"For us, public art is more than just what you see; it's about creating connections …" — Xavier Blake

From our Friends at One Columbia …

One Columbia for Arts and Culture will host the Cultural Layers Community Celebrations, two free public events marking the unveiling of new public artwork honoring the stories, people, and places at the heart of Columbia's historically African American neighborhoods. The celebrations take place Saturday, July 18, at 2:00 PM at Richland Library Edgewood and Sunday, July 19, at 3:00 PM at the Richland Library Main Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.

The new artwork honors former residents and legacies of the Booker T. Washington, Ward One, and Wheeler Hill neighborhoods. Cultural Layers is a public art and storytelling initiative led by One Columbia and funded by the Knight Foundation and the Central Carolina Community Foundation. The project preserves and amplifies histories from these communities through photography, videography, oral histories, archival research, and public art, centering the individuals who shaped the city and the schools and neighborhoods that served as cultural and social anchors for generations.

At each celebration, attendees can view the completed murals and public artwork, meet several of the individuals depicted in the work, and connect with the community members, historians, and cultural partners who helped bring the project to life. The events are designed as community gatherings grounded in memory, local history, and collective pride.

Featured artists include Daniel Esquivia-Zapata, Visual Artist and Educator; Nora Williams, Photographer and Cultural Worker; and Malcolm Vanhannegeyn, CEO of Perspective Cinema and Cinematographer. Community members featured in the work include Crissandra Elliott, Deacon Richard Caughman, and Raymond Richardson.

"For us, public art is more than just what you see; it's about creating connections," said Xavier Blake, One Columbia Executive Director. "Through Cultural Layers and the incredible talents of Daniel, Nora, and Malcolm, we hope to create a lasting impact that honors the lives, spaces, and histories that shape our city."

The celebrations are made possible with the support of community partners and sponsors including Central Carolina Community Foundation, Knight Foundation, Richland County Library, the A'ja Wilson Foundation, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina, Columbia SC 63, the Ward One Organization, and Friends of African American Art & Culture.

More information is available at onecolumbiasc.com/public-art/cultural-layers-project/.

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.

One Columbia Announces Cultural Layers Community Celebrations, Unveiling New Public Murals Honoring Columbia's African American History