Join us in welcoming our first artist at Motor Supply in 2026, Harry Arnette McFadden! His show runs from January 12th to April 6th.

Artist Bio:
Harry Arnette McFadden is a self-described Afro-Carolinian. He expresses that his calling is to create from an ancestral space within his DNA. A space that serves as an interactive outlet for the viewer. To him, art is not as much about what is on the canvas as it is about what caused it to be there. His calling is southern, rural, Black, and male. His work has been described as provocative, energetic, intriguing, whimsical, and powerful. Harry’s formal education was received in the public schools of Williamsburg County, Francis Marion College 1990, and Lesley University 2006, with a Master of Education in Instruction and Curriculum with a specialization in Teaching Through the Arts. Past shows include Visual Soul-International James Brown Festival Augusta, GA. “Soulscapes” Francis Marion University, Florence, SC, “Celebration” Black Creeks Arts Council, MOJA Festival, and the Pee Dee Boys and Girls Club as an artist in residence.

Artist Statement:
Harry Arnette McFadden emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage and personal identity in his work. He draws inspiration from his own background, incorporating elements that celebrate his roots while also addressing universal themes such as love, struggle, and resilience. By doing so, he creates a dialogue that transcends borders, inviting people from all walks of life to engage in his art. McFadden’s goal is to inspire others to embrace their individuality and use creativity as a means of expression, fostering a deeper understanding of both self and community.

Join us in celebrating the closing of Herrera's show and our last First Thursday reception at Sound Bites Eatery before they close. Her work is up from January 10-February 5, 2026

Artist Bio:

I am originally from Charlotte, NC but have lived in Columbia for the past 17 years. I have volunteered with summer camps at the Columbia Art Center as well as Art Smart Academy. I have instructed adult/children art classes and have attended classes myself at Painting with a Twist studio. I have enjoyed painting and drawing for many years and work mainly with acrylic paint but hope to venture into other avenues of mediums and materials. I love writing and creating expression through art and words. As a full-time teacher, I try to encourage my students to be creative and embrace their uniqueness.

It has been a long wait for this particular First Thursday event and I thank Jaspar Magazine for the opportunity and recognition as well as the continued support from my family, friends and my fellow

artists! It means a lot to be recognized as a local artist in the Columbia area. I hope to continue showing my work within the art community as my artistic knowledge continues to expand and grow throughout this brand New Year.

Join us in celebrating First Thursday and the opening of Regina Langston's show!

Artist Bio:
All her life Regina has been an Indigo child and creative shaman, emboldened by an energy larger than herself and an innate understanding that her place in the world is deliberate and impactful. She is driven to create, share, teach, and touch deeply those around her, not only to imbue their lives with beauty, but to show them how to recognize the beauty that is all around them as well as inside them.

As a member of the Vista Guild Association, the Koger Center for the Arts is proud to partner with the Jasper Project in Third Thursday Art Night. We feature a different artist every month with an opening reception on the Third Thursday of the month — but THIS month we’re hosting our opening reception on Friday, November 21st. Our featured artist of November is Sean Madden.

Artist Bio:

Sean Madden is a multimedia artist who captures landscapes and portraits of Columbia in such a way that makes the images both familiar and fresh at the same time.

Both Madden’s parents were artists, so creating was never foreign to him. His mother was an accomplished oil painter, and his father was a master carpenter, scratch painter, and sculptor. Though art came naturally, it was music that first captured Madden’s interest.

“The influence of my parents came full circle in the early 2000s when I began working for a piano and antique restoration company,” Madden says. “And my knowledge of wood carving and ability to work an artist’s brush proved invaluable.”

However, it was after the loss of his mother in 2019 that Madden was moved to “return to [his] roots” and begin painting once more. This time, it stuck, and he now finds it hard to pull himself from whatever surface he’s sketching on during any free time.

Madden’s inspirations come from all around him, from the world he traverses each day. Though he began capturing these scenes with oil, he embraces all mediums, including gouache, acrylic, watercolor, graphite, and ink.

