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The Halsey Institute at CofC seeking a communications coordinator

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, August 21, 2022

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts is looking for a part-time Communications Coordinator to lead their social media.

This position starts at $15 an hour. Responsibilities
  1. Default social media manager
  2. Can commit to being the default Saturday staff member on-site during exhibition dates. Saturday hours are 10:30am-4:15pm.
Qualifications Some experience with social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and an interest in growing your skills. Work schedule
  • Maximum of 20 hours per week.
  • May work partially remotely. Saturday hours during exhibition dates must be fulfilled on-site.
How to apply To apply, send your resume, a cover letter, and two professional references to BiswellL@cofc.edu by Sunday, August 21, 2022.
The College of Charleston is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability.

Submitted material

Halsey Institute set for Young Contemporaries 2022

[caption id="attachment_49589" align="aligncenter" width="622"] Installation of Young Contemporaries 2021. Photo by Rick Rhodes Photography & Imaging.[/caption]

Now in its 37th year, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the College of Charleston Studio Art Department are proud to present Young Contemporaries 2022, opening Friday, March 18 and running through April 23.

The annual exhibition is a celebration of talented artists at the College of Charleston. With works selected by a nationally renowned juror, the exhibition reflects the strength and diversity of practice in the School of the Arts’ rigorous programs. Featuring a wide range of media, including paintings, sculpture, photography, and prints, the exhibition showcases the efforts of the student body at the College. Artist Ron Bechet served as the juror and awards judge for Young Contemporaries 2022. Concurrent with Young Contemporaries is the Salon des Refusés, showing in the exhibition space of the Cato Center for the Arts. The works in the Salon are chosen by Studio Art faculty. The origin of the Salon des Refusés dates to Paris in 1863, when artists who had been rejected from the official Salon caused such a protest that Emperor Napoleon III ordered another exhibition held for them. Among the painters in the original Salon des Refusés were Camille Pissaro, Henri Fantin-Latour, James M. Whistler, and Edouard Manet. The Young Contemporaries and Salon des Refusés category awards are funded by the Dean’s Excellence Fund for the College of Charleston School of the Arts. The Norton M. Seltzer Award is funded by Mindelle Seltzer, and the Karin Jurick Award is funded by the Robert Lange Studios community.
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is located at 161 Calhoun St. in Charleston. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday with extended hours on Thursdays until 7 p.m. The museum is closed Sundays. Free.

Jason Rapp

Tuning Up: Good news, sad news, and artist rebrand

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...

The Good

Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art announced that the College of Charleston-based art gallery/museum is back to normal hours! (Thunderous applause goes here.) "We continue to operate with CDC and College of Charleston protocols in place for our collective safety. Adding to a growing sense of normalcy, the College of Charleston recently announced that face coverings are no longer required for vaccinated visitors to the campus. Our rich program of events will continue to be offered in a virtual format as we all navigate the months ahead." Science, baby! If you're curious, and we know you are, those hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. (And we know some of you are wondering, so know that distancing protocols remain and precautions to protect staff will too.)

The Sad

As The Hub shared recently, Jennifer Clark Evins of Chapman Cultural Center fame is collecting her winnings and moving on (up?) in her storied career. The center is throwing a farewell celebration Monday, June 7 from 5-7 p.m. Go here for some additional information.

And the artist rebrand

Here's an interesting note recently submitted to The Hub: the notion of the artist rebrand. To wit:

Lacey Hennessey, a Greenville artist and muralist, recently debuted a new name, @Lacey_Does, with the launch of her new art collection. Previously known as Hennessey in the Home, Lacey’s art journey has evolved over the last five years into a combination of commissions, murals and through word of mouth referrals from customers recommending her to their friends saying "see if Lacey does it.” The rebrand of her business to @Lacey_Does reflects her entrepreneurial spirit and mission of spreading beautiful art throughout the country.

“I am thrilled to debut my new name, @Lacey_Does,” said Lacey Hennessey. “Over the past few years I have really honed in on my passions and my art has truly become a reflection of my outlook on life- bold, bright and colorful. I wanted to be able to combine this lifestyle into one brand name, @Lacey_Does, and have it flow throughout my entire business of art, murals and entrepreneurial advice.”

The Greenville-based self-taught artist, muralist, and entrepreneur has more than 50 murals throughout the Southeast to her credit and recently launched a 15-piece online art collection. To learn more about Lacey and her work, visit www.laceydoes.com or follow @Lacey_Does. Is this something we'll see more and more? Social media allows artists to take more and more control over their brands—and make no mistake, everybody has one now. We'll keep an eye on this.

One more thing...

Do you follow the SCAC on IG? We're following Executive Director David Platts as he (and Jane Przybysz of McKissick Museum for Folk Heritage Award recipients) presents South Carolina Arts Awards to the 2021 recipients. Our Insta followers get exclusive peeks of the presentations through Reels. Did you miss Monday evening's livestream? Fear not; the ceremony is on-demand through the SCAC YouTube Channel.

