Submitted material

    2021 North Charleston Arts Fest is a ‘go’

    Artists of all disciplines sought to perform or present

    Application deadline: Tuesday, December 15, 2020

    The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is seeking artists in music, theatre, dance, visual art, media art, and literature to participate in the 2021 North Charleston Arts Fest to be held April 28-May 2 at various venues throughout North Charleston.

    Click to enlarge. Regional and local artists and community organizations are welcome to submit an application to perform on stage or present their talents through programs such as exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and more.
    • The application can be accessed at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply.
    • There is NO fee to apply.
    • Agents submitting applications on behalf of two or more acts should contact the Cultural Arts Department at 843.740.5854 or culturalarts@northcharleston.org for special application instructions.
    • Applications will be accepted through the online submission platform until midnight on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
    • Artists in need of assistance with any part of the application process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone, virtually, or in person.
    The Arts Fest review panel will select applicants from all art disciplines to create a mix of free and ticketed events that will work well in the available venues and are geared to meet the interests of a cross-section of ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Proposals for new concepts or programs are encouraged.
    The North Charleston Arts Fest is an annual five-day celebration of the arts, offering an array of events and activities such as concerts, theatre presentations, exhibitions and installations, children’s programs, workshops and demonstrations, and more, throughout the City of North Charleston. The festival was cancelled in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so will once again be presented as the 38th annual event in 2021. All programs and activities will be presented with COVID-19 safety measures in place (face coverings, social distancing, etc.). Because of restrictions on large gatherings, the World Art Expo at Riverfront Park and Children's Festival will not be part of the festival schedule in 2021.
    For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest and other participation opportunities visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com or contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843.740.5854 or culturalarts@northcharleston.org.

    Jason Rapp

    Hub E-vents: S.C. Jazz Festival starts Sunday

    You want art. You crave art.

    #SCartists and arts organizations want to fill that void. They live for that. It’s a calling. Yet in times of social distancing, that’s hard to do. Through the wonders of modern technology, many are trying and succeeding. So while we’re all staying home to protect vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors,  The Hub is stepping up to fill the void between artists and arts lovers. (Learn more about Hub E-vents here.)

    Sunday-Saturday

    South Carolina Jazz Festival Celebrate Dizzy Gillespie’s 103rd birthday and enjoy a world-class jazz festival wherever you are on your favorite streaming devices. The 2020 South Carolina Jazz Festival features regional to international jazz stars from South Carolina, New York, Brazil and more. The Town of Cheraw did not let the COVID-19 pandemic stop their annual jazz festival. They turned to ColaJazz Foundation Executive Director Mark Rapp to create an online jazz festival experience. “Unprecedented times calls for unprecedented actions and teamwork,” Rapp said. “The timeline is extraordinarily aggressive and most would say impossible; however, the town of Cheraw, the festival’s supporting sponsors, and ColaJazz were up for the challenge. I believe we have a festival that is incredible in its lineup and a powerful testament to overcoming obstacles. Overcoming is what jazz does!” The 2020 SC Jazz Festival features a wide range of jazz talent including: Grammy Award nominated artists Tia Fuller, Don Braden, Delfeayo Marsalis; New York jazz stars Alexa Tarantino and Steven Feifke; recent Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Eric Jones; pianist Kevin Bales and his octet; Gino Castillo and Cuban trumpeter Julito Padron; artists from the Greenville Jazz Collective; the Charleston Jazz Orchestra; Columbia’s own “Little Big Band: the band that could!”; Brazilian vocalist Liz Rosa; Brazilian pianist Serge Frasunkiewicz; and more. All shows and information can be found on the festival’s website: https://scjazzfestival.com

    Jason Rapp

    Hub E-vents: Oct. 2

    You want art. You crave art.

    #SCartists and arts organizations want to fill that void. They live for that. It’s a calling. Yet in times of social distancing, that’s hard to do. Through the wonders of modern technology, many are trying and succeeding. So while we’re all staying home to protect vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors,  The Hub is stepping up to fill the void between artists and arts lovers. (Learn more about Hub E-vents here.)

    Friday

    Totally Telemann | Columbia Baroque Soloists On Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. ET, Columbia Baroque Soloists presents its first online concert. The free program will begin with a 15-minute talk by Peter Hoyt followed by about 35 minutes of music. featuring five solo Fantasias performed by Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba; Mary Hostetler Hoyt, baroque violin; Erika Cutler, baroque violin; and Jean Hein, baroque recorder. The concert is part of their series, "Music for the Comforts of Home." The concert will be streamed on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/ColumbiaBaroque. The S.C. Arts Commission provides operating support to Columbia Baroque Soloists.

