Music, art spice up town for Golden Age

The sight of Short Central all decked out in art, and with music reverberating through the corridor of shops and restaurants, impressed many who came out for the first night of the Golden Age of Summerville Festival.

Edward C. Fennell/The Post and Courier

Tara Bailey of Summerville reviews some of the art for sale at the Golden Age of Summerville Festival's opening event April 25 on Short Central.

The festival, which celebrated art, architecture and history, was held April 25-27. While architecture and history are always obvious here, art in the volumes enjoyed during the festival is unfortunately not, according to some festival-goers.

Caroline Edwards of Summerville said the town has made great strides in putting its local artists in the forefront.

"It's time for Summerville to have something like this, to bring the community out and bring out the tourists," she said.

Jed Suddeth of Summerville said while strolling Short Central that the town can become a regional or national arts center.

"Summerville can compete with the arts, and that's what it needs to do," he said.

Suddeth noted that Charleston is well known for its arts scene but said Summerville has much to offer, especially for a small town.

The Golden Age Festival proves Summerville has the artists — not just visual artists, but actors like those in the Flowertown Players, musicians like those in the Summerville Community Orchestra, and also singers, he said.

"We have a lot of cultural activity in Summerville, and it's a pretty, little town," he said.

Suddeth said that while on a recent business trip in Arizona, he visited Sedona, a small town outside of Phoenix. He said Sedona has made a name for itself through the arts, and is drawing tourists away from the much larger and better known Phoenix.

"You know, Summerville can be to Charleston what Sedona is to Phoenix," Suddeth said.

Tara Bailey of Summerville said art on display like she saw Friday would suit her just fine. "We've had art shows here, but this town-sponsored event is just perfect."