Acts of Attention -- A PhotoPoetics Exhibition at Stormwater Studios

April 3 - April 13

“Acts of Attention” will be on view in the SVAD Studio at Stormwater Studios from Thursday, April 3 to Sunday, April 13, with an opening reception on Thursday, April 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This exhibition brings together photographic works and writings from eight photographers, eight poets, and their instructors, all currently engaged in the Photopoetics course, co-taught by Ed Madden (English) and Kathleen Robbins (Art). The course explores the dynamic relationship between poetry and photography, encouraging writers and photographers to work alongside one another, exchange creative insights, and discover new ways of seeing and interpreting the world.

While poetry and photography are distinct forms, poets and photographers share the ability to capture moments, evoke emotions, and shape perception. The exhibition showcases the culmination of this interdisciplinary collaboration, featuring poetry and photography created throughout the semester. The reception will also include PechaKucha performances—a dynamic storytelling format that highlights the creative dialogue between words and images.

Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11 AM – 3 PM

Featured Artists & Writers:

Alexander Arquette, Gracie Belk, Amy Chalmers, Josh Kendrick, Katy McCormack, Nneoma Ohale, Ciara Orness, Ricardo Rodriguez, Audrey Savage, Fiona Schrier, Sarah Stoddart, Ceara Tellez, Daniel Wartham, Lauren Wickham, Nora Williams, Madison Yoest, Ed Madden, and Kathleen Robbins.

The Jasper Project is delighted to help spread the word that the Midlands Youth Queer Prom is back!

The Midlands Youth Queer Prom returns this spring, inviting LGBTQ+ youth and their allied friends from across the region to celebrate their identities, friendships, and individuality in a night of joy, community, and expression.

Taking place on Saturday, May 17th from 7:00 to 10:00 PM at the historic Seibels House, this year’s theme — Masquerade — promises a night of mystery, elegance, and vibrant celebration.

Open to LGBTQ+ students in grades 6 through 12 and their allied friends, including homeschooled youth, the Midlands Youth Queer Prom offers a welcoming and affirming space where young people can be their authentic selves without fear or judgment.

This free event will feature:

Catering by local favorite Joe Turkaly

A live DJ set by DJ Hannah of Capital Beats

Four fabulous drag performances by Don Javi, Chanel Cartier, Jonlly R. St Martin, and Vertigo!

The prom will be fully chaperoned, with adult volunteers and staff present throughout the evening to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all attendees.

The Midlands Youth Queer Prom is made possible through the generous support of sponsors such as Always Original Bakery, who will be providing treat bags for attendees, and Garden and Gather, who will be supplying beautiful boutonnieres.

Additional in-kind and cash sponsors include:

● Capital Club

 ● Insurance Solutions by Isabel

 ● Sakr8dRoyalty, LLC

 ● Something Borrowed

 ● Columbia Roller Derby

 

Hosted by the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center, the Midlands Youth Queer Prom reflects the Center’s mission to support, celebrate, and uplift LGBTQ+ youth throughout South Carolina. “We’re proud to create a prom where LGBTQ+ youth and their allies can celebrate themselves fully, freely, and without fear,” says Cristina Picozzi, MS, executive director, Harriet Hancock LGBT Center. “Events like this are about more than a dance — they’re about belonging, joy, and visibility.” — Please note: This event is closed to the press to protect the privacy of youth attend

The Jasper Project Welcomes New Members to the Board of Directors

We’re excited at the Jasper Project to welcome the following new members to our Board of Directors! These seven new members bring a wealth of experience and new energy to our board and they have already gotten to work doing their parts in helping Jasper meet our four integrated priorities:

  • Process – illuminating the unique processes endemic to all art forms in order to provide a greater level of understanding and respect for these disciplines.

  • Community/Collaboration – nurturing community both within and between arts disciplines.

  • Narrative – creating a more positive and progressive understanding of SC culture.

  • Economy – being efficient stewards of arts funding committed to creating more with less.

Help us welcome Meeghan Kane, Rhodes Bailey, Pam Bowers, Lauren Casassa, Stan Conine, Dick Moons, and Liz Stalker who join our already assembled board members Wade Sellers (president), Keith Tolen (vice president), Emily Moffitt (secretary), Kristin Cobb, Libby Campbell, Kwasi Brown, Jon Tuttle, Bekah Corbett (operating director), and Cindi Boiter (founder, executive director).

Currently, Meeghan Kane leads community engagement efforts at the South Carolina State Museum, developing public programs and supporting and fostering community relationships and partnerships with fellow cultural institutions and organizations. Prior to joining the museum team, Meeghan taught history at Benedict College for over a decade, where she specialized in African American history, 20th century cultural history, and the history of the American South. She moved to Columbia, South Carolina, from Tampa, Florida, in 2006 to join USC’s graduate program in history after completing her B.A. and M.A. at the University of South Florida. These days, if she’s not at the museum, you’ll likely find her and her family enjoying nice meals in local restaurants, day tripping to the mountains, camping in SC’s state parks, road-tripping back home to Florida, and, most importantly, enjoying the arts and culture of the Midlands. Meeghan is excited to be a part of the Jasper board. She hopes to help artists and arts supporters build new ways to connect and reach new audiences.

Rhodes Bailey is an attorney and the owner of Rhodes Bailey Law, LLC, and a long-term member of the Midlands-based band Whiskey Tango Revue with whom he plays guitar and pedal steel. A graduate of the College of Charleston and the University of SC School of Law (2007), where he received the Trial Clinic’s Professionalism Award, Rhodes is married and has two children. Rhodes says he is “looking forward to collaborating with like-minded artists and fostering talent in our state.” He somewhat jokingly continues, “I hope to help solve problems as needed and keep my fellow artists out of Jail!”

Pam Bowers is a Chicago native, but for the past 20 years she has divided her time between Columbia, South Carolina, the Umbrian hill town she calls her second home, and her world travels. Pam has exhibited her work internationally at venues that include the Guilin Academy of Chinese Painting in China, the University of Fine Arts in Budapest, numerous venues in Italy, University of Newcastle in Australia, and the Ecole Nationale in Rabat, Morocco. Nationally she has exhibited at the Bowery Gallery, New York, Blue Mountain Gallery New York, ARC and WMG galleries in Chicago, and many other university or museum venues including the State Museum of South Carolina, City Gallery at Waterfront Park In Charleston, the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and St. Mary's College of Notre Dame, among others. Pam has lectured on her work and conducted numerous workshops both here and abroad.

Lauren Casassa is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She received her BFA in Painting at the University of South Carolina and has been awarded the Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Award for excellence in Visual Arts, the Yaghjian Studio arts scholarship at USC, and the 2018 Artfields Solo Award Exhibition at Jones-Carter Gallery. She has been featured in Garnet and Black, Daily Gamecocks, The State, Free Times, and Susie Magazine. She has lectured for classes at USC, SC State University, and spent a summer residency in Monte Castello, Italy. Exhibitions include group shows in Italy, New York, South Carolina and solo shows in Iowa and South Carolina. 