    Jason Rapp

    World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day nears return

    Artist Rakim to headline

    This past April, the 8th annual World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day was put on hold as the world stopped for an unprecedented global pandemic.

    Instead of gathering 20,000 people on Columbia’s Main Street, Love, Peace & Hip-Hop paused its festival plans until a safer option emerged to deliver its highly-anticipated event to an eagerly awaiting audience. During this time of waiting and watching, an uprising of consciousness and activism in the form of Black Lives Matter demonstrations has swept across the country. Turnout at BLM demonstrations has ranged from dozens to tens of thousands of diverse protesters in over 2,500 small towns and large cities—all during the most devastating pandemic in modern history. “This year, our festival isn’t about big crowds, but it is about big ideas,” said festival director Janet Scouten. “In light of the growing Black Lives Matter movement, we believe it’s more important than ever to share this family-friendly event celebrating Black excellence and hip-hop culture. We also believe it’s vital to share it in a way that allows as many people as possible to celebrate joyfully—and distantly—in a difficult year.” After six months of careful deliberation and consultation with local and state authorities, Love, Peace & Hip-Hop presents a revised version of its annual festival that remains true to its mission of spreading love, peace, unity, and having fun. Love, Peace & Hip-Hop announced this week that this year’s revised 2020 World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day will be presented on Sunday, Oct. 4, headlined by legendary hip-hop artist Rakim. The concert starts at 6 p.m. (with a 5 p.m. door) to a limited-capacity live audience. The show will be filmed inside Columbia's The Senate in front of a small, socially-distanced live audience of 250 people in compliance with the governor’s executive order No. 2020-08. To ensure the health and safety of guests, staff, and artists, this will be a seated only show following all COVID sanitation, facial mask, and social distancing guidelines. To further ensure health and safety, tickets will only be sold by the table to maintain social distancing between personal groupings and/or families. Tickets are mandatory for admission and are available for advance purchase through The Senate. A livestream of the show available free to online viewers. As part of its larger fundraising effort, Love, Peace & Hip-Hop is hosting a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the significant livestream costs of the event, which will allow South Carolina families to enjoy the show online in real time. Donors can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/world-famous-hiphop-family-day-2020 to learn more and donate. “Since my first conversation with Rakim’s camp at the start of the pandemic, they maintained that he wanted to not only honor our contract, but give Columbia an unbelievable show. This made me hopeful that if an opportunity presented itself, we could still deliver our festival to our loyal and supportive audience,” said Love, Peace & Hip-Hop founder FatRat Da Czar. “Under CDC guidelines and state and local mandates, the safest way to pull that off would be with limited people in a socially-distanced and secure space, which unfortunately adds a ticket price. But with 10 days to go, I’m still hopeful that we can raise enough awareness and money to deliver this show free of charge, statewide, in a virtual capacity.”
    Hip-hop artist Rakim. In addition to performing from his widely acclaimed musical catalogue, Rakim will converse on stage about issues of the day and how hip-hop is uniquely positioned as an important voice on these matters. Hailed as “the greatest MC of all time” and compared to Thelonious Monk, Rakim first emerged onto the world stage in 1986 as one half of the golden age hip-hop duo, Eric B. & Rakim, with the release of their first single, “Eric B is President.” Rakim has received numerous accolades from Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV, and a host of others. Few hip-hop lyricists are recognized as having as great an impact on the development of the genre as Rakim. He stood out as the first MC to employ internal and multisyllabic rhymes, which was a change from the simple rhyming patterns used in early ‘80s hip-hop Finally, because increased voter registration and turnout are key to fair and equal representation for all citizens, Love, Peace & Hip-Hop will combine the power of music with the power of voting. To support civic engagement by each and every citizen, this year’s World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day will host, for the first time in its history, a non-partisan voter registration drive in partnership with Secure the Ballot and HeadCount. The date of the show, Oct. 4, is the last day to register online to vote in South Carolina, and Love, Peace & Hip-Hop will be promoting online voter registration before the 11:59 p.m. deadline.

