Love Affair Purchase Awards

Do you purchase art each year at Love Affair? The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival needs you. Do you need to find a painting for a blank wall in your house or office? What about a wooden bowl for that spot on your bookshelf? The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival maybe able to help you while you are helping the festival.

Beautiful Giana Eden Pottery

The festival has a Purchase Award Program. The program captures the dollar amount of purchases made by individuals and companies from artists at the festival. That amount is totaled, and we use the total amount to market the festival the following year. The amount tells a prospective artist that the community supports The Love Affair and the arts. Based on the total amount, the artist knows it is worth his or her time, effort and costs to come to the festival.
To sponsor a purchase award, one just needs to sign up with the ABAC Arts Connection prior to the festival and commit to spending at least $100 with the artists at the festival. Previous purchase award sponsors will be getting a letter in the mail in the next week or so for registering with the Purchase Award Program again this year.

Incredible wearable sculpture by Charles Pinckney, metal artist

When a purchase is made at the festival, the sponsor simply has to come to the table at the Gallery Tent to report the artist from which the purchase was made and the dollar amount. In return, the artist will be given a ribbon to indicate they have had a purchase award.
The sponsor takes home the selected art and has satisfaction that he or she has contributed to The Love Affair festival.

This program is an excellent fit with companies that have a furnishing budget. The company can select items to decorate the office with from artists at the festival. This way the company has helped The Love Affair while furnishing offices. The company will have quality art with the personal touch of knowing the artist.
The program is quite simple, yet so very important to the festival.

2010 Love Affair Performers!

As in the past, this year's Love Affair will have fabulous performers for your entertainment. Today we're showcasing four of these performers, with more to follow this week. Please check back in with us to see the rest.

And don't forget to order your tickets for the Picnic in the Park, featuring the Infinity Show Band. The sooner you order, the better your chances of getting the table you want! I got mine today! You can click here to see the layout for the tables and seating areas.


Brien Engel

Brien Engel is part of an exciting new community helping to revive and promote the enchanting art of glass music. His instrument is a glass harp, consisting of 50 glasses of different sizes which he plays by carefully rubbing the rims with his moistened fingers.His extensive repertoire includes popular songs, jazz standards, and classical music.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

10:00 am; Noon; 2:00 pm

Tift Regional Medical Center Gallery Tent Stage

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Noon; 2:00 pm; 4:00 pm

Tift Regional Medical Center Gallery Tent Stage

Infinity Show Band

This high energy group (our featured performers at the Picnic Concert in the Park on Saturday night) will pack the dance floor as they entertain with fun and audience participation creating memories for a lifetime.

Picnic Concert in the Park

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Picnic begins at 6:00 p.m.

Concert begins at 7:00 p.m.

Syd Blackmarr Stage, Fulwood Park

Mark Lippard

Mark Lippard is a professional variety entertainer. His show includes comedy, juggling, trick unicycling, fire eating and more!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

1:00 pm & 3:00 pm

Arts Circus/International Stage

Red Grammer

One of the premier entertainers for children and families in the world, Red Grammer’s glorious voice, award-winning songwriting and thoughtful commitment to the best in all of us endear him to parents and educators everywhere.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

1:00 pm & 3:00 pm

Arts Circus/International Stage

Picnic in the Park!

Join us Saturday, May 1, 2010 as we revive a Love Affair tradition – the Picnic Concert in the Park! Gather up some friends and a picnic supper and head on over to the Syd Blackmarr Stage at Fulwood Park. Be prepared to dance the night away to the sounds of the Infinity Show Band from Marietta, Georgia. This high-energy group combines rich harmony and a dynamic sound that will get you up on your feet! As a goodwill gesture to the community, the Tifton Tift County Arts Council has decided to lower ticket prices for this year’s concert. Picnic area seating is only $10/person. Reserved tables are $200 for an 8-person table and $100 for a 4-person table – quite a bargain in this economy. Follow this link for more information on the picnic and to purchase your tickets. As in years past, we’re also sponsoring a table decorating contest for those who reserve tables. You’re limited only by your creativity. Through the years, themes, as well as the food, have run the gamut from casual to elegant to in-between; it’s completely up to you! We’ll also be announcing the Arts Citizen of the Year Award. This award recognizes a person, or organization, which has demonstrated outstanding support of the arts in the Tiftarea by contributions of time, talent, or financial support. The deadline for nominations is April 5. If you would like to submit a nominee(s), please email Polly Huff at phuff@abac.edu or call her at 229.391.4818. Arts Council members or staff of the ABAC Arts Connection is not eligible for this award. Be a part of a Tifton tradition! Purchase your Picnic Concert tickets today!

