Columbia’s Five Points District Sparks Creativity and Curiosity
COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you were strolling through Columbia’s vibrant Five Points district Friday night, you were in for a delightful surprise! The second-ever Philosophy at Five Points event transformed the streets into a lively hub of creativity and contemplation, inviting everyone to sink their teeth into life’s biggest questions while getting their hands dirty with some unique artwork.
What Is a Curiosity Crawl?
The event, cleverly dubbed a “Curiosity Crawl through Five Points,” had local shops extending their hours, creating an atmosphere buzzing with excitement and inspiration. Philosophers mingled with local artists, all striving to engage the community in thought-provoking exploration through ten different art installations. With each stop came a unique prompt designed to get minds whirring and imaginations fired up!
Art and Philosophy Unite!
Over at All Good Books, attendees gathered around Professor Yarianna Colon Lopez from the University of South Carolina, who encouraged visitors to draw or write their interpretations based on the evening’s theme. “Our theme is about how people interpret different objects and different concepts, depending on the language that you speak. They get to draw or write their own interpretations which we’ll add to the wall with all the others,” noted Colon Lopez. Sounds like an amazing way to get your creative juices flowing, right?
And it didn’t stop there! Over at the Boyd Innovation Center, philosopher Kim Beasley invited guests to express their thoughts by writing on tags, which were then attached to a living artist. Beasley shared her hopes for the event, stating, “I think I want them to take away the value of community, what it means to collaborate in a community, that kind of thing.” Isn’t that what it’s all about? Building connections and celebrating creativity!
Community Vibes Galore!
The response from visitors was nothing short of enthusiastic. One participant, Kati Vaan Aernum, expressed her delight at the experience, saying, “I thought it sounded fun. I love artistic things and I like the idea of the philosophy. I was very curious about what that was going to be. And it’s super fun. I loved every question in every place we’ve gone to so far.” It seems like curiosity truly sparked joy!
Another attendee, Beth Dehart, echoed similar sentiments. “It’s cool. People are trying new things, getting fun gifts that we’re making. It’s just a really nice moment where people are doing things together. Everyone is in such high spirits!”
And it wasn’t just local regulars who were having the time of their lives—first-timers like Laura Hawksley were in pure awe of the district. “This was my first time down here. It’s beautiful here,” she exclaimed. Nothing like a little exploration to bring joy, right?
What’s Next for Philosophy at Five Points?
The excitement was palpable as organizers hinted at plans for even bigger and better events in the future. Thinking about how much more they can offer next year brings a smile to everyone’s face. It’s fabulous to see community events like this blossoming and connecting people through shared experiences!
So, if you missed out this time, don’t worry! Keep your eyes peeled, as you won’t want to miss next year’s installment of Philosophy at Five Points. It’s sure to be another wonderful blend of thought, creativity, and community spirit in the heart of Columbia.
