Five of the most interesting artist booths at Greenville's Artisphere 2024, what to know

Artisphere 2024, presented by TD Bank, is underway along Main Street in downtown Greenville over this Mother's Day Weekend, May 10 - 12.

Nearly 140 visiting artists, food vendors, live music and children's activities can be seen along the streets, and with many events and artwork to see, here are a few of the most interesting things we saw on opening day:

One-of-a-kind furniture by Steve Uren

No machines are used during Steve Uren's creative process while making his furniture and home goods, as handmade and unique are at the core of his artistry. What began as a childhood hobby and a skill his grandfather possessed, Uren, a Grand Rapids, Michigan native, is original and excited by his works.

"With my furniture, I consider the function to be secondary," said Uren of his artistic style.

With an inventory ranging from clocks and shelves to lamps and decorative wall art, Uren uses wood cutting and lamination techniques to make his artistry irreplicable, making each piece unique—a must-see booth at Artisphere 2024.

Blake Gore makes you squint, but only for great art

Blake Gore makes art so small that he brought a magnifying glass for his visitors and potential customers.

Gore began his artistic career at 37 after a prompt on X (formerly known as Twitter) challenged him to draw one-inch drawings for a month straight. After falling in love with the process and medium, he spent the past few years mastering his craft and making people squint all across the country.

"You have an idea and try to bring it to life," said Gore. I've always been a lifelong learner, so picking up miniature art was just something I tried, and now it's taking me to new places all over the country."

The former Vanderbilt University employee estimates that he traveled 20,000 miles for art in 2023, even though his style of drawings only began in 2018.

Artisphere Tips: Here's how to park, travel and bike to Artisphere 2024 in downtown Greenville this weekend

Mark Ellis brings birdhouse architecture to Artisphere

Mark Ellis spent years working on antique wind boats, worked for a mid-century furniture company in Michigan, and decided to combine the two worlds incredibly.

His mid-modern birdhouses are a sight to behold. His creations give our flying friends a more upscale way of dining out. His birdhouses are designed using seven different architectural styles and are usually stained or colored.

If you are an outdoors person or bird lover, stop by booth number 332 in the West End.

Ancizar Marin makes a splash with colorful work

Ancizar Marin makes casual items look much more intricate by combining fiberglass, motorcycle paint, and volcano rocks to showcase his artistry—a style of creativity that matches his infectious personality and welcoming nature.

"I love fiberglass because I'm able to show off brighter and more contextual colors in the palette," said Marin.

In his first year at Artisphere, the 'Bellas Artes Institute in Manizales, Columbia graduate and current Floridian said that Greenville is a place he is planning to visit again soon, as the hospitality of the city has opened his eyes to what South Carolina has to offer.

Five things at Artisphere: Five things we're excited to see at 2024 Artisphere: Art, food, kid's activities and more:

Gary Traczyk makes metal art spin with one finger

Gary Traczyk has nearly 27 years of metalworking skills on his resume, yet with just one finger, he's found a way to make his art move uniquely. Traczyk spun one of his art creations by using a small needle as a connecting piece to two larger pieces of art.

The kinetic stainless art sculptor, who also doubles as a Miami-area firefighter, has been part of Artisphere for the past two years and hopes to continue the tradition.

"It's an honor to be back; Greenville is such a comforting and nice place to visit," said Traczyk. "There's a bubbling art scene here and I'm proud to be part of it."

– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at [email protected], and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Five interesting artists you won't want to miss at Artisphere 2024