Artista Vista, the Midlands’ most celebrated gallery crawl, returns Thursday, April 20, 2017. Vista galleries will open their doors from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, April 20 (for Art Night), and these special shows will also be available for viewing during regular gallery hours April 21 and 22, as part of this free, signature Vista gallery crawl.

In its 26th year, Artista Vista participating galleries will feature regionally and nationally renowned artists, as well as local artists from the Midlands. Attendees can chat with gallery owners and artists while taking in paintings, sculpture, pottery and jewelry. Stay tuned as the Vista Guild announces its full Artista Vista schedule.

New for 2017

• Light Parade: Inspired by the Lantern Parade through the Vista at Artista Vista 2016, Artista Vista organizers are offering three workshop dates for members of the public to come make their own lanterns for the 2017 parade, which will take place at dusk during Artista Vista on Thursday, April 20. Facilitated by artists, these workshops will guide attendees through making their own lanterns with recycled materials. The Vista Guild will provide light bulbs. More information at VistaColumbia.com.
• 25 Artists by Wade Sellers: Wade Sellers, Vista filmmaker and owner of Coal Powered Filmworks, will exhibit his interactive video installation featuring intimate interviews with 25 Columbia artists explaining the common themes and motivation behind how and why they create. Sellers will install screens throughout the Vista with this installation during Artista Vista.

Additionally, the Vista Guild will install another piece of permanent art, “Body in Spirit,” by Jerome Meadows, on Lady Street. The sculpture, a large, 9-foot- tall cut out of a figure with a small perched dove, is made of bronze plate, cast bronze, pink granite and treated cedar.

Artista Vista is free for attendees, and free parking is available in the Vista’s parking decks located on Lincoln Street near Lady, Park Street near Pendleton, and Lady Street near Wayne Street on Thursday, April 20 from 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Stay tuned for event maps and plans as galleries finalize their Artista Vista shows and as the Vista Guild announces installation artists and sites complete gallery and installation exhibition information. Follow the Vista Guild on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook, #ArtistaVista17.