Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2022 UCW 15 EVENT Local photographer aims to inspire others through art by CINDY WHITT Be inspired by art and music at Kreativity Unlocked on Aug. 4 in the Orangery Ballroom at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Host Keith Sykes is a local photographer who will have prints on display to view with select items available for sale. ere will be an open bar with wine, spritzers and hors d'oeuvres. Guests can get creative with a 360-photo booth. ere will also be musical per- formances by Testimony and DJ Liek, who both hail from Norfolk, Virgina. is is not the first photography exhibit Sykes has organized. He held a show in 2018 at the Cape Fear Region- al eatre and one in 2019 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. He chooses locations that will inspire creativity in his guests so they can fully experience the art and music. "One of the things that I always say when I'm putting (events) together is that it's all about the experience," said Sykes. "I want the people that come through the door to really experience something different than they've expe- rienced in the first two shows." Sykes has had a varied career that led to becoming a photographer and owner of an event planning company, IKreate Consulting. e New Orleans native joined the military when he was 20 years old. Sykes traveled the world while he served, which sparked his interest in photography. He settled in Fayetteville after 20 years of service. "I have had a love for photography for a very long time because one of my older brothers was a photographer at one point, but it was never really seri- ous," said Sykes. "And then, in 2015, I started taking it seriously because a couple of friends suggested it. So, my very first exhibit was in 2018." Much of Sykes' inspiration comes from travel, and guests will be able to see areas like Edisto Island and Green- ville, South Carolina, and some local spots in Fayetteville through his lens. is event will be the last featuring his work as he plans to organize future events to help local artists. "I want to give other local artists who are not very well known and who are not very visible in the local community the opportunity to show their work," he said. "So, I think the next thing I do will be something col- laborative with a couple of different artists." e event is limited to 100 guests. e cost is $50 and includes all drinks and appetizers. No tickets will be sold at the door. e event is not formal, but guests are encouraged to dress to impress. Purchase tickets here www.event- brite.com/e/kreativity-unlocked-tick- ets-302584035997. Above left: Photographer Keith Sykes captured the Market House during a snowfall early this year. Above right: Sykes caught a morning sunrise of Crystal Pier in Wilmington. (Photos courtesy Keith Sykes) CINDY WHITT, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Insurance products are underwritten by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, Columbia, SC. Ⓒ2020 Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Colonial Life is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Colonial life & Accident Insurance Company. 8-20 | NS-369880 steven.grimes@coloniallifesales.com 910-916-7191 Injury | Illness | Dental | Vision | Life Steven Grimes coloniallife.com Your Local Colonial Life Family. We provide benets that your employees want for those unexpected moments in life, whether that's an accident, illness or injury. Colonial Life. Keep it Local. Keep Unexpecting.®