Stan Conine is the retired President and Broker-in-Charge of The Conine Group, Inc. and the former Campus Director of Birchwood Campus, SC Department of Youth Services (currently SCDJJ) and a Life member in the Circle of Excellence of Central Carolina Realtors Association. He has a B.S. in Sociology from Georgia College, an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from University of South Carolina, and a M.C.J. in Criminal Justice also from USC. Stan says, “I have long respected The Jasper Project for promoting and supporting local artists of all genres, and for creating and promoting events which make it acceptable, normal even, for folks from all neighborhoods, all backgrounds, and all educational levels to access, enjoy, and appreciate the creativity in the works of these artists.” He continues, “I hope that I will be able to help Jasper expand and extend its support to more people with artistic dreams, including the very young and the very old, and I hope that I will be able to help spur an effort to bridge the gap and encourage more cooperation and coordination among different arts organizations with common goals in the Midlands area.”

Dick Moons says he is a “retired corporate flunky,” certified sound practitioner, professional drum circle facilitator, dad, and grandfather. Dick says he joined the Jasper Project board of directors because he believes “in what Jasper is about, its mission, and the way Jasper has gone about implementing and fulfilling its vision.” He continues to explain that “being a part of a talented bunch of folks who donate their time and energy for nothing more than their love of the arts – and thereby making Columbia a far cooler place” is reason enough to join the Jasper team.”

Liz Stalker is a 2024 graduate of USC with honors and a bachelors degree in English. The winner of the 2023 Havilah Babcock scholarship for poetry, Liz enjoys poetry and filmmaking when she isn’t serving up caffeine at Curiosity Coffee Bar. A former intern with the Jasper Project, Liz says, “I joined the Jasper board because Jasper opened a world of local artists to me, and I would love to help do that for others.”

The Jasper Project Mission Statement

The Jasper Project is a project-oriented, multidisciplinary arts facilitator serving the greater Columbia and South Carolina communities by providing collaborative arts engineering and community-wide arts communication.

Jasper Congratulates Winning Student Poets in the My Streets, My Stories Competition

My Street, My Story:

Celebrating History and Community through Youth Expression

Sarah Mae Flemming

In 2024, Columbia-area high school students were invited to participate in “My Street, My Story: Celebrating History and Community through Youth Expression,” a visual and literary arts contest created by the USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research. Inspired by the Center’s exhibition, Intersection on Main Street: African American Life in Columbia, in the Columbia Museum of Art’s Our Story Matters gallery, students were encouraged to use their preferred methods of artistic or written expression to create a body of work drawing connections from the stories of community and resilience of the Historic Black Business District in Columbia to their own present-day experiences in their community. 

The Jasper Project’s executive director, Cindi Boiter, was asked to serve as an adjudicator of the creative non-fiction portion of the competition and subsequently offered to further promote the participants in the project by publishing the winning poems in Jasper Online.

Winnings student poets include first place winner Alana Hills, who is a 9th grader at Richland Northeast High School; second place winner, Maelyn Carter, an 11th grader also at Richland Northeast; and third place winner, La’Cora Howell, an 11th grader at Ridge View High School.

Congratulations to all three winners whose works are published below. And be sure to pick up a copy of the spring 2025 issue of Jasper Magazine (May 2025) where you’ll find Alana Hills’ poem in print!

Sarah Mae Flemming

by Alana Hills

 

In the quiet of the South, where the roads were long, Sarah Mae Flemming

Stood strong, where others felt wrong.

A woman of courage, though her name not yet known,

She fought for her rights, and she stood all alone.

 

In the year of ‘54, the city of Columbia’s heat, she took a seat where

The world would meet.

On the bus, in the back where the rules did not bend,

But Sarah Mae’s heart said, “This must end.”

 

She was no Rosa, yet her spark lit the fire,

A young woman’s act, a fierce, quiet desire.

Before the marches, the protests, the chains breaking free,

She challenged the laws with quiet dignity.

 

Her name, though less famous, was no less bold,

For Sarah Mae Flemming was part of the story untold.

She planted a seed, one not yet in full bloom,

That would later explode in the fight for room.

 

To sit where she wished, to stand on her feet,

Her quiet rebellion, her victory so sweet.

A life of resistance, a spark in the night.

Sarah Mae Flemming – a champion for right.

Alayna Hills is a ninth grader at Richland Northeast High school who is enrolled in both full-credit and half-credit classes with the goal of graduating early and attending college. “I want my poetry to be discovered so that I can be recognized for my writing abilities and so college professors will possibly acknowledge my work,” she says. “I have big goals, and I hope that my writing helps me reach them.”

~~~~~

Black Woman Extraordinaire

by Maelyn Carter

Black Woman Extraordinaire 

mess with her, don't you even dare.

Always willing to give those she loves her ALL because she cares.

Delicate as an exotic jewel or stone…She’s oh so rare.

Wearing her Sunday-go-to meeting hat with oh so much flair.

She and Grandpa James Oh what a couple!  What a pair!

And a powerful love is what they shared.  

She’s  seen so much pain and loss almost too much to bare. 

When she walks into the room with all of her century plus poise and grace they all stare. 

All those years still walking in her light yet she doesn't boast or put on any airs.

So fine and classy No one can compare.

She has experienced many of her years on this earth fighting discrimination, racism, oppression,

some say beyond repair.

All of it so unfair.

She says to me “Chile  wear your Full Armor of God and always prepare.

Grandma says live right and I declare, you will make it to the other side over there!

Where there is no pain, no suffering or despair.

Grandma says but you better beware because the devil is always trying to scare,

catch you in a snare and your salvation he will not spare

Grandma says always be aware trust in the Lord and Stay in prayer.

She doesn't have much but her knowledge and wisdom makes her a billionaire.

The best moments are sitting at her feet in her favorite old chair while she combs my hair.

Grandma says if you don't know your past you ain't going nowhere!

My great grandma 101 yah that's her Black Woman Extraordinaire!

Maelyn Imani Carter is an 11th grade student a Richland Northeast High School. For Maelyn, writing poetry is a way to express herself, inspire, and share her view of the world. She has published Compilations by Maelyn, which features twelve of her most powerful pieces. Maelyn has received several awards for her community outreach initiatives. She most recently was named the Lovis 2024 award recipient, an award given to student who make a major difference in their community. She has also recently performed at the Soda City Poetry Festival and has recited her poems in many venues throughout the state.

~~~~~

She

by La’Cora Howell

Sometimes, I just wanna escape. I just wanna get away from all my problems. Maybe I should. Just go. Drop it all and leave this world. I don’t fit in here. Not this city, not this town. Not here. Maybe on a different planet, my mistakes didn’t form a target on my back, or maybe I wouldn’t be an outcast. Maybe, if I was somewhere else, people wouldn’t judge every expression my face makes without control. My size, my face, my hair, my clothes, my skin.