Join us in celebrating the release of our fall issue! Featuring music by JB Samson, birthday cake for all our Scorpio friends, and more! Check back for more details!

Contributors include:
USC 1080C, Gemini Arts, Jennifer Baxley, Chris Bickel, Cindi Boiter, Steve Borders, Kwasi Brown, William Clay, the Power Company Collaborative, Chapin Theatre Company, Ed Connolly, Carla Damron, George Fetner,Valerie Byrd Fort, Chad Goss, GROW, Brian Harmon, Katy Harrison, Kristine Hartvigsen, Dominique–Jakeem da Dream– Hodge, Jordan Hughes, Degenerate Art Project I and II, Naya Lanai Jackson, Ryan Jenkins, Thaddeus Jones, Peter Lenzo, Roxy Lenzo, Ethan Lopez, Trevor Mawhinney, Tristan McLawler, Emily Moffitt, Steve Nuzum, Kevin Oliver, Kenneth Perkins, Kyle Petersen, Jane Turner Peterson, 2nd Act Film Project, Becci Robbins, Rhy Robidoux, The Runout, JB SamSon, Cory Schwartz, Wade Sellers, April Singletary, Liz Stalker, Alex Steele, Staci Swider, Megan Tapley, Jon Tuttle, Collins White, Christina Xan, and Michael Morris Zamora

Join us in welcoming our artist for the month of November, Judy Maples!

Artist Bio:
What do these things have in common: soil, puff pastry, music, and my abstract paintings?
Layers.

My painting process is based on instinct, intuition, and emotion. The layers in my abstracts reflect my life experiences and the stories I carry with me. When I start a new canvas, I don’t have a clear plan or a specific image in mind. I allow the painting to evolve naturally, letting each layer guide me to the next. This approach allows me to be fully present in the moment, to respond to the colors and textures as they emerge, and to create something that feels authentic.

The first layer often consists of random marks and strokes of bold colors applied with a sense of freedom and spontaneity. Then I add layers and textures that overlap to create depth and complexity. One of my favorite techniques is to apply a layer of paint and then scrape most of it away, revealing glimpses of the layers beneath. As I add layers, I refine the composition to add
depth, complexity, and emotion.

My abstract paintings continue to evolve in the eye of the viewer. Each person sees something different, finds their own meaning in the layers, and adds their own story to the painting. Only then
is the painting finished.

My abstracts, with their many layers and textures, have depth and a sense of history, leaving the viewer to think, “I wonder what’s under that top layer?”

Black Nerd Mafia and The Jasper Project are proud to present the return of Frightmare on Main Street, a FREE night of spooky fun, pumpkins, and prizes!

5:00pm – Horror Movie Trivia
Bring your team and kick off the night with trivia hosted by Black Nerd Mafia.

6:00pm – Jasper’s 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest
These aren’t your everyday jack-o'-lanterns. Vote on your favorite pumpkins carved by local artists and bid in our silent auction to take one home. All proceeds benefit the Jasper Project and the winning artist takes home a fabulous prize! Candy votes will be available for sale.

6:30pm – Cosplay Karaoke Hosted by Black Nerd Mafia.
Best costume and performance combo takes home a prize! Costumes encouraged by not required.

7:00pm – Winners of the Pumpkin Carving and Cosplay Costume Contest will be announced.

Pumpkin Bidding with close at 7:30pm

The 2nd Act Film Project is a unique take on the indie film team project. Presented by The Jasper Project, its mission is to encourage and promote the growth of independent filmmaking in South Carolina through collaborative and creative projects.

Filmmakers submit their names and examples of work to be considered for participation. A group of South Carolina media professionals and artists will select the final group of 14 filmmakers. Filmmakers are given the 1st and 3rd acts of a short film script. Their job is to write the second act and make the movie.

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Colleen Cannon-Karlos.

