Find Yourself In Art and Antiques

Ashbrook Gwinn

January 3, 2020

The Aiken Antique Show is an annual fundraising event held to support the Aiken Center for the Arts’ mission — to inspire, engage, and educate. Not only does this event support the mission, it also captures the creative spirit of what the ACA does on a daily basis — enabling interactive, meaningful experiences between people. Together, we celebrate and learn from the objects and ideas created.

In the 21st year of the Aiken Antique Show, the ACA invites visitors to celebrate and learn from an encounter with antiquated art and objects. These pieces have a certain character and wisdom that allow us to connect with the past, celebrate it in the present, and incorporate it into our lives. When we listen for the stories of others in art and objects, or find them useful for telling our own, we learn something about ourselves in the process. The ACA hopes that the Aiken Antique Show will give us just such an opportunity.

Wondering what exactly to expect? Think experiences of imagination, wonder, excitement, exploration, and immersion. The tables will be set, and the Arts Center will be eagerly awaiting visitors who are willing to come and discover what a celebration of antiques can make of the past and the present. Join us on our way to learning something new, feeling something more, and discovering something special.

This year twenty-two exhibitors will display high quality antique furniture, vintage pieces for gardens, paintings, jewelry, rugs, and more. The Aiken Antique Show is one of Aiken’s best known events and one of the South’s finest experiences.

The Show & Sale will be held Friday, January 31, 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday, February 1, 10 am – 6 pm, and Sunday, February 2, 11 am – 4 pm. Tickets $15 per person and are good for all three days. The Show & Sale will be held at the Aiken Center for the Arts at 122 Laurens Street SW in downtown Aiken.

The Collectors & Cocktails Preview Party on Thursday, January 30, 6:30 – 9 pm, offers patrons an opportunity to preview and purchase items in a festive atmosphere. Tickets to the Preview Party are $60 per person or $50 per person for members of the Aiken Center for the Arts. Preview Party tickets include admission to the Show as well.

Interesting and engaging presentations will be held at 9:30 am on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $20 each day and include admission to the Show on the day of the presentation.

On Friday, January 31, at 9:30 am, Susan Sully, author and photographer of Southern Hospitality at Home: The Art of Gracious Living (Rizzoli International Publications), will give a visual tour of some of the most hospitable homes and gardens in the South and a thoughtful exploration of our fabled art of hospitality. Her photographs capture the beauty of all the places where Southerners weave their spell of welcome, from the front porch to the back garden and everywhere in between. From a well-loved family plantation to a chic Savannah townhouse, a country porch with a bathtub and a seaside house with a view, each featured home celebrates the art of gracious living, however refined or down to earth.

On Saturday, February 1 Kirk Moore, one of America’s authorities on historic gardens, will conduct a workshop on how a fresh look for your home can be pulled from the bartenders and florists of old. Bring one of your most improbable vessels to the workshop and see what magic can occur with a new eye and energy. Flowers, botanicals, and basic supplies will be provided. Moore’s relaxed style and presentation will be enjoyed by everyone from the serious gardener looking for new inspiration to the amateur flower arranger wanting a fresh take. Kirk Moore will inspire you to adapt charming gardenesque conceits and embellishments for your home.

Join us at the Collectors’ Café for signature soups, salads, sandwiches, daily specials, and delectable desserts, all homemade by the best in Aiken. The café will be open Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 12 noon to 2 pm. From 2 to 4 pm on Friday and Saturday, the café will serve only drinks and desserts. On Sunday, the Show will offer a special Bloody Mary bar.

All proceeds from the Aiken Antique Show benefit the Aiken Center for the Arts. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AikenAntiqueShow.com.

Friday, January 31
10 am – 6 pm

Saturday, February 1
10 am – 6 pm

Sunday, February 2
11 am – 4 pm

Tickets $15 per person and are good for all three days

Aiken Center for the Arts: 122 Laurens Street SW

Ashbrook Gwinn

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