Jason Rapp

Halsey Institute is hiring a development coordinator

  APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, June 11, 2021

Join a fast-growing contemporary art organization and help us secure the support needed to bring innovative and adventurous programming to the community!

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston is searching for a development coordinator to help with our mission-centric fundraising efforts and be the main point of contact for our awesome members. This entry-level, full-time position works with our senior staff on the long-term strategic success and growth of our membership program and other funding initiatives like grants and our Community Partners program. Apply online and learn more about the position at https://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/10642.

Submitted material

New leadership in place at CofC’s Halsey Institute

New executive director began April 1

Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston announced the appointment of its new executive director: recently promoted Katie Hirsch assumed her new role April 1.

Hirsch who was previously the museum's curator and director of strategic partnerships, was serving as interim director after the December 2020 retirement of long-time director Mark Sloan.

Related Hub content: Charleston scene takes on sea change in CHS, S.C. arts leadership.

Says Hirsch: “I am honored to be the new director of the Halsey Institute. It is a true privilege to lead the talented team that brings innovative artists to Charleston and beyond. I am eager to connect with our community in this new role, and to share the compelling programming that the Halsey has planned.” School of the Arts Dean Dr. Edward Hart says of the appointment, “We are thrilled that Katie Hirsch has accepted the appointment as the new Director of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position, and her artistic vision, leadership skills, and enthusiasm will benefit this world-class institution for years to come.”

About Katie Hirsch

Katie Hirsch joined the Halsey Institute team in August 2016 and was most recently a Curator and the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. Hirsch took the reigns as Interim Director on January 1, 2021 during the pandemic, so has had to make many tough decisions about accessibility, staffing, and programming in the most challenging of times. She has curated exhibitions on Roberto Diago and Coulter Fussell, among others. She served as Associate Curator for the Halsey Institute’s landmark 2018 exhibition Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South, for which she contributed to the catalogue. She is responsible for the Halsey Institute’s traveling exhibitions program, organizing nationwide tours of Southbound and exhibitions featuring the work of Fahamu Pecou, Jiha Moon, and Hitnes, among others. She is also an adjunct instructor of arts management at the College of Charleston. Katie Hirsch earned an MA with honors in Art History, Visual Cultures of the Americas from The Florida State University, and a BA and magna cum laude distinction in Art History, with a Minor in General Business from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to the Halsey Institute, Hirsch worked for Spoleto Festival USA and island6 Arts Center in Shanghai, China. Before turning her focus to contemporary art, Hirsch specialized in the art and culture of the Maya. She brings not only a broad knowledge of art history and visual culture, but also the unconventional knowledge of the Yucatec Maya language, acquired through years of study in Mexico with support from government fellowships.

About the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston provides a multidisciplinary laboratory for the production, presentation, interpretation, and dissemination of ideas by innovative visual artists from around the world. As a non-collecting museum, the Halsey Institute creates meaningful interactions between adventurous artists and diverse communities within a context that emphasizes the historical, social, and cultural importance of the art of our time. Learn more.

Jason Rapp

Charleston Scene takes on ‘sea change’ in CHS, S.C. arts leadership

Thought-provoking piece on future of S.C. arts

In a sweeping new story, Charleston Scene interviewed several arts leaders who recently—or will—depart their posts as change comes to South Carolina's arts scene.

Picture of an iconic church steeple in downtown CharlestonWriter Maura Hogan asks, "What will the next phase look like?" after several high profile departures dating back to 2019. Among them:
  • Kathleen (Kathi) P. Bateson (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina)
  • Stephen Bedard (Gaillard Management Co.)
  • Ken May (S.C. Arts Commission)
  • Valerie Morris (College of Charleston School of the Arts)
  • Nigel Redden (Spoleto Festival USA)
  • Mark Sloan (College of Charleston Halsey Institute)
  • Marjory Wentworth (former state poet laureate)
While reasons for the departures varied, nearly all involved foresee major change on the horizon in Charleston and the state, whether as a result of the pandemic, recent emphasis on diversity and inclusion, or other things. Click here to read the story from Charleston Scene (subscription possibly required).
Charleston photo by Jason Rapp/SCAC.

Jason Rapp

Halsey Institute’s Mark Sloan to retire

Director's tenure to end Dec. 31

[caption id="attachment_17308" align="aligncenter" width="532"]Halsey Pulse Dome Project Pulse Dome Project at Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Dec. 2014. Hub file image.[/caption]

Long-time Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art Director and Curator Mark Sloan announced Friday he will retire from the position as of Dec. 31, 2020.

mark sloan headshotSloan has been a member of the Halsey team since 1994. The public announcement came via email to stakeholders, excerpted here:

The time has come for me to step down as Director & Chief Curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. I have made the difficult decision to retire as of December 31, 2020.

... I am very proud of the work we have all done together—members, friends, artists, community partners, donors, staff, advisory board members, and faculty colleagues at the College of Charleston. The four words “It takes a village” come to mind. Being the director and chief curator at the Halsey has propelled me into some of the most rewarding and amazing life experiences ...