Nominations Sought for Arts Citizen of the Year Award

The Tifton Tift County Arts Council is seeking nominations for the Arts Citizen of the Year Award, which is given annually by the council at The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival in May. The Arts Citizen Award seeks to recognize a person or organization which has shown an outstanding support of the arts in the Tiftarea by contributions of time, talent, or financial support. Deadline for submission is April 5.

The award has been presented to artists, corporations, families, volunteers and financial supporters. The first award was given in 1988 to Cal Peddy, Jr. Other past winners include: Clyde Jones (1989), Tift Co Board of Education (1990) Marianna Keeseee and Oldknow Gray (1991), Annette Rigdon Swan (1992), Bette Turner (1993), Wasdon Graydon (1994), Tibbetts Family (1995), Bonnie Young (1996), Melvin Merrill (1997), Caroline Day (1998), Nick McClellan (1999), Syd Blackmarr (2000), Nell Johnson (2001), Jeannie Rigdon (2002), Jane and Allen Phillips (2003), Target Distribution Center (2004), Stafford Foundation (2005), P.J. Kemeness (2006), Alcoa and Tifton Aluminum (2007), ABAC (2008), Brenda Rose (2009).

Arts Council members and staff of the ABAC Arts Connection are not eligible for this award. The winner will be recognized at the 2010 Love Affair Picnic Concert on Saturday, May 1.

Nominations are to be sent to Polly Huff at the ABAC Arts Connection, ABAC 45, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton, GA 31793 or at phuff@abac.edu. Phone submissions should be directed to Polly Huff at 229-391-4818.

Happy Birthday - The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival

Happy Birthday to The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival. This year the festival will be celebrating its 30th birthday. In an effort to bring arts to an area without a large cultural base, the festival began as an event focused on children. Children as still a main emphasis for the festival; however, thirty years later, there is something for people of every age. It truly is a celebration of the visual and performing arts.

This blog will weekly highlight areas of The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival. Tifton-Tift County Arts Council members will be writing about their area of coordination so check back off. Below is a brief overview of the festival.

This year's festival is slated for April 30 through May 2. Kicking off the festival will be the "Happy Birthday" parade on Friday, April 30. This walking parade will begin at Fulwood Park and move to Downtown Tifton dispersing at near the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage. A children's art exhibit will be open in the museum. A poetry cafe will be at Three Graces. It was a great success last year. Favorite Jim Newton and Friends will play in the Myon Courtyard. Artwork will fill the window displays of the downtown merchants.


On Saturday May 1, the celebration moves to Fulwood Park where the Arts Market features over 40 artists and crafters. There will be a gallery competition among the artists. Stages will feature children's acts, international performers, dance and unique musical instruments. Children can experience hands on art activities sponsored by local community groups.


In the evening of May 1, a picnic and concert will be held. Supporters of Love Affair can purchase tables and enjoy prime seating for Infinity Dance Band. It is a great night for dancing under the stars.


Sunday's activities (May 2) start at noon. Sunday lunch in the park is a great idea. There will be over 15 food vendors selling a variety of eats. The Arts Market will remain open until 5 p.m. Stages will feature regional and local performers including some of our premier show choirs and dance groups. Children will again have the opportunity to create artwork in our hands on area.
Related community events are planned prior to the festival and following the festival weekend. Detail schedules will be listed on the festival website www.tiftonloveaffair.com.