A PERFECT AUTUMN AFTERNOON

After hosting the CVP chili cook-off last Saturday night, I was ready to get out and around Greenville on Sunday afternoon. We had a great time Saturday with a small group of Carolina Vettepackers who brought their best chili efforts (along with lots of desserts!). I believe all had a nice, relaxing time. Everyone seemed to enjoy just chillin' out and having some great conversations. In the end, we couldn't decide on a winner, all the assorted chilis were awesome! So in order to award the silver ladle award, I put coded papers in a chili bowl and let everyone pick. I am happy to report that Laura M. is now the proud owner of a new Cephalon measuring ladle!

But back to Sunday. Greenville, SC was hosting an Open Studios tour for the artists around the city. Armed with a map, we grabbed a quick lunch at the Lazy Chicken restaurant on E. Butler Rd. in Mauldin and headed for downtown Greenville in our Electron blue C5 coupe. The weather was perfect for riding with the windows down. Autumn leaves were swirling down on the streets around town.

I will be the first to say that I am not an expert in art appreciation. Some artistic expressions I totally get. If you can look at an artwork and feel what the artist is saying, it's wonderful! Sometimes the artist' style doesn't appeal to one at all, but you can still admire the talent and skill of the artist in their expressions.

Then there are the pieces that make you wonder "What the heck were they thinking?" These I try to open my mind and try to make some sense of what the artist is trying to express. I did see a few artists' offerings that I am sorry to say I couldn't even find a hint of a clue. Oh well, that is what makes the world go round.....

One aspect of this tour that really impressed me was the changes that are being made in a section of town called West Greenville. In the 70's when I was a teenager, this was a place you had to ride through to get downtown from where I grew up. You kept your doors locked and hoped you didn't have car trouble (pre-cell phone days, you know). Until recently, this part of town had a bad rep for drugs and crime. There is an effort to re-vitalize and re-juvenate this area into an art district. Many artists have taken up residence and are transforming the vintage buildings that years ago had mom & pop businesses but for the longest time have been standing vacant and forgotten. I very much enjoyed seeing the insides of these old structures and appreciating the potential they still possess.

So if you want to enjoy something a little different, I hope you will take the time to check out some of Greenville's art community. Who knows, you might just find something that will speak to your soul.