Artist Bio:

I have studied many forms of art, both formally and informally including painting, drawing, photography, graphic design, fabric design, ceramics, sculpture and jewelry making.

I consider my work an amalgamation of many years of experimentation with different forms of media and creative expression coupled with my philosophical interest in metaphysics as well my love of physics. Over the years I have exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, South Carolina, Albuquerque, NM, Hawaii and North Carolina. As both an artist and educator I combine Art and Science in my personal work and have designed a unique STEAM course that I taught at the University of Hawaii, Hilo. The “Art, Science and Technology” course uses scientific principles to explore realms of creativity. Students had the opportunity to work with the Marine Science Department’s Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to learn about the sub atomic scanning process and creative new forms of art as a result.

Artist Statement:

Inspiration for my work comes from natural phenomenon, particularly microscopic/macroscopic elements, structures and events – Volcanoes, thunderstorms, cosmic activity, birth, the sub-atomic particle dance, etc. I have been fascinated with science and the nature of reality since my childhood. Throughout my adult life I have studied modern theories of physics such as chaos, quantum and string theories.

Join us as we premiere our Fall 2025 artist at Harbison Theatre: Rebecca Horne
Her opening will be held in the lobby of the theatre in the hour before Jennifer Holliday performs at 7:30 (tickets sold separately through Harbison's website; the gallery event is free).

Artist Bio:
In the heart of West Columbia, South Carolina, resides a contemporary abstract mixed media artist whose work transcends the canvas to connect with something divine. Meet Rebecca Horne, a passionate artist whose creative journey is as captivating as her art itself.

Rebecca's love affair with art began in childhood, nurtured by the inspiring presence of her father, an artist himself. From a young age, she explored various mediums, from the vibrant strokes of oil and watercolors to the intricate details of landscapes, still life, and even pet portraits. However, it was in 2018 that Rebecca stumbled upon abstract mixed media art, a discovery that would ignite her creative fervor like never before.

For Rebecca, art is more than just a hobby or a career—it's a calling, a spiritual experience that she feels compelled to pursue. "I'm compelled to make art. It's something I must do," she shares. "It's a spiritual experience for me. I feel like I'm working to connect to something divine and express the experience on canvas."
Embracing abstract mixed media art has provided Rebecca with the perfect avenue to unleash her creativity fully. She revels in the freedom this style offers, allowing her imagination to roam unrestricted as she experiments with textures, colors, and forms. Each piece is a testament to her boundless curiosity and relentless pursuit of beauty and uniqueness.

What sets Rebecca apart is not just her choice of medium but also her distinctive process. She begins by layering texture mediums, sometimes mixing several, and incorporates embellishments while they are still wet. This meticulous approach demands patience and precision, as each layer is carefully crafted to contribute to the overall depth and complexity of the piece. The process can span several weeks, a testament to Rebecca's dedication to her craft.

The result of Rebecca's labor is a collection of multidimensional artworks that captivate the imagination and stir the soul. Each piece exudes a graceful elegance, inviting viewers to explore beyond the surface and immerse themselves in the artist's world. Rebecca's artistic vision has not gone unnoticed, earning recognition on international platforms through juried shows, exhibitions, and publications. Her work serves as a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and speak to the innermost depths of the human spirit.

As Rebecca Horne continues to push the boundaries of her creativity, her art serves as a reminder of the profound connection between the artist and the divine. Through her work, she invites us to embark on a journey of exploration and self-discovery, where beauty and meaning intertwine in harmonious expression.

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Jeff Amberg.

Artist Bio:

I began this journey at age 12 with my first camera. At 19 the inspiration to concentrate on photographing people in candid situations became a life-long goal. At 29 my first job was at a small coastal resort town newspaper, The Island Packet in Hilton Head, South Carolina. There were influential people from many walks of life, there was sports, nature and wildlife, and most of all the freedom to roam and seek photographs of the indigenous people, their art and lifestyle, all contrasted by the expanding commercial growth and development of the island. My photography was awarded both state-wide and regionally during my years as a Photojournalist. In 1990 I decided to go out on my own, and during the following 29 years, skills were polished as I concentrated on the importance of lighting, both natural and artificial. Portraits have always been my inspiration and remains that way to this day.

