Kulture Klash 5 ups the ante; Wyatt etches a name for herself

This season, Kulture Klash 5 turned up the art notch. In response to criticisms that past festivals focused more on the party than the art, organizers threw a free reception in the event space last Friday. Guests had the chance to appreciate and buy works from almost 70 artists before the crowds descended on Saturday.

And crowds there were.

Before the 8 p.m. opening, lines of guests were already snaking around the Lowcountry Food Bank eager to be the first ones on the scene.

Inside, a mind-boggling array of pieces graced the walls, hung from ceilings and displayed on the floor. Standout works included "The Church of Art Sins," an anti-cathedral of sorts made with liquor boxes and a cardboard Godzilla installation.

In keeping with this season's bike theme, adept cyclers battled it out in matches of bike polo while tricksters caught air on two painted ramps.

An inside bike installation featured quirky and revamped two wheelers for sale. Throughout the evening, musical guests including Short Shorts, Dante's Camaro and DJ Jeff kept the crowd moving.

Impromptu dance performances, glow room escapades and a trampoline photo booth kept everyone in a fantastic state of sensory overload.

Unfortunately, the event hit a snag around 11:30 p.m. when most of the power cut off. While everything was soon up and running, many guests left when bands were unable to play.

Fortunately, that didn't stop others from staying to enjoy the rest of the performances until the wee hours of the morning.

Wyatt is one to watch

Vintage collector Lori Wyatt opened her anthology of wares to the public Friday and Saturday.

While the style maven has collected pieces since she was a child, it is rare that she sells to the public.

Wyatt used The Real Estate Studio on King Street to show off her men's, women's and children's items from decades past.

Smart shoppers walked away with items such as a '40s etched-glass button jacket, an antique Russian hat, sequined dresses and sharply tailored jackets.

One woman bought an antique suitcase so she could carry all of her purchases home.

In addition to traditional items, Wyatt displayed an array of international pieces found when she was a flight attendant. At one point, a small boy was spotted trying to wriggle into lederhosen!

With upcoming shows in connection with Ayoka Lucas and Eye Level Art, this local collector won't be a secret much longer.

As Wyatt says, "Vintage never goes out of style."

For more details, check out www.loriwyatt.com.