Why hate? Why bother the unspoken? AM I fresh, new bait luring through the deep? Am I unwrapped? Unused? I’m choking. Am I dying? With only a part of me slowly at part. She’s exquisite. She's fearless. She's kind and successful in many ways. She's noteworthy and genuine. She wants to grow. She's ready to lead the way. I am tired. I'm tired of the deluge and weight of everything and everyone controlling how I feel and what I want and do and say and like and my whole entire existence, and i just want to wrap it all up and shove it in a tight little box and throw it off a bridge into a never ending river of pessimistic things and energy and let it all go. Drown. Drowning under the weight of everything everyone predicts and foretells on my life. I can feel their words shove their way through my throat and up my nose and in my ears, fiercely flooding my body, soon taking me under and suddenly, I get pulled out.

Why? Who would save me? I was almost ready to endorse this death. Ready to give up, and let my problems take my life. There he tells me; this isn't worth it. He speaks life back into my soul. He lifts me back up out of this flood and puts me on my feet. Just by his presence I could tell who he was. He holds my hand as he walks me to my proclamation. He shows me what I am and what's worth living and who needs me, so they don't get dragged down, just as I did. He showed me my real sympathy. He is God, my father, and then “she” was brimful. She was a free spirit and was ready to take control. She was whole.

La’Cora Howell, a 9th Grader from Ridge View High School, was inspired to write this piece by some of the experiences and hardships she has overcome “unblemished.” La”Cora says, “I have a true connection and truth with this poem, and I hope people going through similar things as I once did, and honestly still am, take this poem as inspiration.”


 

 

Congratulations to Jasper Project Board President Wade Sellers for Being Honored as a 2025 Recipient of the SC Governor's Award for the Arts!

CONGRATULATIONS WADE!

The SC Arts Commission announced today that the Jasper Project’s own president of our board of directors, Wade Sellers, is the 2025 recipient of the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts in the individual artist category!

Wade Sellers (Artist Category) is an independent filmmaker in Columbia who produced his first film within months after graduating from USC in media arts. As the South Carolina Arts Commission’s first media intern, Sellers assisted with the Southeastern Media Institute where he later became an instructor. He became an in-demand lighting director and gaffer on commercials and corporate projects. His short film Gordon’s Ride was featured at the Independent Feature Film Festival. Sellers co-founded the non-profit Hybrid Films in 2002 to function as fiscal agent for underserved filmmakers in the region. Hybrid Films’ largest accomplishment was the Beg and Grovel Film Festival, the first true independent film festival in Columbia. His first Southeastern Emmy Award nomination came with South Carolinians in World War 2, a project he was commissioned to direct for South Carolina ETV. Sellers formed his production company, Coal Powered Filmworks, collaborating with local filmmakers and promoting independent filmmaking in South Carolina. In 2013 he founded the 2nd Act Film Project, helping 84 films be created by S.C. filmmakers solely for screening at 2nd Act. He has supervised more than 25 interns from USC and Benedict College since 2008, lectured and taught in the USC media arts department and was named a distinguished alumnus from the USC School of Visual Arts and Design in 2020. He has served as the board president for The Jasper Project since 2019.

Other 2025 honorees include Dr. Gail V. Barnes, professor of music education and director of the USC String Project. The organization Engaging Creative Minds which was established in 2012 as a private-public partnership resulting from a community planning process led by Charleston County School District; the College of Charleston; the cities of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant and North Charleston; the Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts; the Youth Endowment for the Arts; and Crystal-Barkley Corporation. The Koger Center for the Arts at the University of South Carolina (Government Category) which supports exceptional art by hosting and presenting transformational experiences that enlighten, educate, entertain and inspire.  The Sumter County Gallery of Art (Organization Category), a non-profit, community-based institution formed in 1969, with a mission to present and promote diverse visual arts and artists, to increase knowledge and to provide art education opportunities to Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties—an extensively rural region of the state, isolated from the major art centers in the U.S. by geography and economics. The SCGA is currently under the executive direction of Karen Watson.

Congratulations to all the award winners!

Jasper is delighted to share this news and we look forward to celebrating with Wade throughout 2025!

Columbia Classical Ballet presents Life Chance 2025 under the direction of Joseph Phillips!

It’s the time of year true ballet lovers eagerly wait for — LifeChance, a one-of-a-kind multi-dancer, multi-company performance so unique that dancers from all over the world clammer to claim their spots on the stage — is coming up on Saturday March 15th at 7":30 at the Koger Center for the Arts!

Columbia Classical Ballet has produced the unique dance benefit gala, LifeChance, to raise awareness and funds for a wide variety of charitable causes for over two and a half decades. LifeChance was originally created by Columbia Classical Ballet Founder Radenko Pavlovich, with the very first LifeChance benefitting the war-torn children of Bosnia, during their troubling conflict over two and a half decades ago! The LifeChance gala brings together some of the best dancers in the world, to share their gifts through a one-night only live performance at the Koger Center for the performing Arts in Columbia, South Carolina.

This year, under the direction of Columbia native, Joseph Phillips, the performance promises to be better than ever. Among the dancers performing are from the American Ballet Theatre, Léa Fleytoux, Jarod Curley, Elisabeth Beyer, and Takumi Miyaki. From San Francisco Ballet, Sasha Mukhamedov and Ruben Citores, and from Ballet Eloelle Grandiva, one of the few all-male comedic dance companies in the world, Walter Battistini and Jonathan Mendez. Joining these stellar performers will be Sakura Oka, previously of Columbia City Ballet, as well as the current company of Columbia Classical Ballet. However, with so many world class international dancers eager to perform in this renown performance, there’s no telling who the audience might find on stage!

As part of Columbia Classical Ballet’s greater mission of outreach, community involvement, and exposure to the artform of ballet, LifeChance gala tickets, like the company’s regular season program tickets, are offered at a fraction of what they would otherwise cost.

