Concours: Capturing the beauty of steel on paper

TRENDING ARTIST: The work of Bluffton’s Amiri Farris has been featured in more than 100 exhibitions internationally, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

While the Hilton Head Concours doesn’t have an official artist in residence, one can easily make the case that it’s Amiri Farris. The Bluffton resident and professor at Savannah College of Art and Design has created the poster depicting the Flights & Fancy Aeroport Gala since that event’s inception in 2016. This year he’s also painting each of the 20 Best of Show cars and presenting the originals to the owners.

“I’ll take each car and put my spin on it,” Farris said. He said to expect some bright colors. But his favorite work with the Hilton Head Concours thus far is the shoe.

GOODY TWO-SHOES: In 2018 Farris customized a pair of Stan Smith white leather sneakers to auction off for the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.

In 2018 Volvo worked with resident Hilton Head tennis superstar, Stan Smith, and a group of artists to customize five pairs of Smith’s iconic white leather Adidas sneakers. These shoes were then auctioned off to benefit the local Boys & Girls Club. Customizers included Pixar designers Jay Ward (“Cars”) and Jay Shuster (“Wall-E”), Farris, and Volvo design head Robin Page.

Farris looks forward to the Car Club Showcase and the Concours every year.

“I love going to see the vintage cars and see how far we’ve come,” he said.

He’ll have a booth set up to sign posters from each year of the Flights & Fancy event.