State Museum Announces Artists Selected for “In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina”

Feet Firmly Planted by Clay Burnette

The South Carolina State Museum is pleased to announce the selection of 12 artists from across the state for the upcoming juried exhibition, In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina, opening October 10, 2026. The exhibition will coincide with the museum’s annual Artist Homecoming event, which will take place October 8-9, 2026. 

Organized as part of Handwork 2026: Celebrating American Craft, a nationwide initiative led by Craft in America, the exhibition will highlight South Carolina-based artists working in fiber, ceramics, wood, metal, glass, mixed media and other fine craft media. The exhibition will feature new works alongside recent pieces, offering a look at the depth and versatility of contemporary craft practices across South Carolina. 

“This exhibition celebrates the incredible range of talent and creativity happening across South Carolina,” said Maia Payne, associate art curator at the State Museum. “We’re excited to showcase both established and emerging artists who are shaping the future of contemporary craft in our state.” 

The artists selected were Jim Arendt (Conway, SC), Kristy Bishop (Charleston, SC), Clay Burnette (Columbia, SC), Katty Cassel (Greenville, SC), Bill and Pam Clark (Greenville, SC), Charles Clary (Conway, SC), Jessica Downs (Clemson, SC), Matt Garton (Hanahan, SC), Bill Harris (McConnells, SC), Christine Tedesco (Clemson, SC), Jennifer York (Charleston, SC), and Valerie Zimany (Clemson, SC). To learn more about the artists, visit scmuseum.org. 

Artists were selected based on the strength of their portfolios by a panel of jurors that included Rebecca Elliot, associate curator of craft, design and fashion at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina; Maia Payne; Harriett Green, former visual arts director of the South Carolina Arts Commission; and Ariel Zaccheo, curatorial director of the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco, California. To learn more about the jurors, visit scmuseum.org. (Full disclosure: Maia Payne is a member of the Jasper Project board of directors.)

Final works for the exhibition will be selected during studio visits, with the possibility for artists to create new pieces specifically for the show. Final selections will be made by the Museum’s curatorial staff. 

In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina will open to the public on October 10, 2026. For more information about the exhibition, artists, and jurors, visit scmuseum.org. 

MEET JASPER! Welcome New Board Member Maia Payne

The Jasper Project is dependent upon its hard working board of directors to make our world go ‘round. In addition to sharing a wealth of information from their own experiences, the Jasper Project board is, what is called in the world of non-profits, a “working board.”

Our board members don’t just advise—they show up and do the work. You’ll find them delivering magazines, selling art, hauling supplies, and planning, setting up, and cleaning up events. They also program exhibitions, review plays, install artwork, manage budgets, and keep everything moving behind the scenes.

Every board member is attached to at least one of Jasper’s primary projects (Jasper Magazine, galleries, Play Right Project, 2nd Act Film Project, or any of our one-off projects like the Degenerate Arts Project we just finished up or our upcoming Peter Lenzo Retrospective and Remembrance which will open at Stormwater Studios on April 3rd.)

New members are officially elected each January, but throughout the year we invite potential directors to “date” Jasper—giving both sides a chance to see if it’s the right fit.

In January 2026, we welcomed seven new directors to our board. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing these incredible individuals right here—so check back daily to meet the people who make Jasper possible.

Meet Maia Payne

Maia Payne is the Associate Art Curator at the South Carolina State Museum, where she manages rotating art exhibitions in the Lipscomb Art Gallery and contributes to the integration and oversight of artwork across the museum’s exhibitions. As part of the Curatorial Affairs Department, she plays a key role in shaping engaging and dynamic art experiences for visitors.

Beyond her work at the museum, Maia serves on the Board of Directors for Palmetto Luna Arts, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Latinx arts and culture in South Carolina.

She holds dual master’s degrees in Arts Administration and Public Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Studio Art from Earlham College.

Outside of her professional work, Maia is passionate about community arts engagement, exploring local galleries, and supporting emerging artists. She is truly part of our creative community—someone who has given her time, energy, and heart to the kind of work we believe in at Jasper. She embodies the spirit of what makes this community so special: showing up, creating, and supporting others.

Right now, Maia needs that same support in return. She is living with end-stage kidney failure due to a genetic disorder, and has been officially placed on the kidney transplant list. Unfortunately the wait time can be several years, and that is time she may not have.

A living kidney donor could help make that transplant possible much sooner. While waiting on the national transplant list can take years, a living donor significantly improves both timing and outcomes. Many people are able to donate safely and go on to live full, healthy lives with one kidney—and even if you’re not a direct match, paired donation programs can still help make a transplant happen.

If you’re open to learning more or beginning the screening process, visit musclivingdonor.org

If you cannot donate and still want to help out, sharing Maia’s story can make a huge difference. You can follow her journey and share her posts either from her facebook or instagram @life_while_waiting