A celebration honoring the late Isabel Vandervelde is planned for Saturday at Banksia.
Vandervelde passed away March 27.
The celebration will be hosted by her daughter-in-law, Pamela McAllister Vandervelde.
"It's important that those who knew Isabel or knew of her and were thus inspired, have a chance to make an offering of their thoughts or talents at this celebration or simply to observe. We are calling for any sort of creative individuals - visual artists, musicians, poets and other writers, actors, singers, dancers, food artists, etc." McAllister Vandervelde said.
Vandervelde, an Aiken resident, wrote more than 10 novels, which included "Aiken County: The Only South Carolina County Founded During Reconstruction" and "The Battle of Aiken." Some of her work was published in the University of South Dakota's poetry magazine and in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.
She also was known for her art and was very much involved in theater in Aiken, singing in musicals and playing various characters. She taught creative writing classes at the Aiken Center for the Arts and art classes at the Aiken Day School, Mead Hall Elementary and Saint Angel's Academy.
"Isabel, to me, was a creative spirit like no other," said McAllister Vandervelde. "By that, I mean her life was unique in that it was utterly and completely centered on creativity. The effervescent overflowing urge to create was not just a part of her life; it was her life. Thus, it will be the heart energy of this celebration. Isabel not only spent every day productively and energetically creating, but she exuberantly ignited the same in others. She helped so many to see, get to know and express the creator within them. That made her life a literal spark of pure inspiration."
"It's going to be an incredible time of creating, sharing, food, fun and celebrating life in memory of Isabel. We'll even have door prizes with special meanings. Isabel would love this," McAllister Vandervelde said.
The event is by invitation only. Those interested in receiving an invitation should call Greg Vandervelde at 803-240-1002, email McAllister Vandervelde at pamelasportraits@yahoo.com, or visit Facebook and search "Pamela McAllister Vandervelde."