Columbia Classical Ballet is excited to welcome Joseph Phillips as its new Artistic Director. Phillips, a celebrated international dancer and choreographer, returns to his hometown of Columbia, S.C., to lead the company into a new era of artistic excellence and dancer development. He assumes the position following the recent departure of former Artistic Director Brooklyn Mack, who replaced Pavlovich a few years before.​

Often referred to as “the Golden Boy of Ballet” due to his winning more Gold Medals in prestigious international competitions than any American male danseur, Phillips brings a wealth of experience and acclaim to the role. He has graced the stages of renowned companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Manilla, and Mariinsky Ballet, Primorsky Stage, where he became one of the few American dancers to ever achieve the rank of principal dancer. He is also widely recognized as an esteemed teacher and choreographer, and currently serves as Artistic Director of El Camino Ballet.​

Deeply rooted in Columbia, where his journey in dance began, Phillips' first ballet school was Columbia Ballet School under the tutelage of Anita Ashley. His first male ballet teacher, Anthony Hampton, a South Carolina native, instilled in him the belief that ballet is for everyone, regardless of gender. His passion for ballet blossomed further when he performed in his first Nutcracker with the Columbia Music Festival Association. He continued to hone his craft, training with Stanislav Issaev at the esteemed South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, South Carolina. Throughout his career, Phillips has maintained a strong connection to his home state, notably as a guest artist with South Carolina Ballet. Over the past two decades, he has also continued to work with the Columbia Music Festival Association, Columbia Ballet School, and Carolina Ballet.​

"I'm excited to bridge my work with El Camino Ballet and Columbia Classical Ballet, creating opportunities for both companies to expand their reach and share their artistry," saysPhillips. "I envision bringing the unique creations of Columbia Classical Ballet to the West Coast, showcasing the talent and creativity that thrives in my hometown."​

"I'm honored to return to my roots and lead Columbia Classical Ballet into its next chapter," says Phillips. "Columbia holds a special place in my heart, and I'm deeply committed to nurturing the talents of our dancers and creating a company that is a source of pride for Columbia and a vibrant contributor to the international dance community."​

In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Joseph Phillips has been awarded ‘THE KEY TO THE CITY,’ declaring July 17 as Joseph Phillips Day in Columbia, South Carolina.

News from WOW -- WOWStudioOne!

WOW Productions is back and they are now WOWStudioOne.

The wait is over! The story that captured your heart (Confessions of a Good Man) is back with more drama, revelations, and life-changing moments!

Confessions of a Good Man 3: The Ultimatum is debuting THIS SATURDAY and SUNDAY, and trust us, you don’t want to miss it! Come enjoy a brand new show at a brand new venue!

 What to Expect:

  • Powerful performances that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer.

  • A gripping storyline packed with twists and turns.

  • A message that inspires and ignites the soul.

 Showtimes:

 Saturday: March 8th at 7:00 pm

 Sunday: March 9th at 3:00 pm

 Venue: Richland 2 Performing Arts Center | 763 Fashion Drive | Columbia, SC 29229 (A stunning, new, 1200-seat venue located in Sandhills next to R2i2)

Get your tickets NOW before they’re gone!

www.WOWStudioOne.com

Join us for the VIP EXPERIENCE including an exclusive black-carpet experience, a pre-show reception with exquisite hors d’oeuvres, a meet-and-greet with the cast, prime seating, and more.

Seats are limited, and the buzz is real! Gather your family and friends, and join us for a night of unforgettable storytelling.


Gerard Erley's Art at the Koger Center through March 9th

by Liz Stalker

There are still a little over two weeks left to check out Gerard Erley’s breathtaking show, “Sights Unseen,” at the Koger Center’s Gallery! This exhibition, which ends on Sunday, March 9th, features Erley’s stunning landscapes in oil paint, which employ inventive use of light and bold color so effectively that to witness them is a nearly spiritual experience. Jasper was lucky enough to interview Erley, whose responses to our questions were so insightful that they demanded to be presented as written.

Jasper: When and how did you get started as an artist?

Erley: I was drawing (scribbling?) before I could walk. Soon I was imitating the forms my eyes took in - trees, buildings, people. I feel (from where I stand today) that I had a compulsion to explore the world around me through the process of drawing. I came to know the physical nature of things through this process, and was soon aware of the emotional impact these images could have when translated into an artistic form. My precocious skills were noted and rewarded in school from kindergarten on. I believe my path as an artist was set at that point.

Jasper: What draws you to oil painting as a medium?

Erley: The majority of art images I saw reproduced as a kid were oil paintings. The medium survived the test of time for good reason. The quality and variety of the paintings attest to that. The quality was expressed in the exquisite craft and power of the artworks which amazed and delighted me. This instilled in me a strong reverence for art history, and I delved into the books I found in the library like a pig rooting for truffles.

Regarding the variety of the medium, oil paint can be slathered on the canvas in emotional outbursts or built up in painstaking layers in a search to express the inexpressible. It seemed every physical texture could be mimicked. At the same time oil painting could hint at something far beyond the perceivable.

Jasper: The use of light in your work has a huge impact on the tone--is there anything in particular you consider when deciding the role that light will play in your pieces?

Erley: I once was concerned mainly with the forms that light revealed, how light could sculpt objects, pulling them out of space. I have since come to know light itself as my true subject. I am particularly intrigued by light's duality - how it can both reveal and obscure form. It washes over all and becomes the main actor on the stage of my canvas. I am especially drawn to light that is transitional and fleeting - the pulsing warmth of sunset, the mysterious coolness of moonlight, the shafting radiance through a clouded sky. I employ these various types of light to express my changing emotions. Nature offers a vocabulary of visual equivalents which I use to express these sentiments.

Jasper: Your website states that you prefer to paint "from memory and intuition" as opposed to using photo reference. Why do you feel this way? And how do you think this might impact the concept of "realism," thinking of "realism" as both an art style and a reflection of reality?

Erley: A lot of artists are enslaved by photo images. They think what is shown is reality. But this so-called reality is predigested. The camera has determined the composition and the range of values and color. Things are distorted through the lens.

One antidote is the option of painting from life, experiencing nature firsthand in all its glorious variety. This is a wonderful way to learn the vocabulary of art without  imposing filters. Having followed this approach for a number of years, I found myself disillusioned with the process. Although I could produce a reasonable imitation of nature, there was a certain depth I felt lacking. One can get lost in all the details of the natural world and be unable to see the forest for the trees, so to speak. To quote Pierre Bonnard, “It’s not a matter of painting life, it’s a matter of giving life to painting.”

I felt the need to engage another part of myself in the process of art making. Therefore, I chose to work largely intuitively in the studio. And while I incorporate memory, it is never a one-to-one relationship ("I saw that, so I’ll paint that”). It is a loose recollection of various visual impressions. In the end, I believe the inner, emotional life has as much, if not more, validity than the purely perceptual. For me, that is where true reality resides.

Jasper: You mention poetry several times in your artist statement--if you had to pair a piece from this exhibition with a poet, who might you choose?

Erley: I am referring to a visual poetry rather than a literary one. But seeking an equivalent in the realm of words, perhaps Ralph Waldo Emerson fits the bill. He says so much with so little. For him, the divine can be found in the everyday. My hope is that my paintings too point to something greater than the merely observable, taking you to a place more felt than seen.

Be sure to stop by the Koger Center by March 9th to see Erley’s work for yourself! You certainly won’t regret it.

REVIEW: Steel Magnolias Shines with Heart and Humor at Town Theatre By Jane Peterson

Steel Magnolias, written by Robert Harling, running Thursday through Sunday, February 13-16, at Town Theatre, is not to be missed. While matinee tickets may be sold out, seats are still available for evening performances, so I highly recommend reserving your tickets now. And as a bonus, this show marks the debut of the theater's new, incredibly comfortable seating, which is sure to enhance your experience.