Jasper is proud to present a staged reading of the 2025 Play Right Series winning play, Busted Open, by Ryan Stevens. Join us September 14th at 3pm at the Columbia Music Festival Association for the reading followed by Q&A with the writer and cast.

Tickets are $10

The play is directed by Jane Tuner Peterson and features an amazing cast and crew that includes Clayton King, Ella Riley, Kristin Cobb, Allison Allgood, Josh Kern, Beth DeHart, Maggie Baker, and Zanna Mills.
Learn More.

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Lori Isom.

Artist Bio:

“It is fair to say that my life has been quite varied as an artist, and all around creative person. Years of my life were dedicated to working as a professional dancer, singer and actress in New York and Los Angeles, and I’ve had several interesting and fun entrepreneurial pursuits along the way, including owning and operating my own baking business! I am predominantly a self-taught artist, however, I studied illustration in high school, and later fine art and fashion design at Parsons School of Design.

I would say that I walk the line between illustrator and fine artist. While I work to tell a story with my art, I also produce paintings that primarily express a particular emotion. Artists like Mary Cassatt, Andrew Wyeth, and John Singer Sargent were ones who greatly influenced my work early on. I suppose that’s how I came to love capturing people.”

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Virginia Russo.

Artist Bio

Kara Virginia Russo is a mixed media abstract artist working with watercolor, ink, collage, pencil, and embroidery to create works with layers of meaning and symbol. After recieving her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, she lived in Asia and Europe before returning with her husband and two children to settle in Greenville, SC. Her work portrays the essence of things, bypassing realism and portraying what cannot be seen.

Join us in celebrating First Thursday and the opening of Judy Jarrett's show!

Artist Bio:
After 21 years as an English teacher, in 1986 I turned my painting love from a hobby/ part time business (a few art shows here and there) into a full-time second career. My training came from workshops, mostly in watercolor, with local and national instructors. But the experience of picking up a brush and practicing consistently generated a style that was recognizable as mine. As I progressed in confidence, I eventually turned from watercolor into water media, gradually using acrylics and mixed media as my mediums.

In 1990 I opened a studio/gallery, ArtCan Studio Gallery, in Chapin, SC, and in December 1991 I purchased the old Chapin Bank building (circa 1908). On June 1, 2025, I celebrated my 35th anniversary in this location! For a number of years, I produced and sold limited edition prints, as well as originals, but about five years ago, I began marketing only my original paintings. Over the years I have done many commissioned paintings for individuals, corporations, and special projects, such as Christmas Collector wine labels for Chateau Elan Winery in GA. My alma mater, Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, commissioned several artworks of campus buildings, and the State Botanical Garden of GA at UGA, Athens, has commissioned art for special occasions. In the next year I have three solo exhibitions in SC and GA, the most significant being a solo show at the Botanical Garden at UGA in August-October 2026 to celebrate my 85th birthday!

While I no longer enter many juried competitions, I am a juried signature member of the South Carolina Watermedia Society and the Georgia National Watercolor Society. Several times a year I still travel to participate in juried art shows in Georgia and Tennessee. I have been blessed to enjoy this exceptional second career, which now spans 39 years.

Artist Statement:

“Small Works with Large Impact” is a collection of acrylic and mixed media paintings! They represent my love of spontaneity in both color and style, from impressionism to contemporary interpretations. Texture and color are significant elements in every painting. Mixed media works incorporate violin, clock parts, piano hammers, and words. It is my hope that you will find inspiration and joy and that you will choose to purchase one or more of these artworks for your own enjoyment and to support Jasper projects.

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Jakeem DaDream.