    About World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day

    Presented annually by Love, Peace & Hip-Hop, this multi-day celebration capped by a free, family-friendly festival normally takes place the second week in April each year. World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day has grown from 3,000 in attendance in 2013 to 18,500 in 2019, drawing attendees from across the Southeast and around the country to downtown Columbia, South Carolina. This one of a kind, Black-owned festival gathers the community to enjoy the best and brightest live performers, DJs, B-Boy dance crews, hip-hop visual artists, and craft and food vendors.

    About Rakim

    Rakim is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time. Emerging onto the world stage in 1986 as one half of the golden age hip-hop duo, Eric B. & Rakim, with the release of their first single, “Eric B is President,” Rakim has received numerous accolades from Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV, and a host of others. Rakim’s recordings, including Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, and The 18th Letter, have sold in the multi-millions worldwide. Paid in Full was named the “Greatest Hip-Hop Album of All Time” by MTV in 2006. Few hip-hop lyricists are recognized as having as great an impact on the development of the genre as Rakim. He stood out as the first MC to employ internal and multisyllablic rhymes, which was a change from the simple rhyming patterns used in early ‘80s hip-hop.
    Photo by Isabella Mendes from Pexels

    Submitted material

    Award-winning S.C. poet to lead workshops in Georgetown Co.

    Award-winning poet Marlanda Dekine, Sapient Soul, will lead a series of poetry writing workshops this October and November in her native Georgetown County.

    Close up facial image of Marlanda Dekine, Sapient Soul Marlanda Dekine, Sapient Soul The workshops are scheduled for Wednesdays in October and November 2020 from 10-11:30 a.m. for the Georgetown County Library System (GCLS). Due to COVID-19, all sessions will be conducted online with the video-conferencing program, BlueJeans. The program is free and open to the public. However, space in the workshop is limited in order to give proper attention to all participants. To register, please contact, Dr. Dan Turner at 843.545.3363 or dturner@gtcounty.org. If you’re interested, don’t let technology stand in your way. GCLS has laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots available for patrons to check out.
    The overall theme for the sessions is “Writing Wherever You Are” and offers a unique approach to writing poetry, one that can be of equal value for beginning and experienced poets. Dekine will bring in a selection of poems by accomplished and emerging South Carolina poets and then guide participants through key elements of these works. She will then discuss ways participants can incorporate these techniques into their own writing. Each individual session of the overall “Writing Wherever You Are” series has a distinct focus to provide participants with a diverse range of approaches and tools for creating poems. Individual session topics are listed below:
    • October 7: “The Blank Page”: Techniques to start writing
    • October 14: “Healing through Writing”: Cathartic approaches to generating individuality
    • October 21: “Voice & Tone”: Immersion in literature to speak truthfully and well
    • October 28: “Sound & Noise”: Consideration of the musicality of words
    • November 4: “Before We Wrote, We Spoke”: Vocal ways to recall oral traditions
    The workshop series is funded by a Fast-Track Literary Grant from SC Humanities and the SCAC. The sessions are supported by the Friends of the Library groups at each of the four GCLS libraries: Georgetown, Waccamaw, Andrews, and Carvers Bay.
    Marlanda Dekine-Sapient Soul is a poet and author from Plantersville. Her work has appeared in Emergence Magazine, Screen Door Review, Flycatcher Journal, Spark & Echo Arts, TEDxGreenville, and elsewhere. Previously, Marlanda studied in Paris with NYU’s Low-Residency MFA program and was a 2019 Fresh Voice of the Year, awarded by SC Humanities. Currently, she is an MFA candidate at Converse College. Marlanda believes in the power of being with poetry for collective healing and liberation.

    Jason Rapp

    Tuning Up: #SCartists as active as the tropics?

    Good morning!  "Tuning Up" is a morning post series where The Hub delivers curated, quick-hit arts stories of interest to readers. Sometimes there will be one story, sometimes there will be several. Get in tune now, and have a masterpiece of a day. And now, in no particular order...

