Broad strokes: Bluffton church seeks world record for giant paintbrush
With its burgeoning art scene, it only make sense that Bluffton is home to what could be the world's largest paintbrush.
Built over the summer by LowCountry Community Church youth art campers and local artists Fred Hedemark and Ivan Giljam, the massive brush measures about 38 feet long and weighs about 175 pounds.
Church leaders are now working to get the brush recognized as the world's largest by the Guinness Book of World Records.
About 140 campers participated in the project, church children's pastor Vinnie Emery said Monday.
The brush was built in six sections, with each painted to represent a biblical scene from the Book of Genesis.
"We gave the kids the opportunity to paint their own little square of the brush," Emery said.
"It came out fantastic and the kids loved it," he said. "It's also a great conversation starter."
In order to be recognized by Guinness, the brush can't simply be a replica.
"It has to have been used," Emery said.
So campers mustered all their strength to lift the brush and used it to paint a rainbow, he said.
Jan McKim, the church's creative arts director, said "It was the most beautiful, perfect rainbow. Everyone was so enthusiastic."
The paintbrush was mounted on a float and displayed earlier this month during the Bluffton Christmas Parade, where it was recognized with a judge's choice award.
Recognition as one of the parade's best floats "was totally amazing," McKim said.
Bluffton mayor Lisa Sulka promised last week that the town "will have a celebration if (the church) gets the (world record)."
The current Guinness world record holder for largest paintbrush belongs to artist Sujit Das of India, who built a 28-foot-long brush in 2012.
Guinness has more than 40,000 records in its database and receives about 1,000 new record applications every week, Guinness spokeswoman Kristen Ott said Monday.
"Anyone around the world can apply for a record through our website," she said. "And we have a team of records managers who review the applications."
"It can be quite a lengthy process" to verify a record, she said. "The entire process can take up to a year."
McKim said church leaders hope to hear back from Guinness on their application within the next couple of months.
Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.
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- Tanger outlets attempt to set a sweet world record, May 12, 2011.
- Bluffton paints itself as a center for the arts in seeking cultural district designation, Sept. 10, 2015.
This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Broad strokes: Bluffton church seeks world record for giant paintbrush."