Artist Bio:

Dominique Hodge, aka Jakeem Da Dream, is a visual artist, muralist, and teacher specializing in acrylic paint. Most of his images are rooted in Afrocentric themes. His offerings include original paintings, commission paintings, live paintings, prints, clothing/apparel, murals, and coloring books. Dominique has been a part of the Auntie Karen Artpreneur Program since 2019. Lisa Macon met Dominique at a Business Expo and felt that he would be the perfect match for the foundation. Dominique plays a significant role in providing art to youth in rural communities. He’s worked in several rural communities in South Carolina.

Join us in celebrating First Thursday and the opening of Regina Langston's show!

Artist Bio:
All her life Regina has been an Indigo child and creative shaman, emboldened by an energy larger than herself and an innate understanding that her place in the world is deliberate and impactful. She is driven to create, share, teach, and touch deeply those around her, not only to imbue their lives with beauty, but to show them how to recognize the beauty that is all around them as well as inside them.

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Christopher Lane.

Artist Bio

Christopher Lane uses fantastic imagery to turn life experiences into visual stories that primarily focus on people and their relationships with one another. Lane is passionate about social justice to protect the environment and inhabitants of our planet, and paints about both as one can’t exist without the other. Employing flora and fauna, his paintings often feature historical, political, or spiritual narratives as he is passionate about these subjects. He is a modern surrealist and storyteller. Each painting can usually be broken down into several scenes yet are cohesive in theme. He uses vivid colors, lush symbolism, and double imagery to illustrate divisive topics, allowing viewers to see them through a new, perhaps softer lens. He has created unity themed oil and acrylic paintings and presented them in multiple prominent group and solo exhibitions nationally and internationally. Lane’s work, Woodland Pond Owl, won first prize in the Fine Arts Division at the 2023 South Carolina State Fair. His current solo exhibition, Circle of Life, which illustrates how we are all interconnected, recently exhibited at the Sumter County Gallery of Art, and he is presently participating in numerous group exhibitions across the United States.

As a member of the Vista Guild Association, the Koger Center for the Arts is proud to partner with the Jasper Project in Third Thursday Art Night. We feature a different artist every month with an opening reception on the Third Thursday of the month — but THIS month we’re hosting our opening reception on Friday, April 18. Our featured artist of April is Richard Lund.

Artist Statement:

“With each stitch, I carefully layer the yarn, blending and mixing colors to evoke a distinct painterly quality. It’s as if my needle becomes a brush, and the fabric transforms into a canvas. Although I have dabbled in more traditional mediums over the years, I can’t help but acknowledge that at the core, I am still a painter—my heart forever drawn to the realm of pigments and palettes.”

Join us for a bite to eat, a drink and a chat with friends as we welcome Kelley Pettibone to First Thursday!

Artist Bio

Kelley is a proud native of South Carolina and a graduate of Irmo High School.  She received her BFA, with concentration in drawing, and MFA, with concentration in printmaking, at the University of South Carolina.  Kelley is a Studio Art Instructor for the School of Visual Art and Design at the University of South Carolina where she teaches printmaking and drawing.  She has a home studio located in the Lake Murray area of Columbia where she lives with her husband, a retired Army Veteran, their daughter, and two dogs.  Recent exhibitions include Annual Juried Exhibition, Union County Arts Council, Union, SC, “Dwell”, a solo exhibition, Union County Arts Council, Union, SC, “In the Mourning I Rise”, a solo exhibition, All Good Books, Columbia, SC, “Coffeehouse”, a group exhibition, Vista Lights, Columbia, SC, and “dwell.”, a solo exhibition, McMaster Gallery, Columbia, SC.   Kelley has been featured in radio interviews, publications, and has served as a panelist for the SC State Museum’s Annual Artist Homecoming. Kelley has also served as Artist in Residence at Stormwater Studios in Columbia, SC.  Upcoming events in 2025 include a magazine feature, an exhibition, Koger Center, Columbia, SC, and a solo exhibition, Lander University, Greenwood, SC.