    It isn't just the tropics that are active

    Good soggy Thursday morning, Hub readers. As what's left of Sally creeps across South Carolina throughout the day and into tomorrow, take heart: despite everything tough weather and tough times, #SCartists are as busy as ever. Here's proof.
    • Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE, according to tickets) is back in "Tuning Up." The airport announced the selected artists for its 2020/2021 "Art in the Airport" program. Out of 115 submissions received from local artists eager to reflect the talents of the area arts community, four were selected to exhibit their artwork for the upcoming season:
        • Christopher Garvey (October 2020 – January 2021)
        • Ija Charles (February – May 2021)
        • Sonya Diimmler (June – September 2021)
        • Harold Branham (October 2021 – January 2022)
      "Once a traveler lands, these works of art will be the first artistic and cultural touchpoints to the region,” CAE's Kim Jamieson said. The exhibit location will be in the connector of the terminal, the walkway between the security checkpoint and the departure/arrival gates.
    • Camera taking high-resolution image of glass artwork in a studio settingFarther north and west on I-26, photographer Thomas Koenig and fused-glass artist Judy Martin are set to exhibit a collaborative work, Big In Glass, at Artists Collective | Spartanburg. The free and public exhibit will be open Oct. 6-31, 2020 Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Social distancing and other protocols will be practiced. Each artist is contributing 10-12 pieces of work. Martin will present a collection of fused glass creations especially made for this exhibit; Koenig will use macro photography (right) to present highly enlarged details of Martin’s work, giving the viewer a different perspective.

    SCAC Fellow featured in Columbia

    Back in the Midlands, 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia has a familiar face on exhibit now through Oct. 26. Well, her work is exhibited, anyway. "Reigning" SCAC fellowship recipient in craft Valerie Zimany has And I was Covered in Blossoms in the gallery Wednesdays through Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Visitors are required to wear coverings over mouth and nose (You know who you are. - Ed.). Zimany, a chair and associate professor at Clemson, is a decorated ceramicist who was awarded her fellowship from the SCAC for FY2020.
     

    Jason Rapp

    Hispanic Alliance launches ‘Noches de Cine’

    A film festival for Hispanic Heritage Month

    Groundbreaking film can serve many purposes: entertaining, inspiring, and broadening our view of the world.

    Its highest achievement might be the generation of empathy. The camera’s lens bypasses our conscious defenses by placing us within the story and allowing us to experience it on a nearly visceral level--forcing us to reconcile this experience with our current views. It reorients us to greater truths. In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month 2020, Hispanic Alliance and the South Carolina Arts Commission invite you to experience the stories, values, and struggles of Hispanic people through movies and documentaries curated by the Hispanic students of HOLA at Furman University. We include movies in Spanish and English, including docudramas, fantastical tales, and untold histories. The Noches de Cine Top 10 were chosen for their superior ability to elevate the perception of Hispanic and Latin art, and to inspire constructive dialogue on relevant issues. These films sculpt a three-dimensional model to replace our flat stereotypes of diverse Hispanic and Latin cultures, and the immigrant experience, in particular.​ Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. To learn more, GVL Today has an excellent overview of events in that community written by The Hub's new friend Lindsey Tabor of Hispanic Alliance. Use "Noches de Cine" to guide your community’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, as part of an educational curriculum, or for your own journey towards greater compassion and understanding through art.

    Noches de Cine Top 10

    Movies to watch during Hispanic Heritage Month
    • Immigration Nation (Netflix)
    • Street Food Latin America (Netflix)
    • McFarland, USA (Hulu)
    • The 33 (Netflix)
    • César Chávez (YouTube)
    • The Book of Life (Amazon Prime)
    • Underwater Dreams (Amazon Prime)
    • La Jaula De Oro/The Golden Dream (DVD on Amazon)
    • Underdogs (Netflix)
    • Frida (Netflix)
    Subscriptions are required for most streaming services except YouTube. Click here to visit the Hispanic Alliance's Noches de Cine page for additional information on each film. (The Hub has already picked out a few. - Ed.) There is even a printable viewing guide available.

    A new strategic partnership forged

    South Carolina Arts Commission welcomes the Hispanic Alliance, based in Greenville, as a new strategic partner to enable better service for and outreach to the Latinx community in the Upstate and beyond. We similarly work with Art Pot in Hanahan for similar ventures in the Lowcountry. Collaborations like "Noches de Cine" increase our ability to work with underrepresented groups and artists.
    Main page photo by cottonbro from Pexels

    Jason Rapp

    Anderson plans Chadwick Boseman tributes

    Actor and South Carolina native Chadwick Boseman. Getty Images.

    From Entertainment Tonight:

    Chadwick Boseman's hometown of Anderson is paying tribute to the late star on Thursday, after the actor died following a private battle with colon cancer. Boseman was born and raised in Anderson, before leaving to attend college at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

    A representative from Mayor Terence Roberts' office tells ET that the city will be hosting a community event to honor the life of Boseman on Thursday, Sept. 3, at an outdoor amphitheater.