The changes that will be brought about in our culture as a result of the COVID-19 virus are only beginning to be felt. At the time of this writing, we have no sense of the scope of the virus, much less how it will impact our lives in the months and years ahead. The Halsey Institute staff and Advisory Board will endeavor to navigate these uncharted waters with aplomb, but we will need your support ... We want to keep admission free, so that our galleries remain a place where the public can have direct experience with the notion of how an artist turns a thought into a thing.

I would like to thank each of you for being in the Halsey Institute’s orbit. It has been a grand adventure so far, and a privilege to serve as the director for Charleston’s contemporary art museum and to watch the concomitant explosion of contemporary arts programming throughout the region over these last two and-a-half decades. It has been thrilling to be a part of that. My wife and I have forged many wonderful friendships here and feel incredibly grateful to have been so warmly embraced by this community..."

No details were announced about the search to replace Sloan.

Jason Rapp

Hub E-vents: May 7

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.)

Here are some virtual arts events

Sometimes we do events on the same day, sometimes we promo upcoming ones. Sometimes we do both. There are no rules in quarantine life! (Help yourself by reading all of them.)

Today

Charleston Jazz presents "Blue Note Records" with T.S. Monk

On September 16, 2017 Charleston Jazz Orchestra welcomed jazz drumming legend T.S. Monk, son of jazz pioneer Thelonious Monk, to the Charleston Music Hall stage to perform favorites from Blue Note’s legendary catalog and relive the jazz milestones that influenced so many. They invite you to join them tonight at 7 p.m. on either Facebook or YouTube for the next installment in the "From the Archives Series."

Upcoming

Your event not here? Here's a little more on how Hub E-vents works.

Jason Rapp

Tuning Up: A new day at SCAC + Florence 3 arts grant

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...

You're forgiven if you thought this feature was lost to the sands of time. It doesn't look like we've had a "Tuning Up" since June. Time to fix that!
  • IT'S A NEW DAY. Last week brought the news that the S.C. Arts Commission wants to serve constituents now based on what you need rather than by where you're located. Today's the day the new system is in effect. Callers to the agency will get a new menu of options, and visitors to our website can solicit staff assistance in a new way too.
  • FLORENCE 3 GETS GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECT. "The Distinguished Art Program grant is for the project 'Innovate – Creative and Critical Thinking through the Arts.' More than 3,000 students and 238 teachers will benefit from this grant program." Go here for the full story on SCNow.com. The grant comes from the S.C. Dept. of Education.
  • KEEP TURNING, DORIAN. At this writing, Hurricane Dorian's track appears to be continuing its ever-so-gradual shift eastward and away from the S.C. coast. You don't need The Hub to tell you that's good news, but we can tell you word's come in that 2019 Verner Award recipients the Gibbes Museum of Art plus College of Charleston's Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art—among many others—are closed as the storm makes its way along the coast. The closings are in response to mandatory coastal evacuations. Be safe out there, and definitely be ArtsReady: visit SouthCarolinaArts.com for resources to help you do just that.
 

Tuning Up: Experience the arts this weekend

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...

[caption id="attachment_40184" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Jennifer Wen Ma’s team installs a version of Cry Joy Park at Beijing’s Tang Contemporary in October 2018. (Courtesy Halsey Institute) Jennifer Wen Ma’s team installs a version of Cry Joy Park at Beijing’s Tang Contemporary in October 2018. (Courtesy Halsey Institute)[/caption]

Hey, look; we made it.

Friday is here. You've been looking forward to it since 8:30 or 9 a.m. Monday, and it's finally here. The Hub will be mowing and pitching in on some house cleaning for sure, but a good weekend has more to it than the mundane. We are here to help. BLACKVILLE The 8th Annual Blackville Music & Art Festival is bringing a weekend full of entertainment and activities to downtown Blackville this weekend, May 17-19. Organizers promise a carnival, parade, car & bike show, several live performances, art displays, vendors, and live artist demonstrations by South Carolina artists Edmon Glover Richburg, Ment Nelson, and Terrance Washington. CHARLESTON Not an exhibition per se, but how about something that keeps on giving? Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is offering BOGO memberships (for all membership levels!) until May 31. It's part of their May giving campaign. Use this deal to enjoy Cry Joy Park—Gardens of Dark and Light from Jennifer Wen Ma (opens Saturday).  Ma helped design the stunning opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics. COLUMBIA Your last chance to see Jackson Pollock: Mural is Sunday, when the exhibit at Columbia Museum of Art closes. The museum devoted two galleries not just to the mural that launched his fame but to the techniques and creation that made it what it is. LAKE CITY Join ArtFields in Lake City for a dual gallery opening on May 18th from 6-8 p.m. at TRAX Visual Art Center and Jones-Carter Gallery. On opening night, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and drinks while you view artwork from Beverly Buchanan, Jenny Fine, and Jerry Siegel. Additionally, Fine and Siegel will be present to talk about their work and the inspiration behind their pieces.

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