Based on a true story, playwright Harling based the play on his sister. He grew up in Natchitoches and based the characters on some of his mother's friends. He believed that the women in his community were witty and clever, and that the juxtaposition of strength and fragility was typical of Southern women.

A big shout-out to director Allison McNeeley for her expertly crafted direction of this play, bringing a smooth and authentic portrayal of the story to the stage. The staging worked well keeping the characters alive within the set at all times. This is a cast of real people, and you’ll find yourself loving every one of them.

The play centers around a group of six women who gather at Truvy’s Beauty Salon in a small-town in Louisiana to prepare for the wedding of Shelby Eatenton (Zanna Mills) and her beau, Jackson Latcherie. M’Lynn Eatenton (Debra Kiser), Shelby’s mother, is at the heart of the story. Joining them are Truvy (Syhaya Aviel), who runs the salon, a newly hired assistant named Anelle (Emily Clelland), and longtime friends Clairee Belcher (Gayle Stewart) and Ouiser Boudreaux (Kathy Hartzog). These women share a deep bond of friendship, supporting each other through thick and thin. You will laugh and cry with them as their stories unfold.

The chemistry between the cast members is real. Emily Clelland, as the naive and innocent Annelle, brings humor and charm with her well-timed comedic moments and expressive and sincere performance. Syhaya Aviel shines as Truvy, infusing the character with warmth and authenticity, making her incredibly relatable and endearing. Gayle Stewart nails her portrayal of Clairee, delivering her lines with perfect timing, and Kathy Hartzog’s hilarious Ouiser is a character we all know and love.

But the standout performances for me were Debra Kiser as M’Lynn and Zanna Mills as Shelby. Their on-stage relationship is full of heart—both tender and tense, with every moment feeling true to life. Zanna’s portrayal of Shelby radiates a love for life, while her performance through Shelby’s health decline is heartbreakingly real. Watching Zanna grow as an actress over the past few years has been a pleasure—she’s one to watch. And Debra Kiser? Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster. Her performance is nothing short of breathtaking, especially in the final moments of the play. Trust me, bring tissues—Kiser’s performance will leave you in tears.

The creative team also deserves a round of applause. The set design perfectly captures the essence of a beauty salon, while the period-appropriate props and costumes further immerse the audience in the world of the play.

This production is a beautiful blend of humor, heart, and poignant moments, making for a wonderfully entertaining evening at Town Theatre. Don’t miss it!

Tickets are available by calling Town Theatre at 803-799-2510, Tuesday to Friday, 12 noon to 5 pm, or online at towntheatre.com/tickets/.

The Art of Fashion -- SC Designer Diko Pekdemir-Lewis of Anton & Maxine Unveils Spring/Summer '25 collection

For most of us, an elegant fashion show with too-fab creations draped on too-beautiful bodies is something we only get to see on screen. But  Diko Pekdemir-Lewis, of SC’s own artisanal fashion brand, Anton & Maxine, is bringing us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the art of design when she presents an in-house fashion show, En-Cloth-Sure, on Saturday, March 1 from 6 to 8 PM at 713 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC to unveil her Spring/Summer '25 collection.

"After eight years of participating in various fashion shows and twice at New York Fashion Week, this in-house fashion show is my way of giving back to my loyal local customers and friends," says Diko Pekdemir-Lewis, designer and owner of Anton & Maxine. 

"The fashion show will take place right where all of my designs are created, reminiscent of the intimate gatherings once hosted by Chanel and Dior. Guests will enjoy wine and light hors d'oeuvres, followed by a captivating fashion show with close-up views of the models wearing the collection. Attendees can even try on garments and place custom orders directly from the studio, which is an exclusive experience that is becoming rare in today’s fast-paced fashion world."

The show’s title, "En- cloth-sure," is a play on the word "enclosure," inspired by the idea of enclosing fashion in a smaller circle. The collection features Asian-inspired designs, particularly influenced by Pekdemir-Lewis’s favorite designer, Yohji Yamamoto. Expect to see lots of black linen with oversized, loose fits that are perfect for warmer weather, as well as the new coat style.

SC Designer Diko Pekdemir-Lewis

Diko Pekdemir-Lewis is the creative force behind Anton & Maxine, a luxury fashion brand rooted in handmade craftsmanship and elegance. Pekdemir-Lewis’s formal training includes a three-year apprenticeship in bespoke tailoring and dressmaking, followed by a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Arts from Modeschule Schloss Eller in Düsseldorf, Germany. In 2014, Pekdemir-Lewis launched Anton & Maxine, named after her two daughters, Antoinette and Maxine. Now based in Columbia, Anton & Maxine continues to deliver true luxury and quality garments that blend timeless craftsmanship with modern design.

Columbia Children's Theatre's Presents Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience!

Experience the whimsical fun and heartfelt lessons of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience with Columbia Children’s Theatre (CCT), South Carolina’s premier theatre for young audiences and families!

Based on the popular children’s book by Mo Willems, this rockin’ musical follows Wilbur, a naked mole rat who dares to be different by wearing clothes. With catchy songs, vibrant sets, and a message that encourages kids to embrace their unique selves, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is perfect for audiences of all ages.

What makes Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience truly exceptional is its cast of professional performers, many of whom are seasoned veterans of Columbia Children’s Theatre.

With decades of combined experience, the cast includes familiar faces like Sadie Carr, who has enchanted audiences in roles ranging from Toad in A Year with Frog & Toad to the whimsical Alison in Pinkalicious. Joining her is Lee O. Smith, a pillar of CCT since its inception, whose memorable portrayals—like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol—have delighted audiences season after season. Together, they set the tone for a production filled with expertise and love for the craft.

Adding fresh energy to the stage are emerging talents like Samson Seals, balancing a budding nursing career with standout performances as Jack in The Stinky Cheese Man, and Anna Swearingen, a University of South Carolina senior whose vibrant portrayal of Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol captivated audiences. Alongside them, Toby O’Connor and Lilly Thompson bring depth and versatility, having honed their skills in roles across Columbia's theatre scene.

One thing is for sure: this professionally staged production is designed to engage young patrons and families while delivering the high-quality theatrical experience that CCT’s Mainstage performances are known for.

Showtimes & Location:

Performances will be held at Richland Library Sandhills Auditorium (763 Fashion Dr, Columbia, SC 29223) on the following dates:

• Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM

• Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM

Ticket Information:

Join us for an unforgettable weekend of theatre as CCT’s professional actors bring the

magic of this production to life! Tickets are $15 general admission available at

www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com

Roni Henderson in Conversation with Michaela Pilar Brown at Sumter County Gallery of Art This Saturday!

It’s just a short distance to drive out to Sumter County Gallery of Art this Saturday to enjoy two of Columbia’s — actually South Carolina’s — most exciting artists in conversation.

From 1 - 2:30 pm SCGA will present Roni Henderson in conversation with Michaela Pilar Brown. The convo will take place amid the art of SCGA’s current exhibition, Out of this World by Bob Warner and Solace by Roni Henderson.