    Click here to read the full story from ET.

    Jason Rapp

    Artisphere, postponed since May, to go virtual

    Greenville's signature festival will be held online in October

    Young dancers in a line wearing costumes to look like one large U.S. flag. An Artisphere dance performance. File photo.

    Artisphere presented by TD Bank, one of the nation’s top fine arts festivals, will be transformed into a virtual event the weekend of October 2-4.

    Artisphere- The Virtual Experience will go live to the public on Friday, October 2 at 8 p.m.

    Artisphere -The Virtual Experience will feature the work of over 70 juried professional artists from around the country.  Each artist will have multiple pieces for sale in an online marketplace, where patrons can seamlessly browse and shop from a varied and curated selection of art, from pottery to oils to jewelry.

    “Although we can’t be together in our usual festival atmosphere this year, we are proud to continue our partnership with Artisphere to present The Virtual Experience,” said Chris Fincher, regional vice president for TD Bank. “We hope the Upstate community will join us virtually as we show our support for these talented artists from across the country and our unique, vibrant arts culture in Greenville.”

    The Virtual Experience will also provide unique opportunities for engagement with artists, jurors, and gallerists through Facebook and Instagram Live. Programming also includes favorites from past Artispheres, such as metalsmith Ryan Calloway and chalk artist Nate Baranowski, live from Chicago, as well as Kidsphere activities and Artist Demos.

    “Our aim is to create an engaging virtual experience for the Artisphere faithful,” stated Linda Hannon, president of the Artisphere board of directors. “Our patrons have become accustomed to a level of unparalleled artistry and programming and our innovative approach to this year’s show will not disappoint.”

    Art patrons can experience Artisphere presented by TD Bank -The Virtual Experience October 2-4 by visiting Artisphere.org. Patrons are encouraged to sign up for the newsletter and follow on Instagram and Facebook to stay informed.

    About Artisphere

    Artisphere is a highlight of Greenville’s cultural calendar and a Top 10 Fine Arts festival in the country.  The event features a juried Visual Artist Row; Artists of the Upstate, a juried exhibition of local artists; Outdoor Stages with performances by local and national artists; hands-on Kidsphere children’s art activities; the Culinary Arts Café that highlights local restaurants; and Special Festival Art Projects that enliven the streets of Greenville with street musicians, acrobats, sidewalk artists, and more. Artisphere is attended by approximately 90,000 patrons annually and has an estimated economic impact of $6.4 million on the Greenville community.  Artisphere is a 501(c) (3) not for profit organization. For information visit www.artisphere.org.

    Artisphere is presented by TD Bank and receives grant funding from the South Carolina Arts Commission, among others.

    Jason Rapp

    Hub E-vents: Aug. 29

    You want art. You crave art.

    #SCartists and arts organizations want to fill that void. They live for that. It’s a calling. Yet in times of social distancing, that’s hard to do. Through the wonders of modern technology, many are trying and succeeding. So while we’re all staying home to protect vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors,  The Hub is stepping up to fill the void between artists and arts lovers. (Learn more about Hub E-vents here.)

    The Gibbes welcomes Latinx #SCartists

    Two to participate in virtual town hall Well, obviously it's virtual since it caught the eye of Hub E-vents. "Ecos: Arte Urgente" is next up in a virtual town hall series presented by the Gibbes Museum of Art. Inspired by the new exhibition Building a Legacy: The Vibrant Vision Collection of Jonathan Green and Richard Weedman, this three-part series invites you to a town hall-style Zoom with local artists and community stakeholders to grapple with the effects of a global pandemic and a renewed reckoning with racial injustice. In Ecos, participants will join in conversation with #SCartists featured in the Charleston Oral History Program at the Citadel’s multimedia exhibit spotlighting the experiences of Latinx immigrants in the Lowcountry and in Building a Legacy. Participating artists are sculptor Diana Farfán of Greenville, Conway ceramicist and printmaker Paola Torres-Ruiz, and Cuban-born realist artist Reynier Llanes, who spent time in Charleston as a resident artist in Jonathan Green Studios but now lives in Miami. It's a free Zoom event open to the public, but it does requires registration. Learn more about the speakers and register here. Registrants will receive the Zoom link one day prior to the event, so don't delay.

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