Get Ready to Art Rumble at Starland Yard in Savannah!
Savannah, Georgia is heating up this summer with the Art Rumble at Starland Yard. The first annual Art Rumble, hosted by the Latin/Native American artist collective SOY X SOY, turned up the excitement in the art community on Saturday, July 13. The competitive event took place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring eight artists battling it out in a series of elimination rounds for the championship title.
The SOY X SOY Art Battle
This was no typical live painting performance; the Art Rumble was an adrenaline-fueled art showdown. Organized by Tafy LaPlanche, the event was a step up for the three-year-old SOY X SOY collective. LaPlanche shared that the collective aimed to continue showcasing the diverse talents of its growing membership in dynamic, innovative ways.
Moving beyond just its members, the Art Rumble was open to any artist who wished to participate, emphasizing the rich art culture of Savannah. From this inclusive effort, a medley of artists, including those from various nationalities, emerged, ready to face-off in the artistic ring.
Meet the Fighters
Each participant was drawn randomly from a pool of applicants, leading to a diverse lineup of artists. The elimination-style competition saw two artists at a time, facing away from each other at easels, bringing their artistic interpretation to prompts from the audience. The winners were decided by a panel of judges – Clinton Edminster, Rob Hessler, and Madai Rodriguez.
Eight unique artist personas emerged to battle it out, each creating an entertaining online presence and amping up excitement via social media. The artists included Zombie Man Zack (Zachery Turner), La Heartist (Amelia Jamerson), El Incognito (Adolfo Alvarado), Ookee (Duff Young), Brush Breaker Berkland (Adrienne Berkland), Watercolor Witch (Amy Challis), Mee Maw (Shannon Snow), and Señor Peligroso (Julio Cotto Rivera).
Art Rumble in Action
During the event, a genuine wrestling ring was set up, complete with a large tent and audience chairs. Rounds were scored by judges based on the artists’ interpretation of the prompts. The winner of the first annual Art Rumble received a gift package sponsored by Starland Yard and Starlandia Art Supply, including a hand-crocheted Wrestlers Champion Belt by renowned artist Becca Cook.
By promoting an atmosphere of camaraderie and not just competition, the Art Rumble at Starland Yard revealed itself as an exciting, innovative outlet for the burgeoning arts scene in Savannah. It was a heady mix of creativity, challenging conventional art boundaries and injecting a dose of fun. As the event concluded, the anticipation for the next year’s battle already began building.