Artist Statement

As an only child and following a decade of the losses of my parents and my grandparents I was left feeling orphaned and homeless. With many questions, much to process, and immense overwhelm I turned to my studio as a space of refuge. Within my studio I began to heal. My work became the visual vocabulary of my journey through grief.  

Printmaking is primary within my practice. I enjoy woodcut relief, linoleum relief, and collagraph printmaking. When carving a matrix, such as wood or linoleum, it forces me to be mindful and present. Carving is a meditative process. Unlike grief, when carving, I am in control of what gets removed and what stays. The print is the result of the information that remains which is relative to learning to live with grief. In collagraph printmaking, I collect household materials such as butter boxes, food containers, dryer lent boxes, and wine boxes to use as the collagraph plates. This collection of repurposed materials explores the relationship between domesticity and grief. As my collected materials began to grow larger it was an indication that my daily life was becoming more active, and I was further into my journey of healing.  

Mixed Media Collage and painting are both a playful distraction from the meditative work of printmaking. I often work simultaneously on pieces in my studio, bouncing back and forth between pieces and processes. I enjoy the fusion of inherited family ephemera within my work. I use items such as pages from inherited Baptist hymnals, piano music, collected documents, fabrics, buttons, and clothing. I have pulped my mother’s clothing to make handmade paper. I have made paper clay with my parents’ collected documents. This, to me, feels like a collaboration between the present and the past and is a self-guided lesson in learning to let go

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Thomas Washington.

Artist Bio:

Perhaps the most important pursuit of an artist is the facilitation of escapism. Perhaps each project is the equivalent of a Narnian door…or that lamppost beyond, coaxing a wanderer into another realm. Thomas Washington, Jr. (thomas the younger) functions on this premise. Since his childhood, he has produced multitudinous works in this vein–from being hired (out of high school) to illustrate in a local graphic anthology, he has subsequently striven to bring stories in every medium; to breathe life into the fantastical by imbuing it with the familiar…and, of course, to find fun and fulfillment along the way. As a result, it required the birth of his children to make him care about money. For years, he was perfectly fine living as a Bohemian: he laid his head in strange places among strangers, eventually becoming a pleasant strain of strange in the process. He thus entertains all sorts of bizarre notions: the importance of world peace, an unshakeable belief in fundamental similarities that make Humanity one big family, intense opinions on interstellar travel, and more.

Join us for a bite to eat, a drink and a chat with friends as we welcome Lucy Spence to First Thursday!

Artist Bio:
Lucy Kienitz Spence grew up in Arizona where she was surrounded by art and artists including her mother, a potter. Lucy also had a passion for teaching and moved to South Carolina to accept a position at the University of South Carolina. At USC, she began to formally study drawing and painting. Her work has been included in local and international juried competitions. Lucy currently resides with her husband John in Columbia, South Carolina, where they are designing their property, “Stone Garden.”

Artist Statement:
Growing up surrounded by artists, I held a lifelong passion for experimenting in my art making practice. Inspired by impressionist painters, both classic and contemporary, I work in both oil and watercolor.  In these media, I explore my relationship with nature, my ikebana practice (Japanese flower arranging), and memories of growing up near Japanese flower gardens in Phoenix, Arizona. I find focus and tranquility through making art. 

As a member of the Vista Guild, the Koger Center for the Arts partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space, titled The Nook, in celebration of Third Thursday Art Night. This month’s featured artist in The Nook is Toni Elkins.

Artist Bio:

Toni M. Elkins has been selected a signature member of eighteen National Societies including the Nautilus Fellowship of The Society of Experimental Artists, National Watercolor Society (California), and Watercolor USA Honor Society. She has won more than 150 national awards including Best-of-Show in San Diego Watercolor and Top 10 in SC Watermedia 2015. She served as juror for the Union County Arts Guild 2015 exhibit and as a member of the jury for ArtFields Jr. 2015. In 1999, Governor Hodges awarded her with The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for contributions to SC art. Her paintings are in collections all over the USA