Jasper Welcomes SC Photo Artists to the Jasper Alley at Tapp's for First Thursday in July

Cindi Boiter June 27, 2026

The Jasper Project is excited to announce our July First Thursday lineup for the Jasper Alley at Tapp’s. Still Here is a group photography exhibition featuring the work of SC photographers Jackson Campbell, Perry McLeod, Nora Williams, Alexander McDonald, Jr., and TuJuan “TJ” Huiett.

Please join us on Thursday, July 2nd from 6 – 8:30 PM to view their photography and spend some quality time with all of our artists. There will be wine & beer for purchase, music (TBA), and new issues of Jasper Magazine. When you enter the building through the front door at 1644 Main Street, head all the way to the right where you’ll find the Jasper Alley. Our featured artists will be on hand to answer questions about their work and processes.

Featured Artists

Alexander McDonald, Jr.

Alexander S. McDonald Jr. is a photographer whose studio has been the American highway for eighteen years. A long-haul truck driver by trade, he has crossed nearly every road in this country – building a quiet, sustained practice of documenting what most people drive past without seeing. His work focuses on landscape, sky, and the charged stillness of in-between places: cloud formations, mountain ranges, open plains, and overlooked roadside moments. McDonald's images don't reach for spectacle. They reach for honesty – the feeling of a place, alight a second that insists on being remembered. He is based on the road and everywhere in between.

Perry McLeod

Perry McLeod is a Fullbright scholar, retired high school teacher, a photographer and avid traveler. He shoots sports, concerts, events, “and just about anything else I can point a camera at,” he says. “I love photography! Every day is a new adventure and I just want to capture the moments that will make people stop and think. Make people want to make a change. Make people smile. Make people go –‘Damn’ or ‘Nice’ or ‘Wow,” he says. “Photography is the most perfect art - we all get moments that will never happen again. It's frozen in time forever - how cool is that?”

A USC alumnus, McLeod taught Social Studies and Digital Media Production in both Richland District One and Richland District Two for 31 years. During his teaching career, he established a digital media production program at Richland Northeast High School, which fueled his love for photography and his fascination with video production. After retiring from education, McLeod's passion for photography continued to grow, and he has worked for several local and national media outlets. In addition to photography, McLeod has a deep love for travel. He says, "When I travel, my mind races with all the new things around me. I see a face, an old building, or an amazing vista, and I have to capture that moment." He believes that "a photograph is magic!"

Nora Williams

Nora Williams was born and raised in South Carolina. As a fine-art, documentary artist, she explores the complexities of identity, place, and history in the American South. Her work examines themes of resilience, belonging, and social change, often focusing on underrepresented narratives.

Williams’ photographs have been exhibited in galleries that include the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art. Williams has covered stories for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. She is an FAA-certified drone pilot and a member of Black Women Photographers, Diversify Photo, NPPA, and Alternate Roots. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography at the University of South Carolina.

TaJuan "TJ" Huiett

A photographer based in Columbia, South Carolina, Huiett says his work is “all about capturing the real and raw moments of life through the lens of my camera. I’m inspired by documentary style photography and strive to tell authentic stories through my images. As an African American artist, I also aim to showcase the diversity and beauty of Black culture and experience. My love for travel has taken me all over the world, allowing me to capture stunning landscapes and unique cultural environments.” He continues, “I hope my photography can transport you to a different time and pace and make you see the world in a new light.”

Jackson Campbell

Jackson Campbell is a photographer based in Columbia, South Carolina. His work moves between abstraction and observation, often focusing on atmosphere, form, and texture. His images balance recognizable subjects with mood-driven compositions.

The Jasper photography exhibition Still Here will be on view in the Jasper Alley at Tapp’s throughout July and until the first week of August.

Spotlight on Jasper's Featured Artists in the Jasper Alley at Tapp's in June: Jackie Bobo, Michael Morris Zamora, and Barry J. White

Cindi Boiter June 24, 2026

This month, Jasper is featuring three artists in the Jasper Alley at Tapp’s that we want to make sure everyone knows about—Jackie Bobo, Barry J. White, and Michael Morris Zamora.

Barry J. White is a Blythewood, SC-based self-taught multi-disciplinary artist whose works center the beauty, strength, and vulnerability of Black men. Guided by intuition, personal experience, and emotion, Barry’s paintings explore themes of identity and self-acceptance through expressive realism and atmospheric color.

Barry’s work has been featured in the following exhibitions For the People, Crowned by the Roots, Jasper Degenerate Arts II, as well as at Gemini Arts, Stormwater Studios, Roc Bottom Studio, and Drummond Studios. His work has been recognized for its depth, honesty, and visual storytelling.

White says that his exhibition at the Jasper Alley has given me the confidence to start working on more pieces daily. I'm creating a collection I'm naming, I Drew Him. It's a collection of people that I have known over the years that inspire my current artistic expression. My next show is By Any Means, curated by KELA, with the opening reception on Juneteenth at REDUX Studio in Charleston, SC.”

Continuing, White says he is inspired by many local artists including Dre Lopez, Skrilla, Cam Moore, Keith Tolan, Damion Johnson, Sanford Greene, Jahnna Blyden, Ija Monet, and Tyrone Geter, but he really appreciates the work of his show-mate, Jackie Bobo, saying, “I can't look at Jackie's work without thinking about the kindness she extends to the people around her. Before I ever spent time with her artwork, Jackie encouraged me to embrace vulnerability and find the courage to share my own art and show up as my authentic self. That same spirit lives inside her paintings. In her work, what's typically viewed as different or spooky becomes a strength instead of something to hide or be ashamed of. Little Lonely Ghost feels less like sadness and more like an invitation to be seen. Her "Happy Spooky" aesthetic reminds me that belonging isn't about fitting in, it's about showing up as your authentic self. Spending time with her art feels like receiving permission to take up space exactly as you are.”

Jackie Bobo is the vibrant force behind Bobo to the Max, an art practice and brand that creates emotionally immersive art and experiences inviting people to feel deeply, express fully, and belong as their most vivid selves.

Informed by nearly a decade as a speech-language pathologist—and more than three decades of living at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and neurodivergence—Bobo approaches painting as its own language, one capable of holding nuance from the playful to the profound.

Through her signature “Happy Spooky” aesthetic—bright, bold colors paired with ghosts, spiders, and other whimsically macabre motifs—her work explores what it means to unmask, authentically connect, and belong. Each piece acts as a symbol of self-acceptance, affirming that belonging doesn’t mean blending in—it means revealing who you already are.

Bobo, who is currently an artist-in-residence with One Columbia for Arts & Culture at the Garage Studio, says she is “in the ideation phase of another immersive experience, but I'm being intentionally tight-lipped about it for now!”

About her show-mate Barry J White, Bobo says, “Barry captures the power, in both strength and tenderness, of Black masculinity in a way that's magnetic. His work makes you feel, in real time, suspended between society's limited understanding of and ability to hold space for Black masculinity, showcased through his daring vulnerability and technical skill.”

Michael Morris Zamora was born in Puerto Rico to a South Carolinian father and a Puerto Rican mother. Mostly self-taught, he began creating art at the age of ten, and by fourteen, was painting in oil and acrylic mediums with a tendency toward abstract expressionism.

A chemist, film actor, writer, poet, and drummer, in Puerto Rico Zamora is also a Certified Artisan specializing in wood carving and sculpting, harkening back to his childhood interests in iron sculpting, wood carving, miniature buildings installations, and jewelry-making from natural seeds and seashells. In 1972 he published some of his first poems and stories. In 1980 he published his poetry book, Telarañas (translated, Cobwebs).

Zamora also taught elementary art and later studied art at the San Juan Art Students League under Professors Rafael Rivera Ortiz (drawing and painting), and Hiram Rosado Poupart (ceramics).

According to Barry J. White, “I've met Michael on several occasions, and what stands out immediately is his warmth. He's a natural storyteller, always ready with a conversation, and he has a genuine enthusiasm that makes people feel welcome. That same sense of curiosity seems to carry into his artwork. Michael's paintings move between dreams, emotions, memory, and abstraction. Two pieces that especially resonate with me are Depression and Dreaming in Green. While very different in mood, both feel deeply human. Depression captures a quiet heaviness and vulnerability, while Dreaming in Green feels expansive, imaginative, and full of possibility. Michael’s paintings don't simply depict a subject; they create space for reflection and emotion. Like the stories he tells from his life experiences, they stay with you long after you've walked away.”

Bobo agrees adding, “Michael's work makes me feel like I've found a visual escape hatch from this reality into a world where my thoughts, galloping as they may be, are supported by his artistry the whole time. His use of color and the integration of various subjects on his canvases invite ease and reflection while maintaining presence—like a daydream.”

Zamora returns the sentiments about both his show-mates. “When I met Jackie for the first time in person at the Jasper Magazine release party a couple of months ago, it was a magical moment. For some reason, we recognized ourselves immediately,” he says. “Since we were notified we were going to be in the June Tapps show together I was touched by the magical vibrance of her creations. Her work and personal energy really synchronized with me and we spent over an hour engaged in a wonderful exchange of ideas and artistic views.”

He continues, “About Barry I can say we connected from the first moment as well. He is such a humble being with a spiritual aura that you can feel every time you coincide with him on any artistic venue. His sensibility can be felt both on his great artistic expression and his person as well. [Barry is] always ready for a fraternal hug with his contagious smile. I feel so honored by being with both great artists. Thanks to the Jasper Project for this memorable experience.”

The work of all three artist will remain on display at the Jasper Alley at Tapp’s until the end of June when the group photography exhibition, Still Here, is installed. Still Here features the work of Jackson Campbell, Perry McLeod, Nora Williams, Alexander McDonald, Jr., and TaJuan "TJ" Huiett.

Read about showing YOUR work via one of the Jasper Project’s gallery spaces throughout the city and apply today!

It's FIRST THURSDAY & JASPER is BACK ON MAIN STREET - As well as at our LAST FIRST THURSDAY at SOUND BITES!

Cindi Boiter April 2, 2026

Hey Jasper Family! We’re excited today because TONIGHT we’re celebrating that the Jasper Project is BACK ON MAIN STREET!

Please join us tonight as Jasper features not one, but two great Columbia-area visual artists sharing their talents with the world!

Start out by popping into Sound Bites Eatery for (sadly) our last First Thursday gallery opening event. We have loved our time at Sound Bites and can’t express enough gratitude for Terri Mac and the gracious Sound Bites team that has always made us feel so welcome. But due to a change in their hours of operation under new ownership, we won’t be able to continue our stewardship there any longer. (But you better believe we’ll still be stopping in for delicious lunches and great service!)

So, Jasper is celebrating our Sound Bites swan song by featuring the unique art of Jessica Ream tonight!

Unbinding: A Tale of the Book That Never Was – Jessica Ream Opening Reception - SOUND BITES 5:30 - 8

Jessica Ream was born in Columbus, Ohio early in the year 1990, but was raised in Carolina suburbia. She attended Savannah College of Art and Design where she graduated with honors and a BFA in Painting. A jack-of-all trades artist, she incorporates her knowledge of painting, photography, print, sewing and sculpture into her mixed media, abstract pieces.

In recent years, she has rediscovered her love of hand binding books. While mainly self taught, she was first introduced to the world of book arts in a workshop she attended while studying abroad. Her hand bound journals are made from a mix of traditional materials and rebound, vintage books.

After spending the time in the High Rockies of Colorado, she and her husband have returned to their southeastern, coastal origins, where they reside with their son and newborn daughter.
(Full disclosure —Jessica is also a new member of the Jasper Project Board of Directors, but this show has been scheduled long before she joined our board.)

After you’ve checked out Jessica’s work come on over to the Shoppes at Tapp’s for the opening of the Jasper Alley at Tapp’s. As mentioned, our featured artist for April is Jarid Lyfe Brown.

The Jasper Alley at Tapp's with April's Featured Artist - Jarid Lyfe Brown

Born in Atlanta and raised in Columbia, Brown has lived in Gilbert for the last 17 years. A construction worker by day for the past 30 years, Brown attended SCAD but is, for the most part, self-taught. His work will occupy the Jasper Alley which is located on the far right side of the building.

Jarid’s work is incredibly evocative and can run the gamut from whimsical to terrifying, but it’s always interesting and it always commands that the viewer spend some time with at the painting and enjoy the process.

We’re delighted to feature both of these fine artists and hope you’ll visit us at both venues.

Happy First Thursday from all of us at Jasper!

Announcing The Jasper Alley at Tapp’s With Our Inaugural First Thursday Opening Reception - April 2nd Featuring Jarid Lyfe Brown!

Cindi Boiter March 23, 2026

We’re Back!

In service to our mission of finding and programming gallery spaces for Midlands-area artists wherever we can, The Jasper Project is delighted to announce that we are back on Main Street starting on Thursday April 2nd and we’re featuring Jarid Lyfe Brown as our first First Thursday Artist!

That’s right, we’re back! In partnership with our host, the Shoppes at Tapp’s, Jasper will be presenting group and solo shows right on Main Street once again and we couldn’t be happier! Our friends at the Shoppes at Tapp’s have graciously allocated a nice long corridor to the right of the showroom where, starting in April, you’ll find Jasper-curated art from our beloved local artists—and we’re naming it The Jasper Alley at Tapp’s.

We’re so happy to welcome the art of Jarid Lyfe Brown to these welcoming walls!

Jarid Lyfe Brown lives in Gilbert, SC. He was born in 1974 and, as a young artist, earned a perfect score of 5 for the portfolio he entered into an AP art contest at Harvard University. Brown was awarded a scholarship to attend Savannah College of Art and Design in 1992. From 1994 until the present, Brown has mounted multiple shows in locations that ranged from galleries to coffee shops around SC, NC, and Michigan. Brown says, “I paint every day, and complete around 7-10 new paintings per month.” Brown is married and has three children. When he is not painting, he is doing construction work and thinking about what he'll paint next.

For his artist’s statement Brown writes, “All of my hard work is about everyday life. It is hard to predict or explain because I submit myself to create in an unplanned method. I paint from what I hear, learn, experience, opinions, perspectives, joy, hurt, and reactions. It may make sense or not at all, and that is similar to life. I just want to be raw and honest, but not crude. I try to paint directly and literally. I enjoy literature and writing so I apply that to my painting. I also enjoy an attempt to bridge expressionism to realism and I don’t want to be classified as either. I want to be better, different, or more in all of these experiences. I use animals to express mindsets and characteristics of a person.”

We’ll be announcing our full line-up for 2026 soon, but for now, be sure to add The Jasper Alley at Tapp’s to your First Thursday agenda. Stop by to have a beer or a glass of vino, view Jarid’s exhibition, chat with the artist, and bump into all your old and new First Thursday Friends.

We’re back on Main, y’all and we’re so happy to be there!