The SCGA website shares that, “Roni Nicole Henderson is a Columbia, SC-based writer, filmmaker, and photographer. She earned her MFA in Film and Television at Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and film festivals across the country and internationally including Spelman Museum, Atlanta, GA, Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta, GA, Blackstar Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA, New Orleans Film Festival, and the Columbia Museum of Art. Roni’s photography was published in the 2018 release, MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora and in 2017, she self-published a memoir entitled Of Grace and Moons: The Making of Grace. Roni was recently awarded a Columbia Mellon Monuments Fellowship by Wideman-Davis Dance and is currently working to accomplish two creative milestones, publishing her first book of poetry with photographs as well as producing her first feature film, Grace. Roni is represented by Mike Brown Contemporary Gallery, Columbia, SC.

Michaela Pilar Brown is an image and object maker. She studied sculpture and art history at Howard University, though she has always been a maker of things. Born in Bangor, Maine and raised in Denver, Colorado, she cut her teeth in the halls of a museum where her mother worked as a security guard, and has been immersed in the culture of objects, their making and interpretation ever since.” She is “an independent curator and multidisciplinary artist using photography, installation, collage, painting and performance.  Brown is the 2018 grand prize winner of Artfields juried art competition.  She is a 2018 inaugural resident artist of the Volcanic Residency, Whakatane Museum, Whakatane, New Zealand. She was one of the six American artists selected to participate as a Resident Artist for OPEN IMMERSION: A VR CREATIVE DOC LAB produced by the CFC Media Lab, The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and JustFilms | Ford Foundation in Toronto, Canada, an Inaugural Resident Artist at the 2016 Sedona Summer Colony and a 2016 Artist in Residence, Kunstlerwerkgemeinschaft Kaiserslautern, Germany and has held residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and the McColl Center for Art and Innovation.”

Collage artist Bob Warner, whose work is also on exhibit, “is a native Chicagoan, born in 1947. … Warner attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania as an undergraduate student. He studied history at the University of Chicago. Mentored by the acclaimed historian, John Hope Franklin. Warner’s love for History and Jazz is what inspires him. … Warner’s exhibition Out of This World (the title of one of his favorite John Coltrane song) reflects his love of Jazz, Black Studies, Black culture, life experiences, and family. All inform his art. He creates pieces that extol a time, the players, and events of his people. His fascination with cardboard, cloth, textured materials, and a myriad of other tossed away items have redefined his own visual and conceptual vocabulary. His work has been exhibited in Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA and Sumter, SC.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

SCGA is located at 200 Hasel Street in Sumter.

For more information please contact SCGA executive director, Karen Watson.

PHOTO ESSAY by Perry McLeod - Jeffrey Miller Opening/Patrick Davis Concert Harbison Theatre

All Photos Courtesy of Perry McLeod

left to right - Keith Tolen, Jeffrey Miller, Fred Townsend

At Jasper, we can’t stop singing the praises of our friends at Harbison Theatre. Not only does Kristin Cobb and her team place a priority on presenting the best of SC performing arts alongside outstanding touring artists, but they have also welcomed the Jasper Project into their lobby to create a gallery space for local art. Previous Jasper Project featured artists include David Yaghjian, Olga Yukhno, Lori Starnes, Nate Puza and more, and this year we’re currently featuring the silkscreens and woodblocks of visual artist Jeffrey Miller and we have the brilliant painter Rebecca Horne on deck for our fall exhibition.

We kicked off Miller’s exhibition Friday night with an opening reception prior to the presentation of a big night of music by another well-known SC talent, Patrick Davis, and friends. The talented photographer Perry McLeod was on hand to capture some of the special moments that always happen when artists and arts lovers come together to celebrate the unique exchange of energy that is up close and personal art appreciation. Thanks to Perry for sharing these shots below.

Featured artist Jeffrey Miller with copies of Jasper Magazine fall 2024 and Miller article

L-R Cindi Boiter, artist Fred Townsend, featured artist - Jeffrey Miller, Wade Sellers - Jasper board president, Jasper board member Keith Tolen, Jasper board member elect Stan Conine

Jasper Board Member Keith Tolen with board VP Kristin Cobb and Jasper ED Cindi Boiter

David Ryan Harris

L- R — Patrick Davis, Maggie Rose, David Ryan Harris, Gabe Dixon

ESSAY: The Free Times 2024 Power List, A Response by Cindi Boiter

The yearly designation of the Midlands’ most powerful people, provided by our friends at the Post and Courier’s Free Times, always creates ambivalent feelings for me, as well as others, I’ve been told. This year, I was happy to play a small part of the nomination process and see recognition given to many of the folks I nominated. But, as always, I was perplexed by the concept of the project and what its purpose is.

The Free Times Power List 2024, published December 18th, seeks to recognize 30 of the Midlands’ most influential arts, food, and cultural leaders. The criteria for acknowledgement are growth, innovative programming, and bringing national attention to the area, like Lula Drake’s Tim Gardner whose rightful place on the list was established when he won Columbia’s first ever James Beard award and the Kiki and Tyrone Cyrus team at Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, who also received acclaim in the James Beard competition. Robbie Robinson of City Limits Barbeque was recognized, as well.

Clearly, restaurant owners who frequently put their own financial livelihoods on the line are deserving of praise, especially those like Kristian Niemi who is committed not just to his patrons but also to the local farmers who provide the food for his restaurants. Restaurants are essentially small businesses but they can have a large impact on their communities by providing gathering spaces where we all feed both our appetites and our culture. The team at Transmission Arcade is a great example of a group seeing a city need and addressing it head-on with fun and innovative programming. But missing from this year’s list are the owners of coffee houses, like Greg Slattery and Sandra Moscato of Curiosity Coffee Bar, who provide places where patrons gather to scheme and collaborate on projects that make us better. Slattery and Moscato are absolute warriors for the health and care of their corner of Columbia. Jasper honors them.

Some of the most deserving recipients of this year’s honors were organization leaders like Nate Terracio (Koger Center for the Arts) and Kristin Cobb (Harbison Theatre) who have used their pivoting power to open their stages to local artists and arts organizations and they have done so without slapping their names on the logos of the organizations they represent. Of  late, we’ve seen free concerts and performances on Koger’s new stages and in their lobby. Harbison Theatre has welcomed many local artists and arts groups onto their stage. And both theatres are the homes to Jasper Gallery sites where we are privileged to present the work of exclusively Midlands area artists.

Kudos to Free Times for shining a light on the work and generous spirits of a nice handful of local artists like Ija Monet, Terrance Henderson, Michaela Pilar Brown, Sean Rayford, and the unofficial mayor of the Congaree Vista, Clark Ellefson. The list of powerful artists could have included dozens of names, but I am thankful for what we got and honor those recipients with pride and admiration.

