activities for kids, live music, artist lock-ins, and reasonably priced original artwork.
• Ella's Boutique is nestled between these two, and her storefront looks fabulous with the newest styles in business, church, and formal wear.
• Harvest Moon Soapworks has relocated across the street from these three shops. Harvest Moon offers a wide range of hand-crafted soaps and aromatherapy herbs.
• Peggy Brown will be opening her pottery shop and eatery on Dargan Street.
• Alchemy has built up its base of "regulars" with lots of new faces on promotional evenings. Seeing how cool the place is, these new faces soon become regulars, introducing Alchemy to their friends.
• A boutique hotel is in the works, with a high-end restaurant.

But most impressive of all, the Art Trail Gallery which started out as a temporary exhibit of art in storefront windows has become a permanent fixture of the downtown. Jane Madden keeps the momentum going with new exhibits each month, while Alex Palkovich continues to enthrall passers-by with his sculptures. 


Can you name another downtown that has a resident Russian sculptor to settle in after retiring  from designing and manufacturing MRI machines? One that has found his niche in making monumental pieces focused on Revolutionary War figures and commemorating our veterans? The best part is, Alex is in the downtown, welcoming visitors to his studio as he creates a new artistic heritage for Florence and the Pee Dee. 


more info about Alex Palkovich...   and about the Art Trail Gallery...

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy!