Jasper Presents Acclaimed Artist Stephen Chesley for Third Thursday Art Night at The Nook - September 21st

Please join the Jasper Project as we welcome acclaimed visual artist Stephen Chesley to Jasper’s little corner of the Koger Center — The Nook — a rotating 2nd floor gallery space for featuring some of the best of the Midlands visual artists.

According to Chesley, “This exhibition is the result of ghost prints from direct painting in a variant style of Sumi Japanese ink drawings. The inclusion of an Asian aesthetic in the manner of Zen brush drills is to obtain emotional content through understanding abstraction of tone and form. The sheer thousands in volume of process has the intent of teaching one's understanding of autography and brushstroke. The yin-yang of black and white references balance of nature embellished with concepts of summary outline and simultaneous contrast set forth by Ogden Rood's 1879 color treatise notably embraced by George Seurat.”

Sumi-e, which means back ink painting, is typically described as art created in monochrome with the use of sumi ink and handmade paper.

Chesley goes on to say that, “Images in this exhibition are a unique hybrid of direct painting and printmaking. Elements of mysticism in these works emanate from ideas of forerunners Morris Graves, Paul Gauguin, Walter Anderson, and George Inness, who all sought to reveal the spirit world always before us.”

Chesley continues, “These figure ground pieces present and lyrical and poetic rendering of the gift of the sublime ordinary found in life and nature. All life, both animate and inanimate, is in consideration of treatises of physics including: Big Bang, singularity, and concepts of deep time. It is apparent that we share atoms with all things and that there is unfathomable structure and connection that is universal, timeless, and infinite. Human sentience is not the only sentience. As we look at landscapes, trees, animals, plants, waves, clouds, and stars, we look at ourselves.”

Stephen Chesley was born in Schenectady, New York in 1952. He exhibited a natural proclivity for drawing and art almost as soon as he could hold pastels and pencils, which were often Christmas gifts from his family. Growing up in Virginia Beach in the late 1950s, he was exposed to the Beat Generation of musicians, artists, and writers when it was still a seasonal seaside resort. Self-motivated, he continued with his drawing and small paintings along with exposure to local artists. Recognized in 1981 by the Columbia Museum of Art as an emerging talent, he went on to win top 100 in the first National Parks competition of 1987. He continues his creative journey with an art spirit in Columbia, SC.

We are delighted to welcome Stephen Chesley to The Nook and invite you to view his work throughout September and October, and to join us for a small reception Thursday, September 21st from 5:30 - 7 pm.

Koger Center Opens Colin Dodd Exhibition on Artistic Freedom and Expression

On Wednesday, April 12, from 6pm–8pm, the Koger Center is opening a new show in their Upstairs Gallery by local artist Colin Dodd. The show, titled Artists and Autocrats, explores the tension between those who have the freedom to create art and those who have limited the creation of art. 

Dodd was born in Northumberland and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne in the Northeast of England where he lived and studied through college, but he decided to move to the United States in 1980 to attend the University of South Carolina for graduate school. Soon after, he graduated with his master’s degree in fine art with a major in painting and minor in printmaking.

From his graduation in the mid-80s until his retirement in 2018, Dodd taught a plethora of art classes at Midlands Technical College. While he, of course, enjoyed teaching painting, which is his normal medium, one of his favorite courses to teach was “Film as Art.”

“I enjoyed teaching the course titled Film as Art (because I am a film buff, cineaste, cinephile etc.),” he shares, “I could encompass as much of film history as I was able to in the time allowed and I could also concentrate on the works of some of my favorite directors.” 

Dodd enjoys a multitude of genres, actually, having published his “first (and perhaps only!)” novel in 2021: Elgin Lost His Marbles, a satire on returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece that he was inspired to begin writing on the plane after a trip to the Parthenon and the New Acropolis Museum. 

His main medium, painting, is similarly inspired by history and the journeys people make to return to themselves or express themselves. This goal is highlighted, specifically in this current exhibition. As he notes, while “Western liberal democracy has nurtured freedom of expression and an environment in which artists have been able to create without fear of persecution for their ideas,” artists who create in “states ruled by autocrats and dictators have consistently…had to fear for their very existence because their ideas did not align with those of the ruling authority.” 

Dodd acknowledges that there is still progress to be made when it comes to minorities and oppressed groups even in Western places of dwelling, asserting that “I think there has been significant change in terms of opportunities which did not exist until quite recently, that would appear to be progress, but it has to be fought for every day in the political sphere.” 

His work is part of this fight, which he enters by contrasting modernists who successfully expressed their life experiences through art with the depictions of autocrats and dictators who inflicted suffering and limited the fundamental right of citizens and artists by controlling their voices. When asked what he believes is a representative part of this exhibition and something he hopes people experience if nothing else, Dodd shared the following: 

The exhibition includes portraits of two film directors, Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Parajanov, both of whom suffered the consequence of living in a totalitarian state. Eisenstein was prohibited from making films for a period of time because his work did not conform to the approved Soviet style. Parajanov was imprisoned in the Soviet gulag for four years (1973 - 1977) due in part to his Armenian/Georgian ethnicity and his nonconformist work.  Despite the efforts of the Soviet authorities to suppress, censor, punish and silence these individuals, they succeeded. How? Because their work has survived, and it is celebrated today by audiences around the world.  The creative act is a rebellious act, especially when it applies to those whose existence might be in peril for that very act of creation. 

Seeing this exhibition is a chance to not only experience this tension and fight for expression but to support a local artist who represents the voice of our state. Dodd just recently had a painting accepted in the State Museum’s permanent collection, a “gratifying acknowledgement of [his] working presence here in South Carolina,” and has shared his local voice abroad as part of travelling group show—the "Rainforest Art Exhibition" organized by Taiwanese born artist Marlene Tseng Yu that was displayed in both the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan and the Las Vegas Museum of Art. 

Even if you cannot make it to the Opening Reception, you can drop by to see Dodd’s work any time before it comes down on July 2.

Jasper Talks with Lindsay Holler Ahead of the Southern Sounds Music Festival

For the first time, the Koger Center will host a free, outdoor music festival on April 30th, 2023, from 5 to 8 p.m. The festival, titled “Southern Sounds Music Festival,” continues the “Southern Sounds” series that the Koger Center started earlier this year. The featured acts are Lindsay Holler, Rebekah Todd and Admiral Radio, with the latter being the act to introduce the series altogether. Now that Lindsay Holler has moved from the Lowcountry to the capital city, she has gotten to really start feeling for the magic of Columbia music performance. We spoke to Lindsay Holler about what it’s like to be a part of this lineup, becoming a part of the ever-growing Columbia music scene, and more.

Jasper: What’s the one thing you’re most excited about with this music festival?

Holler: I’m in the process of finishing recording a new record, so this show is an opportunity for my band and I to start taking these new songs and studio arrangements and working them out on stage. From my experience, songs can sometimes take on a new life when they migrate from studio to stage.

Jasper: This is the first free music festival of this scale produced by the Koger Center. How does it feel to be a part of a brand-new project like this?

Holler: It’s a great opportunity for my band and I, and we are grateful to be a part of it! The Koger Center obviously has an amazing reputation in Columbia, and as a recent transplant, this kind of festival affords us some additional exposure for my band, when we’re able to share a bill with multiple acts.

Jasper: Have you worked with Admiral Radio or Rebekah Todd before?

Holler: I’ve never had the opportunity to work with Rebekah Todd. I have had the pleasure of working with Admiral Radio many times before. When I lived in Charleston, I produced a concert series at the Charleston Music Hall, called the “Women &” series. Becca was gracious enough to come down to Charleston and perform in several of these “Women &” concerts. I’ve performed with all of Admiral Radio several times in Charleston too, but this is my first Columbia show with them!

Jasper: What’s your favorite thing about performing live? What pushed you to pursue music performance as a career?

Holler: I’ve always been able to sing, and started out singing in the church choir and school chorus when I was growing up. I was accepted to Berklee College of Music, on a vocal scholarship, and earned a Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance from the College of Charleston. Once I got out of college, I focused on writing my own songs and working on my own sound. The music scene in Charleston was a fruitful place, when I was coming up – lots of talented creative people to play with and try things. I love performing live and communicating with people. It’s a collective experience that is so exciting and can’t be replicated!

Jasper: Have you gotten acquainted with the local Columbia music scene? Have you played anywhere locally since you moved here, or are there any places on your performance bucket list?

Holler: I’m still new to the scene here and finding my way. Back in the day, when I was still living in Charleston, I did come up to play some shows at Conundrum in West Cola and The White Mule on Main Street.

The Southern Sounds Music Festival will take place on the Koger Center’s Plaza Stage. Food and drinks will be for sale through Horseshoe Catering and food truck vendors. If you have any questions, contact the Koger Center at (803) 777-7500.

Tuning in to Admiral Radio – An Interview with Becca and Coty and Preview of their Upcoming Koger Center Concert

“As a kid, the Koger Center was like that crown jewel of the city where so many foundational memories live for me. It’s really an honor to be able to perform here, especially with Coty. It’s something I never dreamed would happen.” - Becca Smith

On Thursday, January 26, Admiral Radio will perform at the Koger Center for the Arts at 7:30 PM to kick off their new series, “Live in the Lobby: Southern Sounds.” If you’re unfamiliar with Admiral Radio, the husband-and-wife singer-songwriter duo of Becca Smith and Coty Hoover is known for their unique Americana style of musicianship. Their name stems from their beloved eponymous radio from 1941, which promptly inspired the duo’s passion for delivering comfort and storytelling through music. To newcomers who could hear them for the first time at the Koger Center, Admiral Radio describes their sound as something “not quite country or traditional bluegrass, but rather something in between of all those things,” taking inspiration from artists like Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel and Shovels & Rope. Always on the lookout for inspiration and new material, each artist they listen to and love end up being reflected in their own work.

The new series, “Southern Sounds,” adds to the lobby repertoire at the Koger Center as they continue to maximize the use of every space within the facility. When it comes to describing the sound of the South, Becca and Coty say it as “hard to pin down. No matter the genre, whether it’s jazz, country, R&B, rap, folk, rock, soul, indie, or something in between, it’s the stories we tell that seem to resonate most and cross over.”

“Live in the Lobby” paves the way for more intimate concert settings, reducing the physical and metaphorical barrier between the audience and the performer.

“I grew up going to the Koger Center. It was something that my late grandmother had a strong appreciation for, and she made an effort to share the arts with me,” Becca says. “If you’re from the Midlands or even the state at large, you know this venue.”

As the Koger Center continues to define itself as a performing arts venue for all forms of music, not just classical, the duo is excited for the continuous development of Columbia’s music scene. “There are so many things to love about Columbia’s music scene. Columbia’s scene reflects its people: it’s DIY, gritty, humble, and special. What we love most is the sense of community we’ve found,” the duo says. They’d love for more listening rooms and general spaces to share a bond over music with the rest of Columbia, and the Koger Center continues to push for those opportunities, too.

With an abundant level of love for their craft and for Columbia always visible to those around them, Admiral Radio is an absolute treat to watch live. They thrive on the communication shared between themselves and the audience when they perform. “Sharing feels like a moot point without an audience there to help make sense of the world with you. Hearing people’s stories and knowing their names is what gives us the biggest feeling of inspiration and purpose when we perform live,” Becca and Coty say. The attitude they share towards live performances sets the tone for a magnificent evening of music and camaraderie this Thursday, and it’s something you won’t want to miss.  

Columbia City Ballet Concludes Season and Celebrates 60th Anniversary with Return of Fan Favorite Show - The Beatles Ballet!

ADDED PERFORMANCE

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 16TH @ 7:30

Anna Porter

 The past season of the Columbia City Ballet (CCB) has been unlike any other in its 60-year history. As for all of us, COVID-19 presented difficult obstacles for the CCB, but leaping over barriers is what dancers are built for.

 After having taken the time to consult with members of the CCB and several public health officials, the Columbia City Ballet has still been able to safely offer 22 performances this season. If there’s ever been a time for art, it’s now, and with costumed masks, adapted rehearsals, and tenacious community, the CCB has risen to the challenge.  

Now, this unparalleled season is coming to an end with a show as special as it has been—The Beatles Ballet. This show, created by Artistic and Executive Director William Starrett, was exceptionally popular when it first premiered in 2018. The effervescent aesthetic of The Beatles and their 60s vibes, coupled with the echoing love for the show, made it the perfect candidate to not only end this season but to celebrate what the CCB is calling their “Diamond Anniversary.” 

“When Beatles The Ballet premiered in 2018, it was instantly a hit with audiences,” Starrett expresses in the CCB’s Press Release, “I had always wanted to celebrate our 60th Anniversary Season with a ballet that means so much to me. After everything we faced, it just makes sense that we would end our 60th season with Beatles.” 

Claire Richardson, Dini Tetrick, Bonnie Boiter-Jolley, and Anna Porter

Sakura Oka

The show is a mix of energies, crafting a braid out of interweaving classic and modern music and dance. “In many ways, [The Beatles Ballet] is among Columbia City Ballet’s most ambitious projects,” asserts Michael Layer, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, “It incorporates talent, artistic styles, and inspiration from all over the world.” 

Putting a show with so many elements together takes a lot of hands (and feet!) and a plethora of talent. The full company is dancing with the addition of 6 guest dancers. 12 choreographers came together to set the tone and craft a through-line of bodies across these themes of old and new, which will be traced across more than 35 songs.  

