Rochester Contemporary Art Center 6x6[/caption]
Nakahara and South Carolina Philharmonic musicians perform to a sold-out concert at the Columbia Fireflies' Segra Park July 3, 2021. Provided photo.[/caption]
The Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award is an annual recognition of a Columbian who reflects many of the values and qualities of those generously given by One Columbia’s former leader in support of the growth and vitality of his City of Columbia. Morrison, who passed away in 2013, co-chaired the One Columbia Arts and Culture Board of Directors for three years..
A native of Kagoshima, Japan, Nakahara holds degrees from Andrews University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Known for his charismatic presence on and off the podium, innovative and audience-friendly programming skills, and thoughtful interpretations of both standard and contemporary repertoire, Nakahara was featured in the League of American Orchestra’s prestigious Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview in March 2005. Equally at home in a wide variety of musical styles and concert formats, Nakahara has collaborated with Chris Botti, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Edgar Meyer, Brandi Carlile, Pink Martini and Sergio Mendes to name a few.
The 2021-2022 season marks Morihiko Nakahara’s 14th season as Music Director of the South Carolina Philharmonic, and he also serves as Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and recently concluded a 17 year tenure as the Resident Conductor with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award, on behalf of the entire team of musicians, administrative staff, board members, tech crew, and our loyal audience members near and far,” said Morihiko Nakahara. “The Covid-19 pandemic taught us to be patient and nimble, but the level of trust that our orchestra's stakeholders and constituents have for each other and the passion with which they embody their roles have allowed us to be bold and ambitious during this time. This honor is especially meaningful for me on a personal level, because in the few years I knew and interacted with Steve Morrison, I was always inspired and energized by his tireless advocacy for the arts in Columbia and for equal access to arts education and enrichment in every community. Steve's vision is our mission, and I am blessed to continue working in Columbia's vibrant arts community for all people.”
The recipient of the Steve Morrison Visionary Award honors the best combination of vision and leadership, applied to arts and history and the entire cultural foundation of the City, and the value they bring to Columbia.
“Over the 14 years that Morihiko Nakahara has shared his pioneering vision as music director and conductor for the South Carolina Philharmonic, he has served as an ambassador for culture and music, as well as advocate for the growth of our city’s fine arts and humanities environment,” said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “Morihiko truly embodies the traits recognized by The Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award, through his commitment to furthering the artistic vitality of Columbia.”
An event is being organized to present Mr. Nakahara with the award and is expected to be held in mid-January 2022.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
We’re looking for an inspiring and innovative leader with a passion for the arts and the role of arts in advancing equity and justice.
Please forward this announcement to anyone you know who might be interested, or apply yourself. Candidate review begins on Jan. 10, but position is open until filled.
Columbia's Koger Center for the Arts at the University of South Carolina.[/caption]
As the successor of the South Carolina Triennial, 701 CCA's Biennial is the main regular event of its kind. The Biennial presents some of the best contemporary art produced statewide and is a juried, multimedia exhibition in two parts.
Exhibitions Part I and II both feature works created on a variety of media—oil or acrylic on canvas, photography, inkjet print, woodcut, mixed media, and three-dimensional art.
Acceptance to the 701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2021 was based on a competitive selection process. Contemporary artists living in South Carolina were invited via a public call to submit both images of their recent artwork and documentation of their career to 701 CCA.
An independent jury of three art professionals reviewed all submissions, selecting 24 artists out of a total of about 88 applications. Visit the 701 CCA website to find out who they are. Part II is now open through Dec. 23, featuring 12 artists of the 24 total selected. Among them are two recipients of the S.C. Arts Commission individual artist fellowship:
The jurors were:
701 CCA is located at 701 Whaley St., 2nd Floor, in Columbia. During exhibitions, hours are Wednesday-Saturday 1-5 p.m. by appointment and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Free, but donations appreciated.
Green's depictions of the Gullah life and culture, established by descendants of enslaved Africans who settled between northern Florida and North Carolina during the nineteenth century have earned him considerable notoriety. The vividly colored paintings and prints have captured and preserved the daily rituals and Gullah traditions of his childhood in the Lowcountry marshes of South Carolina.
In 2010, the South Carolina Arts Commission presented Green the Governor's Award for the Arts in lifetime achievement.
From press materials about Gullah Spirit:
While his art continues to express the same energy, color, and deep respect for his ancestors, Green's techniques have evolved to feature bolder brush strokes and a use of depth and texture, all guided by his maturing artistic vision that is now more often about experiencing freedom and contentment through his art. This vision is reflected in the 179 new paintings featured in Gullah Spirit. His open and inviting images beckon the world to not only see this vanishing culture but also to embrace its truth and enduring spirit.
