Rock Hill may not look like it, but this city loves the arts. All across town, there are art pieces that are sure to catch any Winthrop student’s eyes, ranging from historical to creative. The arts are alive and thriving here, and the Winthrop students who want to experience more culture before they graduate are sure to enjoy some of the places here in town.
Historic Brattonsville
About 15 minutes away from Winthrop’s campus is Historic Brattonsville, home of the Scots-Irish and African Americans during the Revolutionary War. Through preservation and interpretation, it tells the story of the three historic generations of the Bratton family, who lived in Rock Hill over 300 years ago. It has 30 historic structures from the mid-1700s, and provides visitors with an opportunity to see how the South’s culture and architecture evolved. It features “historic farming techniques and day-to-day activities.”
The Arts Galleries of Downtown Rock Hill
There are plenty of art galleries in the downtown area that are free to explore for the public. There are the Winthrop University Galleries, where 18 artists, professional and student, can show off their work to the public at the Rutledge and Elizabeth Dunlap Patrick galleries. There is also the Eight Leg Gallery that sells paint supplies and houses classes.
The Arts Council Building does not hold just the leadership council meetings, it helps support a thriving community of arts in Rock Hill, and its building houses three other art galleries: the Dalton, Perimeter, and Lewandowski Classroom Galleries.
They also have a gallery crawl hosted a few times a year, and the next one is on March 5. In the Gallery Crawl, participants explore the old arts of Rock Hill, such as those at the Center of the Arts (with the featured exhibit) and a tour of the Gettys Art Center.
The Gettys Art Center
The biggest art center here in Rock Hill is the Gettys Art Center, which houses specialized art events. There are galleries above and below ground at the center, which are always fun to see. One of the biggest highlights is “Concerts at the Courtroom,” which is a performance space for local punk, rock and indie bands. For more information on the bands performing, check out their Facebook page. There are also specialized events housed here, such as an art exhibit with works by Katherine Kesey and a new show coming up on Feb. 8 called “Amigo.” With art galleries and shows galore, the Gettys Art Center is sure to be one of the highlights of a cultural tour of the Rock Hill area.