Live music will accompany the show—the first time since the pandemic started—played by local musician Mark Rapp and his Little Big Band as well as members of The Return, a Beatles Tribute Band. Having live music matches the style of the show, which moves in part like a jukebox musical or mixed-rep show, with dancers’ bodies flowing between many sounds and tones. 

Beyond sharing this creative take on ballet and widely loved music, the “multimedia ballet will follow the story of The Beatles’ careers beginning in the 1960’s and [examine] their cultural impact and the elevation of social consciousness throughout their music,” the CCB states on their website.

The show, which is sponsored by the Lexington Medical Center, will open on Friday, April 16th with a newly added performance at 7:30, followed by performances on April 17th, 2021 at 3:00pm and at 6:30pm. Additionally, in honor of their anniversary, the CCB will be screening a film highlighting their history at the very beginning of the evening show. 

The show will take place at the Koger Center for the Arts, which enforces COVID-19 regulations for the safety of all patrons. Tickets are sold in pairs, seats are socially distanced, and face coverings are required at all times. These tickets, which start at $25, can be purchased at the Koger Center’s website or by calling their box office at 803-251-2222.

 

—Christina Xan

Southeastern Piano Festival kicks off 10th anniversary with big concert at the Koger Center

 

If you love the piano, have we got a week for you.

The Southeastern Piano Festival kicks off its 10^th year with a Piano Extravaganza concert featuring 16 pianist, five pianos and the S.C. Philharmonic on June 10 at the Koger Center for the Arts. The festival runs through June 16 with concerts by well-known and up-and-coming musicians.

“The festival has been a success on so many levels and we’re thrilled to be celebrating our first decade,” said Marina Lomazov, Festival Artistic Director. “The festival continues to provide top-flight training for young musicians, but has also grown to be one of the most significant showcases of piano music.”

Dr. Lomazov will perform at the Piano Extravaganza along with fellow USC piano faculty Joseph Rackers and  Charles Fugo, guest pianist Phillip Bush, a dozen past winners of Arthur Fraser International Concerto Competition, and the S.C. Philharmonic conducted by Music Director Morihiko Nakahara.  The concert includes works by Mozart, Bach and Wagner and five pianists performing movements from “The Planets” by Gustav Holst on five Steinway concert grand pianos. The concert will close with Lomazov and Rackers playing the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor by Francis Poulenc.

The festival blends a week of exciting concerts with a training program for 19 young pianists from around the country and one from Australia who take part in the Fraser Competition. Those who want to see some of tomorrow’s great pianists today can watch the competition from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 15. Competition winners will give the closing concert June 16.

Among the other highlights of the week are performances by Boris Slutsky, first prize winner of the Kapell International Piano Competition and chair of the piano department at the Peabody Institute, playing the music of Ravel, Chopin and Schuman on June 13 and Alessio Bax, recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, performing Rachmaninoff and Liszt pieces on June 14.

Students attending the festival will give an afternoon concert at the Columbia Museum of Art June 12. A number of young pianists will be in the spotlight including past winners of the Fraser Competition Leo Svirsky and Sean Yeh performing June 11 and George Li, the 15-year-old winner of the Gilmore Young Artist Award, playing June 12.

Admission to the Piano Extravaganza is $25 for VIP seating and $15 general admission, $10 for seniors, students, military, USC faculty and staff and free for those under 18. Tickets are available through capitoltickets.com or by calling (803) 251-2222.

The other concerts will be held at the USC School of Music Recital Hall. Admission is $20; $10 for seniors, USC faculty and staff, students and military and free to everyone under  18.  For tickets call (803) 576-5763 or email  frontoffice@mozart.sc.edu

The Svirsky and Yeh concert is $5.

The competition concert is free.

For a complete schedule and more information about tickets, concerts, guest artists and participants visit the Piano Festival website http://sepf.music.sc.edu/

Concert lineup for the Southeastern Piano Festival (unless otherwise noted concerts are at the USC School of Music Recital Hall, Assembly and College streets.)

Sunday, June 10, 4 p.m. Piano Extravaganza concert.

Monday, June 11, 7:30 p.m. Alumni Celebration Concert with Leo Svirsky and Sean Yeh.

Tuesday, June 12, 1:30 – 3 p.m. Southeastern Piano Festival on the Road. Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St.

Tuesday, June 12, 7:30 p.m. George Li.

Wednesday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. Boris Slutsky.

Thursday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. Alessio Bax.

Friday, June 15, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Arthur Fraser International Concerto Competition.

Saturday, June 16, 7 p.m. Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition Winners' Concert and Closing Ceremony.