Using both the aesthetics of his heritage and the abstraction of the human figure, Green creates an almost mythological narrative from his everyday observations of rural and urban environments. Expressed through his mastery of color, Green illuminates the challenges and beauty of work, love, belonging, and the richness of community.
Angela D. Mack, executive director of the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, provides a foreword. The book also includes short essays by historian Walter B. Edgar, educator Kim Cliett Long, and curator Kevin Grogan.
Tickets for the event are $65 and available now by clicking here.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, December 10, 2021
The program, created in 2015, gives artists, performers and makers of all types and disciplines the ability to work freely in their own studio space, share their works and artistic process with the community, and provide learning opportunities and programs for library customers.
Richland Library is trying to connect with visual, performance, or media artists "who have a direct connection to the local arts community and a desire to help the library improve the livelihood of our creative community." Its residents are expected to deliver art-making tutorials, studio tours, creative workshops and artist meet-ups, while serving as a liaison between artists and the library.
The library provides its residents' program-related supplies and—oh yeah!—offers a $1,000/month stipend.
For more, visit the residency page on the library's website.
Provided image. Click to enlarge.[/caption]
The Artists Inside Outsider Art is an exhibition drawn from McKissick Museum’s permanent collection of artworks that are often referred to as “Folk Art,” “Outsider Art,” or “Self-Taught Art.” The collection, some of which will be on display for the first time, dates between the 1940s and the 1990s and includes well-known southern artists like Thornton Dial, Bessie Harvey, and R.A. Miller. Primarily self-taught, these "outsider" artists often use bright colors and found or recycled materials like wood, clay, and metal.
#SCartists Richard Burnside, who has two works included in the State Art Collection, and Columbia's "Chicken Man" Ernest Lee are included in the exhibit.
Outsider art can have many definitions, but most agree that it includes forms of creative expression that exist outside accepted cultural norms or the realm of “fine art". The exhibition dives into some of the challenges in using different descriptors but eschews much of controversy surrounding the collecting and selling of “outsider art” or “self-taught art”. Rather than perpetuating stereotypes that these artists somehow belong outside of the art world, The Artists Inside Outsider Art is an attempt to reconcile that marginalization by acknowledging that these artists have their own agency, and through their agency, they have made art that reflects their cultural experiences as southern contemporary artists.
For Faculty Curator Dr. Lana Burgess, this exhibition is personal. “When I began my curatorial career I had the opportunity to meet some of the artists exhibited here. Talking to and working with them, I began to learn how many of them created art without a specific audience in mind. I invite visitors come and celebrate the ingenuity of the men and women who literally took materials readily available and made southern contemporary art.”
The Artists Inside Outsider Art will be on view from Nov. 8 through March 5, 2022. The public is invited to a free opening reception on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Register for your tickets online or by calling 803.777.2876.
Provided photo. Click to enlarge.[/caption]
People experiencing homelessness often cite a feeling of being invisible. Founded in 2016 by Spartanburg pastor and avid photographer Jason Williamson, Through Our Eyes Project (TOEP) gives homeless people a voice by allowing them to document their everyday lives with disposable cameras. The photos are then curated into an exhibit that celebrates the photographers and provides a personal view of homelessness that few have ever seen.
TOEP has had successful runs in other South Carolina cities such as Boiling Springs, Greenville, and Spartanburg and extended to other states: Alaska, Massachusetts, and neighboring North Carolina.
Williamson reflected on previous experiences: “The things that are always surprising is the amount of joy that a lot of people have—whether it’s a pet they’ve adopted, a child, or a friend. There’s a lot of joy, and that’s the part of the project that really caught me off guard,” he said. “We like to say that the cameras are disposable, but the people are not.”
TOEP typically partners with host churches to connect with relevant nonprofits as recipients of funds raised from project sponsors, opening reception ticket sales, and the general public, who can vote for their favorite photos for $1 per vote. The top three photographers who receive the most votes will receive gifts with the money raised.
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Provided photo. Click to enlarge.[/caption]
The Columbia project debuts with a ticketed opening reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
“We’ve wanted to bring TOEP to Columbia for several years now,” said Allison Caldwell, local missions director at Shandon Baptist Church. “We’re proud to partner with Oliver Gospel, Toby’s Place, and Family Promise of the Midlands to highlight what they do for homeless men, women and children in our community, and how others can help.”
Opening reception tickets are available at Shandon.org for a donation of $25 or more. Held in the Koger Center’s upstairs gallery, the reception will include hors d'oeuvres, live music, partner booths, and a first glance at the images captured by more than 30 photographers. Space is limited and advance tickets are required to attend. After Nov. 3, the exhibit will be open for free public viewing weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 19.
For more information visit Shandon.org or contact Allison Caldwell, Shandon Local Missions Director (803.528.0740 or acaldwell@shandon.org).
