Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Walking Downtown



When I left Spartanburg 30 years ago I was ready to get out of town to see what was out there. Never thought I'd be back here again. As I visit my old haunts my heart feels full. This was a great place to grow up and I have many great memories living here.

This drawing is on the corner of Liberty Street and Broad. On the opposite side of this wall/building is Main Street. The downtown area is undergoing a wonderful metamorphosis. Old closed shops are becoming retail and residential spaces. A new multi-million dollar Chapman Cultural Arts Center is scheduled to open this Fall, WOW. Feels good to be home.

4 comments:

Con Daily said...

I love the drawing! It's the backside of one of the buildings being renovated?
When my hometown downtown went through a renewal period, it was the fronts and insides of the buildings that got all the attention. Scenes like this one lined the side streets and alleys.

Con

Alyson B. Stanfield said...

Isabel, glad to see you active again. Be sure to add your name to your title graphic! Also, change your comments settings so that those without Google accounts can leave comments as well and link to their own sites instead of a Google page, like mine is doing here.

Isabel Forbes said...

Alyson, thanks for the comments and aid! Think I found the setting to change the post. Guess Google wants to encourage people to sign up with that default.

Con, they are renovating the front and interior (building condos) of this building. When I drove by last week they have done some work on this backside. Pepsi is still there, hope they can resist painting over it.

Katherine Muschick Schneider said...

Hi Isabel,
Glad to hear you're enjoying being "back home". Charleston's loss is Spartanburg's gain.
The Chapman Cultural Arts Center sounds so exciting for the Spartanburg arts community. I wish we had something like it here in Charleston.Maybe some day...
Love you recent work.
Best regards,
Kay Schneider