It was also encouraging to read that Dr. Bobby Donaldson was included in this year’s list as perhaps the most deserving recipient of the honor. Donaldson’s accomplishments represent the best example of an individual working for the greater good without asking for anything in return. I’d love to see more folks like Donaldson recognized for their visions for a better Columbia and a better South Carolina.

But how does one separate and compare the work of rectifying history, like Donaldson does,  with that of making menus and making art? Food, arts, and culture, the three areas where Free Times looked for leaders, are overlapping zones in the Venn diagram of community life with food and art being among the most meaningful contributors to culture.

I have other questions.

Does a Power Person have to be well-paid or even paid at all for their work? Where does volunteerism come into play? I ask this because, and I’m only a little tongue-in-cheek here, I personally know an entire board of directors who work the equivalent of part-time jobs and more to support their organizations and the people they serve. I bet you do, too, and I bet you’re not even thinking of the same organization I am. (Yes, I’m unapologetically thinking of the Jasper Project team and how much I love to sing their praises for the tireless efforts they make to nurture the arts.)

Does the Power Person have to do the work themselves or does the work of the minions below them count as their contribution, too? I mean there’s a lot of dollar signs represented by some of this year’s power people. A lot of fur coats, fancy cars, and trips to Mexico, too. Can a Power Person do the exact same job year after year after year and still be recognized? Does it matter if the organization a Power Person represents is a frequent advertiser with the Post and Courier? I hope not, but I’ve heard that rumor, too. And while we’re at it, should a Power Person be recognized for essentially doing the job they are paid to do? How much money do some of these 501c3 Power People make anyway and how much of their salaries comes from the pockets of Soda Citizens?

Finally, what exactly is the point of the Power List? It harkens me back to school days when popularity was weirdly the goal for so many people. I know few people who didn’t suffer at least a little angst about whether they would be accepted or rejected by their peers. I’d like to think most of us have grown out of that by now. Singling out individuals who, if you followed the rules of the popularity pecking order, were even better than their peers via projects like “senior superlatives,” which I see as the seed of projects like the Power List, was an even more stark way of separating the bad from the good and the good from the better. That said, I married a “Most Likely to Succeed” high school senior superlative recipient and, what can I say? He was and is, so what do I know?

