If you don’t live in Charleston, you may not know it, but the Spoleto and the Piccolo Spoleto festivals are a pretty big deal. The Spoleto is an international festival and always gets a lot of hype, but it’s sister festival, Piccolo Spoleto, has always been my favorite. There are loads of comedy shows, local theater, free music events, and all around cool, fun stuff.
Welcome to the 40th Piccolo Spoleto Festival, our City’s beloved contribution to Spoleto Festival USA. We encourage you to discover over these spectacular 17 days Charleston’s distinctive culture, our diverse arts scene and, of course, our friendly and welcoming spirit. … Complementing the international scope of Spoleto Festival USA, Piccolo Spoleto presents more than 500 performing, literary, and visual arts events, transforming Charleston with a thrilling offering of arts experiences. Nearly half of Piccolo Spoleto’s events are admission free, and others are modestly priced. Locals and visitors alike come together and share in this annual celebration of the arts, forging memories that endure for years to come.
~ John J. Tecklenburg, Charleston Mayor
When the Piccolo event organizers approached me this year about doing the poster art, I was elated and very honored. I’m following in the footsteps of some of my favorite local artists and was proud to be counted among them. This was such an unexpected and exciting check off my bucket list!!
Then…. I had to come up with a poster idea. The team that puts on the event was absolutely amazing to work with, and very rarely are you given such free reign to design whatever you want.
The piece I ended up creating for the poster graphic is called “Dinner and a Show.” This Robot is a reoccurring character of mine, and I like to imagine him roaming around as the remnant of a future apocalyptic event (post humans). While being the only one left may seem lonely, the robot doesn’t know any different way of life, so he remains curious, loving, and upbeat. One of his favorite things to do is study human culture and try to reenact what people did while they were on Earth. The robot’s interpretation isn’t always 100% right, but what is more reflective of human behavior than trial and error? This scene is the Robot with his manufactured best friend, Balloon, as they reenact one if the humans’ favorite past-times – date night.
I’m so excited to see this graphic appearing all over town as the festival gears up to begin! I’m also extremely proud to have been a part of the branding for Piccolo 2018! Hope to see you guys out at some of the amazing events over the next few weeks!
Piccolo Spoleto Details:
Dates: May 25-June 10, 2018
Click here to buy posters.
Piccolo Program
I will be joining Piccolo Spoleto at the Charleston Farmers Market
Marion Square, 329 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
May 26th
June 2nd and 9th
9:30 am – 4:30 pm