To those who deservingly found themselves on this ostensibly elite list of individuals, congratulations and keep it going. We are genuinely proud of and happy for you. To those who found themselves there whether they deserved to be or not, this means we’re watching you and what you do with your power even more. And to those who were completely overlooked, go forward with the knowledge that  your work matters if it matters to you. Arbitrary lists and accolades are less important than the people you affect with your talents, generosity of spirit, and good work.

~~~

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Jasper Project. We love what we do, and we’re trying to grow better without growing bigger so we can stay true to our mission to be public servants of the arts in the greater SC Midlands Community. Thank you for your support and thank you for reading Jasper Magazine and Jasper Online!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

(Full Disclosure: Kristin Cobb, executive director of Harbison Theatre at MTC is a board member of the Jasper Project Board of Directors. There is no financial exchange related to the profits made for artists or Jasper between any of Jasper’s Gallery sites and the businesses that host them. Also, this column was offered to Free Times as an installment in this writer’s regular column, Further Consideration, but was pleasantly and respectably passed on)

FINNEY CENTER Presents BE THE LIGHT Holiday Celebration Saturday Dec. 21st --FREE!

This Saturday, December 21 from noon to 4:00 PM, the Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Cultural Arts Center is hosting a FREE holiday celebration at 1510 Laurens Street for everyone with holiday treats, children’s books, and special guests. 

“Be the Light: A Celebration of Community for the Holidays” will also feature a giveaway of 20 smoked turkeys from Railroad BBQ

“On the 21st of December, we will celebrate the magical Winter Solstice and our beloved community with music, food, crafts, and free gifts,” said Nikky Finney, poet and director of the Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Cultural Arts Center. 

Event host and emcee, MASTER SPLNTA (formerly FatRat Da Czar) said, “As I get older, I love to attend and participate in events curated for the entire family, grandparents down to the little ones. Not only am I honored to host the event, I’m even more proud to be working with an organization whose leadership’s values align so closely with mine.”

“Everyone is welcome to join this celebration!," said event coordinator Janet Parenti. “Located right at the edge of Historic Waverly, The Finney Center honors the rich legacy of one of Columbia’s oldest and proudest neighborhoods. Much like Hip-Hop Family Day, this event aims to connect an intergenerational audience celebrating the light of elders, parents, children, and community members through a fun shared experience.”

Visit TheFinneyCenter.com for a full event schedule and to register for this free, ticketed event. 

Holiday Movie Recs from Columbia’s Arts Scene by Liz Stalker

Looking for your next holiday watch? Look no further than these fantastic recommendations from some of Columbia’s local artists and supporters!

Kwasi Brown, musician and founder of Black Nerd Mafia, says that his favorite holiday movie is Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story (1983). “I’ve watched A Christmas Story every year since I was a kid, it’s the best Christmas movie of all time and it’s not even close. I could quote it all day.” His favorite quotable moment is when the narrator, Jean Shepherd, describes Randy Parker hiding from some bullies, delivering the iconic lines, “Randy laid there like a slug. It was his only defense.”

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

"I triple-dog-dare ya!"

"Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man."

Tayler Simon, founder of Liberation is Lit, a popup bookstore that seeks to uplift indie authors and serve the Columbia community, says, “My favorite holiday movie is an absolute classic: The Preacher’s Wife [(Marshall, 1996)]. Whitney Houston’s soundtrack and Denzel Washington as an angel deserves more hype than it gets! For the last few years, I’ve loved sharing this movie with friends who haven’t seen it (and trying to keep my singing to a minimum, and then watching it again to sing to my heart’s desire). This used to be one of my mom’s favorite movies we would watch throughout the year! I love when we get to watch together.”

Actress Bella Coletti, currently playing the part of Pickles in Trustus Theater’s production of The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical, says The Santa Clause movie trilogy is her favorite holiday watch, though she admits they run in the background of her festivities. “I love The Santa Clause movies,” she says. “They bring back so many fun memories of decorating the Christmas tree with my family and making chocolate crinkle cookies with my mom.”

Painter and photographer Quincy Pugh says, “I’m likely one of the few people who does not have a favorite holiday movie. I enjoy watching, This Christmas, primarily because of the strong matriarch played by Loretta Devine. She reminds me of the strong mother figures in my life. The music is pretty good as well.” Though he loves This Christmas (Whitmore, 2007), Pugh also notes, “Since I live with someone who most definitely has a favorite holiday film, I have to say that my seasonal rewatch, It’s a Wonderful Life [(Capra, 1946], is heavily influenced by their viewing tradition and love for this film. I enjoy it as well.”

Lori Starnes, a visual artist whose “HomeGrown” collection is currently being shown at 701 Whaley, has an unconventional holiday rewatch tradition–Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz (1939). “My favorite holiday movie, hands down, is The Wizard of Oz,” she says. “I realize that it isn't about Christmas or any other holiday, however, it has been the one that I've watched each and every Christmas season for as long as I can remember.”

Last but certainly not least, Jasper’s own editor in chief, Cindi Boiter, says her favorite holiday movie is Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), adding, “My favorite quote is spoken by George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, to his mother during Harry Bailey’s welcome home party. His mother nudges him to visit Mary Hatch, his future wife played by Donna Reed. George responds, ‘Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?’ The film has so many special moments: Bert and Ernie serenading the newlyweds in the rain, George embracing the broken finial on the newel post he was cursing the evening before, George forgiving and consoling Mr. Gower, the pharmacist. I find something new to love about the movie every year.”

"Youth is wasted on the wrong people."

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."

As we approach the holidays, we hope you’ll join Jasper as we continue to celebrate the people who make up Columbia’s incredibly vibrant local arts scene.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS with SC Philharmonic, Cola Rep Dance Co, Columbia Choral Society, Michael Hazin, Camm Wess, Cat Galan, Johnnie Felder and SANTA!!!

The South Carolina Philharmonic presents Home for the Holidays on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM at the Koger Center for the Arts under the baton of Music Director Morihiko Nakahara. The SC Philharmonic is bringing this community celebration back to the Koger Center for one night only after last season’s inaugural performance. As this concert is a holiday-themed variety show, the orchestra will be joined by singers CammWess (The Voice, Team John Legend), Cat Galan (Stankface, Boomtown Trio), Michael Hazin (musical theatre performer) and opera singer Johnnie Felder. The concert includes two performances by Cola Rep Dance Co. The Columbia Choral Society also comes to the stage for the thrilling second act. Finally, Santa will also be on hand for any last-minute requests. This joyful concert is a creative collaboration between Music Director Morihiko Nakahara and director Chad Henderson, the former Artistic Director of Trustus Theatre and current Marketing Director of the SC Phil. Tickets may be purchased by visiting scphilharmonic.com or by calling the Koger Center Box Office at 803-251-2222. 

Home for the Holidays is one of the last large-scale holiday-themed events of the season, with the performance scheduled on December 19th. This concert is a great way to entertain family and friends who have gathered for the holidays, and to those who are looking for new traditions. Created in collaboration with Music Director Morihiko Nakahara and local theatre director Chad Henderson, this concert promises to be an energetic experience that celebrates the Midlands arts scene. “This concert is a salute to our community,” said Director Chad Henderson. “Last year, we started out trying to create an exciting program of joyous music that would set performers up to shine with an orchestra. Once we got into the weeds, we realized we had created a multidisciplinary celebration of home.” The creative team of Nakahara and Henderson leaned into that aspect with more intentionality this season. 

Columbia Choral Society

Audiences can expect to hear holiday classics like Bing Crosby’s Jingle Bells, Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song and Leroy Anderson’s festive holiday treat: Sleigh Ride. Opera singer Johnnie Felder will join Cat Galan for a very special performance of The Prayer - made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion. The Columbia Choral Society will join the orchestra for arrangements of Twas the Night Before Christmas and selections from John Williams’ Home Alone score, among others.

“Without giving everything away, we have some special surprises planned for our audience,” said Henderson. “With this concert being so late in December, we are really focused on creating an evening for families and friends. A lot of folks are about to travel to other places at that time, and so many are returning home as well. This concert is a great way to get into the spirit, and to be awed by the talent we have in the Midlands. We’re also collaborating with one of my favorite colleagues: lighting designer Marc Hurst. You’re going to get some epic musical experiences out of this one.” 

The SC Philharmonic’s Home for the Holidays will take the Koger Center stage on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM at. Concert ticket prices range from $25 to $55, and they can be purchased at scphilharmonic.com or by calling the Koger Center Box Office (803) 251-2222.

 For more information about the South Carolina Philharmonic, please visit SCPhilharmonic.com 

Join Jasper for Vista Lights this Thursday - featuring Lisa Alberghini, Adam Corbett, Karen Sargent, Candace Catoe, Carla Damron, and Valerie Lamott

by Cindi Boiter

In my heart I’m just now switching over from sandals and sundresses to blue jeans and boot weather, but in my brain the calendar tells me that the holidays are sneaking up on us and I think I have to believe it. Unless we’re deep in the darkest timeline, which isn’t out of the question, numbers don’t lie. This Thursday is November 21st and that means Vista Lights is happening this week. Already.

Luckily, the Jasper Team has been at the planning table and we have an evening of local art and festivities planned for you when you join us on Thursday, November 21 at 6 pm at Coal Powered Filmworks at 1217 Lincoln Street in Columbia’s historic Vista. As usual, we’ll have a fun roster of local artists who will be sharing their wares – ornaments, jewelry, small art, surprises!

Among our featured artists are Lisa Alberghini, Adam Corbett, Karen Sargent, Candace Catoe, Carla Damron, and Valerie LaMott!

We’ll have some light snacks, friendly faces, and loads of good cheer as we pretend our political world is still on its axis and we take refuge in the reciprocated pretense of joy on all your smiling faces.

There may be booze.

Join us!

An Evening of Art – Opening Receptions for Exhibits by Janet Swigler and Christina Clark at the Koger Center

By Emily Moffitt, Visual Arts Editor, Jasper Magazine

Join us on Friday, November 22, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. for two art receptions at the Koger Center for the Arts. In the Nook on the second floor of the Koger Center, Jasper Galleries welcomes Janet Swigler. On the ground floor of the Koger Center, walls will be adorned with the work of Christina Clark. Both artists work with abstract forms and subject matter, yet in different ways that engage the viewer.

Janet Swigler moved around the United States often at a young age due to her Air Force family upbringing, but this had a beneficial impact on her adaptability, independence, and resourcefulness. She spent several of her pre-teen years living in Japan, which offered cultural aesthetics and philosophies that continue to influence her art and life. This, along with her musical training and experience in music education, created a synergy of artistic disciplines and ideas that transferred easily to the work she creates. Sewing has been a lifelong interest of hers, and her quilt-making studies under Nancy Crow helped her to reach where she is today.

Christina Clark, originally from Austria, descended from a family of artists and musicians. To this day, she surrounds herself with the joyous energy of visual arts and music through her own personal artistic endeavors and her philanthropic service to the University of South Carolina School of Music. Clark carefully considers the viewer’s experience when she starts to put pastel to paper. Recently, Clark created a series of pieces that served as companions to the Parker Quartet’s Beethoven Quartet cycle. Clark embraces the conversation that music can have with her work and is honored to be able to keep that conversation going through her donations.

Both receptions are free and open to the public. They precede the sold-out performance of Koger Center and ColaJazz present: Live in the Lobby Jazz: The Music of Miles Davis. There’s a lot going on in the Vista that night, including a concert at Colonial Life Arena, so be mindful of parking and get to the receptions early!